A24's You Can See Everything is making history. After a stunning debut that shattered expectations, the documentary is now expanding to over 2,600 theaters, positioning itself to challenge DC Studios' Clayface for the top spot at the weekend box office.
The film, co-directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, pulled in an impressive $15 million from just 855 theaters in its opening weekend, with 2,000 screenings completely sold out. That marks the second-biggest opening ever for a documentary, trailing only Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. What makes this feat even more remarkable is that no documentary has ever topped the domestic box office while playing in fewer than 1,000 theaters—until now.
Following its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, A24 executed a textbook platform release, building an air of exclusivity that fueled demand. The three-hour epic follows Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced Theranos founder, in the weeks before she reported to prison for fraud. The film's critical reception has been stellar, with a 97% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised Fielder's unflinching approach, calling it "an inscrutable Rorschach test of Elizabeth Holmes' psyche" that is both absorbing and haunting. Collider's own review hailed it as "a true original" that will only gain momentum as awards season heats up.
Now, with the expansion, You Can See Everything is projected to earn between $25 million and $30 million this weekend. That puts it in direct competition with Clayface, which is expected to debut around $30 million but has received divisive early reviews. The expansion is a bold move that could pay off handsomely, especially given A24's track record this year. The studio has already seen massive success with Backrooms, which grossed $400 million worldwide, and hits like The Drama and Primetime.
This expansion also comes at a time when audiences are hungry for unique theatrical experiences. The success of You Can See Everything echoes the recent strong debut of Sense and Sensibility, proving that smart, original films can still draw crowds. Meanwhile, other releases have struggled, like Tom Cruise's Digger, which lost nearly 3,000 theaters in a historic collapse.
As You Can See Everything expands, it's also driving renewed interest in Holmes' story. The Hulu series The Dropout has seen a surge in viewership, a trend that often follows major film releases. With its combination of critical acclaim, awards buzz, and box-office momentum, You Can See Everything is proving to be one of the year's most surprising and compelling hits.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
