Kendall York’s feature film, Movie Goers, is a tribute to fandom — specifically Star Wars fandom. In this ultra-no-budget film, York pays tribute to our love of film and the endless conversations and fan stories that are born from it.
Movie Goers opens outside College Station Theaters in Springfield, Missouri, where die-hard Star Wars fans camp out, endlessly awaiting a mythical director’s cut of The Imperials Strike Back and The Rebels Strike Back. Conversations bounce between two young women complaining about the prequels, questioning Snoke’s connection to certain characters, and debating why children were allowed to train with lightsabers in Revenge of the Sith. Another man, dressed as “Son of Barf” from Spaceballs, claims Disney Star Wars ripped off his father’s adventures and remade the film without humor.
These discussions lead to a homemade movie, The Imperials Strike Back, being screened. The film was made by kids who saw Star Wars and, in 1977, decided they were going to make their own sequel, knowing The Empire Strikes Back would not come out for another two years. In this lo-fi fan film, the Empire plots to crush the Rebellion in new ways after the destruction of the Death Star. Luke and Han, aiming to pay off Jabba the Hutt, join Leia on the Millennium Falcon. Their hyperspace jump is cut short when they’re caught in a tractor beam. The heroes face stormtroopers in a blaster fight—until Darth Vader appears. The sequence blends action scenes shot on film, model-based space battles, and homemade costumes and robots.
The second feature is The Rebels Strike Back, a stop-motion recreation of the Star Wars original trilogy using action figures. The film condenses the saga into a playful, toy-driven retelling while keeping the beats of the original story intact. Scenes unfold with handcrafted sets and meticulous stop-motion, showcasing the dedication of the filmmakers to both their craft and their fandom.
A “Son of Barf” cosplayer outside College Station Theaters in Springfield, Missouri.
“…die-hard Star Wars fans camp out, endlessly awaiting a mythical director’s cut…”
The filmmaker behind Movie Goers is the definition of true DIY. Working in a hospital cafeteria by day, York poured every ounce of their creative energy into shooting the film entirely on an iPhone with no crew, no budget, and no permits. Living with autism, ADHD, and Tourette’s, York channels their unique perspective into an unfiltered, deeply personal vision that blends absurdist humor, documentary realism, and surreal character moments.
As an indie film outlet, Movie Goers is not exactly the cinematic narrative we normally get. If I could make this movie, it wouldn’t be a masterpiece. As an emerging filmmaker, York has the right heart and is worth supporting, but it shows the marks of an amateur production. As they say, there’s only one direction, and that’s up. But York definitely has a pulse on what Star Wars fans have been saying about the prequels and the sequels, and the film hits each note.
The Imperials Strike Back reminds me of that time when I wished my father’s 8mm camera hadn’t broken. I’d probably be a filmmaker today. Imperials is a testament to fan storytelling and makes me think of what a Star Wars movie by The Little Rascals would look like.
The Rebels Strike Back is a stop-motion animated short featuring classic Star Wars action figures come to life. It’s more of an homage to our favorite Star Wars scenes than a straightforward narrative. Impressive for an amateur animator trying to get their first film made.
Kudos to Kendall York for pulling off a true labor of love. For all its scrappy, lo-fi charm, Movie Goers stands as proof that you don’t need Hollywood backing to tell a story that connects with people; you just need the drive to make it happen.
"…proof that don’t need Hollywood backing to tell a story that connects with people..."
Thank you for the kind words on this review of my film