‘Musk’ Doc Gets International Release Dates After Questions About Overseas Rollout

Universal has laid out its international rollout plans for Alex Gibey’s documentary about Elon Musk.

“Musk,” which comes in at a hefty 3 hours and 45 minutes, will begin its global release via Universal Pictures International in the U.K., where 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. Other territory release dates are to follow. The international rollout follows the documentary’s U.S. theatrical release through Bleecker Street in October.

The news comes after Gibney said that the studio had wavered over its international release plans for the film, which has come under legal threats from the SpaceX founder. In an interview with the New York Times and questioned what had happened, the director 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.”

“Musk,” which premiered in Venice and has received critical acclaim, seeks to make sense of the world’s richest man and the outsized influence he has on the world, diving deep into his shift to MAGA supporter, controversies surrounding his Occupy Mars mission and Tesla’s self-driving cars and his contentious relationships with several of the mothers of his 14 children.

Variety described it as a “lacerating and important watch, grounded in Alex Gibney’s supremely insightful but user-friendly mastery of the documentary form.”

Its subject, meanwhile, called it a “hit piece” and said “dogshit is worth more respect.” He added that Gibney “has ZERO integrity” and is a “horrible human.”

Following stops in Toronto and London, “Musk” will continue its festival tour with upcoming stops at the Lisbon Film Festival, IDFA in Amsterdam and the Stockholm Film Festival later this month.