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Fake Famous

Play trailer Poster for Fake Famous 2021 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
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.
Fake Famous

What to Know

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.

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Critics Reviews

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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

Audience Reviews

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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
Fake Famous

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Cast & Crew

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Nick Bilton

Director

Nick Bilton

Screenwriter

Nick Bilton

Producer

Annabelle Dunne

Producer

Mary Recine

Producer

Graydon Carter

Executive Producer

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Nick Bilton, Annabelle Dunne, Mary Recine
Screenwriter
Nick Bilton
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 2, 2021
Runtime
1h 27m