"I Am Spartacus!" Starbucks Prank - Movies In Real Life (Ep 9)

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For our latest mission we staged the iconic "I am Spartacus!" scene from Spartacus in a Manhattan Starbucks. I ordered a drink and gave the name "Spartacus." When the barista called the name, a group of 20 men stood up one-by-one proclaiming to be Spartacus. The real punchline arrived at the end, when a man dressed as a Roman slave arrived to claim the beverage. The scene was produced without the knowledge of the Starbucks.
Created and Directed by Charlie Todd
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Produced by Deverge
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Music by Tyler Walker
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Movies In Real Life is presented in part by Fandango
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Producers: Alan Aisenberg, Andrew Soltys
Director of Photography: Ilya Smelansky
Editor: Denis Cardineau
Camera: Myo Campbell, Denis Cardineau, Ryan Creamer, Kelley Dunlap, Cody Lindquist, Chloe Smolkin, Ilya Smelansky
Sound: Harris Karlin
Photography: Ari Scott
Production Assistants: Juan Cocuy
Cast: Matt Pavlovich as Spartacus; Charlie Todd as "guy ordering drink"
This is one of over 100 different missions Improv Everywhere has executed over the past ten years in New York City. Others include Frozen Grand Central, the Food Court Musical, and the famous No Pants Subway Ride, to name a few. Visit our website to see tons of photos and video of all of our work, including behind the scenes information on how this video was made.
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[@SamnissArandeen]

Then a Starbucks employee goes, "No. *I'm* Spartacus" and drinks it himself.

[@impalalord]

+Samniss Arandeen Sums it up

[@nyc_gabe]

He needs the straw tho XD

[@yirzm7028]

Or herself.

[@evanallaire2829]

Sexist

[@daviddavis]

Nice jeb

[@lotus-prince]

I love how the employee didn't bat an eye when the guy ordering said that his name was Spartacus.

[@AlexQuill63]

I think she must've suspected what was about to happen.

[@RememberRox]

Alex Quill Or she haven't seen the movie and so the name meant nothing to her.

[@lotus-prince]

RememberRox Alex Quill Yeah, but she didn't react at all. Also, I've never seen the movie, but that's one of the most famous scenes ever. That's the only thing about the movie that people know if they haven't seen the movie.

[@RememberRox]

Valgaav19 Yeah cause the name ment nothing to her. She didn't know it came from a movie. My guess anyways.

[@madil1048]

A lot of people put funny names for their stuff at Starbucks (me being guilty of that)

[@improveverywhere]

Apparently Spartacus likes strawberry lattes.

[@rrs_13]

Well, yes. Yes I do.

[@YunoHadashiego]

*Strawberry Frappuccinos

[@sdulaj]

thats not my favorite drink :)

[@xin_di]

Spartak Dulaj you're not spartacus

[@bittersweetcoffee8822]

Judy Zhang cuz i am, duh!

[@TheOnion]

This was better than the movie.

[@arkle519]

holy shit

[@Blenif]

THE LEGEND

[@LoveKrystal471]

It's you!

[@JamerG]

God I love your memes...

[@hinthemilk]

I never watched the movie but you’re famous so Imma just comment here anyway.

[@TerpyTee504]

I am asperagus

[@gracechen3740]

Lol

[@jimsteele9261]

It's the age of asparagus.

[@Officialreyca]

😁😁😁

[@miakhalifa4444]

*_I am esophagus_*

[@Wens_1O1]

I am rhinosaurus

[@date_vape]

Take notes prank channels. this is how pranking should be done. Not singling people out and fucking with them, but something that even the people being pranked will find fun and uplifting

[@themysteriouscatperson9483]

It’s like prancing yourself and making entertainment for others

[@billymays313]

Fucking with people can be okay, but you need to be doing something that will make them feel like the world is bizarre, not scare the hell out of or annoy them

[@galaxyturtle1728]

This isnt a prank channel though

[@date_vape]

@@galaxyturtle1728 So? My point is this is how a prank should be done, and prank channels (who notoriously do scummy, assholish pranks that harass/assault someone) should use this approach more. Prank channels always use fake or offensive pranks that harass people because its easy to pump out videos

[@ElekiSerket]

This was surprisingly epic

[@AS-zb5vo]

Go to central park Get people gathered in american rev. War uniforms. Have a dude run into the park, yelling the british are coming Have an army of redcoats come in

[@nickghaffarian5707]

Alyx S. Love it!!!

