With a magical new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, Elizabeth Holmes became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then, overnight, her 10-billion-dollar company dissolved. The rise and fall of Theranos is a window into the psychology of fraud.

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley poster

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)

Visionary. Billionaire. Fraud?

★ 7/10 January 24, 2019 119 min

Documentary

Director: Alex Gibney  ·  Writer: Alex Gibney

With a magical new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, Elizabeth Holmes became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then, overnight, her 10-billion-dollar company dissolved. The rise and fall of Theranos is a window into the psychology of fraud.

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Trailer

Director

Alex Gibney Alex Gibney

Cast

Elizabeth Holmes Elizabeth Holmes Self - CEO and Founder of Theranos (archive footage) Alex Gibney Alex Gibney Self - Narrator / Interviewer Dan Ariely Dan Ariely Self - Behavioral Economist Roger Parloff Roger Parloff Self - Fortune Ken Auletta Ken Auletta Self - The New Yorker Erika Cheung Erika Cheung Self - Lab Associate Cheryl Gafner Cheryl Gafner Self - Receptionist Dave Philippides Dave Philippides Self - Engineer Douglas Matje Douglas Matje Self - Biochemist Ryan Wistort Ryan Wistort Self - Research & Development Tony Nugent Tony Nugent Self - Vice President, Product Development Phyllis Gardner Phyllis Gardner Self - Professor of Medicine, Stanford University

User Reviews (1)

TheFilmCritics.org
TheFilmCritics.org October 18, 2026
★ 6/10

The most dangerous lies are often the ones people desperately want to believe, and few corporate scandals illustrate that better than the story told in *The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley*. Director Alex Gibney’s documentary examines the spectacular rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, whose promises of revolutionary blood-testing technology captivated investors, business leaders, and the media. It’s a fascinating story of ambition, deception, and misplaced trust, and one that practically begs to be turned into a documentary. Fortunately, there’s plenty here to hold your attention, even if the film doesn’t quite do the subject justice. One of the documentary’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Holmes herself. With her carefully cultivated public image, deep voice, black turtlenecks, and almost messianic confidence, she emerges as a comp…