Reactions to the New Documentary
Elon Musk publicly criticized the new four-hour documentary titled "Musk," which premiered Tuesday at the Venice Film Festival. Musk took to the social platform X on Wednesday to characterize the film as a "boring hit piece." The project, directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney, examines the life and global influence of the billionaire, covering his transition into a vocal supporter of the MAGA movement and ongoing debates regarding his companies, including Tesla and the Mars exploration project.
Despite the subject's harsh review, the film received a four-minute standing ovation at its debut. Industry critics have offered generally positive assessments of the work, noting its ambition in tackling the subject's complex public and private life. The documentary touches on his contentious relationships with several family members, including the mothers of his 14 children. It is scheduled for a wide release in U.S. theaters on October 16 through Bleecker Street.
Behind the Production of Musk
Alex Gibney attempted to secure an interview with Musk at the outset of the production, but the tech executive declined. This refusal forced the production team to pivot their creative approach. To illustrate statements from the subject during the film, the crew developed an AI avatar capable of delivering his public remarks. Gibney noted at the Venice press conference that the original intent was a shorter runtime, but the scope expanded as Musk became increasingly linked to the 2026 political climate in the United States.
One featured subject in the documentary is Ashley St. Clair, who shares a child with the tech mogul. During the press event in Venice, St. Clair claimed that Musk offered her a $40 million non-disclosure agreement following the birth of their child, Romulus, last year. She positioned the interview as an effort to model integrity for her children. Musk countered this assertion on X, stating that St. Clair was never offered such a deal and possesses a track record of making false statements.
Industry Context and Criticisms
Musk continued his critique of the project by labeling Gibney a "horrible human" and alleging the film relies on a "hit list" of people with personal grudges against him. He questioned whether any of the contributors have a genuine understanding of his motives or actions. It remains unclear if Musk has viewed the full four-hour runtime of the movie, though his dismissive tone remains consistent with his 2023 comments when the production was first announced.
This friction highlights the broader difficulty of documenting active public figures who control their own media channels. When individuals possess the capacity to shape their narrative on a platform like X, traditional documentary filmmaking faces new hurdles. The success of this release at festivals suggests that audiences remain interested in the details of the world's wealthiest individual. Future discussions regarding the accuracy and tone of the film will likely continue until the October release date.