The 2015 film & the story behind it
SpareParts.
Four students. One underwater robot.
A story bigger than the odds.
A Phoenix high school robotics team takes on the college competition. Explore the film, meet the real people, and discover what happened beyond the screen.
Promotional artwork via Apple TV.
- Released
- 2015
- Directed by
- Sean McNamara
- The real team
- Carl Hayden High School
- The competition
- Underwater robotics · 2004
Beyond the screen.
Get to know the people behind Spare Parts.
01 / The real story
Yes, they really
beat MIT.
Meet Oscar, Cristian, Lorenzo and Luis—the Carl Hayden students behind the film—and separate the history from the dramatization.
Read the true story ↗02 / Cast & characters
Real people.
On-screen lives.
Who plays whom? Find the actors, their characters, and the real team members they portray.
Meet the cast ↗A few things worth knowing
About the movie
Is Spare Parts based on a true story?
Yes. Four students from Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix defeated university teams, including MIT, at a 2004 underwater robotics competition. Read the sourced account and film comparisons.
Who stars in Spare Parts?
George Lopez plays teacher Fredi Cameron. Carlos PenaVega, José Julián, David Del Rio and Oscar Gutierrez portray the four students. Marisa Tomei and Jamie Lee Curtis also star. See the cast and character guide.
Where can I watch Spare Parts (2015)?
Check the film’s listings on Prime Video and Apple TV, or library access through hoopla. Options vary by region and account. See the viewing guide.
What happened to the real students?
The competition was one chapter of their lives. Our then-and-now guide distinguishes documented follow-up reporting from claims about where they are today.