[@itsleetv935]

Lmaooo yessss

[@anordinarygentleman7077]

he probably got this from AC 3 since it came out a year before

[@LegionarioCruel]

The manager should have kicked Spartacus out while shouting "THIS IS STARBUCKS!!!"

[@xxMaro92xx]

doesn't make any sense to mix the spartian's king leonidas from the movie 300 who fought against persians with the thracian rebel leader spartacus (from spartacus) who fought against the roman empire...

[@LegionarioCruel]

xxMaro92xx 1) My comment refers to a TV show and a movie, it does not concern history AT ALL. 2) If you can't see that the "I am Spartacus" scene of the tv show is reminiscent of the "This is SPARTA!" scene from the movie 300, I can't really help you man.

[@CollyZooWeddings]

Legionaro it was a great comment, dont let literal people ruin your fantastic wordplay

[@sreebeetheone]

I'm sure I'd just jump up and shout "I'M SPARTACUS!" and go along if something like that happened when I was around. I wonder if someone from the audience actually did do it...

[@Wastingsometimehere]

Slave rebellion at a coffee shop? About time!

[@improveverywhere]

One more video in the series! What was your favorite one so far? (Don't worry we'll probably make more next year.)

[@ThePaidProductions]

Harry Potter in Real Life was defenitely my favorite one so far :)

[@ThePaidProductions]

DGYolohannes Definitely*, excuse me xD

[@gilhardy]

Cazafantasmas :D saludos desde México

[@Fredb24]

They were all great, I especially really liked the loop of "back to the future", but my favourite would still be Gandalf, that was the most "interactive", and that was great to see the people's reactions

[@horstweinert7204]

hm, im split in between this and matrix, one of those is my favorite anyway. matrix was awesome because it was a lot more work, but this one was simple yet funny.

[@nathan8634]

Was I the only one thinking "will the real slim shady please stand up"?

[@rootinntootin1111]

LOL

[@-ss-664]

We gonna have a problem here

[@mrmoofle]

Spartacus was the OG Slim Shady.

[@abbythacker02]

If I was in Starbucks and that happened I would awkwardly stand up and say: I AM ASPARAGUS!!! :3

[@thekskill]

Starbucks stepped up their A-game. That strawberry frap was served FAST!

[@matthewcaramat4027]

Will the real Spartacus please stand up?

[@ishigoto]

I like to imagine some of those guys just got the joke and chimed in on their own lol

[@12MrDarkknight]

you should make "I AM BATMAN" video xD

[@candyqueenify]

+Faris Qasem yes....YES!

[@plasmathunderdx]

+Faris Qasem It looks like the starbucks on yonge st in Toronto. Maybe we can convince toronto batman to do this!

[@improveverywhere]

Don't miss Spartacus if you haven't seen it! A CHRISTMAS STORY in real life comes out tomorrow!

[@rivenwinx]

Do Men in Black !!

[@lochnessrose]

6 years old and still a classic

[@jimilazer6634]

Hahahaah..."No, seriously, I'm Spartacus" Love how the older gentleman shaking his head is totally unamused. "Can't walk into a NYC Starbucks without running into a gladiator and bunch of freaks...what is the world coming to."

[@supremejediandrew3447]

This video made me cry of laughter

[@Cwrigz]

Supreme Jedi Andrew yeeeee

[@bellemdw3896]

It would be much better if someone said "IM ASPARAGUS!"

[@andyhuynh7463]

Tell the people your name is "primrose everdeen" and have someone say I volunteer

[@echotimesthree6146]

They should have referenced Life of Brian a little, too, and had a guy say "I am Spartacus and so is my wife!" lol

[@laurensongs5959]

You should do one when someone says primrose and then when they say their name everyone goes I volunteer as tribute - anyone agree?

[@SamnissArandeen]

+Lozza It would be hilarious if we had Effie Trinket and Haymitch cosplayers to complete the scene. More epicness if "Haymitch" acts drunk and goes falling off the stage.

[@joshmeyer1167]

ill donate to the go fund me!

