Comedian Mo Gilligan investigates the industrial poultry farming industry in the Netflix documentary Big Chicken, subjecting himself to an intensive 28-day chicken shop diet that left him heavier, unhealthier, and feeling depressed after consuming 84 fried chicken meals.
The project places Gilligan squarely in the tradition of immersive, socially conscious docudrama, evoking comparisons to Morgan Spurlock’s 2004 feature Super Size Me. Yet, according to reporting on the documentary’s release, Gilligan approaches the subject through a distinctly British lens, examining how low-income upbringing and systemic agricultural practices intersect across the United Kingdom, where the poultry industry rears one billion chickens every year.
The 28-Day Chicken Shop Experiment and Its Physical Toll
At the start of the experiment, Gilligan feels little hesitation walking into local vendors, noting that growing up in a low-income household in London meant a bucket of KFC served as a familiar family treat. He even shares a prior professional connection to the fast food landscape, having previously completed voiceover work for a Nando’s advertisement with the mental reassurance that “It’s just chickens, right?”
That casual attitude quickly shifts. When Gilligan outlines his 28-day plan to a teenager, she responds bluntly, telling him, “I think you’re going to die.” While he survives the ordeal, the physical toll of 84 fried chicken meals becomes immediately apparent. The documentary captures his progression toward feeling heavier, physically sluggish, and increasingly low in mood.
What anchors the film’s narrative momentum is the authenticity of Gilligan’s reactions. Rather than playing up manufactured shock for the cameras, his realization of what goes into mass-produced fast food mirrors genuine consumer bewilderment. The production shifts tone rapidly from lighthearted comfort eating to sharp, sobering investigative journalism.
Investigating Big Chicken Behind the Scenes
Moving past the high-street storefronts, Gilligan ventures into the heart of the agricultural supply chain to examine industrial poultry farming. Traveling to Lincolnshire, he meets with animal welfare activists wearing balaclavas, prompting a nervous reaction from the comedian who quips, “This is like Call of Duty. I’m scared!”
The investigation moves beyond animal welfare to address broader systemic issues, including the environmental harm to rivers that chicken farming causes. Furthermore, the documentary unpacks entrenched cultural narratives, exploring racist ideas around black people and fried chicken consumption.
Through interviews, field visits, and his own dietary decline, Gilligan constructs a accessible look at an opaque industry. The documentary avoids dry academic lecturing, relying instead on the host’s innate charisma to guide viewers through uncomfortable truths about modern food consumption.
Public Reception and Streaming Availability
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