The Machine is a 2023 American action comedy film directed by Peter Atencio, starring stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer and Mark Hamill as his father. The film is a wild and humorous adventure that will keep the audience gripping their sides the entire time.

In the film, a father and son are kidnapped by Russian gang members and brought back to account for Bert’s crazy trip 20 years ago. Is there any truth to this misadventure?

In this article, we will examine whether “The Machine” is based on a true story or if it purely exists in the realm of science fiction.

Is the Machine Movie Based on a True Story?

Yes, the Machine movie is based on a true story. On December 28, 2016, Kreischer posted a video to his YouTube channel called ‘The Machine – Bert Kreischer: THE MACHINE.’ If you go to YouTube right now and search for “the machine,” it is the first video that will be up.

If you haven’t seen Kreischer’s stand-up before, don’t be scared by his lack of a shirt; it’s part of his act in every video. This stand-up comedy video has now received over 50 million views, making it one of the most popular stand-up comedy videos of all time.

Kreischer describes how, at the age of 22, he became connected with the Russian mafia. He spends the next 13 minutes telling you exactly what happened, and you won’t recognize when it’s over.

Enrolling in a Russian class in college finally led to a class trip to Russia. Kreischer wasn’t there to study or contribute; he was there to make some Russian friends, drink a lot of vodka, and have a good time, which he did.

In addition to all the alcohol and partying, he unwittingly became friends with the Russian mafia and then assisted them in robbing a train, which included his own friends and teacher.

The more you learn about the details, the crazier the narrative becomes, and it’s a wonder Kreischer is still alive. If there’s any narrative told in stand-up that needs to be made into a film, this is it!

How Accurate Will the Details in ‘The Machine’ Be?

Bert Kreischer’s stand-up performance typically concludes with the scene at the Moscow railway station. To keep the story fresh, he occasionally adds an epilogue or embellishments, although he normally sticks to the same fundamental plotline.

The true narrative had no far-reaching ramifications, but the film version of The Machine imagines how Kreischer’s voyage could have had long-term consequences.

The Machine alters the true story to do this. In the film, a flashback to the training scenario reveals that Kreischer believes he hasn’t taken anything significant since he makes a conscious effort to only take items that look to be of small worth.

He does, however, steal a valuable pocket watch from a prominent Russian person, and the man’s daughter has been on the lookout for Bert ever since. This is why, in the present, Bert and his father are kidnapped and deported to Russia to face their crimes.

In addition to that one alteration to the genuine story in The Machine, the entire present-day scene is made up. Kreischer may have had a rough connection with his father, but what is presented in the film between his character and Albert Sr. is not necessarily based on reality.

Read More: Is The Nun 2 Based On A True Story?

Meanwhile, their kidnapping to Russia is all fictitious. The primary events of The Machine are built up by Kreischer’s genuine story and then extended on with an all-new action-packed sequel that lends the popular story thematic weight.

How Bert Kreischer Got The Nickname “The Machine”

The fish-out-of-water experience was too much for him, and he promptly forgot about his prepared line. Instead, he said, “Ya machine!” which means “I am the machine!” The Russian criminals raised their glasses and cheered,

“He’s the machine!” after a beat. Kreischer became great friends with Igor and Sasha at that point, and they simply referred to him as “The Machine.” Kreischer not only spent his trip partying with the two men, but he also took part in a pool hall fraud and a boat hoist.