Wild Wild West (1999) is a steampunk action-comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline. It’s loosely based on the 1960s TV series The Wild Wild West but reimagined with eccentric humor, sci-fi gadgets, and a healthy dose of absurdity. Despite being a box-office disappointment, it remains a cult favorite for its over-the-top spectacle and quirky charm.
Detailed Summary
Opening: A Murder and a Mystery
The film opens in 1869, four years after the American Civil War. A terrified scientist runs through the woods with a strange metal collar around his neck before being decapitated by a flying steel disk — a deadly invention from the brilliant but deranged Dr. Arliss Loveless (Kenneth Branagh). This sets the tone: steampunk violence meets cartoonish villainy.
Meet the Heroes: Jim West and Artemus Gordon
We meet Captain James West (Will Smith), a cocky, gun-slinging U.S. Army officer known for his improvisational style, and Artemus Gordon (Kevin Kline), a master of disguise and gadgetry. Both men are assigned by President Ulysses S. Grant (also played by Kline in a dual role) to stop Dr. Loveless, who has been kidnapping top scientists.
At first, West and Gordon clash — West is brash and impulsive, Gordon is refined and cerebral — but their chemistry carries much of the movie’s comedic backbone.
Loveless’ Evil Plan Unfolds
Dr. Loveless, a Confederate scientist who survived the war but lost the lower half of his body, plots revenge against the United States. Now rolling around in a high-tech mechanical wheelchair (and later, something much bigger), he plans to use advanced weapons to take over the country.
He also introduces his loyal female assassins with names like Miss Lippens, Miss East, and Miss Lippenreider — a bit of cheeky wordplay typical of the movie’s humor.
The Train and the Gadgets
West and Gordon travel aboard their custom-designed train, The Wanderer, which serves as their mobile headquarters. It’s filled with steampunk contraptions — grappling hooks, hidden weapons, and gadgets that would make even James Bond jealous.
They soon meet Rita Escobar (Salma Hayek), who claims her father, one of the kidnapped scientists, is being held by Loveless. Her role is largely to add romantic tension between the two heroes (and, admittedly, fan service).
Into the Lion’s Den: Loveless’ Party
Disguised, West and Gordon infiltrate Loveless’ lavish party. West’s attempt to charm Loveless’ guests ends with him being captured, while Gordon’s infiltration as a woman leads to some comedic gender-bending antics.
Loveless reveals his ultimate weapon — the Tarantula, a massive mechanical spider armed with cannons. It’s the film’s defining visual, a symbol of its absurd steampunk energy.
The Showdown in the Desert
Loveless kidnaps President Grant and forces him to sign a treaty that will divide the United States into territories ruled by Loveless and his allies (including Britain, France, and Spain). When Grant refuses, Loveless threatens to destroy Washington, D.C., with his spider.
West and Gordon, now fully teaming up, use Gordon’s inventions to infiltrate the spider and rescue the President. In a series of explosive action sequences, West fights Loveless’ henchmen and eventually faces the villain himself — who now stands on robotic spider legs.
Movie Ending
In the climactic battle atop the Tarantula, West and Loveless exchange witty insults before a brutal hand-to-hand (or rather, hand-to-mechanical-leg) fight. Loveless tries to kill West by dropping him from the spider, but West outsmarts him — Loveless’s own machinery malfunctions, sending him plummeting to his death in dramatic fashion.
President Grant thanks West and Gordon for saving the Union and formally appoints them as the first two agents of the newly created Secret Service.
In a final flourish, West and Gordon ride off into the sunset atop the giant mechanical spider, their partnership sealed — and the camera pulls back to reveal the American landscape restored to peace.
It’s a bombastic ending that wraps up the film’s wild tone: part buddy comedy, part steampunk Western, part pure cinematic chaos.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Wild Wild West does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends with the heroes riding the mechanical spider into the sunset, and the credits roll over Will Smith’s theme song — a hallmark of his 1990s blockbusters.
Type of Movie
Steampunk action-comedy and Western with elements of science fiction and adventure.
