‘You Can See Everything’ Nears $119 Million Documentary Record

By Grace Kim

Vulture reports that the $7 million Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything has grossed $45.1 million so far. Vulture also reports that analysts think it could pass Fahrenheit 9/11’s $119 million domestic gross to become the highest-grossing documentary ever.

The film took $19.5 million in its first weekend of wide release, according to Vulture. That weekend’s gross alone came in $12.5 million above the reported production cost, before later sales raised the total to $45.1 million.

What turned the trailer into a breakout?

Page Six reports that the trailer became a meme after it showed former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes staring unblinkingly at co-director Nathan Fielder and asking, “Why would I deceive you?” Page Six describes the film as a cultural sensation.

Page Six identifies Fielder and Lance Oppenheim as the film’s co-directors. Its $19.5 million opening weekend gave the $7 million production a gross more than twice its cost before the total reached $45.1 million. Vulture says analysts see a route to the $119 million domestic benchmark set by Fahrenheit 9/11.

On Vulture’s numbers, the documentary had already generated more than six times its $7 million production cost in reported box-office gross.

Who is driving the ticket sales?

Studio exit polling cited by Page Six puts nearly 70% of the audience under 35. Page Six identifies younger viewers as the driver of the run and says the film is turning younger moviegoers into documentary fans.

Fandango’s Shawn Robbins told Vulture that the studio can “really bring them out of the TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube world.” His remark links A24’s online reach to the younger audience driving sales.

Under-35 viewers are the run’s core audience, based on the studio exit polling cited by Page Six.

How did A24 stage the release?

A24 kept the film secret for most of its three-year production. It then rushed the film into theaters weeks after a surprise Telluride premiere, according to Vulture, to keep spoilers from leaking.

That sequence left only weeks between the festival debut and the wider rollout. It also gave A24 a $45.1 million gross to build on after the studio kept the $7 million project largely under the radar across its three-year production.

A24 used a mostly secret three-year production, a surprise premiere and a rapid rollout to move attention from social feeds into theaters.

What changed for Holmes and Billy Evans?

Vulture reports that Holmes, who is serving a fraud sentence, called Fielder from prison before the release. Fielder told Wired that Holmes said “I trust you” twice.

Page Six reports that Holmes’s partner, Billy Evans, admitted beforehand that the film might be “the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” Page Six also reports, citing sources, that Evans has since called Hollywood lawyers about obtaining a share of the profits.

The breakout has now prompted Evans to seek legal help after his pre-release warning.

Can the film set the domestic record?

Fahrenheit 9/11 remains the benchmark at $119 million, according to Vulture. Vulture says analysts think You Can See Everything can pass it and become the highest-grossing documentary ever, but the film’s $45.1 million gross leaves the record ahead.

For A24, the next test is whether the viewers under 35, who account for nearly 70% of the audience, can carry the film beyond $45.1 million and past the $119 million domestic mark cited by Vulture.