Watch Hot Doug's: The Movie

Hot Doug's: The Movie is a documentary film released in 2016, directed by Christopher Marker and primarily focused on the popular Chicago hot dog restaurant Hot Doug's. The documentary revolves around the owner of Hot Doug's, Doug Sohn, who is considered a master of the Chicago-style hot dog, and his journey from starting the restaurant to gaining fame and success.

The documentary is divided into different chapters, each focusing on a particular aspect of Hot Doug's journey. The first chapter introduces us to Doug Sohn and his background, and how he started the restaurant. It then moves on to highlight the menu items of Hot Doug's, which are unique and sophisticated, and explores the inspiration behind each item. The documentary also showcases the customers' experience, interviews with regulars and first-timers, and their feedback about the restaurant.

One of the most interesting aspects of the documentary is the light it sheds on the cultural significance of the dish that Hot Doug's serves - the Chicago-style hot dog. The documentary highlights the evolution of the hot dog and its importance in the history of Chicago. It also showcases the unique features of a Chicago-style hot dog, such as the poppy-seed bun, the mustard, the celery salt and more, and how Hot Doug's has put its unique spin on this classic dish.

The documentary also highlights the various challenges Hot Doug's faced over the years, including dealing with licensing issues, managing long queues of customers, and making the menu more accessible to a wider audience. The film also touches on the economic and social impact that Hot Doug's has had on the community and its role in bringing people from different backgrounds together.

Throughout the documentary, we also get to see interviews with some well-known personalities, including Steve Albini, a musician and Hot Doug's regular, and Homaru Cantu, a world-renowned chef who collaborated with Hot Doug's on a few specials. Their insights into Hot Doug's and its unique identity add an extra layer to the documentary's narrative.

In addition to the interviews, the documentary also contains a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of the restaurant, which gives us an insight into the inner workings of Hot Doug's. We get to see the Hot Doug's staff in action, from preparing the food in the kitchen to serving the food to the customers. The documentary also features Doug Sohn himself giving us a glimpse of his personality, work ethic, and his love for food.

The film is not just about Hot Doug's as a restaurant, but it's also about the people who work there and their relationship with the customers. We see the sense of community that has been built around the restaurant, where regulars have become friends, and people from different walks of life come together to enjoy the food and each other's company.

In conclusion, Hot Doug's: The Movie is an engaging and fascinating documentary that provides a comprehensive insight into one of Chicago's most beloved eateries. The film is not just about food, but it also explores the restaurant's cultural significance and its impact on the community. The documentary is a celebration of the passion, hard work, and dedication that went into making Hot Doug's the iconic restaurant that it is today.

Hot Doug's: The Movie is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 57 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.