IShowSpeed Joins Obamas' Higher Ground to Bring 'The Eyes of Ghana' to Theaters

IShowSpeed will help bring Ben Proudfoot's documentary "The Eyes of Ghana" to more than a few hundred screens for one night only on Oct. 28. Regal, AMC, Cinemark, select chains and independent cinemas have all signed on, Variety revealed exclusively. The partners are Breakwater Studios and Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground.

The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It follows Ghanaian cinematographer Chris Hesse, who — as his eyesight declines — attempts to rescue more than 1,000 films capturing Africa's fight for independence in the 1950s and '60s. The tapes were hidden for decades after the 1996 overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president and a leader of the African liberation movement. That is a national archive sitting in the dark, and one man racing his own eyes to retrieve it.

What did IShowSpeed say about the film?

The streamer, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., didn't do understatement. "It is a great honor to be part of 'The Eyes of Ghana' and help bring this extraordinary piece of history to the big screen," he said. "I felt a profound connection to Ghana when I visited this year, and learning about Chris Hesse's work deepened my understanding of the country and its people."

He went further on Hesse himself: "His camera captured the birth of African independence, and his determination to preserve those images has ensured that future generations can witness it for themselves. I'm humbled by his legacy and proud to help bring his story to my community."

That community is not small. The Cincinnati native counts more than 200 million followers and subscribers across streaming and social platforms. His content runs to gaming, sports, stunts and travel, delivered at an energy level that makes traditional film marketing look like a public-access chess program. He was named to the inaugural TIME100 Creators list and ranked No. 1 on Rolling Stone's 2025 Most Influential Creators list.

Is this the new playbook for theatrical releases?

The pairing follows a proven pattern: digital creators mobilizing audiences into theaters. In January, YouTuber Mark Fischbach — Markiplier to his fans — directed, starred in and self-distributed the sci-fi horror film "Iron Lung." Fans called theater chains to demand screenings, then showed up on release day. The film opened to $17 million and finished with $50 million worldwide against a $3 million budget. Roughly a 16-to-1 return, for those keeping score at home.

"Chris Hesse spent more than six decades documenting and safeguarding an extraordinary chapter of Ghanaian and African history," said Ethan Lewis, head of non-fiction at Higher Ground. "Higher Ground is proud to partner with IShowSpeed, Ben Proudfoot and Breakwater Studios and this accomplished team of artists to bring this remarkable story to theaters on Oct. 28th. 'The Eyes of Ghana' speaks to the power of film to preserve our collective memory, and to the responsibility we share in making sure these stories reach the next generation."

The producing team includes Proudfoot, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Moses Bwayo, Anita Afonu, Brandon Somerhalder, Lewis and Vinnie Malhotra. Executive producers include Barack and Michelle Obama, Sir John Akomfrah, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Paula Madison, Dan and Lian Gill, Max Johnson, Jonathan E. Lim, Michael Risley, Josh Rosenberg, David Treatman and Esther Wojcicki.

Tickets and local showtimes are at TheEyesOfGhana.com. If even a fraction of 200 million followers buys a ticket, Oct. 28 will tell us something about who can open a film in 2025.

By Daniel Okafor