Elizabeth Holmes Documentary 'You Can See Everything' Hits Box Office
The nearly three-hour documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has secured a massive $15 million opening weekend.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
A Massive Box Office Debut
The new documentary "You Can See Everything" is performing as a major box office sensation, pulling in a $15 million opening weekend based on Sunday estimates. According to reports regarding the second biggest opening weekend ever for a documentary film, the nearly three-hour production has captured extraordinary viewer attention despite a limited theatrical footprint.
The film was initially revealed at a secretive screening at the Telluride Film Festival. Although it is playing in only 855 theaters this weekend—compared to major wide releases occupying thousands of screens—it has driven a reported 2,000 sellout screenings.
Critical Reception and Scores
Critical response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive. The film currently holds a score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
In addition to its success on Rotten Tomatoes, the documentary has matched that critical reception with a 99% score on Metacritic.
The Rise and Fall of Elizabeth Holmes
The narrative surrounding the rise and fall of elizabeth holmes—who founded blood-testing startup Theranos and attracted support from prominent Silicon Valley figures before facing legal consequences—has previously been explored across multiple books, podcasts, and scripted miniseries.
The public fallout from the Theranos scandal culminated when she was sentenced to 11 years in prison for defrauding investors, an event extensively covered across tech and mainstream journalism.
Filmmaker Access and Collaboration
What sets this project apart is that the filmmakers behind "You Can See Everything" secured extensive access to Holmes and her family during the month leading up to her imprisonment. The involvement of co-director Lance Oppenheim alongside "The Rehearsal" creator Nathan Fielder added a distinct metatextual element to the production.
Early viewers noted that Amanda Silberling already got to see it on Thursday, observing that the enigmatic subject meets her equal in Fielder, a deadpan comedian whose surreal approach aligns with the unique atmosphere of the documentary.
Impact on Other Tech-Centric Films
The immense cultural discussion generated by the Holmes documentary appears to be impacting the box office performance of other technology-focused films. For instance, Aaron Sorkin’s social network follow-up opened to a disappointing $5.5 million last weekend.
Other projects have faced distinct distribution hurdles as well. Alex Gibney’s four-hour documentary concerning Elon Musk encountered challenges that included resistance from social platforms regarding its advertising promotional accounts.
Sources
- TechCrunchEveryone’s watching the Elizabeth Holmes documentary ‘You Can See Everything’
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