Liver King
Self
Overview
He built a supplement empire by devouring raw meat on social media. And he had the muscles to prove it. But, really, how did the Liver King get so huge?
Cast
Reviews
6 min read AI-generated editorial review
The Man Who Ate the Algorithm
I kept waiting for the moment when Untold: The Liver King would stop being funny and start being sad. It never quite arrived. Instead, the film lingers in that unsettling middle ground—where the spectacle is so grotesque it loops back around to entertainment, and the human cost feels both undeniable and strangely abstract. Joe Pearlman’s documentary isn’t just about Brian Johnson, the self-proclaimed "Liver King" who built a supplement empire on raw meat and primal masculinity. It’s about the way the internet turns people into brands, brands into myths, and myths into cautionary tales that still manage to go viral.
The opening minutes are pure carnival. Johnson, shirtless and glistening, gnaws on a raw liver like it’s an apple. His sons—Rad, Stryker, and the youngest, whose name I’ve already forgotten—stand nearby, their own tiny bodies sculpted into miniature versions of their father’s hyper-masculine ideal. The camera lingers on the liver, the blood, the way Johnson’s jaw works as he tears into it. It’s disgusting. It’s mesmerizing. It’s exactly the kind of content that made him famous. Pearlman knows this, and he doesn’t waste time undercutting the spectacle. The film’s first act is a greatest-hits reel of Johnson’s most viral moments: the "nine ancestral tenets" speech, the videos of him eating raw testicles, the clips of him deadlifting absurd amounts of weight while screaming about "beast mode." It’s Tiger King meets Jackass, with a dash of The Wolf of Wall Street’s unchecked hubris.
But then, slowly, the film begins to chip away at the myth. Pearlman’s approach is deceptively simple: he lets Johnson talk. And talk. And talk. Over the course of four days and twelve hours of interviews, Johnson’s defenses start to crack. He admits to lying about his steroid use (a revelation that, by the time the documentary drops, is already old news). He acknowledges that his "ancestral living" philosophy is more performance than science. He even seems to grapple, briefly, with the idea that his lifestyle might be harming his children. The film’s most uncomfortable moments aren’t the ones where Johnson is at his most outrageous—they’re the ones where he’s at his most vulnerable. There’s a scene where he describes his father’s death, his voice cracking just enough to make you believe him. For a second, you forget that this is the same man who once ate a raw bull’s heart on camera for clout.
I kept waiting for the moment when Untold: The Liver King would stop being funny and start being sad. It never quite arrived. Instead, the film lingers in that unsettling middle ground—where the spectacle is so grotesque it loops back around to entertainment, and the human cost feels both undeniable and strangely abstract. Joe Pearlman’s documentary isn’t just about Brian Johnson, the self-proclaimed "Liver King" who built a supplement empire on raw meat and primal masculinity. It’s about the way the internet turns people into brands, brands into myths, and myths into cautionary tales that still manage to go viral.
The opening minutes are pure carnival. Johnson, shirtless and glistening, gnaws on a raw liver like it’s an apple. His sons—Rad, Stryker, and the youngest, whose name I’ve already forgotten—stand nearby, their own tiny bodies sculpted into miniature versions of their father’s hyper-masculine ideal. The camera lingers on the liver, the blood, the way Johnson’s jaw works as he tears into it. It’s disgusting. It’s mesmerizing. It’s exactly the kind of content that made him famous. Pearlman knows this, and he doesn’t waste time undercutting the spectacle. The film’s first act is a greatest-hits reel of Johnson’s most viral moments: the "nine ancestral tenets" speech, the videos of him eating raw testicles, the clips of him deadlifting absurd amounts of weight while screaming about "beast mode." It’s Tiger King meets Jackass, with a dash of The Wolf of Wall Street’s unchecked hubris.
But then, slowly, the film begins to chip away at the myth. Pearlman’s approach is deceptively simple: he lets Johnson talk. And talk. And talk. Over the course of four days and twelve hours of interviews, Johnson’s defenses start to crack. He admits to lying about his steroid use (a revelation that, by the time the documentary drops, is already old news). He acknowledges that his "ancestral living" philosophy is more performance than science. He even seems to grapple, briefly, with the idea that his lifestyle might be harming his children. The film’s most uncomfortable moments aren’t the ones where Johnson is at his most outrageous—they’re the ones where he’s at his most vulnerable. There’s a scene where he describes his father’s death, his voice cracking just enough to make you believe him. For a second, you forget that this is the same man who once ate a raw bull’s heart on camera for clout.
Audience Opinions
AI summary of viewer review patterns
Audience 6.2/10 AI
"A niche documentary that satisfies fans of the Liver King but struggles to engage beyond his dedicated following."
