Oscar-winner Alex Gibney reveals first look at his epic 4-hour Elon Musk documentary ahead of its October 16 theater release and HBO debut.
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (Going Clear, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) has officially unveiled the first teaser trailer for Musk, his explosive four-hour investigative feature centered on tech billionaire Elon Musk. Distributed domestically by Bleecker Street and international partner Universal Pictures, the non-fiction epic had its world premiere out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2026, before heading to the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film lands in select US theaters on October 16, 2026, expanding nationwide on October 23, before making its streaming debut on HBO Max.
What Is Alex Gibney's Elon Musk Documentary About?
Spanning nearly four hours, the documentary provides a comprehensive examination of Musk's childhood in South Africa, his early tech startups like PayPal, and his rise across Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink, and his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter).
- Contrasting Perspectives: The teaser opens with a contributor hailing Musk as "the greatest capitalist in history," before quickly shifting to harsh critiques labeling him "chaotic, random, capricious," "manifestly cruel and selfish," and noting that "in a science fiction novel, he would not be a hero".
- Exploring Hidden Realities: Speaking on Deadline's Doc Talk podcast, Gibney explained his goal was to look past public hype: "The challenge is to bring something that people don't expect to find... stuff that's hiding in plain sight."
- Beyond Simple Formula: Responding to online banter on X where Musk referred to him as a "douche," Gibney stated he had no interest in delivering a black-and-white verdict, saying, "I'm not really interested in that kind of formula, douche or not".
When and Where Can You Watch the "Musk" Documentary?
Viewers will have multiple options to experience Gibney's exhaustive character study across theaters and streaming services.
- Cinema Launch: Bleecker Street presents the 225-minute theatrical cut in select US theaters on October 16, 2026, featuring a 10-minute intermission, followed by a nationwide expansion on October 23.
- Premium Television & Streaming: Following its cinema run, HBO Documentary Films will broadcast the expanded four-hour version on HBO and stream it on HBO Max.
- International Distribution: Global theatrical distribution is handled by Universal Pictures Content Group across international markets.