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Tiger King

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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58

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 68 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 68 Ratings

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Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness

Now Playing: Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness

Tiger King

Series Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: March 20, 2020

Summary: Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin's documentary series about Joe Exotic, self-proclaimed Tiger King, who ran a zoo in Oklahoma and plotted to kill animal activist Carole Baskin also reveals the dark underbelly of breeding and selling big exotic cats.

Genre(s): Movie/Mini-Series, Documentary

Recent Episodes

tbd
S2:E5. Stark Raving Mad
Air Date: November 17, 2021
tbd
S2:E4. The Lyin' King
Air Date: November 17, 2021
tbd
S2:E3. Bounty Hunting
Air Date: November 17, 2021

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

58

Positive:

15

Mixed:

7

Negative:

6

Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Mar 27, 2020

Season 1 Review: There is an immense amount of care to this story, which shines in its nuanced tone—it’s not as plainly silly as its absurdity guarantees. Read full review

83

The Playlist Charles Barfield

Oct 5, 2020

Season 1 Review: Superbly entertaining and unexpected docuseries. Read full review

80

Slate

Sam Adams

Mar 25, 2020

Season 1 Review: Tiger King is genuinely compulsive viewing, although those who are sensitive to depictions of animal abuse should be warned that while we don’t see that much of it, it’s sometimes described in graphic detail. ... As with a lot of compulsions, indulging it may not leave you feeling satisfied as much as spent, with a vague feeling of having done something that’s not entirely healthy. Read full review

63

Newsday

Robert Levin

Apr 3, 2020

Season 1 Review: A compelling series in fits and starts that doesn't amount to much more than a trip through an extremely strange world filled with extremely strange people. Read full review

60

Vox.com

Alissa Wilkinson

Mar 20, 2020

Season 1 Review: All of this is incredibly interesting, and it gets much wilder from there, with compulsively watchable tangents galore and incredible access to the inner workings of Joe’s world. ... But it feels like Tiger King keeps getting distracted by shiny objects. Read full review

40

Variety

Caroline Framke

Nov 17, 2021

Season 2 Review: While it initially lucked into a charismatic cast that captured the nation’s attention at a truly unique moment in history, at its core, “Tiger King” is a middling true-crime series on a streaming service chock full of the same, that furthermore lacks the attention span to dig deeper into the crucial context of its many, many stories. Read full review

20

The Telegraph Chris Bennion

Nov 17, 2021

Season 2 Review: Goode and Chaiklin dig up plenty of dirt on Lewis and his seemingly dodgy dealings in Costa Rica (including, one acquaintance claims, sleeping with underage girls), but it only adds to the feeling that this is a tawdry affair that leaves no one enlightened. ... It’s a mess. Read full review

SEE ALL 28 REVIEWS

Write a Review

7.9

User Reviews

10

Kenwood

Mar 29, 2020

You couldn’t write this script; it’s that bizarre. The real life characters are over the top. The pacing is excellent with each episode ending with just enough of a cliffhanger that you just have to watch one more until you’ve been sitting there for five hours and you’re watching the lastYou couldn’t write this script; it’s that bizarre. The real life characters are over the top. The pacing is excellent with each episode ending with just enough of a cliffhanger that you just have to watch one more until you’ve been sitting there for five hours and you’re watching the last episode. If you are a true-crime fan, reality show fan, or suspense fan this is for you. Leaves you wanting to talk to others about their opinions on who is guilty and who did what.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

10

ZackMurph

Apr 6, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This documentary is absolutely insane and I loved it. Tiger King has no equal and I've yet to see anything ever come close to it's insanity.

