Broken Lizard’s ‘Super Troopers’ Franchise Reaches 25-Year Milestone With Third Film

The Vermont state police comedy “Super Troopers” has endured as a cultural phenomenon for a quarter-century, transforming from a low-budget production into a franchise that defied expectations. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and starring fellow Broken Lizard members Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske, the 2001 original film was made for under $3 million and grossed $23 million theatrically before becoming a home-video sensation. Brian Cox, then without an Emmy, rounded out the cast as the cantankerous police chief.

Broken Lizard, a comedy troupe formed by college friends at Colgate University, created the film while touring and performing on college campuses across America. Their experiences being pulled over during road trips directly inspired the movie’s central premise and comedic tone. The group found themselves fascinated by the power dynamic between officers and drivers, wondering what police officers thought about the dramatic shift in behavior when lights started flashing.

The franchise’s most iconic scene features Jim Gaffigan as a motorist subjected to a “meow” counting game by two patrolmen. Over the decades, officers and aviation pilots have replicated this scene during actual traffic stops and radio communications. One memorable encounter saw a trooper who recognized Lemme during a high-speed stop request an autograph on his ticket book rather than proceed with the citation.

“Super Troopers 3” arrives August 7 through Searchlight Pictures, with the ensemble now in their late 50s but maintaining the affectionate ribbing that defines their dynamic. The film introduces an electric police vehicle to the Vermont barracks while exploring Chandrasekhar’s character Thorny’s efforts to sabotage his sister’s wedding to Heffernan’s Farva. Brian Cox returns to the franchise following his acclaimed HBO series “Succession.”

The comedy group has embraced the mustaches and maple syrup imagery central to the franchise’s identity, though the actors acknowledge they are no longer physically capable of the syrup chugging sequences that appeared in the original film. Marketing departments have come to view the iconic facial hair as essential to the brand itself. The cast credits 30 years of genuine friendship as the secret ingredient that distinguishes their work from typical Hollywood productions.

Broken Lizard has navigated significant industry changes, including the near-extinction of theatrical R-rated comedy and the shift to streaming distribution. The group crowdfunded financing for 2018’s “Super Troopers 2” when traditional funding proved difficult. They have occasionally mocked sequel culture by planting fake teases for nonexistent films within previous releases, yet “Super Troopers 3” genuinely marks the completion of an unplanned trilogy.

Chandrasekhar reflected on the improbability of sustaining a creative partnership across nearly three decades of filmmaking. The troupe views their mission as revitalizing traditional American R-rated theatrical comedy during an era when few such films reach production. While the tag for a fourth installment appears at the film’s conclusion, the cast maintains deliberate ambiguity about whether additional sequels represent genuine plans or continued comedic bit.