For many of us, Ben McKenzie will forever be associated with the brooding Ryan Atwood from The O.C.. But in the years since leaving Newport Beach, McKenzie’s career has taken an unexpected turn.
After roles in series like Gotham and Southland, the actor has stepped into the world of investigative journalism with Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, a new documentary examining the rise of — and many scandals associated with — cryptocurrency. The film marks McKenzie’s directorial debut and expands on the reporting he began while co-writing his book about the crypto boom and its culture of exploitation.
For anyone curious about the murky world McKenzie is investigating, here’s where you can watch it.
Where can you watch it?
Everyone Is Lying to You for Money is not currently available to purchase or stream online, besides a special one-off live stream event (which you can read more about below). We'll keep you updated when that happens.
The film first premiered at SXSW London in 2025 before appearing at a number of other documentary-focused festivals, including Mill Valley Film Festival and DOC NYC, and is still currently touring the festival circuit.
It's also aired at Miami Film Festival on April 11, with Mackenzie making an appearance for an extended conversation following the screening.
International distribution for the documentary has been acquired by The Forge, and a cinema release kicked off on 17 April 2026.
In New York, it's screening at the IFC Film Center and Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn. And in LA, it's currently showing at AMC Burbank Town Center 8, and Laemmle Royal.
In Australia, we're expecting Everyone Is Lying to You for Money to pop up at independent cinemas across the country. In Sydney, cinemas such as Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace and Golden Age Cinema are known for their documentary and festival programming, so keep an eye out for their new releases.
There is a live streaming event taking place in August
On August 23 at 8am GMT+10 (which is August 23 at 6pm AEST for those of us in Australia), a special live stream of Everyone Is Lying to You for Money will take place online, followed by a virtual Q&A with Ben McKenzie, actress Morena Baccarin, and other "special celebrity guests".
It costs $19.98 USD (or around $28 AUD) to take part, and while you won't be able to pause or rewind during the livestream, you will have access to an on demand broadcast afterwards until September 6 (with 48 hours to watch once you hit play). You can register here.
What is Everyone Is Lying to You for Money about?
If the title wasn't a giveaway, in Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, McKenzie trades acting for reporting, taking a closer look at the culture that fuelled the cryptocurrency boom. The film explores how online hype, celebrity endorsements and internet culture has helped turn digital coins into a financial phenomenon almost overnight, while also creating a system that many critics argue was built on speculation.
The film features interviews with journalists, insiders and industry sceptics in its attempt to unpack how crypto’s promise of financial revolution evolved into a series of market collapses, scandals and unanswered questions.
Watch the trailer
