Documentary on Elon Musk Examines Business Ties and Government Role

Alex Gibney's upcoming documentary about Elon Musk will debut in the United States on Oct. 9, beginning with screenings in New York and Los Angeles before a wider release. The film, produced over three years, follows Musk's public statements and actions, focusing on his vision for Mars, his leadership of the digital currency DOGE, and his interactions with federal agencies. It also features testimony from a former whistleblower and examines a text message Musk allegedly sent during the 2024 election.

The trailer highlights Musk's arrival in Washington, D.C., and the documentary alleges that his involvement led to significant reductions in USAID and other programs, potentially affecting thousands of jobs and lives. It also suggests that data may have been collected by Musk's companies during that period.

"The conflicts of interest are shocking," said Katie Drummond, a leader at Wired, in the trailer.

Critics who saw early screenings at the Venice and Toronto film festivals praised the film's scope. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter described it as having "a clarity that makes his conclusions hard to refute."

HBO has secured North American television and streaming rights and indicated plans to fund additional content. After Musk's legal team issued a cease-and-desist notice to the filmmakers, Musk has not publicly commented on the project.