Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim Open to $15 Million
Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s A24 documentary “You Can See Everything” opened to a staggering $15 million over its debut weekend in theaters, capturing a box office figure that most nonfiction features never reach during their entire theatrical run, Variety reported. The film follows Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes through the 34 days leading up to her prison surrender and continues filming past that date.
The documentary holds a 99 on Metacritic, a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 4.7 out of 5 on Letterboxd, and a 9.4 on IMDb as of Monday, Oct. 19. If the IMDb rating holds, it will surpass “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994) as the highest-rated film of all time.
Academy Awards Submissions and Eligibility Challenges
A24 plans to submit the documentary across the board for the 99th Academy Awards. Beyond the expected bid for best documentary feature, the studio’s awards site lists submissions for best picture, director for Fielder and Oppenheim, production design for Alex DiGerlando and Rebecca Meis, cinematography for David Bolen, costume design for Katina Danabassis, film editing for Adam Locke-Norton, makeup and hairstyling for Stephanie Pasicov and Kerrie Smith, sound for Paul Hsu and Richard Carlos, and original score for Ari Balouzian.
Variety confirmed exclusively that Amanda Seyfried is eligible for Academy Awards consideration in the acting categories. Credited in the film as Elizabeth Holmes, Seyfried reprises her Emmy-winning portrayal from “The Dropout” while also appearing as herself in recreated scenes. The awards campaign will center on Seyfried in the supporting actress category. Christopher Abbott, who portrays Holmes’ spouse Billy Evans in recreated scenes, is also eligible for supporting actor consideration, according to sources close to the campaign. Fielder, credited as himself, could theoretically be eligible in the lead actor race, though no actor has ever been nominated for playing themself.
Guild Rules Create Divided Voting Roads
While the Academy Awards allow for expansive submissions, the wider awards circuit presents conflicting rules for a documentary that incorporates narrative recreations. The Golden Globes do not recognize documentaries under their current written rules, which blocks entries for best picture, director, and Seyfried. However, sources indicate the group may consider the acting performances for this upcoming run, though how it would categorize the film—drama or comedy/musical—remains undecided.
The Critics Choice Awards allow submissions across the board, including acting categories, making it the primary precursor where the performances can compete before Oscar nominations. The ceremony formerly known as the SAG Awards does not recognize documentaries because they are not traditional narrative films, though a committee is reviewing the film for potential exceptions. The Writers Guild of America ruled the film ineligible because it lacks a credited screenplay. Conversely, the Directors Guild of America deems Fielder and Oppenheim eligible for its top feature film award alongside the documentary prize, putting them in contention against traditional narrative directors.
Frequently Asked Questions About You Can See Everything
How much did You Can See Everything make in its opening weekend?
The A24 documentary opened to $15 million over its first weekend in theaters, a box office milestone that exceeds the total theatrical earnings of most nonfiction films.
What acting categories are Amanda Seyfried and Christopher Abbott targeting?
Amanda Seyfried will be campaigned in the supporting actress category for playing both Elizabeth Holmes and herself, while Christopher Abbott is eligible for supporting actor for playing Billy Evans in recreated scenes.
Which major awards bodies exclude the film based on current rules?
The Golden Globes, the Actor Awards (formerly SAG), and the Writers Guild of America currently exclude documentaries from their major categories, though some groups are weighing potential exceptions for the acting performances.