The Rise and Fall of Girls Gone Wild

Girls Gone Wild was a direct-to-video series that gained immense popularity in the early 2000s, built around young women engaging in risqué behavior during spring break. The creator, Joe Francis, capitalized on a cultural moment that combined party culture with the allure of viral fame. His company made over $20 million in its first two years and was responsible for the release of over 83 titles, resulting in 4.5 million videos sold by 2002. However, the empire eventually crumbled due to a series of legal troubles and societal shifts regarding consent and exploitation, leading many to reevaluate the consequences faced by the women involved.