Netflix's latest documentary film, Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy, has left one reporter with a big question: what's the point? The film, hosted by comedian and self-proclaimed fried chicken superfan Mo Gilligan, investigates our obsession with fried chicken and the hidden costs behind the industry. As part of the experiment, Gilligan eats only fried chicken for all three meals a day for 28 days.
A Bizarre Eating Challenge
The reporter, who has watched all 12 of Netflix's documentaries released in 2026, found the eating challenge particularly baffling. Spoiler alert: after 28 days of only eating fried chicken from recognisable fast food brands, Gilligan put on some weight and was not as healthy as before. The reporter called this the most non-shocking revelation seen in a documentary, adding that it doesn't seem to add anything to the film.
Missed Opportunities
The documentary does touch on important topics, such as the history of fried chicken and how it was weaponised, the potential impact on rivers, and how some employees might be treated in the 'big chicken' industry in the United States. However, the reporter felt these points were moved on from too quickly, suggesting Netflix might have been better off making this a series rather than a feature film.
In the closing moments, Gilligan says it's powerful to start a conversation, but the reporter notes this is a conversation that has been going on for more than 20 years. The film could have learnt almost everything it shows from Super Size Me, which came two decades before it.
Comparison to Super Size Me
Super Size Me, released in 2004, focused on McDonald's with Morgan Spurlock eating from the fast food restaurant for 30 days. Despite questions over some of that film's alleged scientific findings, Spurlock's experiment had rules that made sense. The experiment was the main point of the film, built around his examination of US fast food.
With Big Chicken, there doesn't seem to be as much thought put into the experiment. Gilligan eats in several different places without much acknowledgement of where exactly, including glimpses of big chains and smaller shops. At one point, he eats home-cooked style fried chicken with a church congregation in the US, which the reporter suggests could have offered a unique perspective.
A Pointless Finale
The reporter rewatched Spurlock's film and its lesser-known sequel, Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken, after watching Big Chicken. Despite valid criticisms, there's plenty in terms of the conversation around fast food, healthy eating, and society that holds up. In the final scene of Big Chicken, after everything Gilligan has discovered, he meets up with friends and takes selfies with fans in between eating portions of more fried chicken, leaving the reporter to question the point of the film.
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy is streaming on Netflix.
