The four-hour-long Elon Musk documentary might be preaching to the choir
Alex Gibney's new four-hour documentary "Musk" offers an exhaustive chronicle of Elon Musk's rise from dot-com millionaire to a figure wielding vast influence over US institutions, but a Verge review from the Toronto International Film Festival suggests it may struggle to change minds. The film methodically traces how Musk built his public mythology and accumulated power through Tesla, X, SpaceX and Starlink, using that leverage to embed himself in government. For viewers already critical of Musk, the reviewer found little new insight, raising questions about whether its demanding length will reach the audiences who need convincing most.
Musk declined to participate and reportedly sent Gibney a legal threat, so the film instead uses a digital avatar lip-syncing his actual recorded words, alongside video-game-style imagery to dramatise events such as his dismantling of Twitter and government departments. Interviewees include Ashley St Clair, mother of one of Musk's children, who calls him "a nuke." The documentary runs nearly four hours with a ten-minute intermission, and the review notes that while it clearly lays out how Musk accrued unchecked power, its runtime could deter the very fans who "intentionally ignore" the more troubling aspects of his story.
In short
- Alex Gibney's "Musk" documentary reviewed at TIFF, runs nearly four hours
- Musk refused to participate and sent a legal threat, so a digital avatar was used
- Reviewer says it's thorough but may not change sceptics' or fans' minds
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A detailed, long-form documentary can show how Musk built influence across technology, media and government, helping viewers assess the consequences of that power rather than treating each episode in isolation. Its use of recorded words and extensive interviews may make a complex story more accessible, while its length gives the filmmakers room to document their case carefully.
The case against
A film this long and critical may chiefly reach viewers who already share its concerns, while supporters may see its framing and dramatic devices as a reason to distrust it. If it offers little new insight to sceptical viewers and does not engage fairly with Musk’s own case, its account may do less to persuade or inform the audiences most likely to disagree.
Explained simply
Elon Musk is a technology entrepreneur whose companies include Tesla, which makes electric cars, SpaceX, which builds rockets, and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. His businesses have given him a prominent role in areas such as transport, communications and space.
Musk has also become involved in US politics and government, prompting debate about how much influence wealthy business leaders should have over public institutions. Documentaries about powerful figures often rely on interviews and records when the person at the centre does not take part, and viewers may bring strong views of their own to the subject.
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