Universal sets international release dates for Alex Gibney's 'Musk' documentary
Universal Pictures International has set release dates for Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk' in the UK, Germany, Spain, France and Australia, after questions about its overseas rollout.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Universal Pictures International has set international release dates for Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk': the UK on Jan. 15, Germany on Jan. 21, Spain on Feb. 5, France on Feb. 17 and Australia on Feb. 25. VarietyLC “it hits cinemas on Jan. 15, followed by Germany on Jan. 21, Spain on Feb. 5, France on Feb. 17 and Australia on Feb. 25” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “with the UK on Jan. 15, Germany on Jan. 21, Spain on Feb. 5, France on Feb. 17 February and Australia on Feb. 25” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Dates for other territories are still to be announced. VarietyLC “Other territory release dates are to follow.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “More release dates abroad will be announced.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The film runs about 3 hours 45 minutes according to Variety, while Deadline calls it a four-hour documentary. VarietyLC “which comes in at a hefty 3 hours and 45 minutes” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “controversial four-hour documentary Musk” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2In the US, Bleecker Street released the film on Oct. 9; Deadline reports it had taken $730K through Wednesday. DeadlineN “opening on Oct. 9 and through Wednesday counted $730K” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “The international rollout follows the documentary's U.S. theatrical release through Bleecker Street in October.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1The announcement follows comments by Gibney to the New York Times that the studio had wavered over its international plans; asked why, he said: "Were they concerned that in this political environment, a film about the world's richest man was problematic? Maybe, but you have to ask them." VarietyLC “Gibney said that the studio had wavered over its international release plans for the film”“Maybe, but you have to ask them.” Read at Variety ↗ Centre · 1Deadline says that after Universal acquired foreign rights there was buzz of cold feet, but a Universal spokesperson told it the studio had no plans to ditch the film. DeadlineN “A Uni spokesperson at the time told us that they had no plans to ditch the movie.” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 1Deadline also rejects reports that US theatres pulled the film under pressure from Elon Musk, saying it opened in 4 theatres, expanded to 472 in its second weekend and fell to 63 in its third, and that films not doing business get pulled. DeadlineN “Some media of late was trying to stir up trouble that theaters were pulling Musk due to pressure from Elon Musk, and well, that’s just not true.”“platformed to 472 in its second weekend, and dropped to 63 in its third” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline adds that the film is ultimately bound for HBO, where awards voters can see it. DeadlineN “Musk is ultimately bound for HBO since it’s an HBO documentary where it will be able to be seen by awards voters.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Variety says the film has come under legal threats from Musk, who called it a "hit piece" and said Gibney "has ZERO integrity"; Deadline notes Musk had called Gibney "a douche" on X before shooting. VarietyLC “has come under legal threats from the SpaceX founder”“has ZERO integrity” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “calling the filmmaker “a douche” on X” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2The film premiered at Venice and has played Toronto and the BFI London Film Festival; its festival tour continues with Lisbon, IDFA in Amsterdam and Stockholm later this month. DeadlineN “The pic world premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival.” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “upcoming stops at the Lisbon Film Festival, IDFA in Amsterdam and the Stockholm Film Festival later this month” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the dates as following questions about the studio's commitment, foregrounding Gibney's remarks and Musk's hostility.
- Emphasis
- Gibney's New York Times comments, Musk's insults and legal threats, and Variety's own praise of the film.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give US box office or theatre counts, or Universal's denial of plans to drop the film.
- Charged language
- “hit piece”“lacerating and important watch”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Trade-news framing that pushes back on the narrative of political pressure, explaining theatre drops as ordinary box-office logic.
- Emphasis
- US box office figures, theatre counts, the HBO destination, and Deadline's earlier scoop on Universal taking foreign rights.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Gibney's New York Times comments or Musk's legal threats.
- Charged language
- “controversial”“finally”“trying to stir up trouble”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Universal Pictures International set release dates of Jan. 15 (UK), Jan. 21 (Germany), Feb. 5 (Spain), Feb. 17 (France) and Feb. 25 (Australia).
- More territories will be announced later.
- The US release came through Bleecker Street in October.
- The festival tour continues with Lisbon, IDFA and Stockholm this month.
Where accounts differ
-
Why the overseas rollout was delayed and whether theatres dropped the film under pressure
- Left
- Variety relays Gibney's suggestion that the studio may have worried about the political environment, and notes legal threats from Musk.
- Centre
- Deadline says claims that theatres pulled the film under Musk's pressure are 'just not true' and attributes the drop to a four-hour documentary's weak theatrical business; it cites Universal saying it had no plans to ditch the film.
Universal Pictures organisation
Universal set the dates; per Deadline, a spokesperson earlier said it had no plans to ditch the film.
“A Uni spokesperson at the time told us that they had no plans to ditch the movie.” — Deadline
Alex Gibney person
Gibney said the studio wavered over its international plans and suggested political concerns as a possible reason, while saying Universal should be asked.
“Maybe, but you have to ask them.” — Variety
Left1 article
-
‘Musk’ Doc Gets International Release Dates After Questions About Overseas Rollout
Sympathetic Presents the release dates against questions over the studio's resolve, quotes Gibney and Musk, and praises the film.
Centre1 article
-
Universal Sets International Rollout Of Alex Gibney Documentary ‘Musk’
Dismissive Treats the dates as settling the matter and dismisses reports of pressure-driven theatre pulls as untrue.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Nov 16:28 First VarietyLC ‘Musk’ Doc Gets International Release Dates After Questions About Overseas Rollout
- 6 Nov 16:31 +4m DeadlineN Universal Sets International Rollout Of Alex Gibney Documentary ‘Musk’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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