Overview
- The film opened to about $15 million in limited release on roughly 855 screens, with A24 reporting more than 2,000 sold‑out screenings and unusually high per‑screen averages for a documentary.
- Critics and audiences have given the movie near‑perfect aggregate scores on review sites, driving strong word‑of‑mouth and large repeat viewings for the nearly three‑hour feature.
- Directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim secretly filmed the project over several years and lived in Elizabeth Holmes’ San Diego/Del Mar home for roughly 34 days immediately before she began serving an 11‑year federal sentence.
- Coverage has focused on the film’s formal choices that blur documentary and performance, ethical questions about the filmmakers’ embedded access and Billy Evans’ influence over Holmes’ public image, and a public response from Theranos whistleblower Tyler Shultz who said Holmes appears on camera as a victim in an abusive relationship while remaining culpable for Theranos’ fraud.
- Industry observers say the commercial and critical breakout has intensified awards‑season speculation—including unprecedented Best Picture conversation for a documentary—and could change how non‑fiction films are marketed and considered by voters.