American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story

Season 1

TV-MA

50%86%

The Amazon Original Series draws from unprecedented access to more than 17,000 hours of footage and over 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner's personal archives, chronicling the life of an American icon and the history of the brand he created.

Where to Watch Season 1

10 Episodes

Before the Bunny: Marilyn Monroe
E1
Before the Bunny: Marilyn MonroeUnfulfilled by family life and a desk job, Hugh Hefner strikes out against American puritanical values by launching a magazine that celebrates sex. He creates the first issue of Playboy from his kitchen table with the help of Marilyn Monroe as his first pin-up girl.
Birth of the Centerfold: The Girl Next Door
E2
Birth of the Centerfold: The Girl Next DoorHugh Hefner convinces his new subscription manager to pose as the magazine's first centerfold and "the girl next door" becomes Playboy's formula for success.
Becoming Mr. Playboy
E3
Becoming Mr. PlayboyDuring the mid-1950s, Hugh Hefner and Playboy gain national success, giving Hefner an opportunity to speak out about social issues while enjoying the perks of being Mr. Playboy.
Members Only: The Playboy Club
E4
Members Only: The Playboy ClubTo bring Playboy's bachelor lifestyle to the public, Hugh Hefner opens the Playboy Club in Chicago and creates the perfect nightlife hostess - the bunny.
The Playboy Interview
E5
The Playboy InterviewHugh Hefner creates the Playboy Interview, giving a platform to cultural leaders to discuss pressing social issues, and publishes a controversial interview with Malcolm X.
Rebel with a Cause: Civil Liberties and Government Crackdowns
E6
Rebel with a Cause: Civil Liberties and Government CrackdownsHefner becomes addicted to an amphetamine drug that lets him work around the clock, using the pages of the magazine to fight for civil rights and ultimately publish what would become Martin Luther King Jr's final written words.
Below the Belt: Playboy and the Pubic Wars
E7
Below the Belt: Playboy and the Pubic WarsWhile Hugh Hefner finds love and success in Hollywood, Playboy fights Penthouse in the pubic wars.
Sex, Drugs and DEA Investigations
E8
Sex, Drugs and DEA InvestigationsHugh Hefner's secretary and close friend, Bobbie Arnstein, finds herself at the center of a conspiracy to take down the Playboy empire and her loyalty to Hefner proves deadly.
Down the Rabbit Hole: The Dorothy Stratten Murder
E9
Down the Rabbit Hole: The Dorothy Stratten MurderAfter the death of Bobbie Arnstein, Hugh Hefner retreats permanently to his Los Angeles mansion, only to face the murder of Playmate Dorothy Stratten.
My Way
E10
My WayWith Playboy on the brink of bankruptcy, Hefner sacrifices friends and leans on family to secure the brand's future.