With the show having a cast of homosexual gun touting rednecks, sex cult leading egomaniacs and self-righteous egocentrics that are possible murders. You'd need nothing else to make a off the walls documentary but nope that's just the tip of the iceberg. Throw in big cats, other exotic animals, drugs and many other unbelievable variables. You've got one the wildest documentaries ever made.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

9

TVJerry

Apr 1, 2020

Last year, I read an article about Joe Exotic in Esquire Magazine. I thought it was a rather bizarre story, but had no idea how insane it truly was, until I watched the documentary series on Netflix. He was also known as the Tiger King, because he lauded over a zoo with hundreds of big catsLast year, I read an article about Joe Exotic in Esquire Magazine. I thought it was a rather bizarre story, but had no idea how insane it truly was, until I watched the documentary series on Netflix. He was also known as the Tiger King, because he lauded over a zoo with hundreds of big cats and other animals. It was open to the public for gawking, and more importantly, to sell the opportunity to pet cubs. Joe is an outspoken, trash-talking, openly-gay, gun-toting redneck with a mullet. An astoundingly assured and completely irrational character. Each episode in the 8-part series sets up a different aspect of his ongoing conflicts with the owner of another animal park and the leader of Big Cat Rescue that specializes in saving tigers who have been raised in captivity. Each episode also reveals new aspects of the story that seem more incredible than the last. The parade of unusual characters and the timeline of outrageous events is highly entertaining (although the episodes could have been shorter). This is an mind-blowing example that truth is truly stranger than anyone could have written.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

8

Kazy55

Apr 4, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A very interesting insight into the lives of some of the craziest characters to ever be shown on TV. A mixed bag of emotions throughout the whole show, causing you to alter your views throughout. The story for the main characters isn't over considering missing persons cases have been reopened and petitions to pardon people from jail have been started, all due to the popularity of this show!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

8

glittergoose

Aug 24, 2020

What a wild ride. The documentary excels at showcasing the exploits of crazy people, but falls a little flat at making a statement on those exploits. I heard this series compared to Blackfish, in the way it exposed treatment of animals, but I don't believe Tiger King had such a strongWhat a wild ride. The documentary excels at showcasing the exploits of crazy people, but falls a little flat at making a statement on those exploits. I heard this series compared to Blackfish, in the way it exposed treatment of animals, but I don't believe Tiger King had such a strong thesis. It leans a little more towards reality tv. Not that's a bad thing. What IS a bad thing is the special hosted by Joel McHale. Viewers wanted more of the story, but not from him, not like this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

8

kman1014

Apr 23, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a trainwreck that you can't stop watching. First off, most of the people in Tiger KIng are NOT "good" people. That being said, it's ironic how Joe was one of the "best" of all the characters, but he is the only one to serve prison time. However, Joe is still not a good man, and even though you may like his personality, you still don't necessarily like him as a person. I also liked how they put Carol Baskins in a fair light and didn't treat her like the hero she wants to be but doesn't deserve to be. It's very entertaining, but my biggest complaint with the show is that they purposely made John Finley and a few others look worse than they were AND had zero mention of Finley's victory over drug addiction. They portrayed many of the characters unfairly as "meth addicts," especially Finley when he was clean for years during the interviews. They did this just to spin a narrative and to boost ratings. Also, the Tigers get left out, especially near the end, and the audience may lose sight of the true purpose. It's an 8 for the entertainment, not the story or morals involved.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

4

SimboTheKing

Apr 22, 2020

Good:
Pretty entertaining
Bad: Very morally bankrupt with the documentary directors pushing a specific narrative (especially with Carole) that is clearly wrong if you read around the subject Joe exotic's racism was cut out for no reason Did not really focus on the conservation issues withGood:
Pretty entertaining

Bad:
Very morally bankrupt with the documentary directors pushing a specific narrative (especially with Carole) that is clearly wrong if you read around the subject
Joe exotic's racism was cut out for no reason
Did not really focus on the conservation issues with tigers
Basically, it's less documentary and more like reality TV… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

58

Series Overview
Season 2

38
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E5. Stark Raving Mad
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E4. The Lyin' King
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E3. Bounty Hunting
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E2. The Carole Diaries
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E1. Beg Your Pardon
  Air Date: November 17, 2021
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 20, 2020