“Wild Wild West” is a 1999 American Western steampunk action-comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh, and Salma Hayek. The film is loosely based on the 1960s TV series of the same name.
The film is set in 1869 and follows two Secret Service agents, James West (Will Smith) and Artemus Gordon (Kevin Kline), who are tasked with stopping a mad scientist, Dr. Arliss Loveless (Kenneth Branagh), from overthrowing the United States government.
The film received negative reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing just over $222 million worldwide against a production budget of $170 million. However, it has since gained a cult following for its over-the-top action sequences, steampunk aesthetics, and performances by the lead actors.
Cast
The main cast of “Wild Wild West” includes:
- Will Smith as James West, a Secret Service agent who is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and weapons
- Kevin Kline as Artemus Gordon, a fellow Secret Service agent who is a master of disguise and an inventor
- Kenneth Branagh as Dr. Arliss Loveless, a mad scientist who seeks to destroy the United States government
- Salma Hayek as Rita Escobar, a woman who gets caught up in James and Artemus’ mission
- M. Emmet Walsh as Coleman, the head of the Secret Service
- Ted Levine as General “Bloodbath” McGrath, one of Loveless’ henchmen
- Bai Ling as Miss East, another one of Loveless’ henchmen
The film also features smaller roles from actors such as Frederique Van Der Wal, Musetta Vander, and Sofia Eng.
Production
“Wild Wild West” was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and produced by Jon Peters and Barry Sonnenfeld. The screenplay was written by S. S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, Jeffrey Price, and Peter S. Seaman.
The film was primarily shot on location in California, with some additional filming taking place in Arizona and Utah. The production budget was estimated to be around $170 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever made at the time.
The film features a memorable theme song, “Wild Wild West”, performed by Will Smith, which became a hit single and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Despite its negative reviews, “Wild Wild West” was a financial success, grossing over $222 million worldwide. However, it was not as successful as the studio had hoped, and its underperformance was partially attributed to the film’s bloated budget and troubled production.
Reviews
“Wild Wild West” received negative reviews from critics upon its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 17% based on 121 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The site’s consensus reads, “Bombastic, manic, and largely laugh-free, Wild Wild West is a bizarre misfire in which greater care was lavished upon the special effects than on the script.”
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film one out of four stars, calling it “one of the worst movies I’ve seen this year–a movie that doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with the titles it borrows for inspiration.”
However, some critics did praise the film’s production design and special effects. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, “The production design has a daffy, steam-punk verve, and the movie’s derring-do and dynamite showdowns have been constructed with dizzying craftsmanship.”
Despite its negative reviews, “Wild Wild West” has gained a small cult following over the years for its over-the-top action sequences, steampunk aesthetics, and performances by the lead actors, particularly Will Smith and Kevin Kline.
Where are they now?
Here is some information about what the main cast of “Wild Wild West” is up to now:
- Will Smith has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing roles. Some of his notable recent credits include “Aladdin” (2019), “Bad Boys for Life” (2020), and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion” (2020).
- Kevin Kline has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also done some stage work. Some of his notable recent credits include “The Good House” (2021), “Present Laughter” (Broadway play, 2019), and “Beauty and the Beast” (2017).
- Kenneth Branagh has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also directed and produced several projects. Some of his notable recent credits include “Tenet” (2020), “Murder on the Orient Express” (2017), and “All Is True” (2018).
- Salma Hayek has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing roles. Some of her notable recent credits include “Like a Boss” (2020), “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” (2021), and “Monarca” (TV series, 2019-2021).
- M. Emmet Walsh has continued to act in films and television shows. Some of his notable recent credits include “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” (2018) and “Better Call Saul” (TV series, 2015-2021).
- Ted Levine has continued to act in films and television shows. Some of his notable recent credits include “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018) and “The Alienist” (TV series, 2018-2020).
- Bai Ling has continued to act in films and television shows. Some of her notable recent credits include “The Key” (2021) and “Pali Road” (2015).
Overall, the main cast of “Wild Wild West” has continued to have successful acting careers in film and television, with some also taking on producing or directing roles.
Fun facts
Sure, here are some fun facts about “Wild Wild West”:
- The film was based on the 1960s TV series of the same name, which starred Robert Conrad as James West and Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon. The TV series was known for its steampunk-inspired gadgets and technology.
- Will Smith was originally offered the lead role in “The Matrix”, but turned it down in order to star in “Wild Wild West”.
- The giant mechanical spider that appears in the film’s climactic battle scene was originally intended to be featured in an unmade Superman film directed by Tim Burton.
- Kevin Kline reportedly signed on to the film without reading the script, simply because he wanted to work with director Barry Sonnenfeld again after their successful collaboration on “The Addams Family” and “Addams Family Values”.
- Salma Hayek’s character, Rita Escobar, was not in the original TV series, and was created specifically for the film.
- The film’s villain, Dr. Arliss Loveless, is named after a real-life Confederate Civil War veteran named Albert Loveless, who lost his arms and legs in battle and went on to become an inventor.
- The film’s budget ballooned during production due to various issues, including several accidents on set, delays caused by inclement weather, and disagreements between the filmmakers and the studio.
Box office
“Wild Wild West” was a commercial disappointment despite its high budget. The film grossed just over $222 million worldwide against a production budget of $170 million.
In the United States and Canada, the film opened in 3,342 theaters and grossed $27.7 million in its opening weekend, debuting at #1 at the box office. The film went on to gross $113.8 million domestically.
Internationally, the film grossed $108.9 million, with its highest-grossing markets being Japan ($17.6 million), Germany ($11.5 million), and the United Kingdom ($9.6 million).
Despite its underperformance, “Wild Wild West” still managed to earn a significant amount of money at the box office and has since gained a small cult following.
