Documentary on Theranos Fraudster Elizabeth Holmes Eyes Historic Oscar Nomination

Nathan Fielder's documentary about convicted Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, titled "You Can See Everything," is poised to make history at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film has garnered widespread critical acclaim and is being submitted for consideration in multiple categories, including Best Picture, a nomination historically rare for documentaries.

"You Can See Everything," a three-hour docufilm, has achieved near-universal praise from critics and audiences. It currently boasts a 99 rating on Metacritic, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 4.7 out of 5 on Letterboxd. Its IMDb score of 9.4 is on track to become the highest in the platform's history if it holds.

The film is also generating considerable buzz for Amanda Seyfried in the Best Supporting Actress category. Seyfried, who previously portrayed Holmes in the Hulu miniseries "The Dropout," makes a surprise appearance in "You Can See Everything," performing both as herself and as Holmes. Her role in the documentary, which prominently features her prior portrayal of the Theranos founder, has been kept under wraps until its release.

Seyfried won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2022 for her performance as Holmes in "The Dropout," a prior acclaimed portrayal that becomes a plot point within Fielder's documentary.

Co-directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim are also being submitted for Best Director. The documentary meticulously documented Holmes in the 34 days leading up to her 11-year prison sentence for fraud. Holmes was convicted in 2022 on four counts of defrauding investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars by misrepresenting the capabilities of her healthcare startup, Theranos.

Theranos falsely claimed its technology could perform a wide range of blood tests using only a single drop of blood. The company's fraudulent practices were exposed through investigative reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

"You Can See Everything" also features Holmes' partner, Billy Evans, who is the father of her two children. Fielder, known for his work on "Nathan for You" and "The Rehearsal," centers much of the documentary as he navigates the complexities of Holmes' story. The film evolves into a meta-narrative that critics have hailed as groundbreaking.

Financially, "You Can See Everything" had a strong opening weekend, earning $15 million from 855 theaters. This marks the largest box office opening for a documentary in over two decades and is considered one of the biggest limited-release openings of the 21st century by distributor A24. The film is expected to build on its momentum in its second week, with A24 planning to expand its theatrical run.