Elon Musk Documentary Drops a Trailer That Refuses to Choose a Side.
The first teaser for Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary “Musk” has arrived, and it immediately signals one thing: this film won’t be taking the easy route. Instead of presenting Elon Musk as either a visionary hero or a destructive force, the trailer leans fully into the contradictions that define one of the most polarizing figures of our time.
Elon Musk Documentary Teaser Asks If Billionaire Is the 'Greatest Living Inventor' or a 'Fascist' Who 'Has Lost His Mind' https://t.co/mjvfzFI5IO
— Variety (@Variety) September 7, 2026
A Teaser Built on Contradictions
The 48‑second clip layers sharply contrasting voices over dramatic footage of rocket launches. Some call Musk “the greatest living inventor” and “the real-life Iron Man.” Others describe him as “chaotic, capricious, cruel, selfish,” and even “a fascist.”
It ends with a stark image: a spacecraft crashing and erupting into flames, accompanied by the line “Elon is a nuke.” The message is clear — Musk’s public image is a battleground, and Gibney intends to show every side of it.
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Gibney Takes on Another Giant
Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney, known for dissecting powerful institutions and controversial figures, seems uniquely suited to tackle Musk. His previous films on Scientology, Enron, and the Catholic Church established him as a filmmaker who doesn’t shy away from complexity.
“Musk” continues that tradition — and at nearly four hours long, it’s one of his most ambitious projects yet.
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Festival Debut and Cultural Weight
The documentary will premiere out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival, followed by a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Adding to its cultural heft, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne contributes an original song titled “Let Me Sell You a Dream.” U.S. theatrical distribution will be handled by Bleecker Street.
Musk vs. Gibney: A Tense Dynamic
Musk has already criticized the project, predicting it would be a “hit piece” when Gibney announced it back in 2023. Gibney publicly rejected that claim, insisting the film aims to capture the full spectrum of public perception rather than deliver a predetermined verdict.
That tension between subject and filmmaker adds another layer of intrigue — and likely ensures the documentary will be widely discussed.
A Documentary That Mirrors the Moment
Rather than offering a neat conclusion, “Musk” appears designed to reflect the messy reality of how Musk is viewed today. For some, he’s a genius inventor. For others, a cautionary tale. For many, he’s both at once.
The film seems to embrace that ambiguity, suggesting that the truth about Musk depends largely on what viewers bring with them into the theater.
One of the Year’s Most Anticipated Nonfiction Films
With festival premieres just days away, “Musk” is already generating significant buzz. Regardless of whether audiences walk away admiring or condemning its subject, the documentary is poised to become one of the most talked‑about releases of the year.