How Did Nathan Fielder Pull This Off?

Last weekend, the biggest movie in America was a nearly three-hour documentary called Yes, You Can See Everything. This film features comedian Nathan Fielder as its star, and Elizabeth Holmes, a notorious public figure, as its subject. Despite being a documentary, it managed to become a must-see release of the fall, occupying the No. 1 spot in box office rankings.

Over Halloween weekend, it earned $11.4 million, climbing to the top position and accumulating a total of $64 million since its release. This makes it one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time, only surpassed by nature features, concert films, and Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. Fielder, who gained fame through Comedy Central's Nathan for You, has also worked on more avant-garde projects like The Curse and HBO's The Rehearsal.

His ability to retain his deadpan on-screen persona while transitioning to mainstream movie stardom is noteworthy. The success of Yes, You Can See Everything can be attributed to several factors, including the ongoing public interest in Elizabeth Holmes' case, rave reviews, and A24's strategic release approach. The documentary premiered at Telluride Film Festival, generating secretive yet mystical buzz.

The inclusion of Amanda Seyfried, who plays Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as she acts as both an audience surrogate and a fresh perspective on Fielder's relationship with Holmes. A24's decision to premiere the film at the Telluride Film Festival, followed by a unique release strategy, turned a documentary into a narrative event, reminiscent of scripted films.

This success may spark a revival in theatrical releases of nonfiction movies, which have been limited since the late 2010s due to the growth of streaming platforms. Despite the competition from other well-received nonfiction films like Alex Gibney's Musk, Yes, You Can See Everything has transcended the art-house market and achieved remarkable box office success.