Documentary backdrop image for Backyard Blockbusters (2012)

Documentary backdrop image for Backyard Blockbusters (2012)

201295 min0documentary

6.5/ 10(3 ratings)• TMDB

Backyard Blockbusters

201295 min0documentary

6.5/ 10(3 ratings)• TMDB

Fanfilm creators navigate legal challenges of copyright and fair use while producing home movies that reflect popular culture's impact on mainstream cinema.

“Adventures in Fan Filmmaking”

Genres

Director

John E. Hudgens

Synopsis

Fanfilm creators navigate legal challenges of copyright and fair use while producing home movies that reflect popular culture's impact on mainstream cinema.

People

John E. Hudgensdirector

Aaron Yondawriter

Lowell Cunningham

Lowell Cunninghamwriter

David Gerrold

David Gerroldwriter

Carlos Pedrazawriter

Synopsis

Patrick Read Johnson's Backyard Blockbusters features interviews with fanfilm creators who produce home movies based on popular culture properties. The documentary covers the history and cultural significance of these films, which often operate without legal rights. It addresses the legal challenges of copyright and fair use that these filmmakers encounter. Through various examples, the film illustrates how grassroots projects have shaped mainstream cinema and fostered a vibrant community of passionate creators.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Back in Time (2015)

Back in Time

2015•1h35m•★6.5TMDB

Michael J. Fox reflects on his experiences during the making of Back to the Future, featuring insights from director Robert Zemeckis and actor Christopher Lloyd.

In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

2019•2h20m•★7.0TMDB

Interviews with 1980s and 1990s actors and filmmakers reveal how iconic action films like "Die Hard" and "Rambo" shaped modern cinema.

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)

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

2015•1h33m•★6.7TMDB

A 75-foot replica of the 'Flying Wing' plane is constructed in Mississippi as three friends reunite to complete their childhood remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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

The Underground Fight to Save Video Rental Culture (2026)

The Underground Fight to Save Video Rental Culture

An underground community of film enthusiasts is working to preserve mom-and-pop video rental stores across the United States, featuring insights from Todd Haynes and John Waters.

The Underground Fight to Save Video Rental Culture

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary) (2020)

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary)

A half million dollar legal bill can crush fan filmmakers who create new works from beloved intellectual properties without studio backing.

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary)

Furries (2018)

Furries

Furries, a subculture characterized by anthropomorphic animal costumes and art, have evolved from niche communities into a significant aspect of modern culture.

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors (2026)

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors

Pinball enthusiasts, including collectors and champion players, share their passion for this iconic arcade game and its enduring cultural significance.

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors

DIY Filmmaking and the End of Hollywood - The Business of Life (Episode 10) (2015)

DIY Filmmaking and the End of Hollywood - The Business of Life (Episode 10)

Sean Baker's 2015 Sundance hit Tangerine was shot on an iPhone using an $8 app and a $160 lens adapter.

DIY Filmmaking and the End of Hollywood - The Business of Life (Episode 10)

The Power of Privacy - documentary film (2016)

The Power of Privacy - documentary film

In Los Angeles, a digital detective gathers extensive personal information about the host using only publicly shared online data.

The Power of Privacy - documentary film

Christopher's Movie Matinee (2013)

Christopher's Movie Matinee

Thirty young Canadians use cameras to document their lives, capturing sit-ins and candid discussions during a time of social change in 1968.

Christopher's Movie Matinee

The Real Björn Ironside // Vikings in Spain & the Mediterranean (2019)

The Real Björn Ironside // Vikings in Spain & the Mediterranean

By the summer of 859, Viking fleets were raiding across the Mediterranean, while Arab pirates and Magyar horse riders threatened Western Europe.

The Real Björn Ironside // Vikings in Spain & the Mediterranean

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris (2024)

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris

Street performers in Paris, including magician Oussama Chazi, dancer Femi, and singer Anne Sophie Guerrier Breakeurs, showcase their diverse talents in vibrant public spaces.

Celebrating Street Performers in Paris - With A Bird Flying Over Paris

Explore Backyard Blockbusters

Trailer Cast & Crew Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

Back in Time (2015)

Back in Time

2015•1h35m•★6.5TMDB

Michael J. Fox reflects on his experiences during the making of Back to the Future, featuring insights from director Robert Zemeckis and actor Christopher Lloyd.

