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Superbad

Superbad is a 2007 American coming-of-age teen buddy comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Superbad is a 2007 American coming-of-age teen buddy comedy film directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as high school seniors whose efforts to buy alcohol for a party lead to a chaotic night before graduation. The film was a commercial success and later became widely regarded as a cult classic.

Plot

The story centres on Seth and Evan, two high school friends dealing with the end of senior year and the prospect of college separation. Their attempt to buy alcohol for a party sets off a night of misadventures.

Production

Superbad was directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Judd Apatow served as a producer, and the film marked the feature-film debut of Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Release and reception

The film premiered in Los Angeles in August 2007 and opened in U.S. theatres shortly after. It performed strongly at the box office and later developed a lasting reputation as a cult comedy.

Cast

The main cast includes Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, Martha MacIsaac, and Emma Stone. Several of the supporting performances were early major screen roles.

Key facts

  • The film follows two co-dependent high school seniors, Seth and Evan, as they try to secure alcohol for a party before graduation.
  • Jonah Hill and Michael Cera play the two leads, with Christopher Mintz-Plasse making his film debut as Fogell (McLovin).
  • Superbad premiered in August 2007 and was released theatrically in the United States on August 17, 2007.
  • It was financially successful, grossing about $170.8 million against a budget of roughly $17.5–20 million.
  • The film is often described as a cult classic and one of the defining teen comedies of its era.
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Canadian context

Superbad was written by Canadians Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, making it a notable Canadian creative contribution to a major American comedy film.

Frequently asked questions

What is Superbad about?
It follows two high school seniors trying to buy alcohol for a party before graduation, with the plan descending into a chaotic night.
Who directed Superbad?
Greg Mottola directed the film.
Who wrote Superbad?
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the screenplay.
When was Superbad released?
It was released in the United States on August 17, 2007.
Who stars in Superbad?
The film stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, with Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, Bill Hader, and Emma Stone in supporting roles.
Was Superbad a box-office success?
Yes. It grossed about $170.8 million worldwide on an estimated $17.5–20 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbad
    Supports: Basic film identification, plot, cast, director, writers, release date, budget, and box office figures.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829482/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and film identification.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/superbad
    Supports: Synopsis, release date, genre, and rating.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/superbad
    Supports: Director, cast, runtime, rating, and content description.