Wet Hot American Summer - wikipedia Wet Hot American Summer Wet Hot American Summer Theatrical release poster Directed by David Wain Produced by Howard Bernstein Written by David Wain Michael Showalter Starring Janeane Garofalo David Hyde Pierce Molly Shannon Paul Rudd Christopher Meloni Michael Showalter Music by Theodore Shapiro Craig Wedren Cinematography Ben Weinstein Edited by Meg Reticker Production company Eureka Pictures North Coast Group Distributed by USA Films Release date July 27, 2001 ( 2001 - 07 - 27 ) ( New York City ) Running time 97 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $1.8 million Box office $295,206 ( United States ) Wet Hot American Summer is a 2001 American satirical comedy film directed by David Wain from a screenplay written by Wain and Michael Showalter. The film features an ensemble cast, including Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Michael Showalter ( and various other members of MTV 's sketch comedy group The State ), Elizabeth Banks, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Zak Orth, and A.D. Miles. The film takes place during the last full day at a fictional summer camp in 1981, and spoofs the sex comedies aimed at teen audiences of that era. The film was a critical and commercial failure, but has since developed a cult following, as many of its cast members have gone on to high - profile work. Netflix released an eight - episode prequel series starring most of the film 's original cast on July 31, 2015. An eight - episode sequel series, set ten years after the original film, was released on August 4, 2017. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3.1 Background 3.2 Development 3.3 Filming 3.4 Music 3.5 Songs in the film 4 Release 5 Reception 6 Home media 7 Follow - ups 8 Legacy 8.1 Anniversary celebrations 8.2 Undeveloped TV series 8.3 Documentary 9 References 10 External links Plot In 1981, Camp Firewood, a summer camp located near Waterville, Maine, is preparing for its last day of camp. Counselors have one last chance to have a romantic encounter with another person at Camp Firewood. The summer culminates in a talent show. Beth ( Janeane Garofalo ), the camp director, struggles to keep her counselors in order -- and her campers alive -- while falling in love with Henry ( David Hyde Pierce ), an astrophysics associate professor at Colby College. Henry has to devise a plan to save the camp from a piece of NASA 's Skylab, which is falling to Earth. Coop ( Michael Showalter ) has a crush on Katie ( Marguerite Moreau ), his fellow counselor, but has to pry her away from her rebellious, obnoxious, and obviously unfaithful boyfriend, Andy ( Paul Rudd ). Only Gene ( Christopher Meloni ), the shell - shocked Vietnam war veteran and camp chef, can help Coop win Katie -- with some help from a talking can of mixed vegetables ( voiced by H. Jon Benjamin ). All the while, Gary ( A.D. Miles ), Gene 's unfortunately chosen apprentice, and J.J. ( Zak Orth ) attempt to figure out why McKinley ( Michael Ian Black ) has n't been with a woman, the reason being that McKinley is in love with Ben ( Bradley Cooper ), whom he marries in a ceremony in the lake ; Victor ( Ken Marino ) attempts to lose his virginity with the resident loose - girl Abby ( Marisa Ryan ) ; and Susie ( Amy Poehler ) and Ben attempt to produce and choreograph the greatest talent show Camp Firewood has ever seen. Cast Janeane Garofalo as Beth David Hyde Pierce as Professor Henry Newman Molly Shannon as Gail von Kleinenstein Paul Rudd as Andy Christopher Meloni as Gene Michael Showalter as Gerald `` Coop '' Cooperberg / Alan Shemper Marguerite Moreau as Katie Finnerty Ken Marino as Victor Pulak Michael Ian Black as McKinley Zak Orth as J.J. A.D. Miles as Gary Amy Poehler as Susie Bradley Cooper as Ben Marisa Ryan as Abby Bernstein Kevin Sussman as Steve Elizabeth Banks as Lindsay Joe Lo Truglio as Neil Gideon Jacobs as Aaron Judah Friedlander as Ron Von Kleinenstein H. Jon Benjamin as a Can of Mixed Vegetables Production Background The film is based on the experiences Wain had while attending Camp Modin, a Jewish camp, located in Belgrade, Maine, and Showalter had at Camp Mohawk in the Berkshires in Cheshire, Massachusetts. During one scene, the counselors take a trip into Waterville, Maine, which is not far from the camp. It is also a parody of, and homage to, other films about summer camp such as Meatballs ( 1979 ), Sleepaway Camp ( 1983 ), and Indian Summer ( 1993 ). According to Wain, they wanted to make a film structured like films such as Nashville, Dazed and Confused and Do the Right Thing -- `` films that take place in one contained time period that have lots of different characters. '' Development The film 's financing took three years to assemble ; in a June 2011 interview, Wain revealed the film 's budget was $1.8 million ; he noted that during the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, the film had been promoted as costing $5 million, in an attempt to attract a better offer from a distributor. Because of the film 's