Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel

R

Released Jul 30, 2010

2h 15m

Documentary

List

60%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Hugh Hefner, magazine entrepreneur and lover of beautiful women, battles the U.S. government, religious groups and militant feminists to stay in business.

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Brandon Judell

indieWire

A seamless, eye-opening entertainment about the civil rights activist side of the Playboy publisher.

Oct 31, 2012

Full Review

Leonard Maltin

leonardmaltin.com

There are few people who can be credited with affecting real or lasting change in our culture. One of them is Hugh Hefner, an aspiring cartoonist who borrowed money to put...

Mar 21, 2011

Full Review

Cliff Doerksen

Chicago Reader

Even after 124 minutes of praise he still seems like a sad bastard.

Jan 3, 2011

Full Review

Matt Pais

Metromix.com

More of a pat on the back than a true examination of the man inside the robe.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 28, 2010

Full Review

Chris Bumbray

JoBlo's Movie Network

Definitely worth a look.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 24, 2010

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

The Playboy empire unabashedly lined up with liberal causes, bringing messages of racial tolerance, resistance to the military-industrial complex, and anti-Puritanism into bedrooms all over America.

Aug 23, 2010

Full Review

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 2.25 hours of real footage containing the real Hugh Hefner and his Playboy bunnies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

kevin c

Documentary spanning the life and career of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. With his start in publishing to his ideas to change social taboos about sex, to his nonstop activism in having equal rights for people of colour as well as fighting against outdated laws. Very interesting stories with great footage including interviews with Hefner himself as well as Dick Cavett, Gene Simmons, Bill Maher, Shannon Tweed, Jim Brown and so many more. Really great documentary with a lot of information that I was unaware of.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A compelling documentary that uncloaks the man in question to be also a fierce philanthropist for racial equality, freedom in American literature, abolishment of segregation, pacifism, contraceptive rights, freedom of conscience and social justice.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting look at a fascinating character. He is an icon for a reason.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite interesting, I didn't know about a lot of information that they reveal to us in thei film. Well done

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I learned some interesting things I hadn't known before about Hef and what it was like in 50s-60-70s when he was doing his prime work.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Brigitte Berman

Director

Hugh Hefner

Actor

James Caan

Actor

Tony Curtis

Actor

George Lucas

Actor

Bill Maher

Actor

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Synopsis

Hugh Hefner, magazine entrepreneur and lover of beautiful women, battles the U.S. government, religious groups and militant feminists to stay in business.

Director: Brigitte Berman
Distributor: Phase 4 Films
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 30, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.9K
Runtime: 2h 15m