Fanboys
Third Rail Releasing | Release Date: February 6, 2009
7.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 129 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
91
Mixed:
25
Negative:
13
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
mikekMay 26, 2009
This was probably funnier to me than most being a complete fanboy my self and the guest stars where great.
2 of 2 users found this helpful
10
JM.Feb 15, 2009
An excellent tribute to Lucas and all things scifi.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
3
Spielberg00Dec 2, 2011
Bottom Line: Better luck next timeâ
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
4
Tss5078Feb 23, 2013
Fanboys is an extremely overrated comedy, about four friends, who decide to break in to George Lucas's home, in order to steal a copy of Star Wars: Episode 1, six months before it hits theaters. The movie was very well reviewed and had a bigFanboys is an extremely overrated comedy, about four friends, who decide to break in to George Lucas's home, in order to steal a copy of Star Wars: Episode 1, six months before it hits theaters. The movie was very well reviewed and had a big word of mouth following, and being a huge Sci-Fi fan, I couldn't wait to see it. The story however was extremely weak and filled with cliché Star Wars jokes. It was predictable, done, and lame. The only really cool thing about the film was the cameos. In this tiny independent film they had cameos by William Shatner, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Kevin Smith, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, and Seth Rogan, an impressive list to be sure! Like I said thou, the movie was weak and done. Unless you're a diehard Star Wars fan, I'd skip this one.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
JayH.May 10, 2009
Likable but overall it's a pretty routine comedy that has a plot that is all too familiar. The cast is entertaining. Not bad, but it's not very memorable.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
PatrickIMay 28, 2009
Awful. Totally awful. It was so bad I paused it about 3/4 of the way through and couldn't muster the energy to finish it off. Beyond the predictably lame plot, Dan Fogler is by far the least amusing thing about this film, and it's Awful. Totally awful. It was so bad I paused it about 3/4 of the way through and couldn't muster the energy to finish it off. Beyond the predictably lame plot, Dan Fogler is by far the least amusing thing about this film, and it's about a kid with cancer! He is literally less funny then cancer.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
GeorgeMJun 8, 2009
Being a HUGE Star Wars fan, especially during my younger years, I always thought a movie about its rabid fans would be a perfect idea for a comedy. Now that we have one...I wonder "what happened?"...the perfect idea for a nerd-comedy got Being a HUGE Star Wars fan, especially during my younger years, I always thought a movie about its rabid fans would be a perfect idea for a comedy. Now that we have one...I wonder "what happened?"...the perfect idea for a nerd-comedy got flushed down the toilet. The problem is...the film just isn't that funny, the jokes and gags just feel so cliche, predictable, and executed poorly (the over-the-top scenes with the Trekkies was eyeroll after eyeroll, and it "could" have been hilarious). I for one, am NOT a fan of the cancer story...in my opinion its a dark cloud that constantly hangs over this movie and given the kind of comedy in this film, it seems so out of place. The casting is excellent (though I'm not sure what Kristen Bell was doing there) but unfortunately the comedic talent dosen't get to shine here, the actors used feel very wasted here...as in...I've seen the guys in other films, and they were FUNNY, not so much here. Anyway, the movie ends in predictable fashion with no surprises what so ever...and all I can do is feel bummed that this great oppurtunity was wasted. A curious rent perhaps...but an AVOID overall.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
TheQuietGamerMar 10, 2011
A perfectly enjoyable geeky movie, an interesting concept that is good but wont appeal to a lot of people, but it's still a good movie from beginning to end.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
CastleGhost666Apr 29, 2011
Its a funny movie,sure the plot is ridiculous,but its worth of your time! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
LevelsAndGearDec 27, 2011
"Fanboys" One line Review -

