The new documentary film Musk, directed by Alex Gibney, has secured an earlier-than-expected domestic theatrical rollout. Originally scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 16, Bleecker Street moved up the film’s release date to October 9 following strong audience interest at its world premiere. The premiere took place at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 8, where the feature received a four-minute standing ovation and strong early reviews, according to Universal Pictures distribution updates.
Earlier U.S. Theatrical Release and Critical Reception
The documentary runs for 3 hours and 45 minutes and includes a 10-minute intermission. Following its initial debut in New York and Los Angeles on October 9, the film will expand to theaters nationwide, with an HBO Max release to follow. Amid the commercial rollout, the production holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.
International Uncertainty and Studio Deliberation
While domestic plans proceed, Universal Pictures is reportedly reconsidering its international distribution plans for the project, placing its overseas theatrical release in doubt according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Comcast-owned studio acquired international rights for a significant sum but has not set a release date or communicated its timeline to the filmmaking team.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the film’s political subject matter and potential sensitivity surrounding current dynamics with the Trump administration are factors in the studio’s deliberations. Universal has not yet announced a final decision on whether it will ultimately release the documentary internationally.
Subject Matter, Interviews, and Legal Disputes
Gibney began developing the project in 2023. The film explores Elon Musk’s business empire—including Tesla and SpaceX—alongside his political activities, relationships, and growing influence. It covers his ownership of X, his relationship with Donald Trump, and his time leading the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The project also features an original song contributed by David Byrne that is eligible for the 2027 Academy Awards.
The documentary includes exclusive interviews with figures from Musk’s personal and professional circles, including his father, Errol Musk, former partner Ashley St. Clair, first ex-wife Justine Musk, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, journalists Kara Swisher and Zoë Schiffer, engineers Martin Eberhard, and AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton. Musk himself did not participate, having declined Gibney’s interview requests.
Musk has sharply criticized the project on X, calling Gibney a horrible human,
a bitter old man who lost the plot long ago,
and stating that the filmmaker has ZERO integrity.
He also described the documentary as a hit piece that misses
and labeled it boring af.
Additionally, Musk’s attorney, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to Gibney’s production company, Jigsaw Productions, stating, You are … on notice, before release, that the insinuation is false, that the material refuting it is public, and that you chose not to be told the rest.
In response to the legal threat, Gibney stated that he reached out immediately but received no engagement outside of social media remarks.
Meanwhile, HBO—which secured North American television and streaming rights in 2023—has maintained its support for the project, providing additional financing and encouraging further filming after Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration.