Fan films are a storied tradition when it comes to paying homage to the movies we adore, and one of the most legendary fan films ever is one that took 30 years to make.
Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made tells the story of a group of 11-year-old friends who started making a shot-for-shot adaptation of Indiana Jones‘ original cinematic outing, Raiders of the Lost Ark. After seven years of production, the friends were able to reproduce every sequence in the film except for one big action setpiece: the films’ memorable airplane showdown. After going their separate ways, this motley group of boys had grown into men and reunited nearly three decades later to finish their labor of love.
Drafthouse Films has picked up this inspiring documentary and according to their press release, Raiders! “will see a limited theatrical release across North America in the summer of 2016, alongside a variety of VOD and digital platforms, with a Blu-ray/DVD release to follow later in the year.” The documentary includes interviews with Raiders of the Lost Ark star John Rhys-Davies and cult filmmaker Eli Roth, as well as other notable film figures.
Fan films can be hit or miss but it’s impossible to deny the passion behind such endeavors, and considering how special the story of Raiders! is in regards to its affirmation of friendship and love of film, this will be one documentary you won’t want to miss. It’s a celebration of one of the greatest adventure films ever put to the screen, and also a rallying cry to anyone out there to follow your dreams and stick by your passions. If there’s any documentary in 2016 that highlights fandom in the best possible ways, it’s Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made. Don’t miss this one.
