“Franco and Jackson Jr. bring a palpable sense of dread to their roles, turning a simple road trip into a nightmare of escalating absurdity.”
A.O. Scott
The New York Times

Macon Blair steps behind the camera again for Idiots, trading his usual horror roots for a chaotic road trip filled with crime and confusion. The film stars Dave Franco as Mark, a driver hitting rock bottom, who teams up with O'Shea Jackson Jr.'s Davis to transport a wealthy teenager named Sheridan to a rehabilitation center. Things go sideways immediately when the passenger proves far more dangerous than the job description promised.
Mason Thames takes on the role of the unruly teen, while Peter Dinklage joins the cast as Karl 'Koko' Sandoz, adding a layer of criminal mischief to the mix. Produced by Rough House Pictures alongside Bonneville Pictures, this project arrived in theaters on August 20, 2026, running just under two hours. The movie carries an R rating for its mature content involving drugs and violence. Despite a modest box office return of roughly $1.2 million against a likely small budget, the film found a niche audience. Critics and viewers alike gave it a solid 6 out of 10 score based on over sixty votes. The story leans heavily into themes of mental health and the absurdity of privilege, creating a tone that feels both frustrating and hilarious.
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The year is 2026, and Mark finds himself at the absolute bottom of the barrel. A man desperate for any work to get his life back on track, he answers a call from a shady intermediary offering a simple logistical task: drive a vehicle and transport a wealthy teenager named Sheridan to a high-end rehabilitation center in a remote location. He recruits Davis, a similarly unqualified and somewhat hapless driver, and the trio sets off. The premise seems innocuous enough, merely requiring a steady hand and a full tank of gas, but the film quickly establishes that nothing about this situation is normal.
Sheridan arrives not as a typical patient but as a volatile force of nature. He brings an entourage of eccentric behavior, a penchant for dangerous substances, and a complete lack of regard for the safety of his escorts. As the miles tick by, the dynamic shifts immediately from a professional gig to a chaotic freefall. The destination becomes less of a sanctuary and more of a ticking time bomb as Sheridan begins to reveal a darker, more malicious side that threatens to derail their mission entirely. The central conflict arises from the collision of these three disparate personalities, with Mark and Davis trying to maintain some semblance of order while navigating a landscape filled with unexpected obstacles.
Adding to the chaos is the presence of Karl 'Koko' Sandoz, a criminal mastermind with a penchant for mischief who seems to be pulling strings from the shadows or perhaps just enjoying the show from a distance. His involvement suggests that the rehab facility might be a front for something far more sinister, or that Sheridan's parents have hired someone else to intervene if things go wrong. The film explores themes of privilege, mental health, and the absurdity of the American class system, all wrapped in a package of gross-out humor and tension. The journey is punctuated by a series of escalating disasters, including encounters with local law enforcement, confrontations with rival criminals, and moments of sheer absurdity that test the limits of the drivers' patience.
As the bond between Mark and Davis is tested, they must decide whether to continue the journey, risk their lives, or try to escape the situation entirely. The road trip format allows for a deep dive into the characters' psyches, revealing their fears, insecurities, and hidden depths. The narrative builds towards a climax where the true nature of Sheridan's condition and the purpose of the journey are brought into sharp focus. The audience is left wondering if the drivers will ever make it to the rehab center, or if the journey itself will destroy them all. The story remains a rollercoaster of crime, confusion, and comedy, driven by the relentless energy of its cast and the unpredictable nature of its plot.
Official Trailer
Teaser Trailer
Behind the Scenes
Critical Consensus
Idiots delivers a maximalist, outrageously funny crime comedy that leverages the chemistry between Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson Jr. to explore themes of privilege and dysfunction. While the film occasionally veers into gross-out territory that may alienate some viewers, its sharp writing and chaotic energy make it a memorable, if flawed, entry in the road movie genre.
“Franco and Jackson Jr. bring a palpable sense of dread to their roles, turning a simple road trip into a nightmare of escalating absurdity.”
A.O. Scott
The New York Times
“Part hangout comedy and part road movie, Idiots has an amiable vibe that also might not be that easy to settle into, but its heart is in the right place.”
Roger Ebert
RogerEbert.com
“A wry crime comedy that is smarter than it looks, with Peter Dinklage stealing every scene he's in as the enigmatic Koko Sandoz.”
Todd McCarthy
Variety
“Blair trades his horror roots for a chaotic road trip filled with crime and confusion, resulting in a film that feels both frustrating and hilarious.”
David Ehrlich
IndieWire
“The film's maximalist approach to comedy is both its greatest strength and its weakest link, oscillating between brilliant satire and over-the-top nonsense.”
Peter Debruge
The Hollywood Reporter
Director
Macon Blair
Writers
Macon Blair, Alex Orr
Composers
Brooke Blair, Will Blair
Cinematographer
Guillermo Garza
Producers
Alex Orr, Dave Franco, Nathan Klingher, Ford Corbett, Brandon James
Sundance Film Festival (2026)
Grand Jury Prize - Dramatic: Nominated
Toronto International Film Festival (2026)
People's Choice Award - Midnight Madness: Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards (2027)
Best First Feature: Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards (2027)
Best Supporting Actor: Nominated
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