relatively small budget, the cast was paid very little ; Paul Rudd has stated that he is uncertain that he received any compensation at all for the film. Filming Principal photography lasted 28 days, and, according to director David Wain, it rained on every day of shooting. Exterior shots were filmed when possible, sometimes under covers or umbrellas, but some scenes were moved indoors instead. In many interior scenes, rain seen outside turns into sun as soon as characters step outside. Due to the cold, the actors ' breath can be seen in some outdoor scenes. The film was shot at Camp Towanda in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Music As the film is set in the early 1980s, the film 's soundtrack features songs from many popular bands of the era, most notably Jefferson Starship, Rick Springfield, Loverboy, and KISS. Songs in the film `` Jane '' by Jefferson Starship `` Juke Box Hero '' by Foreigner `` Backwards from Three '' by Craig Wedren and Theodore Shapiro `` Wet Hot American Summer '' by Craig Wedren `` Love is Alright Tonight '' by Rick Springfield `` Danny 's Song '' by Loggins & Messina `` Turn Me Loose '' by Loverboy `` Beth '' by Kiss `` Day By Day '' from Godspell `` Harden My Heart '' by Quarterflash `` Higher and Higher '' by Craig Wedren and Theodore Shapiro `` When It 's Over '' by Loverboy `` Wet Hot American Dream '' by Peter Salett `` Summer in America '' by Mr. Blue & Chubb Rock Release Wet Hot American Summer premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, where it was screened four times to sold - out crowds, though it failed to attract a distributor. Months later, USA Films offered the filmmakers $100,000 for the film, with virtually no participation for the filmmakers, an offer the film 's investors accepted. It premiered in New York City on July 27, 2001, then received a theatrical release limited to fewer than 30 cities. Reception Wet Hot American Summer received mostly negative reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 32 %, based on 66 reviews, with the site 's critical consensus reading, `` As comedy, Wet Hot American Summer is a slapdash, fragmented affair that misses more often than hits. As parody, it fails because it attempts to satirize something ridiculous and self - parodying in itself. '' Metacritic gives the film a score of 42 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating `` mixed or average reviews ''. Roger Ebert rated the film with one star out of four. His review took the form of a tongue - in - cheek parody of Allan Sherman 's `` Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh ''. In contrast, Entertainment Weekly 's Owen Gleiberman awarded the film an `` A '' and named it as one of the ten best films of the year. Newsweek 's David Ansen also lauded it, calling it a `` gloriously silly romp '' that `` made me laugh harder than any other movie this summer. Make that this year. '' Numerous other critics have praised the film as a witty pop satire and it has gone on to achieve a cult following. Actress Kristen Bell stated on NPR on September 2, 2012, that this was her favorite film of all time, having watched it `` hundreds of times ''. NPR host Jesse Thorn said on the April 29, 2014, episode of Bullseye, `` When someone has an open enough heart to accept this silliness - and that 's what it 's about for me, an open heart - if someone 's heart is open to Wet Hot American Summer, they love it. And that 's when I know that me and them, we 've got an unbreakable bond. Together forever. Like camp counselors. '' Home media The film was released in both VHS and DVD formats on January 15, 2002. In 2011, Wain tried to convince Universal Studios to do either a 10th anniversary home video re-release with extra features, or perhaps a Blu - ray release, but Universal rejected the idea. The film was released on Blu - ray on May 12, 2015. Follow - ups See also : Wet Hot American Summer : First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer : Ten Years Later The film is followed by two Netflix series with one serving as a prequel and one as a sequel. The prequel, First Day of Camp, was released on July 31, 2015, while the sequel, Ten Years Later, was released on August 4, 2017. Legacy Anniversary celebrations Events were held around the country to celebrate the film 's 10 - year anniversary in 2011 and 2012, including a screening of the film in Boston, an art show in Santa Monica of works inspired by the film with a reception hosted by Wain, a screening at the Los Angeles Film School with a Q&A with Wain, a midnight screening in Cleveland, Ohio, a 10th anniversary celebration event with the members of Stella in Brooklyn, and a reading of the script at the San Francisco Comedy Festival with much of the original cast. Undeveloped TV series During an interview with Variety, Wain and Showalter confirmed that they wrote a pilot to Fox for a possible TV series based on the film. Wain described the series as a `` 22 - minute Fox sitcom with commercials and nothing Rated R, so it was a little bit odd. '' The pilot was not picked up for a series. Documentary Alongside the prequel series, a making - of documentary, Hurricane of Fun : The Making of Wet Hot, was released on Netflix on July 24, 2015, consisting of behind - the - scenes interviews and footage shot during the filming of the movie. References ^ Jump up to : Jeff Goldsmith ( 2011 - 06 - 17 ). `` David Wain -- Wet Hot American Summer ''. Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith ( Podcast ). Blogger / Liberated Syndication. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 23. External link in website = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer ( 2001 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ Tobias, Scott ( 2008 - 06 - 11 ). `` The New Cult Canon : Wet Hot American Summer ''. The AV Club. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ `` The Rumpus ''. Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 02. Jump up ^ Scheer, Paul ( October 30, 2012 ). `` Sleepaway Camp, episode # 48 of How Did This Get Made ? ''. Earwolf. Retrieved 2015 - 08 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer ''. Sundance Institute. Archives. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 23. Jump up ^ Collis, Clark ( July 30, 2015 ). `` ' Wet Hot American Summer ' : The crazy story behind the cult classic ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 28, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Full Credit List ''. Wet Hot American Summer official website. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 15. ^ Jump up to : `` Wet Hot history ''. Wet Hot American Summer official website. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer ( 2001 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer ( 2001 ) ''. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2013 - 06 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer ''. Chicago Sun - Times. Roger Ebert Reviews. 2001 - 08 - 31. Retrieved 2009 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Review ''. Wet Hot American Summer official website. Retrieved 2011 - 02 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Bullseye with Jesse Thorn : Jim Rash, Bob Saget, Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham ''. Maximum Fun. 2014 - 04 - 29. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment : Wet Hot American Summer - UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 13, 2015 / PRNewswire / ''. Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer : First Day of Camp : Season 1 ''. Jump up ^ `` Netflix is going back to camp with Wet Hot American Summer : Ten Years Later ''. April 27, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Coolidge Corner Theatre -- Wet Hot American Summer ''. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer 6.10. 11 -- 6.29. 11 ''. Nao Live. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Wet Hot American Summer 10th Anniversary Q&A Screening with co-writer / director David Wain ! ''. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ Arcade Staff ( 2011 - 06 - 03 ). `` Cult movie classics get big - screen showings ''. The Morning Journal. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ Collis, Clark ( 2011 - 08 - 02 ). `` Wet Hot American Summer 10th anniversary : David Wain, Michael Showalter, and Joe Lo Truglio remember their days at Camp Firewood ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ `` The Cast Of Wet Hot American Summer Reunited At SF Sketchfest ''. Retrieved 2012 - 12 - 23. Jump up ^ Seabaugh, Julie ( July 29, 2015 ). `` ' Wet Hot American Summer ' : Oral History Details False Starts, Faking Camp Firewood ''. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Wet Hot American Summer Official website Wet Hot American Summer on IMDb Wet Hot American Summer at Box Office Mojo Wet Hot American Summer at Rotten Tomatoes Wet Hot American Summer at Metacritic Films directed by David Wain Wet Hot American Summer ( 2001 ) The Ten ( 2007 ) Role Models ( 2008 ) Wanderlust ( 2012 ) They Came Together ( 2014 ) A Futile and Stupid Gesture ( 2017 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wet_Hot_American_Summer&oldid=797449626 '' Categories : 2001 films English - language films 2000s LGBT - related films 2000s romantic comedy films American films American independent films American LGBT - related films American romantic comedy films American satirical films American sex comedy films American teen comedy films Directorial debut films Films about Jews and Judaism Films adapted into television programs Films directed by David Wain Films set in Maine Films set in 1981 Films shot in Pennsylvania Honesdale, Pennsylvania Summer camps in films Hidden categories : CS1 errors : external links Use mdy dates from June 2015 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Deutsch Español Français 한국어 Italiano Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 27 August 2017, at 03 : 39. 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Question: when does wet hot american summer take place
Answer: 1981