Long before Steve Martin and Martin Short were Arconia neighbors and murder-solving buddies, they were two-thirds of the Three Amigos! That classic Western comedy, the first installment of what would become a long and fruitful partnership, has a new streaming home next month, and you’ll be able to stream it for free. The film will premiere on the free, ad-supported streaming service Pluto starting on August 1.
The film was an unusual collaboration between Martin, Saturday Night Live head honcho Lorne Michaels, and musician Randy Newman, who co-wrote the script. It went through various iterations, with Steven Spielberg at one point attached to direct, and a variety of actors, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Robin Williams, slated to star. Eventually, Martin was set to star with SNL alum Chevy Chase and Short; the latter was recommended by his SCTV co-star John Candy. Directorial duties were handled by John Landis; at one point he and the famously contentious Chase almost came to blows when the latter made some off-color jokes about the tragic incident Landis oversaw on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie. The film was a disappointment at the box office and with critics, but over time its reputation has grown, as it found its audience on cable TV and home video.
What Is ‘Three Amigos!’ About?
Set in 1916, the film centers around three silent-era comedians, Lucky Day (Martin), Dusty Bottoms (Chase), and Ned Nederlander (Short), who star in a series of comedy Westerns as the Three Amigos. When they demand a raise, the studio head (Joe Mantegna) promptly fires them. However, when they receive a telegram from Santa Poco, Mexico, they interpret it as an invitation to perform there. Unfortunately, there’s been a misunderstanding on both sides. Carmen (Patrice Martinez, Beetlejuice), who sent the telegram, believes the trio are real cowboy heroes…and she’s sent for them so they can defend her village from a band of ruthless marauders led by El Guapo (Alfonso Arau, Like Water for Chocolate). They’re in over their heads, but soon they’re doing their best to translate their screen-honed skills to real life.
While Three Amigos! was a box-office disappointment, Steve Martin and Martin Short have proved to be eminently compatible performers. The two have collaborated on a number of projects over the years, including the Father of the Bride films, a stand-up comedy special, and a jointly hosted episode of SNL. They can next be seen together in the upcoming fifth season of their Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building, in which they play two-thirds of a trio of amateur sleuths, with Selena Gomez as their millennial straight-woman.
Three Amigos! will stream on Pluto for free starting on August 1, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
