Exclusive Clip: A Life-Long Obsession Is Charted In ‘Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made’

In case you never heard about this once-small cult phenomenon, three teenage boys created a shot for shot remake of Steven Spielberg‘s adventure classic, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” roughly 35 years ago over the course of seven summers. The film has played the more underground side of the festival circuit over the years, but has never been properly released due to rights issues.

But more importantly and much more fascinating is the story of this shot-for-shot remake itself. In fact, they completed the entire Spielberg movie save for one expensive and too-elaborate sequence: the explosion of a Nazi airplane and the interconnected fight sequence within. And so the compelling new documentary “Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made,” not only tells this fascinating story of a life-long obsession with ‘Raiders’ but chronicles the adults’ last shot at completing the film and shooting the missing scene. Here’s the official synopsis:

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After Steven Spielberg’s classic Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 35 years ago, three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi set out on what would become a 7-year-long labor of love and tribute to their favorite film: a faithful, shot-for-shot adaptation of the action adventure film. They finished every scene…except one; the film’s explosive airplane set piece. Over two decades later, the trio reunited with the original cast members from their childhood in order to complete their masterpiece. Featuring interviews with John Rhys Davies, Eli Roth and more, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made is just that: the story of this long-gestating project’s culmination, chronicling the friends’ dedication to their artistic vision-mixed in with some movie magic-to create a personal, epic love letter to a true modern classic.

Directed by Jeremy Coon & Tim Skousen, ‘Raiders’ is in theaters and on VOD now. Watch an exclusive, not-seen-before clip from the movie right here.

And here’s the full trailer for the film if you haven’t seen it yet.