Screengrab // YouTube/ESPN
ESPN has an abundance of different 30 for 30 documentaries to offer — which, side note, are ALL available on their streaming service, ESPN+ — but, this past weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival, ESPN Films debuted its upcoming documentary about competitive eating, and it might be one of the most interesting one yet. Entitled The Good, The Bad, The Hungry and directed by Nicole Lucas Haimes, the film is set to air on July 2 of this year, which is a perfect lead up to the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest which airs on ESPN on July 4.
Unfortunately, while there isn’t a trailer for The Good, The Bad, The Hungry yet, a description for one of ESPN’s latest 30 for 30 films was posted on the Tribeca Film Festival’s website, so here’s what to expect from the film.
“America’s independence isn’t the only reason to celebrate on the 4th of July. For residents and visitors on Coney Island, the date is synonymous with the nationally televised Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, a.k.a. the “Super Bowl of competitive eating.” The annual frankfurter consumption extravaganza even has its own “Magic versus Bird”: Japan’s Takeru “Kobi” Kobayashi and Californian Joey Chestnut. Their rivalry is deeper than cooked franks and water-drenched buns. Kobi and Joey’s competition is the stuff of vintage sporting drama, hot dogs and all, tackling personal challenges and questions about what it means to be an “American hero.”
In this documentary, filmmaker Nicole Lucas Haimes analyzes competitive eating’s most storied pair through lively and candid interviews with both competitors. She approaches an event that—let’s be frank—isn’t taken seriously by most people with earnestness and wide-eyed fascination, constructing both an insightful primer on a niche sport and an endearing humanization of two unconventional athletes.”
Sounds pretty tasty; see what I did there? And, while the only people who saw a sneak peak showing of the ESPN film were those at the Tribeca Film Festival, the 77-minute movie seems to have gotten solid reviews so far.
ESPN’s gala screening of The Good, The Bad, The Hungry last night was funny, touching and thought-provoking. It begs the question: what makes a true American hero and do you need to be American in order to achieve that? Loved it. #esn30for30 #thegoodthebadthehungry #tff #doc #nyc pic.twitter.com/dcw3uBs8DZ
— Shahnaz Mahmud (@shahnazmahmud) April 27, 2019
@gcshea just saw The Good, the Bad, and The Hungry at Tribeca. Great documentary! Need to find a way to get that @joeyjaws -Kobe matchup again!
— Daniel Cohen (@DCEE7474) April 27, 2019
For those who are as obsessed with ESPN’s 30 for 30 series as I am — which is continuously growing as more films get released — it might be time to get yourself an ESPN+ subscription, with the streaming service offering a FREE 7-day trial, and then goes to $4.99/month or $49.99/year. As someone who recently scooped one himself, it’s more than worth it if you’re a sports junkie.
Repeat: ESPN+ offers a FREE 7-day trial, meaning you can get all the content you want from the sport without committing too much. Whether that’s live sports, exclusive UFC content or all of the 30 for 30 docs, you’ll have it all at your fingertips.