Theranos Film Sparks Debate and Oscar Hopes After Strong Box Office Debut

The experimental documentary "You Can See Everything," directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, made waves at the box office this past weekend by grossing $15 million across approximately 800 to 855 screens with more than 2,000 sold-out shows. The impressive commercial performance marks the highest-grossing opening for a non-music documentary in over two decades, positioning the film as a major cultural phenomenon.

Despite its commercial success, the film has drawn sharp criticism from former Theranos research engineer Tyler Shultz. In a recent essay published by Stat News, Shultz argued that the movie leaves out crucial context and allows disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to control the narrative. Shultz, who acted as a whistleblower and helped expose the blood-testing startup's systemic failures, stated that Holmes showed Fielder an uncompleted, future version of the medical device rather than the actual technology used during his time at the company.

Shultz also criticized the film's depiction of Holmes' living situation, noting that the modest two-bedroom condo featured in the project contrasts sharply with the luxury estates she previously shared with partner Billy Evans. Additionally, Shultz questioned the documentary's framing of the abuse Holmes allegedly suffered from her former boyfriend and COO, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, claiming Holmes used Balwani as a convenient fall guy.

Beyond the debate over its factual accuracy, "You Can See Everything" is already generating significant awards buzz. Distributor A24 is reportedly planning an aggressive Oscars campaign for the film, pushing for nominations in major categories including Best Picture, Best Director for Fielder and Oppenheim, and several technical categories such as editing, cinematography, and original score.

If nominated for Best Picture, "You Can See Everything" would make history as the first documentary ever to achieve the top Academy Award honor. The film's awards prospects are further bolstered by its near-perfect 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average 4.7-star rating on Letterboxd, making it the highest-rated film on the social media platform.

In a surprising twist, the film could also break ground in the acting categories. The second half of the documentary reveals the surprise appearance of actress Amanda Seyfried, who previously portrayed Holmes in the Hulu miniseries "The Dropout." Variety confirmed that Seyfried is eligible for Academy Awards consideration, with A24 planning to campaign for her in the Best Supporting Actress category. Christopher Abbott, who plays Billy Evans in reenactments, is also eligible for acting consideration.