Millions of movie fans were treated to plenty of action and drama as they made Paramount Pictures’ Four Brothers the number one film in America on the weekend of August 12. The John Singleton directed motion picture features Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin and Jack Mercer as adopted brothers who reunite to find justice after the death of their mother. Motor Sports enthusiasts may have noticed another star making an appearance in the film, as the legendary Grave Digger monster truck is prominently shown performing at the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas last March. This combination of big stars and even bigger horsepower led to Four Brothers grossing over $21 million to top the box office charts on its opening weekend.

Getting the black and green machine in a major motion picture takes some hard work and a little luck. Clear Channel Entertainment’s Vice President of Production, Mike McFarlin, played a crucial role in landing some prime screen time. “Last fall, the movie’s production company decided they wanted some Monster Truck footage in the film.” As McFarlin explains,”they recognized Grave Digger as the best known truck in the world, and knew that was the truck they wanted.” While the movie was filming in Toronto, McFarlin and his team researched the many exciting Monster Jam events to find footage of the truck in action, from which they selected a clip to use in the film. McFarlin says, “The producers of Four Brothers actually sought us out based on Grave Digger’s reputation in the industry. Because of Digger’s status in the Monster Truck world, we were able to provide thrilling performance footage for the picture.”

Grave Digger’s appearance in the film is further proof of the expanding popularity of Monster Trucks in American culture. Ken Hudgens, Vice President of Marketing for Clear Channel Entertainment, explains that “the exploding popularity of monster trucks and Grave Digger in particular, has opened doors for the sport that seemed impossible just a few years back. We’ve come a long way from simply being a sideshow. Having Digger in Four Brothers continues to legitimize monster truck racing and the Monster Jam experience.” Over Grave Digger’s 23 years in competition, the truck has gone from the mud bogs of North Carolina to become a true American icon. In addition to Four Brothers, the truck has also appeared in the HBO hit The Sopranos, New Line Cinema’s 1999 film Magnolia and numerous commercials.

So, the next time you see Grave Digger in competition at your local Monster Jam event, feel free to snap a few flash photos. Don’t worry; you won’t bother Digger. He’s used to the spotlight.

- Mike Briggs