Netflix’s Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story
Netflix’s Unfrosted, directed, co-written by, and starring Jerry Seinfeld, is a biographical comedy that takes inspiration from a true story but also adds a healthy dose of fiction. The movie follows Seinfeld’s character, Bob Cabana, as he recounts the origin of the breakfast food Pop-Tarts when he is chosen to lead a team to develop a new food for Kellogg.
The film features a talented cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, and Amy Schumer, which indicates a comedic spin on the movie. Despite being rooted in reality, Unfrosted is a fictional tale that uses humor to tell its story.
While the true story provides a framework for the movie, it’s not the sole inspiration. Seinfeld’s own joke about his childhood love of Pop-Tarts led him to pen a script with Spike Feresten, Andy Robin, and Barry Marder, which was greenlit by Netflix in 2021.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced film and television productions to shut down, Seinfeld isolated himself and envisioned a project that would bring joy to people. He expanded his stand-up bit from his Netflix special into a full-blown comedy movie. Netflix committed to filming the movie in 2022, and it premiered on the streamer in 2024.
Many elements of the movie are fictional, including the idea of searching for inspiration in Post’s dumpsters and negotiations with organized crime for sugar. However, the rivalry between Kellogg and Post in the 1960s and Pop-Tarts selling out in just two weeks are based on reality.
Bob Cabana’s inspiration, William Post, lived to be 96 years old and was responsible for adding icing to Pop-Tarts in 1967. He led the team that created the Pop-Tart for Kellogg’s and eventually became the vice president of Keebler’s before retiring and working as a brand consultant until 2003. He passed away in February 2024, just months before the movie’s release.
