On Friday, Netflix will debut the entire season of Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, a prequel — 14 years later — to the cult hit Wet Hot American Summer. The series is a joyous reunion of our favorites from the movie — which is no surprise, because these actors clearly love working together. Here are 10 other movies and television shows featuring mini-reunions from one of the best casts in history.
They Came Together (Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Michael Ian Black, Christopher Meloni, David Wain, Ken Marino, Zak Orth)
Last year’s They Came Together, directed by David Wain (and written by Wain and Michael Showalter), was a wonderful parody of romantic-comedies. The smart spoof managed to both capture the basic beats of rom-coms while also maintaining Wain/Showalter’s combined spirit and sense of humor.
The Baxter (Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Zak Orth, Michael Ian Black, Paul Rudd, David Wain, A.D. Miles, Joe Lo Truglio)
In the same vein as They Came Together, but unfortunately not quite as successful, The Baxter can also be considered a rom-com spoof (with Showalter directing instead of Wain) as it follows the man who was dumped at the altar, rather than the woman who flees.
Party Down (Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio)
Party Down is best known as a mini-Veronica Mars reunion (both the actors and behind the scenes) but one of the series’ best episodes is Season 1’s “James Rolf High School Twentieth Reunion” in which a sloppy drunk Joe Lo Truglio reunites with a sloppy drunk Ken Marino.
Our Idiot Brother (Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks)
Sure, it’s a little weird seeing Rudd and Banks play siblings after their hamburger make out session in Wet Hot American Summer but Our Idiot Brother is occasionally charming and funny, with a solid cast to back it up.
Wainy Days (David Wain, A.D. Miles, Ken Marino, Elizabeth Banks, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Rudd, Michael Showalter, Zak Orth)
My personal favorite on this list, Wainy Days is not only a super-packed Wet Hot reunion (it’s very Stella) but also a genuinely funny and clever web series. The comedy follows a “lightly fictionalized” version of David Wain’s romantic (or lack thereof) life in New York City.
Role Models (Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, A.D. Miles, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, David Wain)
Rudd and Banks reunite as a couple — sort of — in Role Models, a silly but underrated comedy about two men who have to participate in a big-brother program as part of community service. Multiple Wet Hot alumni pop up in the film — and in the credits: Wain, Rudd, and Marino are all co-writers.
Parks and Recreation (Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, H. Jon Benjamin)
Hands down, the best part of Paul Rudd’s multi-episode stint on Parks and Recreation (as Leslie’s political opponent) was how closely Bobby Newport’s bored frustration mirrored Andy’s.
The Ten (Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, A.D. Miles, Zak Orth, David Wain, Joe Lo Truglio, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Janeane Garofalo, H. Jon Benjamin)
Admittedly, The Ten is better in premise than execution. The David Wain directed comedy told ten stories that each loosely reflected one of the Ten Commandments (basically the zany version of The Decalogue) and though not all of them hit, it’s worth viewing for the cast alone.
30 Rock (Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Elizabeth Banks, Zak Orth, Judah Friedlander)
Let’s be honest: We’ll take any opportunity to remind you that rewatching 30 Rock at least once a year is necessary for a healthy pop culture diet.
Childrens Hospital (Michael Showalter, Ken Marino, Joe Lo Truglio, Judah Friedlander, David Wain, A.D. Miles)
This medical parody drama is one of the funniest gems on television. The satire, which was created by Rob Corddry and co-produced by David Wain, is completely addicting — especially if you’ve ever gotten sucked into Grey’s Anatomy marathons. The Wet Hot actors that have made cameos have all fit in perfectly with the series’ bizarre, dark sensibility.