Not as bad as it could have been, a lot of stuff was forced. Still a enjoyable view for any Star Wars fan, great cameos. C+
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
AsmodiasDec 5, 2011
I don't quite understand the dislike for fanboys, maybe it's like marmite: you either love it or you hate it.
Maybe to get a lot of the jokes and feel... to even empathise with the characters plus their actions you need to be similar to them,I don't quite understand the dislike for fanboys, maybe it's like marmite: you either love it or you hate it.
Maybe to get a lot of the jokes and feel... to even empathise with the characters plus their actions you need to be similar to them, which for many may be a problem as not all of us a militant Star Wars fans.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
DontBeNastySep 12, 2019
A group of friends go on a trip to break in George Lucas' house to steal a copy of star wars episode 1 so that their cancer ridden friend can see it before he dies. Seeing this movie in 2019, a time in which fandoms are unfairly and unjustlyA group of friends go on a trip to break in George Lucas' house to steal a copy of star wars episode 1 so that their cancer ridden friend can see it before he dies. Seeing this movie in 2019, a time in which fandoms are unfairly and unjustly attacked, vilified and demonized in the constant for the sake of censorship and fake virtues, this movie is an oasis. A tribute to fandoms everywhere, Fanboys feels like a movie made by fanboys for fanboys. No it is not the best movie ever, but it has it where it counts and that is its heart and it's a damn enjoyable movie, especially if you are a geek/nerd.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
JaySupertrampFeb 6, 2012
This tribute to Star Wars is so much fun. 4 nerds are trying to see the new Star Wars moive before it comes out in cinema. But I think this movie is not for everyone. So descide: are you a little bit a Star Wars / SciFi nerd but you can laughThis tribute to Star Wars is so much fun. 4 nerds are trying to see the new Star Wars moive before it comes out in cinema. But I think this movie is not for everyone. So descide: are you a little bit a Star Wars / SciFi nerd but you can laugh about this stuff? Than watch it!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
MATMMay 29, 2021
Was “Fanboys” somebody's school project? Absolutely terrible. When it was over and I saw Ernest Cline’s name, I thought that sounded about right. He comes up with really fun concepts, but is just no good at the finer details of filling outWas “Fanboys” somebody's school project? Absolutely terrible. When it was over and I saw Ernest Cline’s name, I thought that sounded about right. He comes up with really fun concepts, but is just no good at the finer details of filling out the rest of the script, as shown with “Player One”, both the book and the movie. Some movie studio needs to keep him on retainer to just pump out concepts, but make sure someone else takes over the project after his initial pitch. I give it a D, just don’t bother.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
juliankennedy23Jul 26, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fanboys: 5 out of 10: The back-story behind this film is much more interesting than what appears on the screen. It seems in a galaxy far far away the evil Harvey “Darth” Weinstein wanted to cut out the main plot of this movie. (Kid dying of cancer wants to see Star Wars Episode One before he dies.) The rebel alliance (Director Kyle Newman) fought a guerilla battle against Harvey and won so the film is now released with the Linus dying of cancer subplot intact.

Well, since the movie itself seems too conveniently ignore the Linus cancer plot at regular intervals, (Chris Marquette who plays Linus looks like he is about to run a triathlon rather than someone with a fatal illness. He is like a male Ali McGraw) one can be excused to ponder what the hubbub was about.

In actuality the cancer subplot was the second most ridiculous story line in the film with the first being Sam Huntington’s quest to not inherit his fathers 12 car dealerships... cause becoming a multimillionaire overnight means abandoning your dreams of drawing comic books? Fanboys is funny in spots and has some great performances including Kristen Bell as the perfect geek girl and Dan Fogler who is the spiritual reincarnation of Curtis Armstrong (Booger from Revenge of the Nerds) and great cameos including William Shatner.

The main leads (Marquette and Huntington) are charisma free drips however and the movie suffers from an overall sloppiness. For example it takes place in 1998 yet is chock full of items that simply did not exist back then (IMDB has a nice list here). Getting the poster of Darth Vader wrong, (It is the version from Episode 3) or having a scene in a comic book store with modern comics visible on the shelves seems like small things. However, this is a movie for fanboys. If there is one group that would notice such sloppiness it is they.

Overall a hit or miss road comedy with a Star Wars veneer, Fanboys is well meaning but not really worth the time.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
ydnar4Jan 23, 2015
Great chemistry among all of these characters. The cameos are really what makes the film so enjoyable to me, there are so many random famous people popping up throughout the movie. See if you can find em all! This is a movie that you have toGreat chemistry among all of these characters. The cameos are really what makes the film so enjoyable to me, there are so many random famous people popping up throughout the movie. See if you can find em all! This is a movie that you have to have at least seen Star Wars to enjoy and if you understand nerd culture than it'll be worth a few laughs for you.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
Kai82Mar 25, 2023
I think this is a funny and enjoyable movie for Star Wars fans that others can not enjoy on the same level. The story is set in 1998 and Star Wars Episode 1 is announced. Because their friend Linus has terminal cancer and will not be aliveI think this is a funny and enjoyable movie for Star Wars fans that others can not enjoy on the same level. The story is set in 1998 and Star Wars Episode 1 is announced. Because their friend Linus has terminal cancer and will not be alive when the movie is released in cinema an old (silly) plan from their childhood is reactivated. They want to break into the Skywalker Ranch and steal the movie aka rough cut for their friend. This starts their odyssey. Like I said this is a comedy for Star Wars fans that other probably wont enjoy that much. However since I am a fan this gets a pass. It is a funny tour the force against the odds. It even got George Lucas blessing and a lot of cameos from a lot of bigger names in the industrie. Because of the small budget from slightly less than 1 million and the passion of the whole team and actors I wont say anything negative. They put their hearth and soul into it and I have seen much weaker big budget Hollywood productions. Overall I repeat the statement that it is a movie for Star Wars fans. Maybe not a must see but definitely entertaining. I gave an 8/10.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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