Best Man Movies: Ranking The Hilarious Franchise

The Best Man film series is an American romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The story follows Harper, a writer whose autobiography is about to be published, and his friend group as they navigate the days before Lance Sullivan's wedding. The franchise began in 1999 with The Best Man and was followed by The Best Man Holiday in 2013. In 2022, a limited series titled The Best Man: The Final Chapters was released, bringing an end to the story. The movies and series are best enjoyed in release order, allowing viewers to follow the plot easily and catch all the references and details.

The Best Man 1999

The Best Man is a 1999 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, marking his directorial debut. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs and Nia Long, with the debut of Regina Hall.

The film follows Harper Stewart (Diggs), a writer and committed bachelor who has just written a soon-to-be bestselling and controversial novel, 'Unfinished Business'. The story is based on the lives and loves of his group of friends, including his best friend, Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut), a pro athlete who is set to marry Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun), a woman he cheated on multiple times. Harper is set to be the best man at Lance's wedding, and all his friends will be in attendance. However, Harper attempts to hide the fact that his book is based on his friends' lives, especially since one of the characters is based on his ex-flame, Jordan Armstrong (Long).

Harper travels to New York City to spend the weekend with his old college friends before they all attend Lance's wedding. The group includes Julian "Murch" Murchison (Harold Perrineau) and Jordan Armstrong (Long), who has passed an advance copy of 'Unfinished Business' around their inner circle. The book's distribution causes tension as the friends realise that Harper's novel is based on their lives and that it reveals a secret about Mia's past.

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Terrence Howard's performance as Quentin Spivey, a free-spirited friend of Harper's. The film also received numerous awards and nominations, including several NAACP Image Awards and Black Reel Awards.

The success of The Best Man led to the creation of a franchise, with a sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in 2013, and a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, released in 2022.

The Best Man Holiday 2013

The Best Man Holiday is a 2013 comedy-drama film and the second instalment in The Best Man film series created by Malcolm D. Lee. The movie is a sequel to the 1999 film The Best Man and was written, co-produced, and directed by Lee, who reprised his role as director. The film stars Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, and Melissa De Sousa, all of whom reprised their roles from the previous film.

The highly anticipated project was announced in October 2011, and principal photography began in April 2013 in Toronto, Ontario. The film was released on November 15, 2013, by Universal Pictures. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast, Lee's direction, and the dramatic elements, while there was some criticism aimed at the screenplay. The film was a commercial success, grossing $72.8 million worldwide on a production budget of $17 million.

The film follows the story of a group of college friends who reunite after 14 to 15 years during the Christmas holidays. During their reunion, they discover how easily old rivalries and romances can be reignited. The plot centres around Harper Stewart (Diggs), a writer who is experiencing writer's block and financial difficulties due to fertility treatments for his pregnant wife, Robyn (Lathan). Harper's agent suggests that he write a biography about his former best friend and New York Giants superstar Lance Sullivan (Chestnut), who is set to retire. Lance and Harper have a strained relationship, and Harper reluctantly agrees to write the biography in secret.

The film received multiple accolades and nominations, including four nominations at the 45th NAACP Image Awards, such as Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture for Lee.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters 2022

The Best Man franchise, created by Malcolm D. Lee, began in 1999 with the release of The Best Man. The story follows a group of old friends in the days leading up to Lance Sullivan's wedding to Mia Morgan. A sequel, The Best Man Holiday, was released in 2013, and the franchise concluded with the limited series The Best Man: The Final Chapters in 2022.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters, consisting of eight episodes, premiered on Peacock on December 22, 2022. The series takes place a few years after the events of The Best Man Holiday and wraps up the story of the friend group.

In the series, the characters face the challenges of midlife, including marriage, parenting, health, work, and identity. Harper, the writer from the previous films, gets the opportunity to turn his book "Unfinished Business" into a movie as he strives for greater literary success. Quentin struggles to take over the family business from his father and also gets married. Lance discovers new passions and faces difficulties in parenting. Jordan strives to achieve a work-life balance while also focusing on self-care. Candace pursues higher education, and her relationship with Murch evolves as he fights for respect. Robyn searches for peace and her true purpose, and Shelby seeks to be taken seriously beyond her role as a Real Housewife.

The series received positive reviews, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 8/10. It provided a satisfying conclusion for fans of the franchise, allowing the characters to exist beyond the facade of celebrations and holidays.

The Best Man Wedding (unreleased)

The Best Man franchise, created by Malcolm D. Lee, began in 1999 with the film The Best Man. The story follows Harper, a writer whose autobiography is about to be published, as he prepares to be the best man at his friend Lance'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.

A third film, The Best Man Wedding, was planned but never released. The film was reportedly in the works, with a potential poster being released, but creator Malcolm D. Lee opted for a limited series instead. The decision to forego the film was due to conflicts with Lee's schedule, and it is unlikely that the movie will ever be made.

The Best Man Wedding would have continued the story of the close-knit group of friends, picking up years after the events of The Best Man Holiday. The gang would have likely faced new challenges and experiences, with possible new romances, rivalries, and life milestones. The film would have provided a deeper exploration of the characters and their evolving dynamics, offering a mix of humour and emotion that defined the previous instalments.

The wedding in the title could have referred to one of the main characters' weddings, such as Harper, Lance, or another member of their friend group. Alternatively, it could have introduced a new character who is about to tie the knot, creating fresh storylines and interactions within the established group. The film would have further developed the themes of friendship, love, and celebration that are central to the franchise.

While The Best Man Wedding remains unreleased, the existing films and limited series provide a captivating exploration of the characters' lives, leaving fans with a sense of closure and a lasting appreciation for the unique world created by Malcolm D. Lee.

The Best Man cast and crew

The Best Man is a comedy-drama film that was released in 1999. It was created by Malcolm D. Lee and centres on Harper, a writer whose autobiography is about to be published. Harper is the best man at his friend Lance's wedding, but chaos ensues when an advance copy of his book—which is based on his group of friends—gets into the hands of his ex-girlfriend, Jordan.

The cast of The Best Man includes:

• Taye Diggs as Harper, the best man and a writer
• Nia Long
• Morris Chestnut as Lance, the groom and a pro athlete
• Terrence Howard
• Sanaa Lathan
• Melissa De Sousa
• Regina Hall
• Monica Calhoun as Mia Morgan, the bride
• John Michael Higgins

The crew of The Best Man includes:

• Malcolm D. Lee (creator/director)
• Christina Tonkin Noble (production design)
• Debra Jeffreys (unit production manager)
• Robi Reed-Humes (casting director)
• Tom Costabile (construction coordinator)
• Jane Grover (stand-by scenic)
• Mike Herlihy (carpenter/construction foreman)
• Robert W. Schmitt (key construction grip)
• Joe Tagliariano (set dresser)
• Bryan J. Tonkin (construction grip)
• Matt Haasch (foley engineer)
• Rick Partlow (foley artist)
• Jon Herron (camera operator)
• David Levine (electrician)
• Gay Riedel (electrician)
• Doug Shannon (additional gaffer)
• Rob Vuolo (best boy electric)
• Dave Wasserman (grip)
• Shari Carpenter (script supervisor)
• Michael Easter (transportation co-captain)
• Louis A. Katz M.D. (production physician)
• Andre Hereford (development executive)

The Best Man Holiday, the sequel to The Best Man, was released in 2013. It was followed by The Best Man: The Final Chapters, an 8-episode limited series that premiered on Peacock in 2022. The franchise concluded with this series, with creator Malcolm D. Lee stating that there were no plans for future films, though a spin-off centred on the main characters' children could be possible in the future without his involvement.

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