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⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Nathan Fielder just pulled off a total heist, turning a secret documentary into a massive $15M opening. By ditching ads for pure mystery, A24 triggered a meme craze that crushed box office records and broke Letterboxd forever.
Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim just pulled off the ultimate cinematic heist with You Can See Everything. Two months ago, nobody even knew this documentary about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes existed, but now it’s sitting on a massive $15M opening. We are talking lines around the block, over 2,000 sellouts, and a vibe so intense that people were literally planning bathroom breaks around its three-hour runtime.
The Secret Sauce of Secrecy
A24 basically used the “Barbenheimer” playbook by letting social media do the heavy lifting through sheer mystery. By dropping the film at Telluride in total secrecy and only releasing a teaser once it was already hitting screens, they made the movie feel like an exclusive event rather than just another streaming option. Secrecy was the special sauce with You Can See Everything directed by Lance Oppenheim and Fielder sub rosa over the last four years. This wasn’t some loud, corporate ad campaign; instead, it triggered a massive meme craze—think Kermit and Miss Piggy as Fielder and Holmes—that brought in a crowd where 70% of viewers were under 25.
💫 Secrecy was the special sauce with You Can See Everything directed by Lance Oppenheim and Fielder sub rosa over the last four years.
Breaking Box Office Records
The numbers are actually insane for a documentary. It is officially the second-best domestic opening for a doc behind 2004’s Fahrenheit 9/11, and the best debut for a film in under 1,000 locations since 2006’s Borat. Even though it’s long, audiences are obsessed, evidenced by a 98% audience score and a 4.8 Letterboxd rating, which is the highest ever recorded on the app. While major studios spend millions on sports commercials, A24 skipped them entirely to keep the energy lowkey and organic.
The success wasn’t just limited to LA or NYC either; tech enthusiasts flocked to the Kabuki theater in San Francisco, making it one of the top grossing spots. Whether you’re watching for the deadpan grilling of a tech baron or just to see the unhinged energy of Billy Evans, this film is clearly the moment. Now that we know how wild it gets, it might be time to start planning your Holmes and Fielder Halloween looks.
Are you going to brave the three-hour runtime in theaters, or are you waiting for the stream?
❓ People Also Ask
What is the documentary You Can See Everything about?
You Can See Everything is a documentary focused on the disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Directed by Lance Oppenheim and produced with Nathan Fielder, the film explores the downfall of the tech figure through a lens that has captivated massive audiences. The documentary has become a significant cultural moment, drawing intense interest from viewers interested in the investigation of tech barons and the unhinged energy surrounding the story.
How did A24 market the film You Can See Everything?
A24 utilized a guerrilla marketing strategy rooted in secrecy and organic social media buzz rather than traditional corporate advertising. By debuting the film at Telluride in total secrecy and releasing a teaser only once it reached theaters, they created an exclusive event atmosphere. This approach triggered a massive meme craze on social media, which helped attract a young demographic, with 70% of the film's viewers being under the age of 25.
Why is the box office performance of You Can See Everything significant?
The film's box office performance is significant because it is the second-best domestic opening for a documentary, trailing only 2004's Fahrenheit 9/11. It also represents the best debut for a film released in under 1,000 locations since the 2006 release of Borat. Despite its long three-hour runtime, the documentary has achieved massive commercial success, proving that niche documentary releases can compete with major studio productions through high audience engagement.
What are the audience ratings for the movie You Can See Everything?
The movie You Can See Everything has received exceptionally high praise from audiences, boasting a 98% audience score. It also holds a 4.8 rating on Letterboxd, which marks the highest rating ever recorded on that specific application. These high scores reflect an intense level of viewer obsession and satisfaction, even among audiences navigating the challenging three-hour length of the cinematic documentary.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Deadline