Fielder's Holmes Documentary Challenges Academy's Documentary Branch
Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's film holds record-breaking critic scores, yet awards insiders question if the self-referential style will secure a Best Documentary Feature nomination.
By Giulia Marshall ·
Academy voters face a difficult choice regarding the upcoming Best Documentary Feature race. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's "You Can See Everything" follows Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes during the 34 days before she reported to prison. The film continues to capture footage after her incarceration begins. The project has generated intense industry attention, particularly after a secret screening in Telluride.
The documentary has achieved exceptional critical reception, earning a 99 on Metacritic and a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also holds a 4.7 rating on Letterboxd and a 9.4 on IMDb. If the IMDb score remains stable, the film would surpass "The Shawshank Redemption" as the highest-rated movie of all time. "You Can See Everything" also outperformed the DC film "Clayface" at the domestic box office.
Despite these numbers, history suggests the documentary branch often resists popular works. The 1994 omission of "Hoop Dreams" led the Academy to change its voting rules. More recently, Morgan Neville's "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" grossed over $22 million and won major critics awards in 2018, but missed the Oscar nomination. Neville, a previous winner for "20 Feet from Stardom," has not been nominated since, fueling a theory that the branch may overlook repeat candidates.
Fielder's presence in the frame adds another layer of complexity for voters. The film frequently questions whether Holmes is being authentic or performing for the camera. One anonymous voter described a "popularity contest element" that frustrates them, stating that the only question should be whether the team made a great documentary. For a branch that traditionally values a fly-on-the-wall approach, Fielder's visible involvement may prove difficult to sell.
Current predictions suggest the film might miss the 15-film shortlist in December. However, a strong snub could trigger a similar reaction to Ben Affleck's directing omission for "Argo." The wider Academy membership could respond by supporting the film on the best picture ballot. The preliminary voting for the shortlist in 12 categories runs from December 7 to 11. The shortlist will be announced on December 15.
Eligibility for the Oscars closes on December 31, 2026. Nominations voting will take place from January 11 to 15, 2027. The Academy will announce the official nominations on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Conan O'Brien will host the event, which airs live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET.
The Governors Awards will take place on November 15, honoring Glenn Close and Ridley Scott with honorary Oscars. These events mark the beginning of the final stretch for the 2027 awards season.
