Prime Highlights
- The always hilarious 1991 movie Father of the Bride, starring Steve Martin, first aired on ABC on July 27, 2025, during a Disney’s Wonderful World of Disney presentation.
- The episode was a tribute to the enduring tradition of Martin, who celebrated his milestone 80th birthday on August 14, 2025.
Key Facts
- In it, 1991, the movie is a remake of the 1950 version and stars Steve Martin as George Banks.
- Cast: Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin, George Newbern, and Martin Short.
Key Background
The 1991 remake of Father of the Bride by Charles Shyer and written by him and Nancy Meyers rewired the 1950 original. Steve Martin stars as George Banks, patriarch, whose life is disrupted by his daughter Annie’s, played by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, engagement. Wryly enough, the movie ticks through George’s not wanting to relinquish, cash worries, and efforts to rein in runaway wedding.
The film resonated deeply with film audiences by combining heartwarming family scenes and sardonic humor. The film grossed a little over $129 million at the foreign box office on a budget of just $20 million, standing as one of the classic family films of the 1990s. Critics were upset at Martin’s unapologetic crossing of boundaries between comedy and sentiment, and Diane Keaton brought warmth to the proceedings through her portrayal of fond wife Nina Banks.
The entire cast of ensemble was adding to the fun of the film. Martin Short’s over-the-top portrayal of the foppish wedding planner Franck Eggelhoffer was also cultural phenomenon, and Kieran Culkin as Matty, George’s son, was giving some fine belly laughs. George Newbern as Bryan, Annie’s fiancé, was finishing off the wholesome final family piece to create a film that was fulfilling to a couple of generations.
ABC broadcast the classic on July 27, 2025, under its awful World of Disney banner as a nostalgic homage to mark the forthcoming 80th birthday of Steve Martin. The broadcast was a homage to Martin’s comedy heritage and to the enduring fashionability of the film.
ABC’s Sunday night airing of Father of the Bride makes it ensconced in its reputation for airing television’s greatest family classics on Sunday evenings. Similar to such as Avatar: The Way of Water and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, arriving shortly in the future, the network continues to hone its appeal by combining nostalgia with box office successes.
