Spermworld

Spermworld
Promotional poster by Nick Drnaso
Directed byLance Oppenheim
Produced by
  • Lauren Belfer
  • Lance Oppenheim
  • Sophie Kissinger
  • Christian Vazquez
  • Alana Hauser
  • Daniel Garber
  • Kathleen Lingo
  • Josh Kriegman
  • Elyse Steinberg
  • Eli B. Despres
CinematographyDavid Bolen
Edited byDaniel Garber
Music byAri Balouzian
Production
companies
Distributed byFX
Release dates
  • February 29, 2024 (2024-02-29) (True/False)
  • March 29, 2024 (2024-03-29) (United States)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Spermworld is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Lance Oppenheim that premiered on Hulu and FX in the United States on March 29, 2024. Spermworld follows the stories of three sperm donors and their recipients. Inspired by Nellie Bowles' article "The Sperm Kings Have a Problem: Too Much Demand" for the New York Times, the documentary ventures into "spermworld", the unregulated online marketplaces where sperm donors connect with hopeful parents.

Cast

Featured personnel in the documentary are credited as themselves (in order of appearance)

Release

The film had its world premiere at True/False Film Festival on February 29, 2024. It was released in the United States on FX on March 29, 2024.

Reception

Critical Response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10 and audience reviews were 97% based on over 100 ratings.

John Serba for Decider stated: "Spermworld (now streaming on FX and Hulu) is one of those wild and rare documentaries about a subculture you likely aren’t aware exists, although you probably aren’t surprised that it actually does: a community of sperm donors and recipients who meet in Facebook groups, and essentially engage in DNA exchanges without the oversight of doctors or any other medical system. The film is directed by one of the best young documentary filmmakers to emerge in recent years, Lance Oppenheim, who seems to have embedded himself into the lives of three men as they sell or donate their semen to women who yearn to be mothers. And as Oppenheim made the best documentary of 2020, Some Kind of Heaven, he may have just made the best one of 2024 too."

References

  1. ↑ "SPERMWORLD Premieres on FX March 29". FX Networks. January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ Bowles, Nellie (January 8, 2021). "The Sperm Kings Have a Problem: Too Much Demand". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ "New Feature Documentary "SPERMWORLD," From The Times and FX, to Premiere on FX March 29". New York Times. January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ Danielsen, Aarik (February 7, 2024). "This year's True/False Film Fest lineup is set. Get a preview before you reserve seats". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  5. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 17, 2024). "FX FX Sets Feature Documentary 'Spermworld' For Spring Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Spermworld | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ "'Spermworld' FX Hulu Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". March 30, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2026.