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Poster for Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam

Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam

Seen it?

1995 | 106 min | Documentary

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (75% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
One for people who'll be looking things up afterwards and the curious. Based on real events, so expect to go down a research rabbit hole afterwards. Set in sun-baked Los Angeles.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect sex.
  • Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.

A documentary crew from the BBC arrives in L.A. intent on interviewing Heidi Fleiss, a year after her arrest for running a brothel but before her trial. Several months elapse before the interview, so the crew searches for anyone who'll talk about the young woman. Two people have a lot to say to the camera: a retired madam named Alex for whom Fleiss once worked and Fleiss's one-time boyfriend, Ivan Nagy, who introduced her to Alex. Alex and Nagy don't like each other, so the crew shuttles between them with "she said" and "he said." When they finally interview Fleiss, they spend their time reciting what Alex and Nagy have had to say and asking her reaction.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    75% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 10K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Nick Broomfield

  • Nick BroomfieldNarrator
  • Heidi FleissHerself
  • Madam AlexHerself
  • Ivan NagyHimself
  • Corinne BohrerActor/Herself
  • Ron JeremyHimself
  • Daryl GatesHimself
  • Nina Xining ZuoHerself
  • Victoria SellersHerself
  • Mike BramblesSelf