Writer/director Kevin Smith takes to Twitter to share a behind-the-scenes image from Mallrats to celebrate the cult comedy's 26th anniversary. The second installment in Smith's View Askewniverse acts as a chronological prequel to Clerks and centers on best friends Brodie and T.S. in a typical day at the mall for them after being dumped by their girlfriends. The cast for Mallrats was led by Jason Lee and Jeremy London alongside Shannen Doherty, Claire Forlani, Ben Affleck in his first collaboration with Smith, Joey Lauren Adams, Michael Rooker, Jason Mewes and Smith.
Hitting theaters in 1995, Mallrats was largely seen as a disappointment by critics and Universal Pictures, receiving generally mixed reviews in comparison to Smith's debut Clerks and only grossing $2.1 million against its $6.1 million budget. The film would ultimately garner a cult following in the years after its release and Smith has frequently teased development on a sequel to the buddy comedy. While the future of the Mallrats property might currently be unknown, Smith is still looking back fondly on the film.
In response to Twitter account Film News Nostalgia celebrating the film's anniversary, Smith shared a BTS image from Mallrats to honor the film turning 26. Smith paired the image with a caption reflecting on the film's initial box office failure and thanking fans for pushing it to be a cult classic in the years since. Check out Smith's post below:
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Fans of Mallrats will recognize Smith's BTS photo as the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob flee from a group of security guards led by the silent LaFours, utilizing a Batman grappling hook to hide from the bunch. It's one of the more iconic moments of the film not just for its inclusion on the poster, but also for its ties to Smith's comic book fandom on large display throughout the film, namely in the cameo appearance from Stan "The Man" Lee. With his opinion on Mallrats having been saddening to hear throughout the years in looking at the box office failure, Smith's more positive remembrance of the comedy's release is sure to come as a happier note for fans of the film.
Mallrats marked a major turning point in Smith's career, coming directly on the heels of the critical and commercial success of Clerks and became his first proper studio movie. The writer/director would return to his more independent roots with his third View Askewniverse installment, Chasing Amy, which would become a critical and commercial hit and help assure a continuation of his interconnected universe, namely in the recently revived efforts of Jay and Silent Bob Reboot and Clerks III. With Smith now back in the world of the View Askewniverse, anticipation will now be high in the fanbase for the filmmaker to finally get his Mallrats sequel off the ground.
Source: Kevin Smith/Twitter