ipiratedwereallgonnadie com
You won’t believe this: a filmmaker pirated his own movie and then built an entire website around it.
The site that calls you out (kind of)
There’s a place online called ipiratedwereallgonnadie.com. The whole premise is blunt: you probably pirated the movie We’re All Gonna Die already, so why not toss a few bucks to the people who made it? And here’s the kicker—what you “buy” there isn’t the movie. It’s a JPEG. That’s it. A tiny image stamped with the line, “I pirated We’re All Gonna Die and all I got was this lousy jpeg.” It’s the most sarcastic thank-you card in digital history.
The filmmaker flipped the piracy script
Instead of trying to block torrents, Freddie Wong—the filmmaker behind the movie—uploaded the pirated version himself. Same day the film hit legitimate digital platforms, a pristine copy appeared on torrent sites. But there was something special about it: a custom intro you can only see in the pirated version. Imagine downloading a movie illegally and having the director pop up at the start saying, “Hey, I see you. Enjoy—but maybe send some cash our way.” That’s exactly what he did.
What’s the movie about anyway?
We’re All Gonna Die isn’t some low-budget prank. It’s a legit indie film that hit the SXSW lineup in 2024. The story follows a beekeeper and an EMT on a strange road trip in a world overshadowed by an ominous alien tentacle hanging in the sky. Sounds heavy, but it’s surprisingly heartfelt. Critics called it a weird mash-up of sci-fi and dramedy that actually works. Ashly Burch and Jordan Rodrigues carry the movie, and it’s way more emotional than a title like We’re All Gonna Die suggests.
Reddit went wild over the idea
When fans realized the creator had seeded his own torrent, Reddit lit up. One comment on r/DungeonsAndDaddies summed it up: “An absolute legend!!” Others praised the approach as a clever workaround for region locks and streaming delays. A user even pointed out the obvious: buying through the JPEG site means nearly every dollar goes straight to the creators instead of being chewed up by platform fees. That alone made people want to “pirate pay.”
Why this strategy matters
Here’s the thing about buying movies online: Apple, Amazon, and friends take huge cuts—sometimes around 30%. But on the JPEG site, the transaction is handled through Gumroad. The fees? Ten percent plus fifty cents. That means if you send them twelve bucks—the “normal” price mentioned on the site—they keep almost all of it. It’s not just about making piracy a joke; it’s a smarter financial pipeline.
The site is intentionally ridiculous
Visiting ipiratedwereallgonnadie.com feels like walking into a bit. The product listing is the JPEG. The description straight up says, “To be clear—you probably already have the movie. You’re paying for a digital download of the JPEG you see above.” It’s so upfront it’s almost disarming. You buy the image knowing it’s useless, and that’s the point. It’s a wink and a nudge saying, “We know what you did. Thanks for helping anyway.”
Turning piracy into marketing
Seeding your own torrent isn’t just cheeky—it’s smart. Torrents become marketing channels instead of black holes for revenue. People download the movie illegally, see that intro, and end up on the website. Suddenly, piracy isn’t stealing; it’s a funnel. And fans talk about it nonstop on Reddit, Twitter, and Discord because it’s such an unexpected move. That kind of buzz is priceless.
This model could spread
It’s easy to imagine other creators following suit. Musicians could drop “pirate-only” tracks. Podcasters could seed bonus episodes. Even indie game devs could slip in secret splash screens. The template is there: meet the pirates where they are, throw them a knowing grin, and offer a guilt-free way to support.
Not everything is perfect
There are a few wrinkles. Some countries might still treat that pirated copy as illegal, even if the director himself uploaded it. And not everyone will see the special torrent intro—other uploaders might rip it out or share versions without it. That dilutes the whole clever gesture. But none of that really undermines the fact that this tactic worked.
The bigger picture
At its core, this isn’t just about one indie film. It’s about creators reclaiming control. Instead of fighting piracy with lawsuits and takedown notices, Wong used it as a tool. He built a system where even the people who “steal” the movie end up contributing to its success. And judging by the reaction online, fans aren’t just okay with that—they love it.
Because really, who wouldn’t want to say they pirated a movie and all they got was a lousy JPEG—and the chance to support the people who made it anyway?
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