Eminem returns to the big screen this week — not as the focal point, but as the thread binding together Stans, a raw and emotional documentary that shifts the spotlight to his fans. Directed by Steven Leckart and produced by Eminem, Paul Rosenberg, and Antoine Fuqua, the film explores the deep personal connections people have formed with the rapper’s music over the past two decades.
Inspired by his 2000 track “Stan,” which coined the term for obsessed fans, the documentary focuses on 20 individuals selected from over 9,000 submissions. Their stories go beyond admiration—some describe how Eminem’s lyrics helped them navigate trauma, addiction, and identity.
The doc includes never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with Eminem himself, and commentary from figures like Dr. Dre, Ed Sheeran, and Dido. But it’s the fans who steal the show—from a Guinness World Record holder with the most Eminem tattoos, to a Parisian doppelgänger mistaken for the real Slim Shady.
Stans is both a love letter to Eminem’s enduring legacy and a testament to how music can literally save lives. The film opens nationwide Aug. 7 in AMC theaters, with more screenings to follow.
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