Ben McKenzie directs and stars in this 2026 documentary, where he turns investigator to pull back the curtain on the cryptocurrency industry, exposing its culture of hype, misinformation, and speculation. What is the title of this film?

The film you're referring to, where actor Ben McKenzie delves into the opaque world of cryptocurrency as an investigative director and star, is titled Everyone Is Lying to You for Money. McKenzie, widely recognized for his acting roles in shows like "The O.C." and "Gotham," brings a unique perspective to this documentary, having majored in economics at the University of Virginia. His journey into the complexities of digital currencies began during the pandemic, evolving into a deep dive that exposed the industry's culture of hype, misinformation, and speculation.

Everyone Is Lying to You for Money expands upon McKenzie's 2023 book, "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud," which he co-authored with journalist Jacob Silverman. The documentary chronicles McKenzie's quest to understand crypto, taking him from Miami to London to El Salvador, and features interviews with both victims and prominent figures in the industry, including the now-disgraced Sam Bankman-Fried, whom McKenzie spoke with months before his arrest.

The film serves as a stark cautionary tale, highlighting how the promise of financial freedom in the cryptocurrency space often devolves into a volatile ecosystem rife with fraud and reckless gambling, leading to devastating consequences for everyday people. Through firsthand reporting and expert interviews, McKenzie aims to pull back the curtain on how crypto became an aggressively marketed financial product, often with warning signs ignored or deliberately obscured. The documentary, which premiered at SXSW London in 2025 and saw a wider cinema release on April 17, 2026, ultimately questions who truly benefits from the chaos and who is left to bear the losses.