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In 1982, 3 childhood friends embarked on a vision:  They were determined to remake Raiders of the Lost Ark—every scene, every shot, every stunt—in their backyard and basement.  They had no money, no camera… no clue.  What they did have was sheer will, a shared passion, limitless imagination, and each other. Incredibly, they realized their dream-

It took them 7 years.

Raiders of the Lost Ark fan film cover art by The Raiders Kids tribute remake project
Collage of Raiders of the Lost Ark fan film scenes by The Raiders Kids remake project

Raiders Adaptation / Original Raiders

15 years later, it was unexpectedly discovered by Eli Roth, who passed it onto Eric’s hero…

Eric received a letter of praise from his childhood hero, the director of the original RAIDERS — Steven Spielberg. 

Read Steven Spielberg’s personal letter to Eric Zala, praising the fan-made Raiders of the Lost Ark remake for its imagination, detail, and originality.
Fan filmmakers meet Spielberg after their Raiders remake earns global praise and the director’s approval.

Jayson Lamb,Steven Spielberg, Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala

This low-on-budget / high-on-creativity 80's Betamax love letter to the original RAIDERS garnered the love of fans around the world.  It was hailed as the greatest fan film ever made, rated 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, covered on The Today Show, WIRED, NPR,  and even a feature article in VANITY FAIR

raiders greatest fan film ever made​
raiders greatest fan film ever made​
raiders greatest fan film ever made​

The story is of childhood obsessions, and friendships that have been tested, broken and strengthened. It is about being a teenager fraught with challenges, and how to overcome them. The story is a testament to the transcendental power of youth, art and the movies. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark story
Raiders of the Lost Ark story
Raiders of the Lost Ark story

Perhaps because it does not bear the sophisticated, self-consciousness of adulthood, their film has deeply moved just about everyone who has seen it. The magic of this film is in its purity, in its authentic belief in the medium. It is a time machine that takes one back to a moment in life when everything is still possible; when friendship is something to be shared and not feared; when there is no “audience” except the one in the heart—the one that eats up everything that is good and true and powerful.

Raiders of the Lost Ark story
Raiders of the Lost Ark story
Raiders of the Lost Ark story

Finally, after 25 years, they reunited the (now adult) cast -- to do the one final scene they could never pull of as kids: The Airplane Scene.

Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film
Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film

This spawned a critically acclaimed book by author Alan Eisenstock, published by St. Martin's Press. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film Book

After the book came the award-winning documentary that topped the New York Times' recommended list of non-depressing documentaries on Netflix. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE producer Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen produced and directed.

Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film
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Raiders of the Lost Ark fan film cover
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Meet Eric Raiders of the Lost Ark Fan Film

Meet Eric

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 Zala Detours Site Designed & Created by Quinn Zala;  Raiders Kids Art courtesy of Jeff Owens; RAIDERS ADAPTATION cover illustration by  Adam McDaniel;

Book Cover by St.Martin's Press: McDaniel; Doc Posters by Drafthouse Films, Paul Shipper & MONDO; ZD Logo by The Robot Eye, Inc.

Photos by the Zalas, Chris Strompolos, Jayson Lamb, Shelly Stallings, Roddy Capers.  Current Eric photo by Darcy Zala

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