by Alex Billington
June 28, 2026
Source: YouTube
“Wetter. Hotter. American-er.” Focus Features has released a quick new official trailer to celebrate the 25th Anniversary re-release of the classic raunchy indie comedy Wet Hot American Summer. Believe it or not, this premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and ended up becoming a cult hit when it landed in theaters. Returning again to theaters in August this summer for its 25th – bring all your friends for a fun time. It’s the last day at Camp Firewood, but there’s still time for the big talent show, a little romance… and for everyone to be wiped out by the piece of NASA’s Skylab that’s hurtling toward Earth. Directed by David Wain and co-written by David Wain & Michael Showalter, Wet Hot American Summer is widely regarded as one of the most influential cult comedies of all time, introducing audiences to one of the most remarkable comedy ensembles of its generation. The wild cast features Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shannon, Christopher Meloni, Michael Ian Black, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, and Michael Showalter. This film is such a goofy, horny, funny comedy from a whole other era. They made a sequel (and a series), but the OG is still the best.
New 25th Anniversary trailer (+ poster) for David Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer, via YouTube:
And here’s the original 2001 trailer for David Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer, also from YouTube:
The setting is Camp Firewood, the year 1981. It’s the last day before everyone goes back to the real world, but there’s still a summer’s worth of unfinished business to resolve. Center of the action is camp director Beth, who struggles to keep order while she falls in love with the local astrophysics professor. He is busy trying to save the camp from a deadly piece of NASA’s Skylab which is hurtling toward earth. All that, plus: a dangerous waterfall rescue, love triangles, misfits, cool kids, talking vegetable tins. The questions will all be resolved, of course, at the big talent show at the end of the day. Wet Hot American Summer is directed by the American comedy writer / filmmaker David Wain, his first feature film at the time before going on to make The Ten (in 2007) after. The screenplay is written by David Wain and Michael Showalter. Produced by Howard Bernstein. This originally premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival years ago and opened in theaters that summer. Focus Features will re-release David Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer in US theaters nationwide starting on August 14th, 2026 in the summer (of course). Who’s ready to return?
