The Pickup Game

2019
TV-MA
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

3.6K

YOUR RATING

An inside look at the emergence of the 'pickup' industry - an business where self-styled seduction coaches travel the world, charging a small fortune to teach men skills they claim will guarantee success with women. For the instructors who are successful, it is a highly lucrative occupation, with many companies earning millions of dollars a year. It is also an industry rife with controversy and scandal. Several teachers have been deported from countries for their contentious methodologies and pickup businesses are often the subject of fierce public criticism. Despite this, men the world over collectively spend hundreds of millions of dollars to attend seminars, download online courses and have one-on-one coaching sessions with instructors they feel can give them the dating life of their dreams. In the minds of students, many of these instructors become more than just teachers. They become idols. From the glossy exterior, where courses are packaged as self-improvement, to the dark underbelly of sexual assault, pyramid scheme marketing and secret collusion The Pickup Game pulls back the curtain to reveal a world that is fascinating and horrific in equal measure.

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Documentary

The Pickup Game is an inside look at the emergence of the 'pickup' industry - an business where self-styled seduction coaches travel the world, charging a small fortune to teach men skills t... Read allThe Pickup Game is an inside look at the emergence of the 'pickup' industry - an business where self-styled seduction coaches travel the world, charging a small fortune to teach men skills they claim will guarantee success with women. For the instructors who are successful, it is... Read allThe Pickup Game is an inside look at the emergence of the 'pickup' industry - an business where self-styled seduction coaches travel the world, charging a small fortune to teach men skills they claim will guarantee success with women. For the instructors who are successful, it is a highly lucrative occupation, with many companies earning millions of dollars a year. It... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

3.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:06

Trailer

Photos

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Maximilian Berger

Self - Executive Coach, 'Real Social Dynamics'
(as Maximilian Berger a.k.a. 'RSDMAX')

Marcus Nero

Self - Instructor, 'Justin Wayne Dating'
(as Marcus Nero a.k.a. 'Justin Wayne')

Robert Beck

Self - Founder, 'The Beckster Lifestyle'
(as Robert Beck a.k.a. 'Beckster')

Shaun Michael

Self - Founder, '3 Second Rule'
(as Shaun Michael a.k.a. 'Discovery')

Minnie Lane

Self - Dating and Personal Development Coach

Ross Jeffries

Self - Author: 'How to Get the Women You Desire Into Bed'
(as Paul Jeffrey Ross a.k.a. 'Ross Jeffries')

Paul Janka

Self - Founder, 'Attraction Formula' & Harvard Graduate

Michael M

Self - Former Pickup Marketing Expert

Nikolaos Brahimllari

Michael M
(voice)
(as Nikolaus Brahimllari)

Andrew

Self - Pickup Student

Lisa Fox

Self - Prosecuting Attorney & Deputy District Attorney, San Diego County

Erik von Markovik

Self - Pickup Instructor, Founder of 'Social Dynamics' & Creator of 'The Mystery Method'
(as Eric von Markovik a.k.a. 'Mystery')

Bruce Roth

Self - Instructor, 'Justin Wayne Dating'
(as Bruce Roth a.k.a. 'Bruce Wayne')

Jennifer Li

Self - Founder, '#TakeDownJulienBlanc' Campaign

Alex James

Self - Former Instructor, 'Real Social Dynamics (RSD)' & Founder, '4 Week Natural'

Todd Valentine

Self - Former Instructor, 'Real Social Dynamics (RSD)' & Founder, 'Todd V Dating'
(as Todd Van De Hay a.k.a. Todd Valentine)

Jackie Speier

Self - Congresswoman: 14th Congressional District, California
(as Jacqueline Speier, Congresswoman Jackie Speier: end credits)

Linda Boisvert

Self - Property Manager, San Diego

User reviews21

6.73.5K

Featured reviews

9markmckinnes

The Pick Up Game is serious business

This film intrigued me for several reasons: I had read Neil Strauss's book The Game when it was released (probably like everybody else of my generation) and knew a few friends who had dabbled in this scene. So I was curious to check it out.

Without revealing any spoilers, I will just say that no one could have scripted an investigative film that would have had as much impact as this documentary does. It's intense and very disturbing.

But for all the darkness in the movie, it actually feels quite balanced and fair. A lot of the material comes across in a unique and un-obvious way. Certainly not how you would expect it to from the title.

This thing is tight though -- and fascinating, and frightening. One to watch and one I have recommended to everyone I've discussed it with.

10JaneDoesFilmReviews

Shocking, disturbing, frightening and utterly compelling

Caught a preview screening at Hot Docs earlier this year and this was without a doubt the most unsettling theatre experience of the festival.

I didn't know much about the pick-up world before watching this documentary and all I can say is this film leaves no stone unturned.

It begins innocently enough, with the origins of the pick up ideology back in the 1980s before moving onto the subculture as it is today. And by all accounts the industry is everywhere. In every major city across the world, it is now a billion dollar business. The film shows the ideology taught by many of these pickup schools as well as the students that sign up to the courses before diving head first into the darker sides of the culture.

An extremely powerful film. Brilliantly structured, tragic and cinematic. More than worth your time.

10bklipinski

Incredible Documentary

Engrossing documentary about the hidden world of dating coaches who claim to be able to turn any man into a modern day Don Juan.

Unbelievable at times, shocking at others, this documentary spoke to more than just the overlying story of the Pick-up coaches and those that pay money to listen to them. It speaks to the thousands of young men trying to follow a path in today's fickle dating world of tinder, ghosting and hook ups.

Felt like a real life version of Fight Club, although at several points you forget it's a documentary. You forget you're not watching a fictional film, which just supports the claim that truth can be more compelling than fiction.

Highly, highly recommended.

beth-31613

Unoriginal film made by men mansplaining

Years after we all heard about pickup artists some men decided to mansplain it to us. This film SCREAMS "I showed my girl this so she'd think I'm a feminist".

Do yourself a favour and skip the film. Google pickup artists and read about it if you're actually interested.

rainbowmoviereviewer

Mansplaining Misses The Mark

Saw this recently at Hotdocs in Toronto and I have to say I was left sooo frustrated. Why did two middle class straight white male directors decide to be the feminist voice on this problematic issue? Don't get me wrong, I admired the activism attempts in the film to fight misogyny and toxic masculinity but why not give female directors and producers a real voice? There was also no mention of issues surrounding the gay and trans dating scene and the problems within. Sigh.