Inspector Gadget (film)

Inspector Gadget
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	David Kellogg
Screenplay by	Kerry Ehrin Zak Penn
Story by	Kerry Ehrin Dana Olsen
Based on	Inspector Gadget by Bruno Bianchi Jean Chalopin Andy Heyward
Produced by	Roger Birnbaum Andy Heyward Jordan Kerner
Starring	Matthew Broderick Rupert Everett Joely Fisher Michelle Trachtenberg Mike Hagerty Andy Dick Cheri Oteri Dabney Coleman
Cinematography	Adam Greenberg
Edited by	Alan Cody Thom Noble
Music by	John Debney
Production companies	Walt Disney Pictures[1] Caravan Pictures DIC Entertainment Avnet/Kerner Productions Roger Birnbaum Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution[1]
Release date	July 23, 1999 (1999-07-23)
Running time	78 minutes[2]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$75–90 million[3][4]
Box office	$134.4 million[4]

Inspector Gadget is a 1999 American superhero comedy film directed by David Kellogg and written by Kerry Ehrin and Zak Penn from a story by Ehrin and Dana Olsen. Loosely based on the 1980s animated television series of the same name, the film stars Matthew Broderick as the title character, Rupert Everett as Dr. Claw, Michelle Trachtenberg as Penny, and Dabney Coleman as Chief Quimby. Five new characters were introduced: Dr. Brenda Bradford (played by Joely Fisher), Sykes (played by Michael G. Hagerty), Kramer (played by Andy Dick), Mayor Wilson (played by Cheri Oteri) and the Gadgetmobile (voiced by D. L. Hughley). The film tells the origin story of Inspector Gadget as he attempts to foil an evil plot concocted by the series villain, Dr. Claw. It was filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Los Angeles, California, with the castle-like main tower of Pittsburgh's PPG Place playing a central role.

Produced by Caravan Pictures and DIC Entertainment (which was owned by The Walt Disney Company at the time of production), the film was released theatrically by Walt Disney Pictures on July 23, 1999. It was the last film produced by Caravan Pictures, before the company merged into Spyglass Entertainment. It was also dedicated to the memory of production designer Michael White, who died on January 19, 1999, in Los Angeles during production of the film at the age of 36.

The film had a worldwide gross of $134 million against a $90 million budget, while also receiving negative reviews from critics, who gave some praise towards the acting, but criticized the screenplay, visual effects, editing, humor, and lack of faithfulness to the source material (particularly with Dr. Claw showing his face). It lost the studio approximately $30 million. It was followed by the 2003 direct-to-video sequel Inspector Gadget 2, though only D. L. Hughley reprised his role as the voice of the Gadget mobile.