Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator

Name: Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
Genre: Crime, Documentary
Released: November 20, 2019
Duration: 86 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Bikram Choudhury, Carla Minnard, Francesca Asumah, John Dowd, Larissa Anderson

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: November 20, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Bikram Choudhury, Carla Minnard, Francesca Asumah, John Dowd, Larissa Anderson, Mark Quigley, Micki Jafa-Bodden, Mukul Dutta, Richard Nixon, Sarah Baughn

Summary: Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator examines the dramatic rise and fall of the controversial founder of hot yoga, Bikram Choudhury. Arriving in Beverly Hills from Calcutta, India in the early 1970s, Choudhury quickly cultivated a celebrity following and built a global fitness empire that furnished him with extreme wealth. But by the 2010s, asBikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator examines the dramatic rise and fall of the controversial founder of hot yoga, Bikram Choudhury. Arriving in Beverly Hills from Calcutta, India in the early 1970s, Choudhury quickly cultivated a celebrity following and built a global fitness empire that furnished him with extreme wealth. But by the 2010s, as numerous sexual abuse allegations emerged and stories of his aggressive, cult-like training environment surfaced, the lawsuits started to mount and Choudhury’s unorthodox teaching style became front-page news. … Expand

Director: Eva Orner

Genre(s): Crime, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 86 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Nov 21, 2019

As a cinematic achievement, “Bikram” is fairly tame; as a mass-media call to action, it’s an essential movie of the moment. Read full review

Bilal Qureshi

Nov 21, 2019

This haunting documentary is a powerful addition to a growing body of post #MeToo films — including “Finding Neverland” and “Surviving R. Kelly” — that show how cultural power is accumulated and weaponized. Read full review

Beandrea July

Nov 21, 2019

Orner succeeds at evoking a deep sense of empathy for the survivors of Choudhury’s abuse, and although that’s not the same thing as justice, perhaps it’s a place to start. Read full review

Amy Nicholson

Nov 21, 2019

Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator is more than an indictment of a man. Orner cross-examines the community that protected a bully for four decades, ever since Bikram pranced before TV cameras flexing his pecs for a cheering audience. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Nov 21, 2019

Director Eva Orner makes her story both about the predator and the victims, and delivers an appropriately cut-and-dry case that Bikram more than deserves that third title. But she connects these sensibilities with an approach that too often feels like an info dump, instead of a gripping mediation on the larger themes and harrowing stories that inspired it. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 22, 2019

Like the other famous current example of the mercurial, dimwitted bullying, sexually abusive misogynist/narcissist, we know the True Believers’ epiphany won’t be something they welcome. Read full review

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User Reviews

Trailesque

Aug 17, 2022

This documentary focuses on the larger than life and very troubling character of Bikram. His yoga style is known to any semi-serious yoga practitioner, and his success as a teacher was unequalled. But, as it shows here, his ego was of even larger proportions than his talent.

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JLuis_001

Dec 1, 2019

The guy who near the end admits that he knows about 6 women who were abused but cries out of sadness and anger that they made it public which affected the **** Bikram, makes it clear why men like this exist and get away with the things they do.
The charlatans are one thing but theirThe guy who near the end admits that he knows about 6 women who were abused but cries out of sadness and anger that they made it public which affected the **** Bikram, makes it clear why men like this exist and get away with the things they do.
The charlatans are one thing but their enablers.... Jesus.

I'll say the doc isn't telling something new but it was interesting enough.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EvanS

Dec 11, 2019

I was turned off immediately by Netflix wallpaper and ads that show practitioners bowing down to Bikram Choudhury. Those who dig the practice for its health benefits pay not a second of attention to Bikram, yet Netflix would have you buy into it being a cult. Spoiler Alert: it’s not a cult.I was turned off immediately by Netflix wallpaper and ads that show practitioners bowing down to Bikram Choudhury. Those who dig the practice for its health benefits pay not a second of attention to Bikram, yet Netflix would have you buy into it being a cult. Spoiler Alert: it’s not a cult. In the last 11 years, Bikram has been largely dismissed and I find it highly offensive that Netflix insinuates its (mostly) women practitioners has fallen into Choudhury’s influence. It’s a highly sexist conceit and click-bait. I attend all women-owned studios where Choudhury has been long stripped from the signage, yet the power of 26 and 2 continues to take flight.… Expand

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