Bridesmaids, the 2011 American comedy film, was produced by Apatow Productions. The film was directed by Paul Feig and written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, who also starred in the film. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $26 million in its opening weekend and surpassing Knocked Up to become the top-grossing Apatow production at the time.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name of Production Company | Apatow Productions |
Producers | Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Clayton Townsend |
What You'll Learn
Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel and Clayton Townsend produced the film
Bridesmaids is an American comedy that centres on Annie, played by Wiig, who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honour for her best friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. The film also stars Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey as fellow bridesmaids, with Chris O'Dowd, Jon Hamm, and Jill Clayburgh in key supporting roles.
The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $26 million in its opening weekend and eventually making over $300 million worldwide. It received a 90% overall approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and served as a touchstone for discussions about women in comedy.
Bridesmaids was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and received multiple other accolades. In 2012, the film was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay. This made it the first Apatow-produced film to be nominated for an Academy Award.
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It was directed by Paul Feig
Bridesmaids was directed by Paul Feig, who is also known for his work on the films Jackpot! and The School for Good and Evil. Feig's involvement with Bridesmaids began in 2007 when he came across the screenplay written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig. Feig has expressed the pressure he felt in directing Bridesmaids, knowing that its success or failure would impact the future of female-led comedies in Hollywood.
Feig's concerns proved to be unfounded, as Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success. The film made $26 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada and eventually grossed over $288 million worldwide. It received positive reviews, with a 90% overall approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 7.5/10. The film was also nominated for several awards, including two Academy Awards, and is often credited with helping to advance the role of women in comedy.
In addition to directing Bridesmaids, Feig has also acted in front of the camera, making an uncredited cameo appearance in the film as one of the wedding guests.
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The screenplay was written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig
The screenplay for Bridesmaids was written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, who are both actresses. The two women met at The Groundlings, a Los Angeles-based improvisational comedy troupe, in the early 2000s. They wrote sketches together and became friends. In 2006, Wiig was cast in a supporting role in producer Judd Apatow's comedy film Knocked Up. Recognising her comedic talent, Apatow asked Wiig if she had any ideas for a screenplay. This question sparked the idea for Bridesmaids, and Wiig and Mumolo began writing the script. At the time, Wiig was working on Saturday Night Live in New York City, while Mumolo was in Los Angeles. Despite the distance, they met on weekends and conducted semi-regular table reads of drafts for Apatow to get his suggestions and notes.
The basic premise for Bridesmaids originated with Wiig and Mumolo, but the script was later directed by Paul Feig. Feig first came across the script in 2007 and, when he signed on as director in 2010, he felt a lot of pressure for the film to succeed. He said:
> "There was an edict from Hollywood where they were all going, 'Okay, this is a movie starring a bunch of women. If this works, we'll greenlight more, and if it doesn't, we won't... I was really sweating because if this didn't work then I'm basically the man who killed movies for women for eternity. So, thank God it worked."
Bridesmaids was released in 2011 and was a critical and commercial success. The film made $26 million in its opening weekend and eventually earned over $300 million worldwide. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and received multiple other accolades. It was also the first Apatow-produced film to be nominated for an Academy Award.
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The film was nominated for two Oscars
Bridesmaids was produced by Apatow Productions, and was nominated for two Oscars. The film received a total of 72 nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo at the Academy Awards. McCarthy was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.
The film's success was a breakthrough for female-led comedies, and it grossed over $288 million worldwide. It was directed by Paul Feig and starred Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, and Chris O'Dowd, among others. The plot centres on Annie (Wiig), who experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to be her best friend Lillian's (Rudolph) maid of honour. The film explores the competition between the maid of honour and a bridesmaid, threatening to ruin Annie's life.
Bridesmaids received critical acclaim for its smart performances, insightful exploration of women's friendships, and scurrilous gags. It currently holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for its female-driven storyline, refusing to be boxed in by traditional comedic rules. The film's success sparked discussions about women in comedy and proved that female-led comedies could be commercially successful.
In addition to the Oscar nominations, Bridesmaids received numerous other accolades. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and won several other awards, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay at the Critics' Choice Awards. The film's success extended beyond award nominations, as it sparked conversations about the representation and success of female-led comedies in Hollywood.
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It was released in 2011
Bridesmaids was released in 2011 to critical and commercial success. The film was directed by Paul Feig and written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig. It was produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend. The film stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, and Melissa McCarthy, among others.
Upon its release in the United States and Canada on May 13, 2011, Bridesmaids grossed $26 million in its opening weekend and eventually made over $288 million worldwide. The film received positive reviews, with praise for its screenplay and performances. It currently holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The success of Bridesmaids was significant for female-led comedies and sparked discussions about women in comedy. It proved that female-driven comedies could be critically and commercially successful, serving as a touchstone for conversations about the representation and involvement of women in comedy films.
Bridesmaids was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture in the Musical or Comedy category. It also received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay, making it the first Apatow-produced film to receive Academy recognition.
The film's release in 2011 left a lasting impact on the film industry, particularly for comedies centred on female experiences and friendships.
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Frequently asked questions
Apatow Productions.
Paul Feig.
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig.
Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend.
Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Chris O'Dowd.