Is “You Can See Everything” Really A Documentary? What Critics Say As Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes Film Opens Friday

Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's "You Can See Everything" opens in theaters Friday, Oct. 16, and the first reviews are raising one big question: is it really a documentary?

The A24 film follows convicted Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the month before she went to prison. Variety says it is far from a "pure" documentary, blending reality, performance, and deception, including scenes where Amanda Seyfried reads transcripts of Holmes' own words. The review adds that the film never tries to excuse Holmes.

Critics are largely enthusiastic. The Globe and Mail called it the year's best and most essential movie, while the San Francisco Chronicle gave it four stars and said there has never been another movie like it. Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus describes it as both gripping and haunting, a hard-to-read portrait of Holmes' mind.

The film could also make some noise at the box office. World of Reel reports tracking of about $10 million for the opening weekend on 855 screens, which would be rare for a documentary. Those numbers are projections, not final results.

Before you go: the film runs 2 hours and 54 minutes and is rated R. Check your local theater listings for showtimes. Some critics urge viewers to go in knowing as little as possible, so this article leaves out spoilers.

Related: "You Can See Everything": Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes Documentary Hits 100% On Rotten Tomatoes, And What To Know Before You Watch