Director Paul Feig recently opened up about the significant stress he encountered prior to the release of his acclaimed film ‘Bridesmaids.’
At the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, Feig spoke candidly about the expectations placed on ‘Bridesmaids,’ particularly as a female-led comedy. According to Feig, many aspiring female screenwriters were told by studios they had to wait for the movie’s performance before pitching their own projects. ‘I was like, ‘F**k! Don’t put that on me. Am I gonna ruin movies for women?’ Feig recalled, conveying his anxiety at the time.
Feig also drew a comparison to the male-centric comedy ‘The Hangover,’ pointing out that there weren’t similar hesitations towards greenlighting male-led projects based on that film’s performance. ‘I don’t think with ‘The Hangover’ they said, ‘I’m gonna wait to see all these dudes on screen before we do this again.’ But thank god it did well,’ he added, grateful for ‘Bridesmaids” success.
The film, starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, and Rose Byrne, exceeded expectations by becoming a box office hit and earning several Oscar nominations. Despite predictions of failure and a challenging first screening, ‘Bridesmaids’ grossed nearly $300 million. Feig described an emotional rollercoaster leading up to its release; at one point, industry insiders predicted it would earn only $13 million on opening weekend, which would have deemed it a failure. Feig remembered thinking, ‘I guess I destroyed comedy for women,’ highlighting the immense pressure on the film to perform.
When the positive box office numbers began to come in, Feig was celebrating with Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone at his home. ‘We all got in the car. We went down to the (Los Angeles cineplex) ArcLight Cinema and it was packed. It was the greatest moment of our lives,’ Feig recounted, reflecting on the relief and joy that came with the film’s success.
Paul Feig’s reflections on ‘Bridesmaids’ underscore the challenges and triumphs experienced in bringing female-led stories to the forefront of Hollywood, marking a significant moment not just for him, but for the industry.
