What's your favourite Sofia Coppola film? If it's Marie Antoinette, a master document in lavish coquette aesthetics, then you'll want to get comfy and tune in because a documentary on the making of the film is on its way.
Marie Antoinette was shot entirely in the Versailles, included Coppola's cousin Jason Schwartzman in the cast, and offered up pastel-hued escapism that was good enough to eat. Just ask Coppola's old flame Quentin Tarantino, who's first impression of the set made him want "to eat the goddamn furniture".
Back in 2024, Coppola, during a profile with The New Yorker revealed that her mother, Eleanor Coppola, captured over 80 hours of behind-the-scenes footage while Marie Antoinette was being made. Eleanor, who was known to shoot footage on the set of her husband's films, carried this tradition on when Sofia began directing. And now, together with Sofia, the pair have plans to assemble the footage into a documentary. Here's what you need to know.
When is it being released?
The film has officially been acquired by MUBI as of July 2026, with official release plans and exact premiere dates to be announced later.
What is it about?
The documentary will be assembled from 80 hours of unseen, behind-the-scenes footage shot by Eleanor Coppola on the set of the 2006 film.
Is it being released for the 20th anniversary?
The documentary's release will coincides with a 20th-anniversary celebration this year. As part of this milestone, the original feature film is also going to receive a restored theatrical re-release (although sadly, not in Australia it seems). US fans will be able to head to cinemas from 2 October 2026 to view it, followed by releases in the U.K., Ireland, and France.
Is this Eleanor Coppola's first documentary film?
No, it isn't the first time Eleanor Coppola curated a film of this kind. Her documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse chronicled the many hurdles Francis Ford Coppola came up against while making Apocalypse Now, and in 2016 she made her directorial debut with Paris Can Wait and was the oldest American woman to ever do so.
