From Ars Technica · · 1m 20s
Oscar filmmaker's Musk doc draws fire before release
Alex Gibney's three-hour-45-minute documentary about Elon Musk premiered at Venice to critical acclaim, but Musk himself calls it a hit piece.
In brief
Alex Gibney's three-hour-45-minute documentary about Elon Musk premiered at Venice to critical acclaim, but Musk himself calls it a hit piece. A major documentary about Elon Musk is coming to US theaters October 9 despite the subject's legal threats and claims of bias. Originally reported by Ars Technica.
Oscar filmmaker tackles Musk
Alex Gibney, who won an Oscar for Taxi to the Dark Side, has completed a 3 hour 45 minute documentary about Elon Musk that premiered at Venice Film Festival two weeks ago.
Musk calls it a hit piece
Elon Musk has attacked the film as a hit piece and psychological operation, and threatened defamation lawsuits against the filmmakers.
“hit piece”
Critics loved it anyway
Despite Musk's objections and its daunting runtime, the documentary has been critically well-received since its Venice premiere.
AI Musk stands in for interview
Musk declined to be interviewed, so Gibney created an AI version of Musk speaking verbatim public quotes as a substitute for a real conversation.
Interviews span Musk's world
The film features Musk's ex-wife Justine, tech journalists Kara Swisher and Zoe Schiffer, Tesla engineers, and others discussing his companies and personal life.
US release October 9
Bleecker Street Media will release the film theatrically in the US on October 9, with international releases planned for early 2027 and HBO streaming to follow.
What matters most
A major documentary about Elon Musk is coming to US theaters October 9 despite the subject's legal threats and claims of bias.
