Yes, A Sequel Exists: What Is 'Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!'?
Yes, there is a direct sequel to Morgan Spurlock's famous 2004 documentary, Super Size Me. The sequel, titled Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!, was directed by Spurlock and released in 2017, although its official U.S. theatrical and video-on-demand release didn't happen until 2019 due to significant controversy. Instead of putting his own body on the line by consuming nothing but fast food for a month, Spurlock takes a different and equally insightful approach.
A New Approach: Becoming Part of the Problem
In Super Size Me 2, Spurlock decides that the best way to uncover the fast-food industry's current practices is to become a part of it himself. He sets out to do the following:
- He opens his own fast-food chicken sandwich restaurant called 'Holy Chicken!' in Columbus, Ohio.
- He buys and raises his own chickens to gain first-hand experience with the poultry industry.
- He works with advertising and branding experts to create a marketing campaign that appears healthy and ethical, mirroring the industry's own tactics.
- He exposes the misleading marketing terms used by fast-food companies, such as "free-range" and "natural," revealing them as often hollow and designed to create a "health halo".
The Controversial Release and Aftermath
While the original Super Size Me was a box-office success and Oscar nominee, the sequel's path to audiences was far more complicated. In December 2017, following the film's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and a distribution deal with YouTube Red, Morgan Spurlock publicly confessed to a history of sexual misconduct and harassment in a blog post. This admission led to the following consequences:
- YouTube Red immediately dropped the film from its platform, scrapping the $3.5 million distribution deal.
- The film was pulled from the 2018 Sundance Film Festival lineup.
- Spurlock resigned from his production company, Warrior Poets.
The film's release was in limbo for almost two years before Samuel Goldwyn Films, the same company that distributed the original, picked it up and released it in late 2019. The scandal significantly overshadowed the film's message and likely contributed to its more subdued reception compared to its predecessor.
Comparison: 'Super Size Me' vs. 'Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!'
| Feature | Super Size Me (2004) | Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Experiment | Spurlock eats only McDonald's for 30 days to document the health effects. | Spurlock opens his own fast-food restaurant to expose industry marketing and practices. |
| Primary Focus | The direct, physical health consequences of excessive fast-food consumption. | The corporate rebranding, misleading advertising, and unfair treatment of farmers in the fast-food chicken industry. |
| Industry Target | Primarily McDonald's, focusing on the supersizing culture and high-calorie offerings. | The broader "Big Chicken" industry (including companies like Tyson and Perdue) and the misleading "healthy" image of fast food. |
| Tone and Style | Direct, personal, and often comedic with a shock-factor element due to Spurlock's deteriorating health. | More investigative and structural, exposing corporate injustices and advertising psychology, though still featuring Spurlock's humor. |
| Controversy | Minor authenticity questions arose years later regarding Spurlock's alcohol consumption and health disclosures. | Major controversy surrounding Spurlock's personal conduct, which led to distribution challenges and overshadowed the film's message. |
Conclusion: The Shifting Battleground of Fast Food
While the original Super Size Me remains a cultural touchstone that put the health effects of fast food on the public's radar, Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! offers a different, but still relevant, critique of the industry. The sequel shows how the fast-food landscape evolved, moving from sheer size to the deceptive promise of health. Despite the personal scandal that surrounded its release, the film provides valuable insight into the corporate practices and marketing strategies that continue to shape consumer perceptions. In a world where "healthy" fast-casual options have proliferated, Spurlock’s sequel serves as a necessary reminder to question what we're being sold, even if the messenger's reputation became tarnished. It demonstrates that the battle against deceptive food marketing is a dynamic and ongoing one. For additional perspective on fast-food labor issues, one could explore other documentaries, such as those on streaming services.
