Elon Musk speaking on stage at a tech event
TV & Film

Elon Musk Documentary Trailer Teases a Dark Turn in Alex Gibney's Massive 4-Hour Epic

The Venice-bound doc 'Musk' starts with Iron Man praise before confronting the billionaire's unchecked power and extreme narcissism.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

A dramatic new look at tech titan Elon Musk is officially on the horizon. Ahead of its global debut at the Venice International Film Festival, the production behind the hot-button biographical film released its very first trailer. Titled simply *Musk*, the documentary is directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney and boasts a staggering runtime of 235 minutes—clocking in at nearly four full hours. The newly unveiled teaser builds its imagery around a SpaceX rocket launch. As the spacecraft soars into the atmosphere, the trailer plays early archival soundbites and media commentary raving about the billionaire's potential. Voiceovers describe him as a next-generation thinker, one of the greatest capitalists in history, and the ultimate real-life inspiration for Iron Man. ## What happens in the Alex Gibney Elon Musk documentary trailer? The glowing celebration doesn't last long. As the rocket begins to shake and wobble in mid-air, the documentary shifts focus to a much darker narrative. The audio commentary flips from awe to alarm, bringing up claims of intense narcissism, staggering wealth, and dangerous, unchecked authority. According to reports surrounding the project, Gibney didn't initially set out to make a scathing takedown. The filmmaker reportedly began the undertaking as a relatively standard profile of Musk back when he was primarily viewed as a Silicon Valley tech wonk. However, as the director continued following the mogul's rapidly expanding footprint, a far more alarming picture emerged. ## Who is director Alex Gibney? The documentary reportedly captures how the billionaire began channeling his immense financial capital and technological dominance toward far more troubling ends. Rather than staying a simple innovator, the film chronicles how he embedded his influence into critical global systems. The ambitious scope aligns directly with Gibney’s signature investigative style. The Academy Award-winning director is famously behind some of the most scathing documentary exposes in modern cinema. His past filmography includes major projects like *Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief*, *The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley*, and *Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room*. With early reviews expected to drop immediately following its premiere in Venice, *Musk* is positioning itself as one of the year's most talked-about non-fiction films.

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People also ask

How long is Alex Gibney's documentary about Elon Musk?
The documentary, titled Musk, features a total runtime of 235 minutes, making it nearly four hours long.
Where is the new Elon Musk documentary premiering?
The documentary is set to make its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
What other documentaries has director Alex Gibney made?
Alex Gibney is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for directing Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.