[@dwinss]

Yesss

[@DeGoya]

Captain jack sparrow running away from cannibals

[@AlanBush]

*I am Spartacus!* I love Improv Everywhere. Always quality content.

[@BinkieMcFartnuggets]

If this was a real Starbucks they would have spelled it "Sharticus".

[@danielzaiser]

lol why? (pls explain for a stupid foreigner)

[@danielzaiser]

Sara Dalrymple ty for the clarification ;)

[@TheKazadoodle]

They used to do that here too, before most of them closed down.

[@TheKazadoodle]

Australia, they shut down about 90% of them around 4 or 5 years ago. They weren't profitable for Starbucks, so they took their frappes and went home.

[@LarryNocella]

Good stuff! Great parody of one of the greatest scenes from a classic film. Kids today just don't understand. Well done, Improv Everywhere.

[@improveverywhere]

Behind-the-scenes video here: Mission Report: Spartacus In Real Life

[@improveverywhere]

I AM the 301st viewer!

[@MidAvionics]

I AM the 301+st viewer!

[@kowloonchild2366]

I AM the 301+st viewer!

[@Dujuan_Thomas]

No seriously, Im the 301+st viewer.

[@yonghuattay1644]

I AM THE 301+st VIEWER!!

[@omarreyes4919]

I AM THE 301+ VIEWER

[@stephenstewart1038]

This is literally my favorite!!!! Could watch it over and over!

[@improveverywhere]

Can anyone guess what we're doing for next week's Christmas video?

[@eStecko]

Home Alone? :>

[@DChipMunk]

you said it...in the end...of the video...like...seriously?

[@improveverywhere]

DChipMunk Yes, but can you guess what we're doing?

[@Fredb24]

"A christmas story", as it is displayed at the end of your video; as DChipMunk said...?

[@improveverywhere]

Frédéric Bruyère Yes, but WHAT part of that movie would you guess we are doing?

[@DrWh1teCat]

Such a simple setup. Didn't really need the 'real' Spartacus, but it sealed the joke.

[@BETMARKonTube]

Cute and fast. My kind of pranks.

[@roserainmusic]

These guys do the best pranks ever! :)

[@youngbeauty6591]

It got so quiet when the man came in lol 😂😂😂😂😂

[@improveverywhere]

Don't miss this week's video! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[@maryjoyce4845]

Funniest one!!!

[@red2121]

It's like a glorious migration of the Spartacus

[@FreeFromWar]

This was the least awkward compared to other "Movies in real life" episodes.

[@stefanhoth]

New plan for the next Starbucks visit.

[@Electric_Wizard]

I guess those who didn't join in never saw the movie... I feel old :(

[@536767676533766]

They protect Spartacus lol :) Funny that last scene :)

[@MrNotThatFamous]

fk it, by this logic, i am spartscus 2, so arrest me.

[@caraking9670]

No, but I AM SPARTACUS! Haha, love you guys...

[@carschmn]

So simple and yet so funny!

[@voicetube]

I'm jealous!! .. a TWO STORY Starbucks!!?? LUCKYYYY!

[@numatics1127]

I AM SPARTACUS

[@redholm]

No. I AM SPARTACUS

[@numatics1127]

No I am SPARTACUS

[@MrRyan2582]

I AM SPIDERMAN!

[@idkdude8795]

***** i am the doctor! who?

[@kittycake1294]

Numatics NO I AM SPARTACUS

[@kathyboly19]

"No seriously...I am Spartacus, could I get a straw?" HYSTERICAL!

[@improveverywhere]

We got a huge crowd of people to camp out in front of a dollar store on Black Friday. Check it out: Black Friday Dollar Store

[@crazy2242]

Spartacus in Starbuckus buying lattecus yelling "I'm Spartacus"! This is so cool!!

[@haddalee1622]

No shirt, No shoes, No service Sorry Spartacus.

[@TheSlayerofkings]

1:16 Now that is an objective summary ladies and gentlemen.

[@ObjectsInMotion]

I clicked the video thinking I could even, but I can't. I can't even.

[@zezenia_art]

6 years later and i can't find quality content like this one here

[@JoseBarriosPika]

Those Starbucks employees must have thought... "Oh, so all these people weren't here to get drinks? It was just a play? :c "

[@JacquesFD]

Oh Spartacus, not a plastic straw...

