“Power/Rangers” stands out among fan films, often surpassing the quality of major studio productions. Directed by Joseph Kahn, known for his work with artists like Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, and Eminem, the film excelled despite its limited budget. Kahn’s expertise in condensing storytelling into brief runtimes brought the film to life.

This version of “Power/Rangers” diverged sharply from the typical child-friendly approach of the official franchise, embracing R-rated content with violence, profanity, and mature themes. Van Der Beek took on the role of a reimagined Red Ranger Rocky, co-writing the script with Kahn and Dutch Southern, while Sackhoff portrayed Kimberly, the original Pink Ranger.

The film premiered on YouTube and Vimeo on February 23, 2015. Vimeo particularly endorsed it, featuring it as a Staff Pick and interviewing Kahn about its release. However, this attention soon attracted the notice of Saban, the company holding the “Power Rangers” intellectual property rights. Consequently, Saban demanded its removal from both platforms due to copyright infringement, leading to a brief compliance by YouTube and Vimeo.

Ironically, the official 2017 “Power Rangers” film flopped at the box office, suggesting that Saban’s efforts to transition the franchise to film may not have been as successful as the fan-made endeavor. This, however, opens another avenue of discussion entirely.

“Power/Rangers” has since been uploaded across multiple YouTube channels. As Kahn explained in his interview with Vimeo about the film’s removal, it was ultimately determined that it fell under fair use as a parody. Surely, Saban is aware of subsequent uploads of the movie, and would have removed them if it were within the company’s legal rights to do so. 

Meanwhile, 2017’s “Power Rangers” bombed at the box office, so it’s not as if Saban itself has done a better job of ushering the franchise into the world of film. But that’s a whole other discussion entirely.