Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile

Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is a 21-minute satirical mockumentary from The Onion that uses absurdist humor to skewer Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump, and the entire true-crime documentary industry. Released in October 2025 after a major distribution controversy, the film has earned critical praise, an IMDb rating of 7.8/10, and a grassroots theatrical rollout through independent cinemas across the United States.

TL;DR: Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is The Onion's 21-minute mockumentary that parodies true-crime documentaries while satirizing Epstein, Trump, and the media machine that profits from the case. After a national theater chain pulled distribution over Trump footage, independent cinemas rallied to screen it — and the film is now available for free on YouTube.

What Is Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile?

Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is a short-form satirical mockumentary produced by The Onion, America's longest-running satirical news outlet. The film was directed by Ryan Natoli and produced through The Onion's production arms — Global Tetrahedron and Onion News Network Studios.

Running 21 minutes, the mockumentary "chronicles the life and crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and associates," as its official Shortverse listing describes it. But rather than playing it straight, the film deploys The Onion's signature brand of deadpan absurdism to dismantle both its subject and the true-crime genre itself.

The project was announced by Ben Collins, The Onion's CEO, in a LinkedIn post that described it as "one of the funniest things we've ever done." According to AV Club's coverage, the film was shot in just six weeks.

Production and Creative Team

Director: Ryan Natoli

Ryan Natoli directed Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile. He is a longtime Onion contributor whose previous credits include Sportology (2016) and editorial work on The Topical, The Onion's satirical podcast (IMDb). Natoli brought experience with The Onion's particular style of deadpan mockumentary filmmaking to the project.

The Onion Under Ben Collins

The film was made under the leadership of Ben Collins, who became CEO of The Onion after the outlet was purchased out of bankruptcy by Global Tetrahedron (the satirical holding company name used by the new ownership). Collins has positioned The Onion as a publication willing to tackle subjects that mainstream media outlets increasingly avoid.

In his LinkedIn announcement, Collins wrote: "The Onion has spent the last two months working on this." The post received over 3,600 likes and 166 comments — an unusually high engagement rate that reflected public enthusiasm for the project.

Production Studios

Three production entities are credited on Letterboxd:

• The Onion — the satirical publication itself
• Global Tetrahedron — The Onion's parent company
• Onion News Network Studios — the video production arm

The film uses archive footage of both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, supplemented by original talking-head interviews and comedic Photoshop compositions.

What the Film Actually Covers

True-Crime Documentary Parody

At its core, Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is a precision strike against the true-crime documentary format that has proliferated across streaming platforms. As reviewer Andrew J. Eisenman wrote for Elements of Madness, the film parodies every convention of the genre: talking-head interviews, audio recordings played over macro photography, sweeping timeline graphics, and the relentless focus on perpetrator psychology over victim experience.

The AV Club/Yahoo review noted that where real true-crime documentaries survive on manufactured mystery, Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile thrives on "silly certainty" — delivering absurd, over-the-top answers instead of cliffhangers. The film demonstrates what the reviewer called "affirming obviousness, freed from the fear of litigation that clouds much of the serious coverage around Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump."

The Epstein-Trump Connection

The mockumentary does not shy away from Epstein's well-documented connections to Donald Trump. According to AV Club, the film includes archive footage of Trump and treats the Epstein-Trump relationship as one of its central satirical targets. This creative choice would later become the direct cause of the film's distribution controversy.

The "Last Dance" Basketball Spoof

One of the film's most talked-about sequences reimagines the Epstein case as an NBA rivalry documentary in the style of ESPN's The Last Dance (2020). The segment compares Epstein and an unnamed figure's respective "skills" using Photoshopped imagery that places both men in Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas contexts. Letterboxd reviewers noted that the film essentially "turns into a basketball documentary" at one point — a tonal swerve that caught audiences off guard.

Memorable Comedic Moments

Several specific gags have become widely discussed across online forums and Letterboxd reviews:

• The "Pedophile Expert" — A priest is introduced as a talking-head expert with the on-screen title "Pedophile Expert," a joke that layers multiple levels of satirical commentary (Elements of Madness)
• "Penis Goofin'" — A recurring gag about Epstein's plea deal charge, cited by multiple Letterboxd reviewers as one of the film's funniest moments
• The White Bronco — An absurdist scene depicting Epstein driving O.J. Simpson's white Ford Bronco to "Pedophile Island" (AV Club/Yahoo)
• "Was he ever even alive to begin with?" — Mock talking-head contributors ask intentionally absurd questions that parody the manufactured ambiguity of real true-crime content
• "It was a complete molestation of justice" — A double-entendre that operates simultaneously as genuine outrage and dark wordplay (Elements of Madness)

The Distribution Controversy

What Happened

Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile was originally scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on October 2, 2025, through a major national movie theater chain. However, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the distributor pulled out entirely.

