15 Years Ago, This Cult Classic Masterpiece Changed Hollywood Forever

2 weeks ago 14

Published Mar 17, 2026, 6:06 AM EDT

Zach is a Movies & TV Features Writer at Collider. Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, Zach carries a bachelor's degree in Theatre and Playwriting. He has been featured in sketches on 'Saturday Night Live' and 'Above Average Comedy.' He cut his writing teeth as an editor on early internet sites such as eBaum's World, theCHIVE, and Ranker.

Zach regularly covers multiple festivals including SXSW, ATX TV Festival, and New York Comic Con. He has had the privilege of interviewing artists such as Aziz Ansari, Tony Hawk, Jillian Bell, Martin Starr, Skeet Ulrich, Hawthorne Heights, and many more!

When Paul Feig teamed up with fellow writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, their creation was destined to become something truly special. And during an era that was overflowing with bro plots and buddy movies, Bridesmaids changed the course of comedy. Complete with an arsenal of talent including Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, and Ellie Kemper, this raunchy 2011 whirlwind of a film would go on to be nominated for two Academy Awards. It should come as no surprise, then, that Bridesmaids has become a cult classic in its own right, and solidified itself as one of the best comedies of the last 15 years.

It's no secret that the early aughts belonged to movies such as Superbad, Hot Rod, Step Brothers, and The Hangover. The latter of which has drawn multiple comparisons to Paul Feig's bridal party comedy gone awry. Nothing against the hilarious and talented crew behind The Hangover, but they didn't have Best Supporting Actress nominee Melissa McCarthy as part of their cast. Nor did they have Best Original Screenplay nominees, Wiig and Mumolo. Bridesmaids changed the landscape of what a comedy could be, and continues to inspire filmmakers 15 years later.

‘Bridesmaids’ Cast Was Too Talented to Fail

The main characters from Bridesmaids walking down a jetway

Kudos to Casting Director Allison Jones for assembling this phenomenal and star-studded ensemble. Hiring two of Saturday Night Live's most talented alumni in Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph never hurts. But the supporting cast is nothing to scoff at. Melissa McCarthy steals the show in a way that only she can do. Rose Byrne takes pettiness to an entirely different level as Wiig's new best friend. Ellie Kemper was an up-and-coming actress who had just joined NBC's The Office. That would've been plenty if the names ended there.

Lest we forget Jon Hamm as the cringe-worthy friend with benefits. Chris O'Dowd as the good guy who eventually gets the girl. Throw in cameos by Rebel Wilson, Tim Heidecker, and Melissa McCarthy's real-life husband, Ben Falcone. What more could you ask for out of a cast? It's not every day that an ensemble includes so many alternating personalities with different comedic styles, but that's what makes Bridesmaids so funny. The movie takes an incredibly ordinary and relatable scenario, and drops all of these unique characters into that world.

Paul Feig Found His Audience and Cleaned House at the Box Office

Director Paul Feig cameo in 'Bridesmaids.'

'90s kids will remember Paul Feig's name from the summer camp comedy Heavyweights. Feig portrayed Tim, the skinny camp counselor. So there was never a question about his comedic abilities. These days, Feig's resume speaks for itself. His directorial television debut was an episode of Freaks and Geeks. From there, his career took off. Projects that Feig has directed include Arrested Development, The Office, 30 Rock, and Weeds, just to name a few.

All of that being said, it's hard to imagine any other outcome than what Bridesmaids accomplished. Against a budget of $32.5 million, Feig and crew raked in nearly $290 million at the box office worldwide. According to Box Office Mojo, the film ranked 22 for worldwide box office earnings out of every film released in 2011. To put that into perspective, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was ranked first. It's easy to see that Paul Feig was the right man for the job.

Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray, speaks into a walkie-talkie in 'Ghostbusters'.

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‘Bridesmaids’ Took the Road Less Traveled and Paved the Way for Future Comedies

Without Bridesmaids, there would be no Broad City. There would be no Obvious Child. There would be no Booksmart. Kristen Wiig and company proved that a female-led cast could carry a comedy well beyond everyone's expectations. Even without the impressive showing at the box office, two Academy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations don't lie. At the end of the day, comedy has to originate in a place of truth and honesty. That's why this film works so well. It's relatable and it's based in truth.

Between the director, the cast, the script, and the era in which the film was released, there's no way that Bridesmaids wasn't going to succeed. As good movies tend to do, Bridesmaids has found an even larger audience in the years since its release. It's safe to say that the movie has reached cult classic status. The core of the cast reunited at the 2026 Academy Awards as presenters, and if that's not proof enough that things can change... Just hold on for one more day.