Super Size Me (2004)

While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.

Director:

Morgan Spurlock

Writer:

Morgan Spurlock

Stars:

Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chemeeka Walker	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Dania Abu-Rmaileh	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Amanda Kearsan	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Christian Baucher	...	Himself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Amelia Giancarlo	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Geoffrey Giancarlo	...	Himself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Alexandria Morgan	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Chanelle Clarke	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Marisa Danenfield	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Katie Danenfield	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Megan Foley	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Edmand Cardero	...	Himself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Jay Cohen	...	Himself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Jonnae Strong	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel
Audrey Whitfield	...	Herself - Kid of Camp Mt. Laurel

Storyline

Several legal suits have been brought against McDonald's Restaurants that they are knowingly selling food that is unhealthy. Some of the court decisions have stated that the plaintiffs would have a claim if they could prove that eating the food every day for every meal is dangerous. As such, documentarian Morgan Spurlock conducts an unscientific experiment using himself as the guinea pig: eat only McDonald's for thirty days, three meals a day. If he is asked by the clerk if he would like the meal super sized, he has to say yes. And by the end of the thirty days, he will have had to have eaten every single menu item at least once. Before starting the experiment, he is tested by three doctors - a general practitioner, a cardiologist and a gastroenterologist - who pronounce his general health to be outstanding. They will also monitor him over the thirty days to ensure that he is not placing his health into irreparable damage. He also consults with a dietitian/nutritionist and an exercise...

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Plot Keywords:

fast food | experiment | overeating | mcdonald's restaurant | food industry | 

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Taglines:

The first ever reality-based movie ... everything begins and ends in 30 days!

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, a disturbing medical procedure, and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Super engórdame

Filming Locations:

Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$516,641, 9 May 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$11,529,368, 26 September 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Con,Kathbur Pictures,Studio On Hudson

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the San Francisco premiere Morgan Spurlock said that getting permission to shoot in NYC McDonalds was often denied (in which case they would often hide the camera or go out to the car and eat), but to acquire consent in less paranoid cities generally consisted of the following exchange: "What are you guys filming here?" "We're shooting a MOVIE!" "OK."

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Goofs

When the movie shows McDonald's locations worldwide, 2 golden arches were shown in the country of Iceland. However, many people know Iceland to be a country with no McDonald's restaurants. The film, however, was released in 2004 and McDonald's didn't close its Reykjavic restaurants until 2009. So it was correct at the time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Children: A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! I like food! I like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! You like food! You like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut!

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Crazy Credits

Among the many people and entities thanked at the end of the movie is the First Amendment, which guarantees free speech and freedom of the press.

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Alternate Versions

An official PG-rated version is available for DVD and has been edited specifically for classroom study for grades 6-12.

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Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #4.123 (2009)

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Soundtracks

Blue Danube, Waltz, Op. 314
Performed by Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra
Written by Johann Strauss (as Johann Strauss)
Courtesy of Amadis Records
By arrangement with Source Q

User Reviews

It's McFunny 'cuz it's McTrue!

This movie is a documentary for those who hate documentaries. Funny, relatively fast-moving, and a cautionary tale without being preachy. Spurlock is a funny guy and treats his subject with good humour, making us laugh and shake our collective heads over our own poor decision-making. There is no "Ronald is Satan" message here, and no "look how bad Americans are." It is simply a down-to-earth, well paced, insightful and humorous look at how insidiously entrenched The United Corporation of America has become in our institutions and minds, and the consequences therein.

One of my favorite scenes was a peek into a school where the now-famous (and irritating) Jared Fogel (you know...fat guy becomes skinny guy !thanx! to Subway) does a "get fit" speech. Spurlock interviews a mom and her significantly overweight daughter, and the daughter actually laments that of course SHE cannot lose weight like Jared because...and this is priceless...SHE cannot afford to buy/eat two Subway sandwiches a day! So this girl walked away actually believing that the ONLY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT would be to follow Jared's example, VERY SPECIFICALLY, and eat two Subway brand sandwiches each day. So for her, even the SOLUTION to her problem had a corporate logo! Amazingly, she could not even envision the general message of "eat right/exercise more."