Elizabeth Holmes Documentary Dominates Box Office and Inspires Cultural Craze

The A24 metadocumentary You Can See Everything, co-directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, has emerged as a major cultural and commercial force following its release. Exploring the life of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the weeks leading up to her prison sentence for fraud, the film has achieved substantial box office success, grossing $80 million globally, with nearly $79.8 million coming from domestic ticket sales.

The documentary's cultural impact was further cemented at the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards in New York City, where the film swept five categories. It secured the prize for Best Documentary Feature, while Fielder and Oppenheim earned Best Director. Additional wins included Best Cinematography for David Bolen, Best Editing for Adam Locke-Norton, and Best Score for Ari Balouzian.

Beyond critical acclaim, the film has inspired widespread public engagement, sparking lookalike contests in cities like San Francisco and New York. Gatherings in Lafayette Park and Washington Square Park featured dozens of participants dressed in Holmes's signature black turtlenecks and red lipstick competing alongside Nathan Fielder impersonators in staring contests, dance-offs, and deadpan startup pitch competitions. Organizers noted the events were designed to bring communities together through absurdist theater inspired by the documentary.

The film's influence has also crossed over into commercial advertising and television. Popsmith, a premium popcorn company, surpassed a $1 million equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine after launching an unconventional X advertising campaign. The advertisement featured founder and CEO Tal Moore recreating Holmes's iconic portrait holding a tiny vial of blood, substituting the sample with a single piece of popcorn alongside the caption, "I started a popcorn company. Things got a little out of hand."

The satirical reach of the documentary extended to late-night television when Saturday Night Live host, actor, and comedian Druski starred in a sketch imagining a fictional prelude to the film. In the sketch, Druski portrayed an interviewer interviewing Holmes and her partner Billy Evans, utilizing Fielder's signature reenactment techniques by appearing in whiteface as Holmes during the parody.

As the documentary continues to draw attention, it has reignited public discourse regarding truth, manipulation, and the media portrayal of high-profile corporate figures. While some viewers and participants embrace the satirical wave surrounding the film, critics and whistlebusters continue to debate the ethical implications of reframing the narrative of a convicted corporate fraudster who left real medical patients impacted by faulty blood-testing technology.