Mason Thames hijacks Dave Franco's rehab run in Idiots
IFC Films released the full Idiots trailer on July 9, 2026, showing Mason Thames as a rich teen whose rehab transport with Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson Jr. quickly spirals into slapstick crime and chase-movie chaos. Macon Blair's road comedy opens in theaters August 28.
Key Takeaways
- IFC debuted the main official trailer for Idiots on July 9, with Mason Thames playing the spoiled teen Sheridan.
- Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson Jr. star as two unqualified drivers whose straightforward rehab gig turns into dangerous mayhem.
- The ensemble also includes Peter Dinklage, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Killer Mike.
- Idiots premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and arrives exclusively in theaters August 28, 2026.
What happens in the Idiots trailer?
On Thursday, July 9, IFC Films dropped the main official trailer for Idiots, a slapstick road comedy written, directed, and produced by Macon Blair. Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson Jr. play two men hired to transfer a wealthy teenager to rehab — a job that should be simple and turns violent fast.
In the footage, Mason Thames portrays what PEOPLE calls a "maniac" teen who ignores warnings about his behavior. Despite the drivers' best efforts, Thames' passenger drags Franco and Jackson into trouble with criminals played by Peter Dinklage and Nicholas Braun, plus an appearance from Kiernan Shipka.
FirstShowing.net describes the film as a "raucous and wildly entertaining descent into madness," with Franco and Jackson cast as "unqualified bozos" escorting the spoiled rich teen Sheridan. The A.V. Club frames the setup as a "Pineapple Express approach to Midnight Run," with Thames' rider described as a prolific acid user who is violently dangerous once the chase begins.
Who stars in Idiots besides Mason Thames?
Beyond the central trio, Blair assembled a deep bench of scene-stealers. Peter Dinklage, who previously worked with Blair on films including Brothers and The Toxic Avenger, appears in the trailer alongside Nicholas Braun and Kiernan Shipka. The A.V. Club also notes Killer Mike and Blair himself in the cast.
According to FirstShowing.net, Franco and Jackson play Mark and Davis — mismatched chaperones tasked with keeping Sheridan under control. Sundance's festival copy, quoted by FirstShowing, praises Mason Thames as "brilliant" in the increasingly psychotic role. Blair called the movie's spectacle "a pile-up of dynamite actors going full tilt through broad slapstick comedy, chase movie shenanigans, nasty human darkness and ultimately a hopeful friendship story."
Why does the Idiots trailer matter for comedy fans?
The trailer lands as studios lean back into broad, stupid comedies for the big screen. The A.V. Club notes Blair has pushed the project since 2017, when it was originally titled The Shitheads and eyed Luke Wilson and Tracy Morgan as leads. Nearly a decade later, Franco joined as producer and star, and the 98-minute film premiered at Sundance in January before IFC retitled it Idiots.
Franco and Jackson Jr. bring real off-screen chemistry to the chaos. At Sundance, Franco said the pair "feel safe with each other" and can "take these huge swings and do weird shit," per Sundance's website. Jackson recalled Franco telling him, "I need you for a project and I feel like you could kill it" — a personal pitch he said he could not refuse.
When and where can you watch Idiots?
Idiots opens exclusively in theaters on August 28, 2026. IFC is distributing the film after its Sundance debut under the earlier title The Shitheads. For more upcoming film and trailer news, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
The new trailer arrives alongside three posters, according to FirstShowing.net. Blair's absurdist tone — Sundance described it as humor "doused with gasoline and psychedelics" — signals a loud theatrical summer play rather than a quiet streaming drop.