The Bama Rush sensation, which took over millions of TikTok users’ FYPs two years ago, has rushed its way to streaming. The highly anticipated documentary “Bama Rush” is finally out on Max (formerly HBO Max), detailing the intense sorority recruitment week at the University of Alabama.
The filmfollows four young women — PNMs (Prospective New Members) for short — as they embark on the intimidating Greek life process during their first year of college. In the doc, we see them balance the process of choosing those fateful three Greek letters (or rather, getting chosen by them) with the excitement and anxiety of finding themselves during this new chapter of their lives.
“This film is a thoughtful and compassionate portrayal of young women in 2022 as they rush the sorority system at the University of Alabama,” Fleit said in a statement via Vice, when the doc was beginning to be filmed in August of last year. At this time, the team also confirmed that “hidden microphones” were not involved in the production, following rumors that surfaced on TikTok about sorority candidates that have been caught with concealed recording devices during 2022 recruitment.
The documentary was in the works at Vice since “Bama Rush” first became popular on TikTok during the 2021 recruitment season. One recent graduate of the University of Alabama, who was a member of its Alpha Phi sorority, told the Times she was approached in November of 2021 via Instagram by a person who claimed to be a Vice Studios producer about being part of a film set up at HBO Max, but she ultimately declined the offer.
Bama Rush, whose hashtag has garnered close to 2.6 billion views on TikTok was more than just mere entertainment. It sparked a wider conversation about the many missteps within the Greek system, inspiring non-involved viewers and past alumni to call out the university and panhellenic council for allegations over racism, sexism, gatekeeping and secret societies. The documentary touches on some of these missteps but doesn’t make them the focal point of the project.
In order to stream “Bama Rush,” you’ll have to sign up for a Max account for $9.99/month. You can also watch the film for free through Prime Video, which offers a 7-day free trial of Max.
