The anti-migrant film "Citizen Vigilante," starring Armie Hammer, has achieved significant viewership on platforms like Apple and Amazon, amplified by promotion from X owner Elon Musk. The movie, directed by Uwe Boll, features Hammer as a character who enacts violent revenge on migrants in an unnamed European nation, portraying them as threats to the native population.
Conservative commentators have embraced the film, interpreting its success as a demand for narratives that counter mainstream liberal culture. Patrick Bet-David, a conservative media personality, suggested the film resonates with feelings of government inaction on security. Jack Posobiec noted the film's distribution challenges in Germany, implying it speaks a controversial truth.
"Citizen Vigilante" presents a narrative where migrants are depicted as criminals who overrun and prey upon the local populace. The film's plot centers on the protagonist's belief that the country is facing an "unfriendly takeover by the Islamist extremists and the blindsided woke left." This portrayal contrasts with studies that demonstrate no link between immigration and crime rates in the U.S. or Europe.
Musk has actively promoted the film on his platform X, previously known as Twitter. Over a weekend, he posted the entire movie on X, where it remained accessible for 48 hours. He has since shared memes and positive reactions to the film, stating that "This is what people want to see." Director Uwe Boll echoed this sentiment in an interview, asserting that audiences desire "real films again — bold and with impact and about reality."
The film's success and Musk's endorsement have drawn parallels to the distribution strategy of "Sound of Freedom," a 2023 film that also resonated with conservative audiences. Musk had previously suggested making "Sound of Freedom" available for free streaming on X. This pattern suggests a conservative theory that a hidden audience exists for films aligned with their perspectives.
Critics argue that the film's increased visibility is a direct result of Musk's influence on X. The platform's algorithm has been shown to direct users towards right-leaning content. Researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate concluded that Musk's reposting of anti-migrant narratives was "instrumental" in amplifying calls for violence surrounding anti-migrant riots in Northern Ireland. The promotion of "Citizen Vigilante" is seen by some as an example of Musk leveraging his ownership of X to shape cultural discourse.