Want to learn more about crypto? Are you curious about all the ins and outs of cryptocurrency and whether it might be a scam? You’re in luck: a documentary for the “average Joe” will break it all down and deliver hard truths about this unregulated currency that may seem too good to be true. Ben McKenzie, that guy from The OC or, if you’re a nerd, that guy from Gotham made his directorial debut by exploring the world of cryptocurrency from its infancy to when it started crashing, and people started going to jail over it. There’s a lot of educational material out there about cryptocurrency, but for me, this is the best documentary that can explain everything because it’s coming from an average Joe. Ben McKenzie is an actor, and like other actors who have financial advisors or friends who recommend investments, crypto was recommended to him, but instead of jumping all in, he started asking questions. Now, before you think that Ben McKenzie is not a credible expert or has no business talking about cryptocurrency, he does actually have a degree in economics, but more importantly, he is an average guy asking the questions that we should all be asking. You don’t have to be a “math whiz” or a financial advisor to see that this kind of money may not be on the up and up. I love the documentary because Ben McKenzie is like me, asking the same questions with an average understanding of this kind of currency, but he does it in an insightful and comedic way that makes it easy to understand. Also, this is one of the cleverest titles I’ve ever come across for a documentary: Everyone is Lying to You for Money.
In the film, you will learn that his journey started during the pandemic when he and his wife, actress Morena Baccarin we’re stuck at home and looking for stuff to do. Most entertainers posted videos on social media and YouTube while working on other film projects…they did the best they could during the pandemic. Ben decided to do a documentary about cryptocurrency that is one of the best films of 2026, and from a film critic’s point of view, this is a film that we’re definitely going to be talking about during award season. In fact, it is one of my two favorite documentaries of the year so far. Now, beyond asking important questions like what cryptocurrency is, how it is so valuable, and why people should invest in it. Ben takes us on a journey by interviewing major players such as Corbin Keegan, Alex Mashinsky of the Celsius Network, and even Sam Bankman-Fried, the CEO of FTX, who is now in federal prison for fraud. There are lots of fascinating people he interviews for this film who give you an incredible insight into this world and how cryptocurrency took off, only to crash, and now why most people feel like it’s a fraud. This wasn’t a documentary that was done within a year; it was a 6-year journey to see the rise and fall of this currency. Yes, it’s still around, but for the most part the market has crashed, with only a few players trying to control the industry and make some kind of fake currency valuable. One of the best parts is that this documentary is only 90 minutes, so it gets right to the point about this topic.
Clearly, there’s a lot more that can be explored with the world of cryptocurrency and how this industry has risen from the ashes of major players going to prison for fraud and companies going out of business. There are certainly a lot more conversations that Ben McKenzie can have and keep exploring this issue because the world of crypto is not over, especially when the president of the United States has his own family cryptocurrency company with the ultimate power to influence the market that’s creating a huge conflict of interest. However, Ben McKenzie makes this easy to understand by asking all the right questions and putting forth the most valuable information to the public because he was asking the same questions we all have. The interviews are incredibly insightful, especially from the fraudsters of this industry who believe their own bullshit when it comes to cryptocurrency while ripping off investors. There’s also the backlash from so-called financial influencers who came down on Ben and tried to discredit him by saying that he wasn’t an expert. A guy with a degree in economics asking basic questions is more of an expert than an Internet influencer, by the way! But every great documentary starts with asking important questions and then doing the research to back up an argument, and that’s what Ben McKenzie did while coming to a natural conclusion about what cryptocurrency really is and why there are so many people who want to invest in something that’s not regulated.
Also, it is a bit of a family story because when you have two great actors who are married and could potentially invest their earnings into something like this, there are even more questions that have to be asked, but it was awesome to witness the home life of Ben and Morena. As I said, this is one of the best documentaries of the year and one that everybody should watch. I appreciate the fact that Ben McKenzie didn’t make the audience feel like we were in an economics class when trying to explain cryptocurrency, but adding humor and an intimate connection to him and his wife as they went on this journey. More importantly, Ben McKenzie sought to understand this as an average person trying to get a handle on whether cryptocurrency can make us rich or is a huge grift! I highly recommend this film, and yes, it is definitely nerd approved!
