Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015)
The beloved Camp Firewood crew is back — younger, wilder, and just as gloriously chaotic as ever in this Netflix prequel series.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp - Series Information
- Original Title: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
- First Air Year: 2015
- Last Air Year: 2015
- Created by: David Wain, Michael Showalter
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 8
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: July 31, 2015 (United States - TV-MA), July 31, 2015 (Australia - MA15+), July 31, 2015 (Brazil - 14), July 31, 2015 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Netflix
- Alternative Titles: Wet Hot American Summer (US)
- Production Companies: Abominable Pictures, Showalter Wain, Principato-Young Entertainment
- Production Countries: United States of America
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp - Plot
It's the first day of camp in this outrageous prequel to the hilarious 2001 cult classic movie. And at Camp Firewood, anything can happen.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp - Trailer
Preview the series and see what awaits at Camp Firewood:
Watch Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp video on YouTube ↗
They're younger. They're hotter. They're wetter.
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Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- David Wain
- Michael Showalter
Main Cast
- Janeane Garofalo
- Molly Shannon
- Paul Rudd
- Christopher Meloni
- Ken Marino
- Amy Poehler
- Bradley Cooper
- Chris Pine
- Jason Schwartzman
- John Slattery
Writers
- Michael Showalter
- David Wain
- Christina Lee
Executive Producers
- Michael Showalter
- Peter Principato
- David Wain
- Jonathan Stern
- Howard Bernstein
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp - FAQs
Where can you stream Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp?
The series is available to stream on Netflix, including on Netflix Standard with Ads. It's a Netflix original, so you won't find it on other major platforms — a subscription or the ad-supported tier is all you need to dive into Camp Firewood.
How is this series connected to the 2001 film?
First Day of Camp is a direct prequel to the 2001 cult comedy film Wet Hot American Summer. Set earlier on the very first day of camp, it reunites nearly the entire original cast — now playing younger versions of their characters — for a fresh round of absurdist humor and nostalgic chaos.
Who are the main actors in the series?
The ensemble cast is stacked with talent: Janeane Garofalo, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Ken Marino, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pine, Jason Schwartzman, and John Slattery all return, reprising their roles from the original film.
Why do older actors play younger characters in the show?
That's entirely the joke. The original film was already famous for casting adults in their 30s as teenagers, and the prequel leans into that absurdity even harder. Actors who were already too old in 2001 now play even younger versions of those same characters — and the show revels in every second of it.
Who created Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp?
The series was created by David Wain and Michael Showalter, the same duo behind the original 2001 film. Their signature brand of deadpan absurdism and affectionate 1980s parody carries over seamlessly into the Netflix prequel.
How many episodes does the series have?
First Day of Camp consists of 8 episodes, all released at once on Netflix on July 31, 2015. Each episode runs around 30 minutes, making the whole season an easy binge — roughly four hours of gloriously ridiculous summer camp comedy.
Is Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp worth watching?
If you love the original film, it's an absolute treat. The series packs in more celebrity cameos, sharper parody, and even wilder plot tangents than the movie. Critics praised its commitment to chaos, and fans of the cult classic found it a worthy — and hilarious — return to Camp Firewood.
Are there any similar shows to watch after this?
The most obvious next step is Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later, the 2017 Netflix follow-up that reunites the cast once more. For similar ensemble comedies, Freaks and Geeks captures that same nostalgic coming-of-age energy, while Acapulco and The Full Monty offer comparably warm, character-driven laughs.
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