Kevin Smith Remembers His Best Movie On Its 25th Anniversary
Kevin Smith's career experienced several highs and lows.
This article is more than 2 years old
It’s been 25 years since Kevin Smith introduced audiences to Holden and Alyssa’s comedic love story. Now, to commemorate Chasing Amy’s milestone anniversary, the director shared a heartfelt message with fans on social media. “After getting a standing ovation at her Sundance debut, Amy opened in NYC and LA before moving to 500 screens nationwide two weeks later,” he wrote about the sleeper hit. In the lengthy post, alongside a photo of the young cast, the comic book writer also credited Chasing Amy with reviving his career after Mallrats didn’t make the best impression with Hollywood bosses.
Check out Kevin Smith’s post celebrating the 25th anniversary of Chasing Amy below:
Written and directed by Kevin Smith, Chasing Amy was released in 1997. The story follows a comic book artist named Holden McNeil, played by Ben Affleck. He falls for fellow artist, the bisexual Alyssa Jones. But his hopes are dashed when he discovers that his best friend doesn’t like her. Although some parts of Chasing Amy didn’t age well in terms of political correctness, it is still one of Smith’s best films. It showcases his skills as a filmmaker with brilliant dialogue, humor, and storytelling. At its core, Chasing Amy served as an emotional examination of two people who love each, while knowing their relationship will never work out.
In the Instagram post, Kevin Smith also talked about how Chasing Amy helped its stars find fame in other big movies. Jerry Bruckheimer cast Ben Affleck in Armageddon, Adam Sandler handpicked Joey for Big Daddy, and Jason Lee landed a role in Enemy of the State. Following its success, Smith was also hired to do some rewrites on the Coyote Ugly script. The romantic comedy also introduced fans to the Jay and Silent Bob alter egos of Bluntman and Chronic, drawn by comic book legend Michael Allred.
After Chasing Amy’s resounding success, Kevin Smith’s career experienced several highs and lows. Dogma, his 1999 American fantasy comedy was a hit, but Jersey Girl and Zack and Miri Make a Porno failed to impress. But over the years, Smith created his own identity as a filmmaker with loyal fans who have stuck with him for the epic ride. His unique career was also highlighted in the 2021 documentary Clerk, which examined the life and career of the indie filmmaking icon.
Meanwhile, the comedian’s career continues to blossom. He is currently serving as writer and producer on Masters of the Universe: Revelations and has been hard at work on Clerks III. Directed, written, and produced, by Kevin Smith, the highly anticipated movie will serve as a sequel to the 1994 and 2006 movies. The story begins when Randal Graves survives a heart attack and decides to make a movie with his best pal, Dante Hicks about their lives at the Quick Stop. Clerks III will star Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Jason Mewes, and Smith. The film is set to be released later this year.
