We like to talk about how influential Star Wars when it came out in 1977, both in terms of the movie industry at the time and inspiring young people to be creative in their own endeavors. George Lucas had that ability with his ideas. But just as influential was another Lucasfilm production, 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, which revolutionized the blockbuster action movie and inspired dozens of kids to make their own Indiana Jones adventures at home…or just remake the one that already existed.
The new documentary Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made discusses one trio of kids in the ’80s — Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and Jayson Lamb — who spent seven years making a supremely faithful, shot-for-shot remake of Lucas Steven Spielberg’s ode to 1930s adventure serials. In honor of the documentary’s June 17 release in theaters and on VOD–not to mention the 35th anniversary of Raiders–Drafthouse Films presents a shot-for-shot recreation of Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s original theatrical trailer…side-by-side with the real thing.
The quaintness of the video production doesn’t lessen the coolness of the kids’ goal, nor the effectiveness of their recreation. It doesn’t quite line up 100% perfectly–the angles are a bit off in some instances–but you can’t hold that against people whose only film school experience to that point was watching Raiders in the first place.
Were you impressed by the kids’ trailer? What’s your favorite moment from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Let us know in the comments below!
Image: Lucasfilm/Paramount
Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He still gets excited whenever he hears Indy’s whip crack the first time in the movie. Follow him on Twitter!