Cast
- Will Smith as Captain James West
- Kevin Kline as Artemus Gordon / President Ulysses S. Grant
- Kenneth Branagh as Dr. Arliss Loveless
- Salma Hayek as Rita Escobar
- Ted Levine as General McGrath
- M. Emmet Walsh as Coleman
- Frederique Van Der Wal, Musetta Vander, Bai Ling as Loveless’ assassins
Film Music and Composer
Score composed by Elmer Bernstein, with the film’s standout track being “Wild Wild West” by Will Smith featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee. The song was a major hit, even if the film wasn’t, and it samples Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish.”
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed across several U.S. locations, including:
- Santa Fe and Galisteo, New Mexico – desert scenes and train sequences
- Monument Valley, Utah – classic Western landscapes
- Santa Clarita, California – set construction for Loveless’s lair
The authentic desert settings contrast with the fantastical steampunk elements, grounding the otherwise absurd visuals in a tangible Western environment.
Awards and Nominations
Wild Wild West was nominated for (and won) multiple Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies), including:
- Worst Picture
- Worst Director (Barry Sonnenfeld)
- Worst Screenplay
- Worst Song (“Wild Wild West”)
Despite its infamy, it has gained a cult following for its campy charm and visual style.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Will Smith turned down The Matrix to star in Wild Wild West. He later admitted it wasn’t his best career move.
- The giant mechanical spider was originally a concept from an abandoned Superman Lives project by producer Jon Peters.
- Kenneth Branagh reportedly improvised much of Loveless’s dialogue.
- The film’s budget ballooned to around $170 million due to extensive reshoots and effects.
- Barry Sonnenfeld said he wanted to create “a sci-fi Western James Bond movie,” but it became more of a comedy than intended.
Inspirations and References
The film is inspired by the 1965–1969 TV series The Wild Wild West, which mixed spy fiction and Western tropes. It also borrows heavily from Jules Verne–style steampunk literature, blending Victorian-era aesthetics with futuristic technology.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several scenes were trimmed for pacing, including:
- Extended sequences of Loveless testing his inventions.
- A deleted subplot where Rita Escobar’s father was revealed to be alive.
- An alternate ending showing Gordon using a new invention to fly instead of riding the spider.
Book Adaptations and Differences
While based on the Wild Wild West TV show, the film is not a direct adaptation of any particular episode or book. The movie amplifies the sci-fi and comedy elements far beyond the source material, which was more spy-oriented and less absurdist.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The opening decapitation by Loveless’s killer machine.
- West’s saloon fight and bathtub escape.
- The reveal of Loveless’s massive mechanical spider.
- The final showdown on the Tarantula.
Iconic Quotes
- Jim West: “I’m the son of a slave, Loveless. And that’s the last mistake you’ll ever make.”
- Dr. Loveless: “I have half a mind to destroy you. But then again, I have half a mind to do many things.”
- Artemus Gordon: “Never drum on a white lady’s boobies at a big redneck dance. Got it.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The song “Wild Wild West” references both the film and Will Smith’s previous hit “Men in Black.”
- The train The Wanderer includes blueprints referencing real 19th-century invention patents.
- A cameo of composer Elmer Bernstein can be spotted in one of the train scenes.
Trivia
- Will Smith’s cowboy outfit was custom-designed to blend Old West and futuristic styles.
- The film was one of the first to use extensive CGI for mechanical creatures in a live-action Western.
- Kevin Kline’s dual role as President Grant was meant to highlight the duality of logic and authority in the story.
Why Watch?
Because it’s gloriously over-the-top. Wild Wild West might not be high art, but it’s a wild ride full of gadgets, humor, and bizarre creativity. If you enjoy steampunk aesthetics, ridiculous villains, and Will Smith’s 90s swagger, this is pure nostalgic fun.
Director’s Other Movies
- Men in Black (1997)
- Get Shorty (1995)
- The Addams Family (1991)
- Addams Family Values (1993)
- Men in Black II (2002)
- RV (2006)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Men in Black (1997)
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
- Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
- The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
- The Fifth Element (1997)
