Best Man Wedding Movies: The Ultimate Guide

There are several films and TV shows with the words best man in the title, some of which are wedding-themed. The 1999 film The Best Man is a comedy-drama about a writer who is the best man at his friend's wedding. A Christmas-themed sequel, The Best Man Holiday, was released in 2013, followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, in 2022. Another film called The Best Man was released in 2023 and is an action-thriller about mercenaries taking control of a resort hotel during a wedding.

The Best Man (1999)

The Best Man is an American comedy-drama film released in 1999. It was written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee in his directorial debut and produced by 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs and Nia Long, with the debut of Regina Hall.

The plot centres around Harper Stewart (Diggs), an up-and-coming author in Chicago whose debut novel, Unfinished Business, has been selected by Oprah's Book Club. Harper is a committed bachelor with a devoted girlfriend, Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), who is frustrated by his unwillingness to commit to her.

Just before his friend's wedding, Harper's life becomes crazy when his friend guesses that his new book's story is based on his bride's past. Harper is set to be the best man at his friend Lance's (Morris Chestnut) wedding, and all his friends will be in attendance. When an advance copy of the book makes its way into the hands of his ex-flame, Jordan Armstrong (Long), Harper attempts to keep it under wraps.

The film received mostly positive reviews, with particular praise for Howard's performance, and is considered an impressive debut for Lee. It is a well-paced, entertaining romantic comedy with a strong cast and well-defined characters.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

The Best Man Holiday is a Christmas-themed sequel to the 1999 film The Best Man, written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. It was released on November 15, 2013, with a reunited cast, including Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Nia Long, and Regina Hall.

The film follows a group of college friends who reunite after nearly 15 years during the Christmas holidays. The friends are Lance (Chestnut), Harper (Diggs), Candace (Hall), Quentin (Howard), Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Jordan (Long), Murch (Harold Perrineau), and Mia (Monica Calhoun). They discover that long-forgotten rivalries and romances can be easily reignited. Harper, a successful author, struggles with the possibility of writing about his friends for his next book. Meanwhile, Jordan has a new boyfriend, and Mia, Lance's wife, is battling an illness.

The film explores the dynamics between the friends and their significant others, including the rivalry between Shelby (Melissa de Sousa) and Candace, Julian's (Perrineau) ex-girlfriend and current wife, respectively. The group gathers at Lance's mansion for Christmas week, and the drama unfolds as secrets and rivalries come to light.

The Best Man Holiday received positive reviews from critics and audiences. It was praised for its ability to balance humour and emotional depth effectively. The film was also noted for its exploration of Black masculinity and the performances of its ensemble cast.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022)

The Best Man: The Final Chapters is an American comedy-drama miniseries that premiered on Peacock on December 22, 2022. It is the third instalment in The Best Man franchise, following the 1999 film The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, The Best Man Holiday.

The series was created by Malcolm D. Lee and Dayna Lynne North, who also serve as executive producers. It stars Morris Chestnut as Lance Sullivan, Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart, Nia Long as Jordan Armstrong, Harold Perrineau as Julian "Murch" Murchison, Terrence Howard as Quentin Spivey, and Sanaa Lathan as Robyn Stewart, Harper's wife.

The story picks up a few years after The Best Man Holiday and follows the main characters as they face various midlife challenges, including marriage, parenting, health, romance, work and identity. Harper gets the opportunity to turn his book, Unfinished Business, into a movie, while also dealing with his relationship with Robyn. Quentin gets married and struggles to take over the family business, and Jordan questions her work-life balance. The series also explores the evolving relationships between the characters and the resurfacing of past grievances.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters received positive reviews from critics, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 8/10. It was praised for its portrayal of successful Black characters and their friendships from college into older adulthood. However, some viewers felt that the series struggled with its writing and pacing, and that it was not enough to satisfy fans of the original film.

The Best Man (2023)

The Best Man, an action-packed thriller released in 2023, stars Nicky Whelan, Dolph Lundgren, and Luke Wilson. The movie begins with a gripping rescue mission where a group of mercenaries set out to save an American woman, Brook, who has been abducted in Mexico. Despite their valour, the team suffers casualties, and one of their own, Axel, is critically injured.

Fast forward a year, and Brook is now engaged to Cal, one of the brave men who rescued her. As the couple prepares for their wedding, they are joined by Cal's cousin Bradley, the best man, and another member of the rescue team, Anders. Brook's father has generously rented a grand, secluded resort and casino for the wedding festivities. However, their joy is short-lived as a heavily armed group suddenly invades the venue.

The movie then shifts gears, focusing on approximately 30 minutes of dialogue before building up to the action it promises. Despite an intense opening and a strong cast, the film falls short in terms of writing and direction, resulting in a predictable and anticlimactic conclusion. With a runtime of 90 minutes, "The Best Man" fails to captivate its audience, leaving viewers with a sense of boredom and detachment from the characters.

Although the film ticks the boxes for an action thriller, it lacks originality and fails to leave a lasting impression. The well-known actors' involvement couldn't salvage the dull and poorly written first 30 minutes, which are crucial for establishing an emotional connection with the characters. Overall, "The Best Man" is a disappointing addition to the genre, scoring a mere 5 out of 10 stars.

The Best Man: The Wedding (TV Episode)

"The Best Man: The Final Chapters" is a TV series that premiered on December 22, 2022, on Peacock. It is a follow-up to the 1999 film "The Best Man" and its 2013 Christmas-themed sequel, "The Best Man Holiday." The series, created by Malcolm D. Lee and Dayna Lynne North, consists of eight episodes and features the return of the original cast, including Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and Regina Hall.

The second episode of the series is titled "The Wedding." In this episode, Lance finds inspiration at Quentin's wedding, Jordan questions her work-life balance, Harper makes a decision about Unfinished Business: The Movie, Candace and Murch reframe their relationship, Robyn searches for peace, and Shelby declares war. Harper is the best man once more when friends reunite for Quentin's wedding in Martinique.

The episode also includes playful banter about whether Harper slept with the "Unicorn" (played by Nicole Ari Parker). The Best Man: The Final Chapters – The Wedding contains very strong language, sexual content, and discriminatory language.

The series follows the lives of a group of friends and their relationships, careers, and personal conflicts. In the lead-up to the wedding, the friends gather and confront their past and present issues. Harper, an up-and-coming author, must navigate his complicated love life and decide about his movie adaptation of his book, Unfinished Business. Jordan, a successful professional, reflects on her work-life balance, while Lance, a former athlete, finds inspiration at his friend's wedding.

"The Best Man: The Final Chapters – The Wedding" continues the story of the characters from the original film, exploring their lives and relationships as they attend another wedding, this time for Quentin, one of the core members of their friend group.

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