“Standout: The Ben Kjar Story” stands out on its own, but its path to the big screen was anything but typical. While some films come to life quickly, this project waited over 30 years for a perfect storm of timing.
The story began three decades ago when veteran filmmaker T.C. Christensen sat at a youth wrestling match and pointed out a young boy to his 7-year-old son.
“Do you see that kid? Ben Kjar — that kid’s a movie,” Christensen said. He scribbled the idea on a scrap of paper and filed it away.
Ben Kjar, a professional wrestler and emcee of the event, speaks before the Ross Brunson All-Star Duals held at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
That note remained in a filing cabinet for decades. Christensen told Deseret News he realizes now two things had to happen first: Kjar needed to live more of his story, and Christensen’s son, Tanner, needed the 20 years of film-editing experience required to direct it.
When Tanner was ready to direct his first feature, the scrap of paper resurfaced. He described the discovery to Deseret News as a “bolt of lightning” moment.
The resulting film blends hundreds of hours of Kjar’s family home movies with new footage to tell a story the filmmakers pitched as a real-life version of “Wonder” meets “Rocky.” Filmmakers told Kjar, “Imagine if Auggie Pullman grew up to be Rocky Balboa.”
The catch? Unlike those fairytale Hollywood scripts, this story was real.
Telling the story of Ben Kjar
Assistant director T.C. Christensen, set production assistant Trent Ross and actor Parker Vaughn watch a replay of a scene during filming for a documentary of Ben Kjar’s life in Centerville on Monday, Aug. 6, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Those involved with the film told Deseret News a few of the details and miracles that led to the coming together, but one of the biggest miracles of all, came down to finding a boy to play “little Ben.”
What is Crouzon syndrome?
Crouzon syndrome is a rare genetic condition where bones in the skull and face join prematurely during early growth. This prevents the head from growing normally, affecting its shape.
It affects 1.6 per 100,000 people, according to Texas Children’s.
While the production used hundreds of home movies from the Kjar family, Tanner Christensen realized they needed actors to recreate pivotal childhood moments that were never caught on camera. This presented a big challenge: finding a child who looked like Kjar, shared his “gregarious” personality and actually had Crouzon syndrome.
Christensen refused to use makeup, visual effects or AI. “That was not an option to me. I felt like it had to be representative of the facial difference community, and we needed to be true to that,” he said. “I didn’t want to compromise on that.”
The odds were stacked against the team to find a little boy who met all of the criteria.
Despite help from the facial difference community, the search seemed stalled until Colton Fielding’s parents reached out to Kjar for dinner. Colton, a young boy living just 20 minutes away, also has Crouzon syndrome. Kjar immediately saw himself in the boy and Fielding was cast to play “Little Ben.”
The power of ‘3XSC’
Ben Kjar tries to reenact an experience during filming of a documentary in Centerville on Monday, Aug. 6, 2024. Alayna Fielding and Brooks Fielding, who are also in the production, stand at the sides. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
The film highlights Kjar’s determination, but it also acts as a tribute to the mentors who supported him. Kjar had coaches in his corner not only teaching him how to wrestle, but how to live a good life and be a good person.
“I hope the film is a bit of a tribute to teachers, too. He benefited so much by coaches and teachers. Ben realizes now that his coach was not just trying to make good wrestlers; he was making good men,” T.C. Christensen told Deseret News.
Kjar’s personal motto, “3XSC” on his sleeve, was born from calling his shot and manifesting success. The term is short for “three-time state champion” which Kjar coined before he had ever become a three-time state champion.
This motto was solidified after a low point in high school when he felt humiliated by a news segment focusing on his facial differences, but a small note from a teacher turned his perspective around.
Kjar nearly skipped school the next day. Instead, a teacher spent 16 seconds writing “3XSC” on the board, along with, “Ben, thanks for putting yourself out there.”
“You don’t have to have cauliflower ear like me, you don’t have to have a facial difference like me to understand that when you see that film, it shows a human that defied the odds.”
— Ben Kjar
Today, Kjar is a world champion wrestler and successful full-time motivational speaker and father who still wears “3XSC” on his sleeve. He says the motto is more than just a high school wrestling tournament but it’s about “calling your shot” and finding inner peace and confidence.
“I still call my shot and I still put 3XSC theoretically on my own jacket. I still wear it in the world.”
Success on the big screen
Director Tanner Christensen gives instructions to Chelsi Jones and Ben Kjar during filming of a documentary of Kjar’s life in Centerville on Monday, Aug. 6, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Tanner Christensen described the film’s budget constraints as the filmmaker’s catalyst for creativity. “A lot of times people probably don’t know the difference between a $2 million movie and a $200 million movie as long as it meets a certain threshold of quality,” Christensen told Deseret News. “It just comes down to the story and if audiences connect with the story. That’s what they care about.”
The strategy worked. The film has not only maintained a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes through its first month of release, but it has received high user reviews as well, with a 99%.
Kjar said his favorite part has been witnessing the audience’s reactions to the film.
“People have said, ‘Ben, this is the film that has allowed me to feel again,’” Kjar said. One viewer told Kjar she has seen the film 10 times. Kjar added, “If we can make humans walk away wanting to be better versions of themselves, what more could you ask?”
I hope the film is a bit of a tribute to teachers, too. He benefited so much by coaches and teachers. Ben realizes now that his coach was not just trying to make good wrestlers; he was making good men.
— T.C. Christensen
The trio have joked they can tell the difference between those who have or haven’t seen the movie when they go to screenings. They come out with a “reverence” for Kjar and his story, Tanner Christensen told Deseret News.
Kjar noted that people are different after seeing the film that everyone can relate to. “They come out with vigor, they come out with life.”
“You don’t have to have cauliflower ear like me, you don’t have to have a facial difference like me to understand that when you see that film, it shows a human that defied the odds,” Kjar told Deseret News.
Ben Kjar, a professional wrestler and emcee of the event, gestures to the crowd after speaking before the Ross Brunson All-Star Duals held at the UCCU Center in Orem on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
“Everybody relates to facing fear and going against fear and just moving forward.”
The film will premiere in Los Angeles County this week for award eligibility. As he has in the 20 other states the film has debuted, Kjar will host a free wrestling clinic to coincide with the opening.
“Standout: The Ben Kjar Story” is still in select theaters. T.C. Christensen promised, “If you see it on the big screen, you are going to like it.”