Wayne’s World, the big-screen adaptation of the popular 1990s Saturday Night Live sketch, turns 30 years old today.
The big-screen adventure of Mike Myers‘ Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey‘s Garth Algar was made for just $20 million, but it went on to earn over a most excellent $180 million worldwide — the most successful SNL sketch-turned-movie to date. However, considering some others included A Night at the Roxbury, It’s Pat and The Ladies Man, that might not come as a surprise.
Wayne’s World made #5 on 1992’s list of the Top 10 highest-grossing films, with a performance that year of more than $120 million.
The movie centered on the titular pair’s tangling with a TV producer played by Rob Lowe, who wants to take their Aurora, Illinois, public access show to the big time. However, along the way, the producer tries to sabotage the deal, and steal Wayne’s rock-singer girlfriend, played by Tia Carrere.
The movie, which also starred Ed O’Neill, Brian Doyle Murray, the late Chris Farley and Lara Flynn Boyle, also had cameos from Alice Cooper and the late Meat Loaf.
The film boasted a number-one soundtrack that included Cooper, who performs in the film, as well as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Cinderella, among others.
However, the most famous contribution to the film might just be Queen‘s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which saw new life after it was included in Wayne’s World‘s memorable headbanging car-cruising scene. The song re-entered the charts and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Director Penelope Spheeris has said she had to “walk on eggshells” with Myers, who was reportedly nervous about losing the spotlight to Carvey, who at the time was a bigger star.
Although she’s since softened on reported tensions with Myers, she wasn’t asked to direct the movie’s 1993 sequel — and in retrospect it was a blessing: The follow-up was not nearly the critical and commercial hit that the original movie was.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
In Brazil, Madonna sets record for largest stand-alone concert in history
May 5, 2024
PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty ImagesMadonna capped her Celebration Tour with a free show at the…
Dua Lipa gives us “everything” as host and musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live’
May 5, 2024
Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty ImagesDua Lipa pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live on May 4,…
Adam Driver is a man literally on the edge in tease to Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’
May 4, 2024
ABCOn Saturday morning, May 4, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola dropped a tease to his…
May the cash be with you: Julien’s putting massive trove of ‘Star Wars’ stuff on the auction block
May 3, 2024
Julien's AuctionsTimed in anticipation of May 4's Star Wars Day, Julien's Auctions and Turner…
New Music Friday: Meghan Trainor, Sia and more
May 3, 2024
This week's New Music Friday features new singles from big names and notable album releases from…
NBC renews ‘Night Court’ reboot for a third season
May 3, 2024
NBC/Nicole WeingartNight Court will stay in session at NBC. The network announced on May 3 that the…
Nicholas Galitzine on how BTS inspired his role in ‘The Idea of You’
May 3, 2024
Alisha Wetherill/PrimeNicholas Galitzine plays Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of the fictional boy…
Fourth season of ‘Emily In Paris’ will be split in two
May 3, 2024
Netflix/Stephanie BranchuOn Friday, May 3, the cast of Netflix's Emily In Paris teased the show's…