[@kylanmackin8161]

I am spartacus

[@TheFendetta]

No, I am Spartacus!

[@baraldidourado]

I AM SPARTACUS!!!

[@6Lord6Chaos6]

TheFendetta No but seriously, I am Spartacus..

[@gh3nny]

"No seriously I'm Spartacus."😂😂😂

[@lalandleah]

I love it when you guys do this kind of thing. You make everyone's day :)

[@reyproduction4988]

Always remember the legend Spartacus. What a man.

[@godzillakiller1]

I BROKE THE DAM!!!!

[@ThemStickers]

Plot twist: the dude at the end wasn’t scripted, he actually is Spartacus

[@frankyramone]

I would have ruined it by shouting "I am Kirk Douglas".

[@SpartacusMoses]

My name is spartacus. I got excited by this video

[@trop-494]

IM ASPARAGUS

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

If I was at that Starbucks, I would totally chime in.

[@WeGotTehPie]

I wonder how many people actually understood the reference.

[@Dirty20]

Was waiting for the "I am Sparticus...and so's my wife" XD

[@robbbyyy25]

This is great, should have been longer or at a bigger venue where you get more people to get involved with "I am Spartacus"..still good though..

[@rivenwinx]

DO MEN IN BLACK!!

[@inFamousJaySquirly]

I support this

[@genuineu5403]

do men in black guys i want this

[@luvbird5493]

I love it how random people who aren't even in on the act started joining in

[@tariksamara]

This channel rocks ... I hope I can do the mp3 experiment with you guys ... you bring the joy to the public ... that's what I wanna do ... :-)

[@blueskybelyr]

I need more of these, seriously, that was amazing :D Gotta say the Back to the Future one was the best, imo :)

[@stifflerchessusmom]

The Hunger Games...

[@suraya1224]

I'm amazed so many younger customers seemed to know that line, from the classic 1960 Kirk Douglas movie!

[@user-ep4sm3gg3x]

do hunger games!

[@djbunnymix1437]

WELL I almost died of laughter.

[@alexanderl.5792]

i am spartacus AND I AM HARRY POTTER

[@ConnorSmith-lh7uw]

Loois like someone's having an identity crisis.

[@alexanderl.5792]

lol

[@EmanueleDalCarlo]

Maybe, just maybe, the black guy with the Hi-Def camera at 1:05 could be give away that is all staged and not a real "prank" ?

[@avilesnba]

good point my good man

[@idkdude8795]

hahahahaha i didnt notice him, good point!

[@alangentrinapestegui]

More entertaining than watching DCEU movies

[@inteo_]

I just remembered this and i decided to come back to it, damn was it as good as i remember

[@rapanuikapu904]

IM SPARTACUS! No seriously I'm Spartacus

[@buraki7]

slaves: I'm Spartacus I'm Spartacus I'm Spartacus -etc-. Peter: that guy's Spartacus -rats out the real one-

[@Scoobice]

The best "Movies in Real Life"!!! Some of the otherr ones would have been funny if you were there, but this one was so funny!!!

[@3027085]

This is probably my favorite episode of the series so far, just because it's so simple! :D

[@LoneCanadianPoet]

Wow.... Spartacus Looks Like A Cabana-Boy.

[@MrMrx123456789]

I'm Spartacus! And so is my wife!

[@Monster_Mover_Stocks]

I love stuff like this! Yes...breaking the monotony of everyday life! I AM SPARTACUS!!!

[@sussy413]

The dislikes are the people who aren’t Spartacus

[@lance4593]

I am Spartacus

[@tannedwillie1143]

Bravo! Takes a lot of guts to walk around in public in a costume like that! Believe me, I know.

[@kronvlat]

either im having some crazy deja vu or I've seen this done before

[@jgsn5029]

greatest tv show of all time

[@kyubbiman2255]

This is hilarious. It's almost as good as their ghost-busters video

[@PrankandSpank]

SPARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[@LoweXIII]

CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS

[@gibby8940]

I‘m Spartacus!

[@Alice15897]

I read about this, but nothing is better than seeing this for real

[@charlietodd]

I was Spartacus.

[@krystalb2000]

I can't tell if the white haired guy in the blue shirt at 1:07 was part of the initial gig or not, but either way I love how he is so pointedly NOT looking at Spartacus grabbing that straw for his latte.