You know the face. That slightly panicked, nerdy grin of Fogell—better known as McLovin—staring back from a Hawaiian driver’s license. It’s been nearly two decades since Superbad hit theaters in 2007, and yet that plastic rectangle remains the most recognizable prop in cinema history. People buy replicas on Amazon every single day. They put them in their wallets for a laugh. But honestly, most people only care about the front. They want the "Hawaii" header and that ridiculous name.
The back of the McLovin ID is where the real nerds go to play.
It’s weird. If you look at the original prop used by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the back isn't just a blank white space. It’s a mess of low-budget 2000s graphic design. It’s got that specific, clunky layout that reminds you of a time before everything was digital and sleek. If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually printed on the reverse side of the world’s most famous fake license, you’re looking for a mix of boring legal jargon and tiny details that make the joke work.
What’s Actually on the Back of the McLovin ID?
Most replicas you find online are lazy. They just leave the back blank or put a generic "Thank You" message. But the screen-accurate versions? They try to mimic the 2000s-era Hawaii State ID or Driver’s License.
Back then, Hawaii licenses had a very specific magnetic stripe. It wasn't just a black bar; it was positioned at the top. Underneath that, you’d usually see a barcode—often a 2D PDF417 barcode—which is that blocky, static-looking square that scanners at liquor stores are supposed to read. In the movie, the whole point is that the ID is terrible. It doesn't even have a birth date beyond the "06/03/81" on the front.
The back usually features a few lines of "Official Use Only" text. On some of the high-end prop replicas used for cosplay or collections, there is a disclaimer about the card being the property of the State of Hawaii. It’s boring stuff. But that boringness is what makes the gag so good. It looks almost real enough to fool a tired clerk like the one played by Bill Hader, but fake enough that Seth and Evan are right to lose their minds over it.
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Why the Prop Design Matters
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote this movie based on their own lives. They knew exactly how desperate teenagers feel. When you’re 17 and trying to get alcohol, you don’t look for a "perfect" ID; you look for anything that might pass in a dark store at 9:00 PM.
The design of the back of the McLovin ID reflects that era's tech. We’re talking about a time when fake IDs were often just laminated cardstock or poorly printed plastic. If you look at the "real" prop, the back contains instructions for what to do if the card is found. "Postmaster: Deliver to..." or some variation of that. It’s meant to look like a government-issued document, even though the front says he's a 25-year-old organ donor with no last name.
Interestingly, the actual prop used in filming has become a bit of a holy grail. Various versions exist because props get lost, damaged, or remade for different shots. Some had a different magnetic stripe orientation. Others had slightly different font weights on the "Organ Donor" heart.
The Viral Legacy of a Plastic Card
Why do we still talk about this?
Because it’s the ultimate underdog story. McLovin is the guy we all were—or the guy we were afraid of being. When he flips that card over, he’s not just showing a license; he’s showing his ticket to "coolness."
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I’ve seen people try to use these in real life. Please don't do that. Police departments across the country, from Iowa to New York, have posted photos on Twitter (or X) of people they’ve caught trying to use a McLovin ID to buy beer. It never works. The cops know the ID better than the kids do at this point.
One guy in Iowa actually got arrested a few years back for trying to use one. He was 20. He had the "06/03/81" birthdate on the front. The back of the ID he used was reportedly just a standard replica back, likely with a non-functioning barcode. The officers probably recognized it instantly because, well, it’s McLovin. You can't hide that.
How to Spot a "Real" Replica
If you’re a collector looking for a version that actually has the correct back of the McLovin ID, you have to be picky. Most cheap versions use a standard 1D barcode (the thin lines). The 2000s Hawaii IDs used 2D barcodes.
- The Magnetic Stripe: It should be at the top, not the bottom.
- The Texture: Real licenses are PVC. If it feels like a credit card, you’re on the right track.
- The Text: Look for the small print. If it’s just "Lorem Ipsum" or gibberish, it’s a bad replica. It should have the Hawaii Department of Transportation address or something similar.
Collectors often look for the "Organ Donor" symbol on the front to see if the red ink is the right shade. But the back is the secret handshake. If the back is detailed, you know the maker actually cared about the source material.
The Cultural Impact in 2026
It’s wild that in 2026, we’re still referencing a movie from nearly twenty years ago. But Superbad is a classic for a reason. The McLovin ID is the physical embodiment of teenage confidence and stupidity.
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The back of the card doesn't need to be perfect because the joke is that it’s a failure. It’s a failure of an identity. It’s one name. "McLovin." No last name, no middle name. Just a guy from Honolulu who supposedly loves organ donation and looks like he’s never seen the sun.
When you hold a replica and flip it over, you’re looking at the effort someone put into a joke that changed comedy. It’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest props have the longest lives.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you’re planning to buy or make a replica for a costume or a display case, do it right. Check the reference photos from the original Prop Store auctions. Look for the specific layout of the 2000s Hawaii State ID.
- Verify the Barcode: Ensure it’s a PDF417 format if you want "screen accuracy."
- Check the Stripe: The magnetic stripe should be black and positioned near the top edge.
- Material Matters: Use a 30-mil PVC card printer if you’re DIY-ing this; lamination just doesn't look the same.
- Keep it as a Prop: Never, under any circumstances, try to use this at a bar. You will be laughed at, and then you will be arrested.
The beauty of the ID is that it’s a piece of movie history you can fit in your pocket. Whether it’s the front or the back, it’s a testament to the power of a really, really bad idea.