Fake Famous

2021

1 hr. 27 min.

Documentary

List

73%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Fake Famous explores the meaning of fame and influence in the digital age through an innovative social experiment. Following three Los Angeles-based people with relatively small followings, the film explores the attempts made to turn them into famous influencers by purchasing fake followers and bots to “engage” with their social media accounts. First-time director and veteran journalist Nick Bilto and his team kick off the experiment with a casting call in Los Angeles. The young trio he selects — aspiring actress Dominique, fashion designer Chris and real estate assistant Wylie — in return have wildly different experiences as their fake followers grow by the thousands each day. Peeling back the layers to reveal what’s really happening behind the scenes of influencer fame, the film highlights our obsession with the number of likes, followers, and favorites we get and how most of our online world is more fabricated than we realize.

Read More

Read Less

Critics Consensus

Fake Famous' presentation can smack of as much artifice as its subjects, but audiences who wonder about the reality behind a pristine selfie will find a lot of revelation in this exposé.

Read Critics Reviews

david f

This was a very entertaining and up-to-the-minute take on the Influencer Phenomenon but I have read some critiques of it which made me think twice about the seeming disdain the filmmakers has for Influencers.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Rich S

This would be akin to doing a movie on people who went on to become policemen, firemen and astronauts in the 1980s -- and we've seen how that turned out. Nick Bilton has some things to say about influencers and, as a nearing-60-year-old man who is completely unaffected by these people (directly, anyway) I learned some things. Most importantly, I think Bilton did, too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Brilliant and terrifying.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I found this film to be engaging in a disturbing and real way. I honestly had no idea how fake the whole social media thing was, I knew it was not exactly real life, but not in the way that the film depicted it. I was captivated from the beginning, I thought it was filmed in a real way, but in a way that kept me engaged and it was very thought provoking. I was impressed with the way that the director handled the 3 different personalities, I found Dominique to be the most endearing and interesting of the 3. It was also a beautiful film to look at and I enjoyed the way that the director talked right to us and narrated much of it. Eye opening and a great informative film. I would highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great Documentary!!!!! I found it so interesting and learned so much about the influencer business and related industries. I really enjoyed seeing how differently the 3 participants handled themselves through the project and found the photo shoot scenes very entertaining. The interviews with the professionals in the industry were very informative and contributed to the film's credibility. I think it is a must see for anyone who uses social media!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Superb! Wonderful film. So eye-opening and entertaining. 5 stars!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Nick Bilton

Director

Nick Bilton

Screenwriter

Nick Bilton

Producer

Annabelle Dunne

Producer

Mary Recine

Producer

Graydon Carter

Executive Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

90%

73%

Hysterical

TRAILER

for Hysterical

67%

%

Fantastic Machine

100%

94%

Future People: The Family of Donor 5114

TRAILER

for Future People: The Family of Donor 5114

100%

%

The Kids

89%

13%

Bama Rush

TRAILER

for Bama Rush

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Carol Midgley

Times (UK)

Occasionally the film, with its buzzy vibe, felt as superficial as the industry it was sending up. However, it was entertaining.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 2, 2021

Full Review

Brad Newsome

Sydney Morning Herald

There's a lot more to the illusion, and the documentary is particularly fascinating when it shows the tricks influencers use - such as paying to take selfies in a fake private-jet interior that's booked out days in advance.

Feb 24, 2021

Full Review

Judy Berman

TIME Magazine

A new documentary argues the obvious: that influencer culture is soulless. What's harder, and what would have made for a more worthwhile film, is to explain why such vapidity appeals to young people

Feb 6, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

Slickly made, perkily toned... even if there's little that's overly new here for anyone with an ongoing interest in or knowledge of the subject.

Apr 3, 2021

Full Review

Allen Adams

The Maine Edge

As a social experiment, Fake Famous is a mixed bag. As a documentary, it's a success. Anyone interested in this world and the way it works will find this film plenty engaging. Bilton and company are doing it for the 'Gram.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Gorr

The Spool

It's largely the most insightful look at influencers and an excellent primer on who they are and why they exist at all. The answer isn't quite as simple as you think, and that's exactly why this is a must-watch.

Feb 4, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Fake Famous explores the meaning of fame and influence in the digital age through an innovative social experiment. Following three Los Angeles-based people with relatively small followings, the film explores the attempts made to turn them into famous influencers by purchasing fake followers and bots to “engage” with their social media accounts. First-time director and veteran journalist Nick Bilto and his team kick off the experiment with a casting call in Los Angeles. The young trio he selects — aspiring actress Dominique, fashion designer Chris and real estate assistant Wylie — in return have wildly different experiences as their fake followers grow by the thousands each day. Peeling back the layers to reveal what’s really happening behind the scenes of influencer fame, the film highlights our obsession with the number of likes, followers, and favorites we get and how most of our online world is more fabricated than we realize.

Director: Nick Bilton
Executive Producer: Graydon Carter, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller
Screenwriter: Nick Bilton
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 2, 2021