I AM MCLOVIN: How Superbad Became the Biggest Comedy Hit of its Generation

When Superbad was released on August 17th in 2007, it proved itself to be a massive success right out of the gate, especially for those in the film’s target millennial demographic. The film wound up dominating at the box office, bringing in $170 million dollars worldwide, against a $20 million dollar budget. It also launched the careers of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Stone, Bill Hader, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Seth Rogen whose careers are all thriving to this day. It further proved that Judd Apatow is now one of the most successful film producers of his generation, bringing the world hit after hit. Superbad remains, to this day, a beloved comedy film for millennials who grew up with it. This is because, unlike other comedies of that era, it embraced the awkwardness of the characters, particularly with someone like Michael Cera. Unlike the cartoonish representations of an 80s comedy like Revenge of the Nerds, Superbad presented itself with a depth to the characters that enabled millennials (and other generations) to bond with the movie in a more meaningful way. Full of interviews with people like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Stone, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Martha MacIssac, Judd Apatow, Bill Hader, Greg Motolla, Evan Goldberg, and Shauna Robertson, I Am McLovin is a comprehensive guide to the movie that changed a generation.