The Lonely Island Reflects on 'popstar' as a Cult Classic

WHO:

Source: IndieWire - The Lonely Island consists of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone.

Source: IndieWire - Judd Apatow served as the producer for "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping."

Source: IndieWire - The character Conner4Real is played by Andy Samberg.

WHAT:

Source: IndieWire - "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" was released in 2016.

Source: IndieWire - The film had a budget of approximately $20 million but recouped less than half at the box office.

Source: IndieWire - The film has since been embraced as a cult classic and is considered a quotable comedy.

Source: IndieWire - The film has a running time of 87 minutes.

Source: IndieWire - The trio began writing songs for Conner4Real as the script was developed, resulting in an abundance of music and humor.

WHERE:

Source: IndieWire - Filming took place at the Forum in Los Angeles.

WHEN:

Source: IndieWire - The 10th anniversary of "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" is being celebrated.

WHY:

Source: IndieWire - The creators aimed to create a film that showcased their comedy music style without feeling forced.

Source: IndieWire - The film satirizes modern pop music and the lives of pop stars.

HOW:

Source: IndieWire - The writing process involved creating a Google Doc where the team added jokes and ideas.

Source: IndieWire - The film's production design utilized various motifs to make the Forum appear as different locations around the world.

Source: IndieWire - The team shot hours of candid interviews with famous personalities, leveraging personal relationships and the presence of Judd Apatow to secure cameos.

(UPDATED June 6, 2026 04:18 UTC)

The creators of "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," including Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone, are celebrating the film's 10th anniversary, which has since become a cult classic known for its humor and quotable lines. Produced by Judd Apatow, the movie features Samberg as the character Conner4Real and was filmed at the Forum in Los Angeles, showcasing a satirical take on modern pop music and the lives of pop stars. The team developed the script alongside an abundance of original music, utilizing a collaborative Google Doc for jokes and ideas, and shot hours of candid interviews with celebrities to enhance the film's authenticity.