A new documentary offering an intimate look at Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of the fraught biotech company Theranos, has sparked varied reactions since its release in the United States this month. The film, titled *You Can See Everything*, presents a markedly different portrayal of Holmes, focusing on her role as a mother and partner in the period leading up to her incarceration.
Holmes, once celebrated as a Silicon Valley prodigy, founded Theranos in 2003 with the promise of revolutionizing blood testing through a portable device that required only a finger prick of blood. At its peak, Theranos was valued at $9 billion, but investigations revealed the technology was flawed and unreliable. Following legal battles and the revocation of the company’s certifications, Theranos was liquidated in 2018. Holmes and her former partner Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani were convicted of defrauding investors and sentenced to prison terms.
The documentary, which debuted in U.S. cinemas on October 16 and is scheduled for UK release on November 20, was filmed over several months in Holmes’s home in Del Mar, California. Filmmaker Nathan Fielder was reportedly given extensive behind-the-scenes access, with crews living on the property to capture her daily life. Unlike previous depictions that highlighted Holmes’s public persona marked by confidence and style, the film emphasizes her private life as a mother, illustrating emotional moments with her young children and displaying vulnerability not previously seen.
Reactions from former Theranos employees featured in the film have been mixed. Gage Clegg, the company’s former creative director, described feeling unsettled by the documentary, disputing the suggestion that Holmes was unaware of the extent of her wrongdoing. Patrick O’Neill, who served as chief creative officer until 2017, expressed surprise at the different side of Holmes presented but acknowledged her ability to persuade people around her.
Legal professionals who dealt with Holmes during Theranos’s downfall commented on her demeanor. San Francisco attorney Reed Kathrein described her as “chameleon-like,” capable of projecting innocence and unwavering composure under pressure. Others, such as inventor Joseph Fuisz, who was sued by Holmes in 2011 over patent claims, criticized the film’s apparent effort to elicit sympathy, calling it a “colossal misstep” given the prior harm caused.
Brad Arington, Theranos’s former in-house lawyer, noted that while the film showed a familiar version of Holmes, he doubted any rebranding attempt would change public perception, asserting that Holmes has always been “performing.” Some observers interpret the documentary as a possible platform for Holmes to promote her new business ventures, including a company called Haemanthus.
The film also highlights Holmes’s emotional struggles, depicting moments where she confesses to feeling unable to express vulnerability publicly before her sentencing, which began in 2023 at a Texas minimum-security facility. Critics and former insiders remain skeptical of the narrative presented in the documentary, suggesting it may be an attempt to recast her image amid ongoing controversies.
*You Can See Everything* continues to draw significant audience attention, having grossed $15 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. and generating considerable pre-release demand in the UK. The film provides a new lens on a widely publicized corporate scandal, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the personal life of one of Silicon Valley’s most notorious figures.