You might know Ben McKenzie for his part in The OC, but it’s more likely you had seen him on Southland. What you might not know is that he attended University of Virginia and left with an undergraduate degree in foreign affairs and economics. More recently he has been trying to raise the alarm about cryptocurrency. So much so that he created a documentary, cataloguing his grievances and experience exposing very real vulnerabilities. His new film is called Everybody is Lying to You for Money…a very appropriate title when discussing cryptocurrency.
This documentary is an overview of what seems like a made-up currency to avoid regulation and how it is a scam so detrimental it’s spread seems unstoppable. Not only because so many people are losing money on it, but because there is no stability or accountability; all of which is provided by an actual dollar. He takes you through is experiences speaking with people who are considered pillars in the crypto community as well as his appearance before congress.
The story is easy to follow and very entertaining. It is definitely one that needs attention and should be heard. For those who don’t know much about cryptocurrency and block chains, this film is a good learning tool as Ben McKenzie takes you through how it all works for average person. Ben set out to explore the issues surrounding crypto by asking the questions we all have, and it is highly informative.
The cinematography isn’t anything special, but it works, and it works well. There are discreet moments caught covertly and family moments caught quietly. Even outright moments that are just as blunt as the material they are recording. Overall, this is a great documentary with a lot of great information. It’s an Oscar-worthy film and deserves to be in the discussion this award season. I think it’s definitely worth a watch with consideration. This is an 8 and one of the must-see documentaries of 2026
