USA
Elon Musk Documentary Teaser Drops Ahead of Venice Premiere: A new documentary examining the life, businesses and extraordinary influence of Elon Musk has released its first teaser, offering a provocative preview of one of the year’s most anticipated films.
Titled Musk, the documentary is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney and is set to premiere out of competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The 48-second teaser was released on September 7, just ahead of the Venice screening.
The film takes a critical look at Musk’s rise from technology entrepreneur to one of the world’s most influential business figures, examining his impact on electric vehicles, space exploration, social media, artificial intelligence and politics.
From “Real-Life Iron Man” to “Unchecked Man”
The teaser begins with imagery of a SpaceX rocket launching into the sky while voices describe Musk in extraordinary terms, including as a potentially great inventor, a “real-life Iron Man” and one of the greatest builders of all time.
The mood changes dramatically as the rocket begins to lose control.
The accompanying commentary becomes increasingly critical, portraying Musk as chaotic, unpredictable and selfish before describing him as a man who has “lost his mind.” The teaser culminates with the striking phrase “Earth’s most unchecked man.”
The deliberately contrasting presentation appears designed to capture the central question of Gibney’s film: how did a technology entrepreneur celebrated as a visionary become such a polarising figure?
Musk Declined to Participate
Musk did not participate in the documentary or agree to be interviewed by Gibney.
According to Gibney, the filmmaker initially approached the project as something closer to an admiring portrait. However, as his research progressed, he said the evidence led him to question the mythology surrounding Musk and his public image. Gibney has described the resulting film as an attempt to understand Musk’s enormous power and influence rather than simply celebrate his achievements.
The documentary draws on extensive archival material and interviews with people who have known or worked alongside Musk.
Among those featured are his former wife Justine Musk, former partner Ashley St. Clair, Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard, journalists Kara Swisher and Zoë Schiffer, and computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, according to the official Venice programme.
A Four-Hour Examination of Musk’s Empire
At approximately 225 minutes, plus a 10-minute intermission, Musk is an unusually ambitious documentary in length as well as subject matter. The official Venice programme lists Alex Gibney as director and screenwriter, with Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media, Anonymous Content and Double Agent among the production companies.
The documentary explores the transformation of Musk from a celebrated technology entrepreneur associated with electric vehicles and private spaceflight into a figure whose influence extends across technology, media and politics.
Tesla helped accelerate the global electric-vehicle movement, SpaceX transformed perceptions of private spaceflight, Starlink expanded satellite internet connectivity, and Musk’s acquisition of Twitter—subsequently renamed X—placed him directly at the centre of global debates about social media and free speech.
His growing political involvement has added another dimension to his public profile.
Music Adds Another Layer
The film also features original music associated with David Byrne, adding a distinctive artistic dimension to Gibney’s examination of Musk and his public persona.
Rather than presenting a conventional corporate biography, the documentary appears structured as a broader examination of the relationship between technology, wealth, power, politics and personality.
From Silicon Valley Visionary to Global Power Broker
One of the film’s central themes is Musk’s transformation over the past two decades.
He was once closely associated with the emerging clean-technology movement and was widely celebrated for promoting electric vehicles and commercial space exploration. Today, his influence extends far beyond those industries.
Through Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X and his wider technology interests, Musk has accumulated an extraordinary combination of corporate, financial, technological and media influence.
His involvement in American politics has further intensified public debate surrounding his role and reach.
Venice Launch Puts Musk Under the Spotlight
The documentary’s Venice premiere places Musk’s story firmly within the international film and cultural conversation.
The official festival programme lists Musk as a Venice Out of Competition selection, with public screenings scheduled on September 8 and 9.
The film is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on October 16, 2026, with a longer HBO version planned for 2027.
For Gibney, the film represents a substantial undertaking: an attempt to understand not simply how Musk became one of the world’s most powerful entrepreneurs, but how his personal worldview, business strategy and political engagement have shaped his extraordinary influence.
For Musk, meanwhile, the documentary represents something he has largely been unable to control: a portrait of his life and power assembled by others, without his participation.
