Queenpins Is Inspired by the Wildest True Crime Story

If you pride yourself on being the kind of shopper who can always uncover a killer bargain, you’re going to love Queenpins, the new Paramount+ original movie where couponing goes criminal. Starring Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Paul Walter Hauser, Bebe Rexha, and Vince Vaughn, Queenpins tells the story of a suburban housewife who hatches an illegal coupon-club scheme with her best friend, scamming millions of dollars from corporations along the way. The wildest part? It’s inspired by a true story.

In Queenpins, Connie Kaminski (Kristen Bell) and JoJo Johnson (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) are best friends who are tired of struggling financially. Together, they set out on a mission to help others who are equally frustrated, and come up with an illegal coupon-club scheme that will allow them to “steal coupons and sell them to families who really need them.” The duo considers themselves to be modern-day Robin Hoods, scamming millions from major corporations to help their fellow coupon clippers catch a break. Queenpins also tells the story of supermarket loss prevention officer Ken Miller (Paul Walter Hauser) and postal inspector Simon Kilmurry (Vince Vaughn) as they attempt to find the culprits behind the counterfeit coupon ring.

In real life, three Arizona women named Robin Ramirez, Amico Fountain, and Marilyn Johnson worked together to sell fraudulent discount coupons on e-auction platforms and their own website, SavvyShopperSite. During an investigation, officials discovered counterfeit coupons valued at over $25 million, as well as 22 assault weapons, 21 vehicles, and a 40-foot boat. It’s estimated that up to 40 major manufacturers were affected by the scheme, losing hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. Ramirez pleaded guilty to charges of counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise, while Fountain and Johnson entered separate plea agreements, each pleading guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting.

While the elements of Queenpins that have been inspired by true events may seem unfathomable, there are still plenty of totally relatable moments throughout the film. Sure, your connection to the couponing world may end at your obsession with finding the best promo code before completing an online checkout, but you’ll definitely see yourself in Connie and JoJo, whether it’s for their hilarious friendship dynamic or their willingness to create a new life for themselves.

To see the shenanigans unfold, stream Queenpins, now exclusively on Paramount+.