Viewers appreciate the unfiltered look into Brian Johnson’s raw-meat diet empire and his unapologetic persona, finding his story oddly compelling. However, many feel the documentary lacks depth, offering little beyond surface-level controversy and failing to critically examine the broader implications of his fitness movement.
What viewers praise
- Fascinating subject The Liver King’s extreme lifestyle and cult-like following make for an inherently intriguing watch.
- Unfiltered access The documentary provides a rare, unedited glimpse into Johnson’s world, which fans find authentic.
- Short runtime At just over an hour, it’s an easy watch for those curious about the fitness influencer.
Common complaints
- Lacks depth Many viewers feel the film skims the surface, missing an opportunity to explore the science or ethics behind Johnson’s methods.
- Niche appeal Those unfamiliar with or uninterested in the Liver King’s brand find little to hold their attention.
- Repetitive content The documentary rehashes well-known controversies without adding new insights or perspectives.
Recommended for
Liver King fans Fitness documentary enthusiasts True-crime-style influencer deep dives Short documentary viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
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Buzz & Rumors
Public reports AI-researched entertainment notes
Netflix’s Untold: The Liver King—The Wild Ride Behind the Fitness Influencer’s Doc
Netflix’s Untold series has a knack for turning polarizing figures into must-watch TV, and its latest installment, Untold: The Liver King (2025), is no exception. Directed by Joe Pearlman—who previously helmed the streamer’s Robbie Williams docuseries—the film dives into the bizarre world of Brian "Liver King" Johnson, the fitness influencer whose primal lifestyle brand and viral antics have made him both a meme and a millionaire. But how much of the man is real, and how much is performance? The documentary promises to peel back the layers, though early reactions suggest it leaves some questions unanswered.
The Liver King’s Rise: From Texas Compound to Netflix
Brian Johnson, born in Puerto Rico and raised in San Antonio, Texas, became an internet sensation under the moniker "Liver King," preaching a back-to-basics approach to health centered on raw organ meats, ancestral living, and extreme physical training 
. His social media presence—complete with shirtless rants, bizarre workout routines, and a cult-like following—catapulted him into the fitness influencer stratosphere. By the time Netflix came calling, Johnson had already built a mini-empire, complete with a Texas compound where, according to GQ, he had "lamps modeled on AK-47s" and a lifestyle that blurred the line between wellness guru and performance artist .
The Untold documentary, released on May 13, 2025, as part of the streamer’s fifth volume of the series, offers a 70-minute deep dive into Johnson’s world . But unlike other Untold installments that focus on sports scandals or fallen stars, The Liver King leans into the absurdity of its subject. Pearlman’s direction, described as "unadulterated" by TIME, doesn’t shy away from the spectacle, though it’s unclear whether the film fully interrogates the man behind the persona [3].
Behind the Scenes: Joe Pearlman’s Take on the Liver King
Pearlman, who also directed Netflix’s Robbie Williams docuseries, seems to have embraced the chaos of Johnson’s world. In an interview with GQ, he hinted at the surreal nature of filming, noting that Johnson "was definitely on a different wavelength" during production [4]. The director’s approach appears to be observational rather than investigative, letting Johnson’s larger-than-life personality drive the narrative. Whether this was a creative choice or a necessity—given Johnson’s tight control over his image—remains an open question.
What’s clear is that the documentary doesn’t shy away from the controversies that have dogged Johnson. His supplement company, Ancestral Supplements, has faced scrutiny over its marketing claims, and his "primal" lifestyle has been both mocked and mimicked online. The film reportedly touches on these issues, though how deeply it critiques Johnson’s business practices or the science behind his methods is unclear from the available snippets [3].
The Netflix Effect: Does the Doc Humanize or Exploit?
Untold: The Liver King arrives at a time when fitness influencers are under increasing scrutiny for promoting extreme diets, unproven supplements, and unsustainable lifestyles. Johnson’s brand is built on a mix of charisma, controversy, and sheer audacity, and Netflix’s decision to platform him in a documentary series suggests the streamer sees value in his story—whether as a cautionary tale, a character study, or just good TV.
Early reactions suggest the film walks a fine line. Some viewers may come away entertained by Johnson’s antics, while others might question whether the documentary does enough to challenge his narrative. As TIME puts it, the film offers "70 unadulterated minutes" of the Liver King, but whether that’s enough to satisfy audiences hungry for deeper answers remains to be seen [3].
What’s Next for the Liver King?
With the documentary now streaming, Johnson’s next moves are anyone’s guess. His social media following remains massive, and his business ventures continue to thrive, but the Untold spotlight could either cement his status as a cultural figure or force him to confront the contradictions in his brand. For now, though, the Liver King remains as enigmatic as ever—part fitness guru, part internet troll, and now, a Netflix star.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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