No digital watch option in your country

In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

2019•2h20m•★7.0TMDB

Interviews with 1980s and 1990s actors and filmmakers reveal how iconic action films like "Die Hard" and "Rambo" shaped modern cinema.

In Search of the Last Action Heroes

No digital watch option in your country

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015)

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

2015•1h33m•★6.7TMDB

A 75-foot replica of the 'Flying Wing' plane is constructed in Mississippi as three friends reunite to complete their childhood remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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

No digital watch option in your country

Fanarchy (2015)

Fanarchy

2015•1h29m•★6.0TMDB

Fans produce more content each month than traditional studios and networks combined, reshaping the Hollywood system and challenging established norms.

Behind the Mask: The Batman Dead End Story (2015)

Behind the Mask: The Batman Dead End Story

2015•1h38m•★7.8TMDB

One low-budget short film created in 2003 became a cultural phenomenon, transforming fan filmmaking and inspiring a new generation of creators.

Behind the Mask: The Batman Dead End Story

Legends of the Knight (2013)

Legends of the Knight

2013•1h16m•★7.4TMDB

Over 1,100 supporters funded a film that features stories from fans and creators about Batman's impact on personal challenges and community contributions.

Legends of the Knight

The Backyard (2002)

The Backyard

2002•1h20m•★7.3TMDB

Participants use deadly elements like barbed wire, light tubes, and fire in backyard wrestling matches across Arizona, Nevada, California, New York, and England.

Survival of the Film Freaks (2018)

Survival of the Film Freaks

2018•1h26m•★5.3TMDB

More than 20 interviews with dedicated fans reveal the cultural significance of cult films in America and their evolution in the digital age.

Survival of the Film Freaks

Fanatic Force 1978 (2019)

Fanatic Force 1978

2019•1h33m•★8.0TMDB

Japanese Star Wars fans exhibit an obsessive passion for collecting memorabilia, revealing their creative methods for acquiring rare items.

Fanatic Force 1978

Kung Fu Elliot (2014)

Kung Fu Elliot

2014•1h36m•★6.1TMDB

900 fans are claimed by Elliot "White Lightning" Scott, who attempts to make his third martial arts film while facing personal and professional challenges.

Browse more like this

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary) (2020)

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary)

A half million dollar legal bill can crush fan filmmakers who create new works from beloved intellectual properties without studio backing.

Obsessed? Super-Fans Who Risk Everything (Obsessive Documentary)

No digital watch option in your country

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors (2026)

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors

Pinball enthusiasts, including collectors and champion players, share their passion for this iconic arcade game and its enduring cultural significance.

Inside the Hidden World of Pinball Legends and Collectors

No digital watch option in your country

Christopher's Movie Matinee (2013)

Christopher's Movie Matinee

Thirty young Canadians use cameras to document their lives, capturing sit-ins and candid discussions during a time of social change in 1968.

Christopher's Movie Matinee

No digital watch option in your country

Good Copy Bad Copy (2007)

Good Copy Bad Copy

2007•59m•★7.4TMDB

Girl Talk and artists like Danger Mouse discuss copyright law as Internet file sharing grows in the United States, Nigeria, and Brazil.

Good Copy Bad Copy

Bumfights: A Video Too Far (2004)

Bumfights: A Video Too Far

2004•46m•★7.2TMDB

Rufus Hannah and Duncan Western examine the ethical implications of viral media and the societal reactions to degrading acts in Bumfights: A Video Too Far.

Bumfights: A Video Too Far

Behind the Block (2011)

Behind the Block

2011•1h2m•★8.0TMDB

Director Joe Cornish and his team faced numerous challenges during the production of Attack The Block, as shown in this 62-minute behind-the-scenes documentary.

Behind the Block

Batmania Born! Building the World of Batman (2014)

Batmania Born! Building the World of Batman

2014•30m•★6.7TMDB

Three key actors from the original Batman series, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, and Adam West, share their experiences in this 30-minute film.

Batmania Born! Building the World of Batman

Top 10 Comic Book Heroes (2002)

Top 10 Comic Book Heroes

2002•47m•★9.5TMDB

Ten iconic comic book heroes are examined through interviews with creators like Stan Lee and Frank Miller, detailing their cultural impact since the 1930s.

Top 10 Comic Book Heroes

Browse more by John E. Hudgens

View all films →

American Scary (2006)

American Scary

2006

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →