'You Can See Everything' Sells Out Across Europe Before Opening

By Elena Vasquez

Tickets for Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's documentary "You Can See Everything" sold out in the UK a full month before its Nov. 20 opening. Chains including Picturehouse and Cineworld have added extra screenings to cope with demand, and one British distribution executive expects the film about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to make box-office history.

"I've released hundreds of films and I've not known anything like it in terms of buzz — people are just desperate to see it," the exec told Variety. "I think it's going to explode on Nov. 20. It's going to be one of, if not the biggest documentary of all time, just based on pre-bookings."

What record is in play?

Excluding concert films, Michael Moore's 2004 "Fahrenheit 9/11" remains the most successful documentary in the UK — and the most successful globally — with a box office of £6.55 million ($8.8 million), roughly $16.6 million when adjusted for inflation. Many in the industry expect "You Can See Everything," which runs nearly three hours, to surpass that figure.

A24, which is self-releasing the film in the UK, adopted a staggered strategy in the US, more than tripling its screen count in the second weekend. Variety hears the company will abandon that approach in Britain and open wide at around 500 cinemas — roughly one screening site for every 140,000 residents — to absorb pent-up demand.

The takeaway: pre-bookings alone have already pushed the film into record-prediction territory.

How is France responding?

In France, distributor Metropolitan Filmexport organized nationwide sneak previews on Dec. 1 across roughly 100 theaters. Tickets sold out within hours.

"It's crazy because we put tickets on sale on Saturday at 9 a.m., and some theaters were already sold out by noon," Metropolitan president Victor Hadida, whose slate also includes "The Debut," told Variety. "The demand is enormous and it hasn't stopped. You can see it on social media, and you can see people going to theaters asking about the film."

Metropolitan, which bought the film from A24 at Toronto shortly after its surprise Telluride premiere, will follow a progressive rollout closer to the US model: an opening in approximately 150 to 200 theaters on Dec. 30, then expansion based on demand. Hadida said the nearly three-hour running time was a key factor in scheduling the release during the Christmas holidays, when moviegoers have more time, and that the Dec. 1 previews are meant to build word of mouth — a crucial element of the film's success so far.

By Dec. 30, however, much of the world will already have seen it.

Where else does Sony open the film?

Sony, which acquired large parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America before the opening US weekend, has now set dates for all 29 of its territories, running from Nov. 19 through Dec. 9.

• Scandinavia: Sony holds the entire region and opens across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden within 48 hours from Nov. 19, with high expectations thanks to cultural and language crossover and a strong theatrical appetite for documentaries.
• Germany: Opens Dec. 3. A recent CNN article reported on a German fan who crossed the border into Poland for a preview screening; the film opens there Nov. 6.
• Other markets: India, Mexico, South Korea and Brazil are on the rollout list.

As one executive put it: "You can't sell any market short when something becomes cultural like this."

Will the filmmakers tour?

Talks are underway to fly Fielder and Oppenheim to major premieres, but one publicity insider told Variety the plans are likely "very TBC" given the film's unpredictable trajectory at home. London looks highly probable: Oppenheim was in the city in October for the London Film Festival screening of "Primetime," and both directors will attend two BAFTA screenings in the capital next week, suggesting they may stay for the premiere, though exact details remain unrevealed. Hadida added that Metropolitan hopes to bring them to Paris in December.

The mystery surrounding the film — and the spoilers it must protect — has shaped an unusual press strategy. Variety hears the standard premiere media line will likely be scrapped, with Q&As held only for awards voters, including the BAFTA sessions in London.

"It's so different to a lot of other PR plans and strategy, because you just don't want to say anything," the publicity insider said. "That's why it's all so minimal — you just want the film to speak for itself."

Hadida echoed that the restraint is deliberate. "Part of their approach is also not to reveal too much about the film, because what's important about this experience is that you discover what the film is about at the same time as the filmmakers," he said.

What gets cut in the Middle East?

One reveal that earned the film an unexpected R-rating for "graphic nudity" will not reach every audience. Due to censorship laws in the Middle East, Variety hears the scene — not critical to the film, but the source of much chatter — will have to be cut for release there.

With sold-out previews, a 29-territory rollout and a record within reach, the film's next test comes Nov. 19, when Scandinavia becomes the first Sony region to find out whether the buzz travels.