Tickled

Play trailer

2:25

Tickled

R

2016

1h 32m

Documentary

Mystery & Thriller

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

121 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A journalist intends to document an international tickling competition for kicks. Instead, he finds a bizarre and even threatening world created by a bully with deep pockets.

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Critics Consensus

Tickled uses an investigation into a silly-seeming subculture as the launching point for thought-provoking insights into online bullying and the destructive abilities of the internet.

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Darian Lusk

Observer

Mar 24, 2017

The shocking truth is uncomfortably pursued to its fullest, and the result is a riveting piece of investigative journalism.

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Christopher Orr

The Atlantic

Mar 16, 2017

It's not a film you'll soon forget.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Dec 27, 2016

5/5

David Farrier and Dylan Reeve's Tickled defies belief and almost description.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Jul 5, 2026

4/5

A documentary that only gets more and more unusual, proving that sometimes truth is more bizarre than fiction. Gripping stuff

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Jun 22, 2026

4/5

What starts out as an innocent enough investigation into the world of competitive tickling quickly turns into a character study of the ultimate bully. It's haunting stuff.

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Oct 28, 2023

Emerges from its seemingly lighthearted premise as a deeply unnerving story about money, power, sex, and shame in the Internet age.

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Colby G

@RT22705501 May 31, 2026

One of the best and most captivating documentaries I've seen in a long time. I looked up the documentarian's online blog and he interviews someone that tells more of the backstory. Search Google for the specific link - Tickled: What Happened to David D'Amato's Millions?

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matthias S

@Thescreenasvor Apr 30, 2026

A rare four-star rating from me, and honestly… what the hell was this? I went in expecting a light, quirky documentary about tickling competitions, but within ten minutes it completely flips into a gripping true crime story. The tonal shift is wild, yet incredibly effective. It’s seriously well-made, tense, and deeply unsettling in ways I didn’t expect at all. I can easily recommend this to anyone looking for something different. My only issue—and what keeps it from a perfect score—is the lack of a clear POV and a somewhat unresolved third act. Still, an unforgettable and fascinating watch.

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Shael

@RT90874798 Dec 26, 2023

Watching the secret workings of the antagonist who's been bullying for over two decades. Now it's time for his embarrassing story to go public.

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Logan D

@Greynomad38 Sep 23, 2023

A New Zealand journalist who specializes in stories of the unusual gets more than he bargained when he uncovers a mysterious tickling competition. This begins as an interesting mockumentary until...what? This isn't a mockumentary but is actually based on real events? Seriously? Yep, this is real. The material in this film is real. Real persons interviewed. Real journalist. I hate to spoil anything but this is one of the strangest true stories I've ever heard. You will be shaking your head at the absurdity of it all. This isn't me being sarcastic, either. Highly recommended.

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Chris G

@WorkerEight Aug 5, 2022

You haven't seen anything like this, what a weird good time.

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cinephile f

@RT52030170 Jun 6, 2021

This is one of my favourite documentaries of all time. Bravo!

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David Farrier

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Dylan Reeve

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David Farrier

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Dylan Reeve

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Synopsis

A journalist intends to document an international tickling competition for kicks. Instead, he finds a bizarre and even threatening world created by a bully with deep pockets.

Director: David Farrier, Dylan Reeve
Producer: Carthew Neal
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Fumes, Horseshoe
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Documentary, Mystery & Thriller, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $612.8K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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