Ben Collins explained the situation in his LinkedIn post: despite the fact that Charlie Kirk is not mentioned or depicted in the mockumentary, the distributor "got cold feet" because the film contained footage of Donald Trump.

As Collins told AV Club: "I don't think it's good that we can't make fun of the world's biggest dead pedophile because he was friends with the president."

Independent Theaters Rally

Rather than shelving the project, The Onion contacted independent movie theaters across the country. The response was overwhelming — more independent theaters committed to screening the film than the original distribution plan had included.

Collins noted in his LinkedIn post: "If you make good art right now, people will bust their ass to help you."

The Onion offered free screenings to any independent theater willing to show it, and theaters could reach out via jeffreyepstein@theonion.com. Screenings took place in cities including:

• Los Angeles
• New York
• San Francisco
• Minneapolis — at Trylon Cinema, covered by the Minnesota Daily
• Chicago
• St. Louis — at the Chase Park Plaza Cinema, where a midday screening drew a mostly full audience
• Portland — at Clinton Street Theater

The film screened at over 25 independent theaters nationwide, according to coverage from AV Club.

The Financial Reality

Collins was blunt about the economics. He acknowledged that The Onion would "almost certainly lose money on it, but that's not the point. We just want it out there."

This stance — prioritizing creative freedom over profit — became a rallying point for commenters on Collins' LinkedIn post, where users praised The Onion's commitment to artistic expression. One commenter noted it was a "rare" example of a media company choosing principle over financial security.

Ben Collins and The Onion's Broader Mission

The release of Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile fits into a larger pattern under Collins' leadership. As he told AV Club: "In the last year, we've been able to say a lot of stuff that other places are afraid to say. We're going to keep doing it."

This mission statement has resonated with audiences at a time when media self-censorship is a growing concern. The Onion's willingness to directly name powerful figures — including a sitting president — in the context of the Epstein case represents an editorial stance that few mainstream outlets have been willing to take.

The Jezebel/Splinter review positioned the mockumentary as commentary not just on the true-crime genre, but on the broader media degradation that has political consequences — arguing that the same sensationalist impulses that fuel true-crime content also contributed to the current political landscape.

Where to Watch Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile

The film's release followed a phased rollout:

1. Theatrical premiere: October 2, 2025 — one-night screenings at independent theaters across the U.S. (Fandango, Theatren)
2. Digital release: October 9, 2025 (Letterboxd)
3. YouTube: Now available for free on The Onion's YouTube channel
4. Shortverse: Also streaming on Shortverse

The full 21-minute mockumentary is now accessible to anyone with an internet connection — a deliberate choice by The Onion to maximize the film's reach rather than gate it behind a paywall.

Critical Reception and Reviews

Ratings Overview

Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile has received strong audience and critical scores:

Platform	Rating	Sample Size
IMDb	7.8 / 10	—
Letterboxd	3.81 / 5	1,707 ratings, 1,175 reviews

Critical Highlights

Elements of Madness — Reviewer Andrew J. Eisenman called the film "courageously funny" and praised its sophisticated genre parody strategy. He highlighted how the film strips away the "audience conditioning" that typical true-crime content relies upon — the cliffhangers, artificial uncertainty, and manufactured mystery.

AV Club / Yahoo — Jacob Oller's review positioned the film within a cultural moment where "conspiracy and reality have become indistinguishable." He argued that the satire works because it provides the certainty that real coverage cannot — "freed from the fear of litigation."

Jezebel / Splinter — Kenneth Lowe's review focused on the film's commentary about media degradation. He noted the sold-out screenings and the fact that the film critiques both the subject matter and the industry that exploits it.

Boing Boing — Covered the trailer release, helping generate pre-release buzz.

Ben Collins himself described it as "maybe the funniest thing we've ever done" — a significant claim from the head of a publication with over 35 years of satirical output.

Audience and Community Discussion

On Letterboxd, reviewers consistently highlighted the film's sharp writing and effective use of music to underscore absurdity. Several noted that it "turns into a basketball documentary" — a compliment to the film's willingness to commit to unexpected tonal shifts. Others praised how it parodies "modern schlockumentaries" with substantial comedic content rather than relying on a single joke.

The ResetEra discussion thread for the official teaser showed significant community enthusiasm. Users debated the satirical approach, shared reactions to the trailer, and discussed the broader implications of the distribution controversy. The consensus was largely positive, with many calling it "the hardest I've laughed in a while" and praising the "genius wordplay."

