Ben McKenzie Exposes Major Streaming Platforms’ Fear of Distributing His Anti-Crypto Documentary
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Ben McKenzie has revealed the primary reason why major streaming services are hesitant to acquire distribution rights for his new documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money. The controversial film examines corruption within the cryptocurrency industry and underscores the urgent need for stricter market regulation and oversight. However, the documentary’s release coincides with Donald Trump generating a staggering $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency revenue during his first year back in the White House.
Commenting on the situation, McKenzie stated: “If you’re a corporate behemoth deciding whether to acquire an independent film that you don’t strictly need, and which risks angering the Trump administration, the choice is simple. The risk calculus works against us, and they prefer to stay away from the deal entirely.”
Following its premiere in April, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money earned widespread critical acclaim—maintaining a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes—and grossed over $150,000 in its limited theatrical release, outperforming several of last year’s Academy Award nominees for Best Documentary. Despite these credentials, McKenzie feels major Hollywood studios are treating his film as taboo.
The former star of The O.C. and Gotham—who holds a degree in economics and personally self-funded the film’s $1 million production budget—has decided to bypass traditional distribution avenues rather than surrender cuts and heavy promotional fees to platforms like Amazon or Apple. Instead, he is releasing the documentary directly via Eventive, a dedicated platform for independent cinema that requires no monthly subscription, where it will be available for rent and purchase starting August 22. The digital release will feature a live Q&A session with McKenzie, his wife Morena Baccarin, and leading crypto critics and financial experts.
“The only way to make this film correctly was to remain completely independent,” McKenzie explained. “Lacking regulatory enforcement, cryptocurrencies have become a tool for money laundering and defrauding retail investors. You cannot buy a loaf of bread with Bitcoin in the real world; it is fundamentally an investment vehicle and must be regulated under securities law.”
McKenzie also criticized high-profile celebrities, including Matt Damon and Kim Kardashian, who have appeared in promotional campaigns for crypto companies, adding: “Celebrities have always endorsed products, which is fine, but crypto isn’t a consumer staple like soap or microwave meals—it’s a financial asset. You shouldn’t be pushing people toward unregulated securities without financial credentials.”
