Although Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping didn’t set the box office alight upon release in 2016, I implore every comedy fan to check out this criminally underrated comedy on Peacock. Released in 2016, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping was a mockumentary following the rise and fall of Andy Samberg’s arrogant rapper/pop star Conner4Real, and it can officially claim to have made talk show host Seth Meyers throw up from laughter (via The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers Podcast).
Filled with cameos from real-life pop stars, comedians, and actors, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping boasted an ensemble cast including Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Maya Rudolph, Joan Cusack, Will Forte, Bill Hader, and many more major stars. However, the real appeal of the mockumentary was its behind-the-scenes talent. Like 2007’s H๏τ Rod, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping was produced and directed by The Lonely Island.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Is Now Streaming On Peacock
The Andy Samberg Vehicle Was A Surprise Box Office Flop Despite Solid Reviews
This comedy rap group was responsible for the iconic viral hits “Jizz in My Pants” and “I’m on a Boat,” but its members Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone were never able to translate their musical success into a career as filmmakers. Their feature debute, 2007’s wildly underrated H๏τ Rod, earned only $14 million on a budget of $25 million.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping earned a critical rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Similarly, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping faced a similar struggle upon its release. The musical comedy made just under $10 million on a budget of $20 million, making Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping the Lonely Island’s second major box office flop. I’m still not sure how the movie underperformed so badly, as Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a deservedly viewed as a cult classic.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is available to stream on Peacock from July 1.
From early scenes that affectionately spoof The Beastie Boys to later songs that parody boy bands, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping blends an obvious love of pop rap with a hilariously profane comedic edge. Like Walk Hard and This Is Spinal Tap, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping ruthlessly spoofs the music movie’s conventions while still functioning as a fun underdog story.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Deserved To Be So Much Bigger
This Musical Mockumentary Is One Of Star Andy Samberg’s Best Movies
Although Samberg has impressed in dramatic roles before and since, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is proof that the Brooklyn 99 actor is a born leading man. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’s many musician parodies are consistently hilarious, but the movie’s humor would fall flat if viewers didn’t have a reason to care about its absurdly flawed antihero.
Samberg imbues Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’s protagonist with a gormless naïveté that can be as tragic as it is hilarious.
As Conner4Real, Samberg imbues Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’s protagonist with a gormless naïveté that can be as tragic as it is hilarious. It is tough not to root for this absurd character as he navigates the treacherous music industry, making Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping a compelling story as well as a hilarious comedy classic.
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers Podcast
