The Best Man is a classic and truly set a standard for portraying Black professionals on screen.
The Malcolm D. Lee-directed film was one of the few romantic dramedies at that time that focused on Black love.
For many, The Best Man was a film about aspiration—whether it be the friendships possible in your adult years or the successful careers you could have. It was a beautiful film where its Black male characters were not portrayed as broke, dealing drugs, or in prison.
The Best Man became a hit at the box office, grossing $35 million on a $6 million budget.
As we celebrate its 25th anniversary, here are seven facts you might not know about this beloved classic.
1. The Original Title was “My Homeboy’s Wedding”
While now iconic, the film nearly hit theaters under a completely different title. Originally conceived as My Homeboy’s Wedding, the more polished The Best Man better captured the film’s exploration of friendship, love and loyalty among its ensemble cast.
2. Malcolm D. Lee’s Directorial Debut
The Best Man marked Lee’s directorial debut. Prior to the 1999 film, he worked as a screenwriter and producer and was also a production assistant on Malcolm X with his cousin, Spike Lee.
3. Malcolm D. Lee Initially Wrote The Script For Will Smith and Jada Pinkett
In an interview, Lee shared that he had read that Will Smith was having a hard time finding movies for himself and his wife, Jada Pinkett. After reading this, Lee decided to write a script for them, which turned out to be The Best Man. Ultimately, however, Lee went in a different direction.
4. Larenz Tate Was Offered The Role of Harper Stewart
Despite being offered the lead role of Harper Stewart, Larenz Tate decided to turn it down. His reasoning? The character felt too similar to his role in Love Jones, which came out a few years before.
5. Regina Hall’s Feature Film Debut
Regina Hall made her feature film debut as Candy, the stripper who captures Julian’s attention at the bachelor party. Prior to The Best Man, Hall appeared in several television shows, including Living Single in the late 1990s. She also had guest appearances in series like The Cosby Show.
6. Regina Hall Walked Out Of Her Audition Because She Couldn’t Dance
In what’s now one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Hall initially walked out of her audition because she couldn’t dance, according to Entertainment Weekly. Despite this, she still got the role, and a choreographer was hired to help her.
7. Nicole Ari Parker auditioned for the role of Shelby
Nicole Ari Parker auditioned for the role of Shelby, which ultimately went to Melissa De Sousa. Parker would later on portray Xiomara Amani in The Best Man: The Final Chapters.