Online reactions across forums and social media platforms echoed these sentiments, with many viewers noting that the satirical approach allowed the film to say things about Epstein and his powerful associates that serious documentaries cannot — or will not — say directly.

The Companion Screening: Sex House

Theatrical screenings of Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile were paired with Sex House, a 2012 Onion reality TV parody about contestants trapped in a house with minimal resources and exploitative producers.

The pairing was thematically deliberate. As the Jezebel/Splinter review argued, both films serve as commentary on media degradation — Sex House targeting reality TV conventions and Bad Pedophile targeting true-crime documentary conventions. Together, they illustrate how the entertainment industry's sensationalist impulses have evolved over the past decade.

Why Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile Matters

Satire as Accountability

In an era where coverage of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and connections is complicated by legal liability, political pressure, and self-censorship, Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile demonstrates the unique power of satire. By operating within the mockumentary format, The Onion was able to directly address connections and implications that mainstream documentary filmmakers approach cautiously — or avoid entirely.

The film's very existence became a test case for free expression. When a major theater chain refused to show a comedy about a dead convicted sex offender because it included footage of a sitting president, it illustrated exactly the kind of media cowardice that the film satirizes. The independent theater community's response — rallying to screen the film in even greater numbers — became part of the story itself.

True-Crime Industry Critique

Beyond the Epstein case specifically, the mockumentary takes aim at the true-crime documentary industrial complex. The genre has exploded on streaming platforms, with dozens of productions covering cases of varying quality and seriousness. As the AV Club review noted, the film "brutalizes the sort of low-effort, stock-footage-replete documentaries that are now on every streaming platform."

This meta-commentary is arguably as important as the Epstein-specific satire. By exposing the formulaic techniques these documentaries use — manufactured ambiguity, perpetrator focus, exploitative framing — Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile encourages viewers to think more critically about the true-crime content they consume.

The Censorship Question

The distribution controversy raised serious questions about media censorship in the current political environment. That a 21-minute comedy short could be deemed too risky to screen because it included footage of a public figure — the President of the United States — speaks to the chilling effect on creative expression that multiple media organizations have documented since 2025.

Collins' response — to release the film anyway, through alternative channels, at a financial loss — has become a model for how independent media can navigate these pressures. The fact that the film ultimately reached a larger audience than originally planned suggests that there is both an appetite and a distribution infrastructure for content that major chains won't touch.

How Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile Fits into the Broader Epstein Documentary Landscape

For a comprehensive overview of every documentary and film about the Epstein case, see our complete Epstein documentary guide. While productions like Netflix's Filthy Rich (2020) and Lifetime's Surviving Jeffrey Epstein (2020) take a serious, victim-centered approach, Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile occupies a unique niche — using comedy to cut through the noise and say what straight documentaries cannot.

The film joins a growing body of Epstein-related media that now includes serious documentaries, investigative journalism, books, and satirical works. Each format serves a different purpose, and the mockumentary format's contribution is its ability to name names and draw connections without the legal and political constraints that limit conventional coverage.

For the factual background on the Epstein case itself, see Who Is Jeffrey Epstein?. For verified court documents and evidence, browse our document library or explore the full case timeline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile?

Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is a 21-minute satirical mockumentary produced by The Onion. Directed by Ryan Natoli, it parodies the true-crime documentary genre while chronicling the life and crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, including Donald Trump. It was released theatrically on October 2, 2025, and is now available for free on YouTube.

Where can I watch Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile?

You can watch it for free on YouTube or on Shortverse. It was originally released in independent theaters across the U.S. on October 2, 2025, with screenings in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, and Portland.

Who directed Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile?

Ryan Natoli directed the film. He is a longtime Onion contributor who previously directed Sportology (2016) and worked on The Topical podcast. The film was produced by The Onion, Global Tetrahedron, and Onion News Network Studios.

Why was Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile pulled from major theaters?

A major national theater chain pulled distribution after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, because the mockumentary contained footage of Donald Trump. Despite Kirk not appearing in the film, the distributor backed out. The Onion then reached out to independent theaters, resulting in even more screenings than originally planned.

Is Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile actually funny?

Critical reception has been strongly positive. It holds a 7.8/10 on IMDb and a 3.81/5 on Letterboxd with over 1,700 ratings. Reviewers called it "courageously funny", and Onion CEO Ben Collins described it as "maybe the funniest thing we've ever done."

What does Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile make fun of?

The mockumentary satirizes multiple targets: Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump and his Epstein connections, the true-crime documentary industry, and the broader media ecosystem that profits from sensationalizing serious crimes while manufacturing artificial mystery.

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For a factual overview of the Epstein case, see Who Is Jeffrey Epstein?. Browse verified documents in our document library or explore the full case timeline.