Kim Kardashian’s New Netflix Movie Sparks Déjà Vu—Is It Too Close to a Melissa McCarthy Gem?
Netflix’s The Fifth Wheel puts Kim Kardashian at the center of an ensemble comedy drawing instant comparisons to Melissa McCarthy’s 2011 Bridesmaids. It’s no dupe, though—the film steers its own course in story, structure, and theme.
Netflix is making a splashy bet on Kim Kardashian with a new ensemble comedy called 'The Fifth Wheel' — and, yeah, the internet immediately yelled 'Bridesmaids.' I get why, but that shorthand is a little lazy. The vibes overlap, the actual story does not.
So what is it?
The logline is simple and messy in a good way: a tight crew of high school besties tries to reconnect during a weekend in Las Vegas. Then a 'hot outsider' — played by Kardashian — crashes their reunion and forces everyone to stare down their bad choices, frayed friendships, and general life chaos. It sounds more Hangover energy than wedding meltdown.
The 'Bridesmaids' chatter comes with context. That 2011 Paul Feig film (the one that pulled in Oscar nominations and supercharged Melissa McCarthy) is about Annie Walker unraveling after being asked to be a bridesmaid. 'The Fifth Wheel' isn’t that. Different structure, different themes — just the same big, messy, ensemble-comedy lane.
The team and the cast
Netflix officially announced the project, and the behind-the-camera lineup is not messing around. Eva Longoria is directing, with the script by Paula Pell and Janine Brito. Kardashian isn’t just starring; she’s producing, too. The movie comes through Gloria Sanchez Productions and Hyphenate Media Group for Netflix.
- Premise: High school friends reunite for a Vegas weekend; a 'hot outsider' (Kardashian) crashes and detonates their carefully curated lives
- Director: Eva Longoria
- Writers: Paula Pell and Janine Brito
- Producers: Includes Kim Kardashian; companies are Gloria Sanchez Productions and Hyphenate Media Group for Netflix
- Cast: Kim Kardashian in the central role, with Nikki Glaser, Brenda Song, and Fortune Feimster in the ensemble
- Tone check: Kardashian herself said the movie blends 'Hangover,' 'Bridesmaids,' and 'First Wives Club' energy
- Source for the setup: Netflix’s Tudum described the Vegas-reunion-crasher premise
Kardashian’s acting run, in her own words
This is the latest step after 'American Horror Story: Delicate' and the Hulu legal drama 'All's Fair.' On her show, Kardashian laid out a pretty blunt 10-year plan and the pressure that comes with it.
'I can do a movie a year. I’ve got about 10 years where I still look good, so that’s all I’ve got in me, and then I’ll take some time off — every year I want to do something that makes me so uncomfortable that I really have to challenge myself... I’m really nervous about it, because I have to f**king deliver.'
She also admitted the career momentum surprised her. Before 'AHS: Delicate' she didn’t even have an agent; after it aired, meetings started piling up. Then came 'The Fifth Wheel' pitch. She and her team did the rounds in one day, and — this is the very-Hollywood part — she says studios started calling with offers within 20 minutes. She ultimately went with Netflix.
About those 'Bridesmaids' comparisons
To recap: both movies are female-led ensemble comedies about friendships under stress. That’s where the overlap ends. 'Bridesmaids' is a wedding-adjacent spiral, directed by Paul Feig, centered on one lead’s personal meltdown. 'The Fifth Wheel' is a Vegas reunion invaded by an outsider, with Eva Longoria at the helm. Similar lane, different exits. And if Kardashian’s 'Hangover meets First Wives Club' comment is accurate, expect a broader, glossier party vibe than a nuptial disaster story.
File this under: splashy package, fast greenlight, and a cast built to swing for big laughs. Now we wait to see if the movie matches the pitch.