Icarus

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Icarus

2017

1h 50m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When filmmaker Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. Dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic gold are all part of the exposure of the biggest scandal in sports history.

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Critics Consensus

Icarus is eye-opening viewing for professional sports enthusiasts, yet it should also prove thoroughly gripping even for filmgoers who might not necessarily be drawn to the subject.

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John Doyle

Globe and Mail

Aug 29, 2017

If you want insight into cheating in sports and the complicated reasons why it happens over and over, Icarus will open your eyes as never before. It is essential viewing for anyone interested in athletics or competitive sports of any type.

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Lenika Cruz

The Atlantic

Aug 10, 2017

It's fair, then, to call Icarus a coup for a first-time documentarian, the product of both dumb luck and a strange rapport between Fogel and Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.

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Justin Burke

The Australian

Aug 10, 2017

Fogel's willingness to follow a yarn that starts in one location before veering into entirely different narrative territory yields fascinating and entertaining results.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 22, 2022

3.5/5

“Icarus” sucks you into the elaborate and dangerous web of scandal that shook the international sports community to its core.

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Gem Seddon

SFX Magazine

Feb 3, 2022

...what he winds up discovering after speaking with a Russian doctor completely changes the purpose of the doc turning Icarus into a powerful, political thriller...

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Brett Michael Dykes

Uproxx

Dec 29, 2021

The result is this nearly 90-minute film that chronicles Russia's extensive history with doping and Rodchenkov's fight for his life after he blows the whistle on the country's bad practices.

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Jen B

@RT89019015 Jul 20, 2026

I’m not a sports fan and was reluctant to watch this. HUGE mistake— this is a remarkable, layered documentary that everyone should see

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Lasse L

@RT62932725 Feb 6, 2026

Intriguing idea and very funny for a documentary. The amount of twists and turns is crazy - definitely worth a watch.

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Robert R

@RT35523659 Feb 2, 2025

This excellent film irrefutably illustrates how the ruzzian government is cynically corrupt and cheat at everything. They cannot be trusted. Their war crimes in Ukraine and meddling in Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and yes the USA and Europe show you just how dangerous they are to the rest of the world. If someone expresses support for Ruzzia you can bet that they themselves are corrupt and cannot be trusted either.

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J T

@Latinalove Feb 17, 2024

Interesting for sure, but it does drag in a few places.

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Renaldo D

@RT30888824 Jul 9, 2023

Complete documentary, with good images and a good line of reasoning.

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 16, 2023

A doco that changes tact abrubtly to tell a far more interesting story than what it was intended to. While the film maker at times seems to be out of his depth, the story is compelling enough to keep viewers captivated.

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Bryan Fogel

Director

Dan Cogan

Voice

Bryan Fogel

Actor

Richard Pound

Actor

Dave Zabriskie

Actor

Don Catlin

Actor

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Synopsis

When filmmaker Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller. Dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic gold are all part of the exposure of the biggest scandal in sports history.

Director: Bryan Fogel
Producer: Jim Swartz, Dan Cogan, David Fialkow, Bryan Fogel
Screenwriter: Bryan Fogel, Mark Monroe, Jon Bertain, Timothy Rode
Production Co: Diamond Docs, Chicago Media Project
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 50m

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