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Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made

  • 20152015
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos in Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
A documentary chronicling the story of the decades-spanning production of a shot-for-shot remake of Steven Spielberg's adventure classic by three childhood best friends.
Play trailer2:08
3 Videos
12 Photos
  • Documentary
A documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).A documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).A documentary of the story behind Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989).
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Jeremy Coon
    • Tim Skousen
  • Writers
    • Tim Skousen
    • Jeremy Coon
    • Alan Eisenstock(book)
  • Stars
    • Chris Strompolos
    • Eric Zala
    • Jayson Lamb
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Jeremy Coon
    • Tim Skousen
  • Writers
    • Tim Skousen
    • Jeremy Coon
    • Alan Eisenstock(book)
  • Stars
    • Chris Strompolos
    • Eric Zala
    • Jayson Lamb
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:08
    Official Trailer
    Festival Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Festival Trailer
    Shot-for-Shot Side-by-Side Trailer
    Featurette 2:33
    Shot-for-Shot Side-by-Side Trailer

    Photos12

    Chris Strompolos as Indiana Jones cracks the whip for a pivotal scene.
    Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala hold their replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
    Chris Strompolos stands next to the iconic fake boulder re-made for the Raiders of the Lost Ark adaptation.
    Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos in Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
    Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos in Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
    The airplane explodes for the final scene.
    Eric Zala and the explosions expert rejoice at a successful scene.
    Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb and others take a break in between filming the Raiders of the Lost Ark adaptation.
    Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos in Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
    Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos in Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)
    Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chris Strompolos
    Chris Strompolos
    • Self - 'Indy' & Produceras Self - 'Indy' & Producer
    Eric Zala
    Eric Zala
    • Self - 'Belloq' & Directoras Self - 'Belloq' & Director
    Jayson Lamb
    • Self - Camera & Effectsas Self - Camera & Effects
    John Rhys-Davies
    John Rhys-Davies
    • Self - 'Sallah' in Raiders of the Lost Arkas Self - 'Sallah' in Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Chris Gore
    Chris Gore
    • Self - Founder, Film Threatas Self - Founder, Film Threat
    Eli Roth
    Eli Roth
    • Self - Film Directoras Self - Film Director
    Harry Jay Knowles
    Harry Jay Knowles
    • Self - Founder, Ain't It Cool Newsas Self - Founder, Ain't It Cool News
    • (as Harry Knowles)
    Steve Strompolos
    • Self - Chris' Fatheras Self - Chris' Father
    Elaine Stevens
    • Self - Chris' Motheras Self - Chris' Mother
    Kurt Zala
    • Self - Eric's Brotheras Self - Eric's Brother
    Milton Bienvenu
    • Self - Eric's Sixth Grade Teacheras Self - Eric's Sixth Grade Teacher
    Alan Eisenstock
    • Self - Author of Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Madeas Self - Author of Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made
    Cassie Zala
    • Self - Eric's Wifeas Self - Eric's Wife
    Darcy Zala
    • Self - Eric's Childas Self - Eric's Child
    Quinn Zala
    • Self - Eric's Childas Self - Eric's Child
    Mark Spain
    • Self - Plane Builderas Self - Plane Builder
    Dan Todd
    • Self - Pyro Expertas Self - Pyro Expert
    Mary Jensen
    • Self - Eric's Motheras Self - Eric's Mother
    • Directors
      • Jeremy Coon
      • Tim Skousen
    • Writers
      • Tim Skousen
      • Jeremy Coon
      • Alan Eisenstock(book)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and others organized a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund filming of the only scene missing from Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (1989): Indy's battle on the landing pad with the plane, ending in a bloody mess. Filming completed in 2014.
    • Crazy credits
      Despite being listed as a 2015 film, the final title card of the released version of the film references events that occurred in 2016.
    • Connections
      Features Good Morning, South Mississippi (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      If the Kids Are United
      Written by James Pursey and David Parson

      Performed by Red Alert

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A remarkable documentary about remarkable kids!
    When you watch a classic like 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark,' it's hard to not feel motivated to see and try if you can recreate those scenes or at the very least walk around cosplaying as Indiana Jones with your friends. So you may watch this docu and start out by wearing your adult or parenthood lenses on and wonder what in the world are these kids thinking but five minutes into it, you'll get a sense of respect and wonder because you've realized that they managed to accomplish what many of us can only wish for.

    I think one of the many fascinating things about this docu is that directors Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen were given so much access into the lives of Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos and Jayson Lamb, even the darkest moments in their past when at one point their friendship fell apart. If anything, what's most inspiring about this 'RAIDERS!' docu is to see these guys from when they were kids all the way on till they've become grown men and have their own families, how over all those years, they still had that dream and passion lingering on the back of their heads and they act on it and see it through. While others would probably give up because of life happens, in their case, yes life happens for them as well, and the roads haven't been easy either, they have families to feed and think about as well, but they found away to support each other and to realize this dream and to ultimately finish their film.

    The docu jumps back and forth from the gradual process of shooting the explosive airplane scenes to the interviews with talking heads or people closest to them, to old archive footage and the outtakes revealing that only by some luck or miracle that the house at which they shot their fan-film did not burn down. This goes to also show that making a fan film, let-alone a full on feature film is never a walk in the park, it's a long and hard collaborative process, you work with people who may have different opinions and approaches, you see how this particular project impacts these kids, their friendships, their relationships, their personal struggles and their reconciliation. This shot per shot remake of "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" is nothing short of a labor of love, the result of following through on one's passion no matter what haters may say. Absolutely remarkable, worth a standing ovation.

    -- Rama's Screen --
    helpful•5
    2
    • Ramascreen
    • Jun 18, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 17, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Искатели
    • Production company
      • Jeremy Coon Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $71,916
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $26,059
      • Jun 19, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $71,916
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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