Please be advised: This article discusses sensitive topics such as sexual assault, drug use, and rape, which may be distressing to some readers.
UNILAD RANKED delves into the complex legacy of Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Mansion with four documentaries offering differing perspectives.
Playboy, an American men’s magazine, was established in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his partners.
While Playboy and Hefner are often credited with influencing the sexual revolution, questions remain about the true cost of their impact.
The brand has faced criticism, particularly the notorious Playboy Mansion and its controversial activities, which have come under increased scrutiny following Hefner’s death in 2017 at 91 years old.
In the wake of his passing, numerous Playmates and ‘bunnies’ have shared their experiences, accusing Hefner of drugging, non-consensual filming of sexual acts, and rape.
These allegations have surfaced alongside several documentaries about Hefner and the mansion, some made with his involvement before his death, and others released thereafter.
This week, UNILAD RANKED presents four documentaries to explore the world of Playboy, listed by their release dates.
“The Girls Next Door,” although a reality TV series, provides insight into life within the mansion.
Created by executive producer Kevin Burns and Hefner himself, the series debuted on E! in August 2005, running for six seasons and featuring Hefner’s girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson.
In season six, new girlfriends Crystal Harris and the Shannon twins took over as lead roles.
The series, with its DVD releases containing uncensored nudity, gives a behind-the-scenes view of daily life in the Playboy Mansion, focusing on Hefner’s girlfriends, the publisher, and various guest celebrities. It is available on Amazon Prime Video.
An IMDb user described the series as ‘very funny’ with ‘some touching moments,’ while others found it ‘somewhat nasty’ and ‘degrading.’
Next is another series released the same year Hefner passed away.
Directed by Richard Lopez, the 2017 Amazon Prime Video series features Matt Whelan, Emmett Skilton, and Chelsie Preston Crayford.
The series explores over 17,000 hours of archival footage and interviews, along with over 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner’s archive, covering six decades from the inception of Playboy to modern times.
Hefner played a significant role in the production, with executive producer Stephen David mentioning to Yahoo TV that Hefner was involved in reviewing the script and film cuts.
David noted: “We were telling the story from his point of view, which is fairly difficult in the first place, and he’s the only one that actually lived this life.”
However, he emphasized that Hefner didn’t want to ‘hide’ anything and chose to ‘tell the truth, even if the truth is bad,’ including his past Dexedrine addiction.
Whelan, who played Hefner, spoke about not wanting to portray him as a caricature and praised Hefner as a ‘charming’ ‘gentleman.’
The series has been commended by viewers as an ‘eye opener’ that reveals ‘an inspiring story’ of how Hefner rose to prominence. “Worth a watch just to understand the cultural impact Playboy has had on society,” one commenter noted.
These series are not the only ones about Hefner on Amazon Prime; another series offers a different perspective on the Playboy empire.
Produced after Hefner’s death, “Secrets of Playboy” provides insights from the Playmates themselves, rather than from Hefner’s perspective.
Directed by Arlene Nelson and Domini Hofmann, the documentary includes testimonies from women associated with Playboy, alleging abuse and exploitation within the mansion.
The series features claims by Madison that Hefner ‘didn’t want to use protection,’ supported by Kristina Shannon.
Other participants who lived in the mansion or dated Hefner have accused him of drug-related offenses, sexual assault, rape, and unauthorized filming of sexual activities.
One viewer remarked: “It just gets worse and worse.”
“Very deep dive into what really happened within Playboy. I really appreciate the older women’s interviews showing how long this has gone on,” commented another viewer.
Following is another series made after Hefner’s passing, offering a critical view of the Playboy enterprise.
Directed by Andrea De Brito and Dan Howlett, the series is hosted by Madison and features former Hefner partners, Playmates, journalists, employees, and criminologists.
The show examines criminal cases linked to Playboy, including the murders of Jasmine Fiore and Christina Carlin-Kraft, and the killing of a former Playboy bunny’s partner.
It has been described as ‘chilling’ and ‘heartbreaking’ by viewers, with one stating it left them feeling ‘haunted.’
“The Playboy Murders” is available on Investigation Discovery+, with a new season released on May 5.
Several women who lived in the Playboy Mansion have also published books sharing more experiences and allegations, while Madison has launched a podcast called “Girls Next Level” with co-host Marquardt, another former Playmate.