The History Of Future Folk (2013)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 2 nominations
High on quirky smarts and low on splashy special effects, The History of Future Folk is an unusual — and unusually fun — slice of sci-fi.
The History of Future Folk is like a quirky, indie sci-fi movie that you stumble upon and end up falling in love with. It’s not perfect, but it’s so earnest and charming that you can’t help but root for it. The music is surprisingly catchy and the low-tech special effects add to the film’s overall charm. It’s the kind of movie that you’ll want to share with your friends just so you can all sing “Space Worms” together.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
FilmBuff, Variance Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 26m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 29, 2014
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Nils d’Aulaire, Jay Klaitz, Julie Ann Emery, April L Hernandez, Dee Snider, Onata Aprile, directed by John Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker, written by John Mitchell, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ann Hornaday, Bill Goodykoontz, Tom Keogh, Eric Kohn, Sheri Linden, Neil Genzlinger, Kip Mooney, Lainna Fader, Sarah Ward, Adam Patterson, Michelle Kisner, Charlie Jane Anders, produced by Jon Bulette, Andrew Goldman, Smokey Nelson, Jeremy Kipp Walker, MPAA rating, sci-fi, bluegrass musicians, alien general, comrade, home world, mankind’s destruction, catchy tunes, low-tech basics, unusual, fun, slice of sci-fi, drama, romance, catchy songs, Twister Sister, lo-fi look, heart, charm, original songs, funny, social commentary, action film, unique experience, audience score, critic consensus, film buff, variance films, distributor
Worldwide gross: $17,646
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,417
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,120
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,445
US/Canada gross: $17,646
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,417
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,797
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,775
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,336
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,763
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jay Klaitz – Kevin
Julie Ann Emery – Holly
April L. Hernandez – Carmen
Dee Snider – Larry
Onata Aprile – Wren
Director – John Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Producer – Jon Bulette, Andrew Goldman, Smokey Nelson, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Writer – John Mitchell
Director(s)
John Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Writer(s)
John Mitchell
Producer(s)
Jon Bulette, Andrew Goldman, Smokey Nelson, Jeremy Kipp Walker
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (3)
A delightful sci-fi adventure that simultaneously strips the genre down to its low-tech basics and infuses it with audacious new verve.
April 10, 2014
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It is so charming and sweet … and the songs are so winning that it is impossible not to fall for it.
July 25, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The nonsense proves good, goofy fun that works well because “History” at least acts as if it takes itself seriously, going easy on obvious ironies while dishing out catchy tunes.
July 11, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Keogh
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of unadulterated escapism in which the craftsmanship lies not in visual polish but the universal appeal of a catchy tune.
June 6, 2013 | Rating: A-
Eric Kohn
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
The movie could have made its points – war is bad; music is the universal language – in half the time. But the harmonies are sweet, the acoustic picking impressive.
June 6, 2013
Sheri Linden
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It may not make much sense in a brief plot summary, but it makes perfect, daffy sense on the screen.
May 30, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Neil Genzlinger
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Not very good, but earns a lot of points for its earnestness, music and charm.
September 18, 2021 | Rating: C+
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
The History of Future Folk is a sweet and charming little story that seems destined to become a cult favorite.
June 5, 2020
Lainna Fader
ScreenAnarchy
Though competently performed and brimming with enthusiasm, the sweet but slight fable-based film that results is heavily reliant upon its idea and less cognisant of its wavering cinematic execution, however it does provide moments of heartfelt comedy.
December 4, 2018
Sarah Ward
Trespass
It’s a well-crafted science fiction tale that will leave you with a smile on your face and a song about farming space worms stuck in your head for weeks.
November 29, 2018 | Rating: 8/10
Adam Patterson
Film Pulse
It’s quite a low budget film but they make everything work somehow. It does help if you appreciate B movies or 1960’s style Martian films.
November 29, 2018
Michelle Kisner
The Movie Sleuth
It’s a fast, cheerful and most of all resolutely cute movie, that absolutely does not demand or expect brooding or deep thought.
March 28, 2018
Charlie Jane Anders
io9.com…
Plot
An alien general and his comrade join forces to save their home world, prevent mankind’s destruction, and book gigs as bluegrass musicians in the quirky sci-fi comedy, The History of Future Folk.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a small performance by Dee Snider, the lead singer of Twisted Sister.
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