Source: Drafthouse Films
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.
The critically-acclaimed documentary arrives in theaters and on VOD on June 17, timed to the 35th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s celebrated classic.
A nationwide double-feature tour of the documentary AND the actual Adaptation will commence this June with Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala in attendance.
Raiders! Documentary Kicks Off June release with a Cross-Country Summer Tour
Doc subjects to support release of acclaimed documentary with special double feature screening and Q&As alongside rare presentation of their legendary fan film
Thirty-five years after the debut of Raiders of the Lost Ark, festival sensation Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made–the acclaimed 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–hits theaters and On Demand on June 17th via Drafthouse Films.
In support of the release, Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala, the creators of the infamous fan film will be embarking on a multi-city, cross-country Raiders: Follow Your Dreams Tour this summer. The tour will also offer a very special and rare double feature opportunity to see the festival hit documentary followed by the fan film remake, a.k.a The Adaptation. Hitting major markets including Los Angeles, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle, the theatrical Q&A appearances during their tour will give audiences the opportunity to hear the hair-raising stories of the defiantly DIY production directly from its filmmakers.
The Raiders: Follow Your Dreams Tour will kick off in early June with a series of advance double-feature Q&A screenings leading up to official June 17th release date and continue to additional markets across the country throughout summer. In addition to theatrical Q&A appearances, the tour will be accompanied by a dynamic social media campaign including video posts from the road and interviews with inspiring people and places across America. Additionally, their journey will be chronicled as THE RAIDERS GUIDE on Roadtrippers.com – a website and mobile app that will connect the Raiders Guys with a community of over 2 million road travelers. Other tour sponsors include Fatboy and Last Exit to Nowhere.
June 2 – Seattle (Northwest Film Forum)
June 3 – Portland (Hollywood Theatre)
June 9 – San Francisco (Alamo Drafthouse Mission)
June 10 – Austin (Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar)
June 11 – Houston (Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park)
June 12 – Los Angeles (Cinefamily)
June 14 – Dallas (Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Dallas)
June 17 – New York (IFC Film Center)
June 18 or 19 – Chicago (Music Box Theatre)
June 20 – Boston (The Brattle Theatre)
June 30 – Kansas City (Alamo Drafthouse Main Street)
July 1 – Denver (Alamo Drafthouse Littleton)
July 2 – Denver (Sie FilmCenter)
Additional release dates will be announced – a fully updated tour schedule can be found at