Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
A determined Australian man crosses America on a juice fast, turning a personal health crisis into an uplifting portrait of recovery and shared agency.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- inspiring
- reflective
- cautionary
- health and wellness viewing
- reflective weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the documentary sincere and inspirational but regarded its filmmaking as uneven and its wellness advocacy as overly promotional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Cross’s health journey is presented alongside explicit advocacy for juice-based dietary change and a balanced lifestyle.
Cross travels thousands of miles with a juicer and generator while speaking with hundreds of Americans about food and longevity.
Joe and Phil confront severe obesity, chronic illness, medication dependence, and the sustained effort required to regain health.
The film contrasts heavily processed eating with fresh fruit and vegetable juice while interviewing people about diet and health.
Films like Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, and why
Super Size Me
health-focused documentary with an intimate personal transformation and advocacy-driven perspective
Food, Inc.
food documentary combining personal experimentation, public health concerns, and accessible self-help messaging
The Biggest Loser
uplifting documentary centered on personal discipline, physical renewal, and human resilience
Movie Details
- Directors
- Joe Cross, Kurt Engfehr
- Release Date
- 2010-04-16
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (130)
Cast
- Joe Cross
- Phil Riverstone
- Amy Badberg
- Merv Cross
- Virginia Cross
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Daring Docs Amazon Channel, Food Matters Amazon Channel, Indie Club Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead about?
- A determined Australian man crosses America on a juice fast, turning a personal health crisis into an uplifting portrait of recovery and shared agency.
- What is Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.
- What did critics think of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead?
- Critics generally found the documentary sincere and inspirational but regarded its filmmaking as uneven and its wellness advocacy as overly promotional.
- Which films are like Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead?
- Films with a similar feel include Super Size Me, Food, Inc., and The Biggest Loser.
- How long is Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead?
- Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead?
- In United States, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead streams on Daring Docs Amazon Channel, Food Matters Amazon Channel, Indie Club Amazon Channel.
