Why the tech world reacts to the Elizabeth Holmes film with sharply different views
A film brings back memories
John Loeber, a San Francisco-based investor and former Limit CEO, said the film reminded him of meeting Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, at a 2019 party. Seeing their faces on screen felt uncanny, he wrote on X on Saturday.
Loeber recalled being surprised to encounter Holmes at the gathering and described the moment as a double take. He said seeing Evans in the film also caught him off guard, since he had not thought about him for years.
Industry criticism and praise
Nick White, a former software engineer who now streams on YouTube and Kick, said the documentary reminded him why he left tech. He described Holmes and Evans as fitting an archetype he believes is more common in the industry than many realize.
Songwriter Grimes praised the film as innovative and described its second half as artistic futurism. The pseudonymous X user roon, who runs a techno-optimist Substack from Silicon Valley, praised filmmaker Nathan Fielder’s talent but called the subject matter boring.
A screening and differing views
Before the film’s release, AI startup Extend rented a Manhattan movie theater for a preview attended by people from the tech world. Business Insider reporter Henry Chandonnet was there.
John Carreyrou, the former Wall Street Journal reporter whose investigation helped expose Theranos, called the film great. In a New York Times opinion piece published Sunday, he wrote about feeling jealous of Fielder and Oppenheim’s access to Holmes and described worries about his personal safety.
Key points
- The film earned $15 million in its opening weekend after its Friday theatrical release.
- Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors over Theranos blood-testing claims and has consistently denied wrongdoing.
- Reactions ranged from praise for the filmmaking to criticism of its subject matter.
- John Carreyrou praised the film and discussed access to Holmes and personal safety in a New York Times opinion piece.