‘A cultural moment’: smash hit doc You Can See Everything continues to dazzle America
Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s three-hour documentary about Elizabeth Holmes has become an unexpected cinema hit, drawing young audiences and strong reactions. Its success suggests that a film centred on a familiar TV personality and a notorious public figure can bring people back to cinemas, even if viewers are unsure how to interpret what they have seen.
The film took $19.5m in its second weekend, a 25% rise, and has grossed more than $45m in North America. At a sold-out 300-seat screening in Times Square, some attendees said they were drawn by Fielder’s comedy or Holmes’s story, known to many through the television series The Dropout; few described themselves as documentary fans.
In short
- You Can See Everything has become a surprise box-office hit.
- It earned $19.5m in its second weekend.
- Fielder and Holmes drew young viewers to cinemas.
Explained simply
Elizabeth Holmes founded Theranos, a blood-testing company that promised to run many tests using only a small amount of blood. The company attracted major investment and attention before its technology came under scrutiny and its claims were challenged.
Nathan Fielder is a comedian and television maker, while Lance Oppenheim is a documentary film-maker. Holmes’s rise and the collapse of Theranos have also been portrayed in The Dropout, a television series that introduced many viewers to her story.
The film’s audience brings together people interested in Fielder’s comedy and those curious about Holmes and Theranos. Its cinema success has drawn attention to how documentaries can reach viewers who do not usually seek them out.
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