No doubt hard work, talent, and a strong hook were important, but those ingredients wouldn’t be enough to cook up a blockbuster. Perhaps Spurlock knew his most important audience wasn’t the American public, but industry gatekeepers. The filmmaker was savvy enough to dangle irresistible ingredients in front of them.

Film industry gatekeepers love a good David and Goliath story—that is, as long as the roles reflect the “correct” worldview. That was no problem for Spurlock. He, the independent filmmaker on a shoestring budget, assumed the role of David, daring to step forward to challenge the corporate Goliath—McDonald’s. 

Many other elements play to Eight Percenter tastes: The film takes some swipes at Texas. It includes reflections from progressive public health superstars like Marion Nestle, Kelly Brownell, and lawsuit machine John Banzhaf. ...

Spurlock’s recipe worked. He cooked up Super Size Me in order to attract Eight Percenters, and it did just that.