Elon Musk attacks Alex Gibney documentary ahead of Venice premiere release
Filmmaker Alex Gibney faces verbal attacks from Elon Musk following the Venice, Italy screening of a new documentary. The conflict comes as the film expands across theaters nationwide on Friday.
Musk posted on X that Gibney is an “idiot” and a “horrible human.” He also called him a “tinfoil hat crackpot” with “zero credibility.”
Musk wrote that dog feces are “worth more respect than Gibney.” He previously described the film as a “hit piece.” Musk has reportedly not seen the movie. He did not respond to a comment request.
Film distributor Bleecker Street faced ad rejections from X, TikTok, YouTube and Meta on Sept. 25. YouTube and Meta later reversed course. They said the material had been flagged for political content.
Gibney expressed concerns about whether the project will stream on HBO. Warner Bros. Discovery underwent a takeover by Paramount to form Skydance. Larry Ellison, the father of Skydance CEO David Ellison, is friendly with Musk.
“We live in that world now, particularly a world that’s become so transactional in the political realm … it’s literally pay to play,” Gibney said.
Musk’s camp has threatened lawsuits over the movie. Gibney responded through his personal account and a profile called @muskfilmfacts. The account seeks to dispel false claims.
Gibney wrote on X that the film portrays a “free-speech absolutist” who threatened court action. The director previously helmed “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.”
“We also have a lawyer who’s really, really good,” Gibney said. “Because, of course, we vet this stuff very carefully.”
Production and Interviews
Gibney spent nearly four years working on the project. The documentary charts Musk’s rise in Silicon Valley through SpaceX, Tesla and DOGE. DOGE overhauled the federal workforce last year.
The film runs nearly four hours. It features interviews with family members, including father Errol Musk. The lineup also includes his first wife, journalists, associates and government officials.
Musk endorsed Donald Trump after the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. That event prompted Gibney to expand the runtime beyond two hours.
“I started out doing the film because it was about 21st century power,” Gibney said.
Musk declined to sit for an interview. The crew used artificial intelligence to sync his archival words to a digital model.
The project highlights text messages provided by Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of his children. In the texts, Musk wrote he had “10,000 lasers in space right now.”
The line drew criticism from Musk supporters over satellite claims. Neither the film nor St. Clair make accusations about election interference.
St. Clair provided audio of Musk associate Jared Birchall negotiating an agreement. She said parental support was tied to a non-disclosure pact. St. Clair said she turned down $40 million to speak freely.
Screenings and Distribution
The documentary is now playing in New York and Los Angeles. Gibney noted the crew assembled a six-hour version before cutting it down. He raised questions about citizen data gathered during Musk’s DOGE service.
“I hope that people will look at some of the stuff that we present in the film and then take it further,” Gibney said.
Venice hosts annual international cinema showcases where global distributors preview non-fiction titles. The Italian festival serves as an opening platform for releases seeking worldwide distribution.
Gibney said viewers with an interest in the businessman should still view the work. “If you’re intrigued by the guy, and even if you have some affection and admiration for his accomplishments, I would hope you go see it,” Gibney said.
