The documentary film, Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer, explores the history of the infamous tabloid newspaper and its impact on American society over the years. The movie delves into the publication's controversial and often sensational coverage of celebrities, politicians, and other public figures, as well as its role in shaping public opinion and influencing popular culture.
The film features archival footage, interviews with former employees and journalists, and insights from media experts and cultural historians. It covers the early days of the National Enquirer, when it was a small, struggling publication, to its meteoric rise in popularity and power during the 1980s and 1990s.
The movie also addresses the various scandals that rocked the National Enquirer over the years, including allegations of illegal activities, such as hacking, bribery, and illegal wiretapping. It explores the notion that the paper's owners and editors were willing to push the limits of journalistic ethics and morality in order to gain readership and boost profits.
Through its examination of the National Enquirer's history, Scandalous offers a critical commentary on the state of American media and the role of tabloids in shaping popular culture and public opinion. The documentary reveals the complex, and often dark, underbelly of the American media machine, and the ways in which it has influenced and manipulated public discourse for decades.