Drafthouse Films is teaming up with Kanopy to release Alex Winter’s documentary The Youtube Effect, that takes a critical look at the way YouTube has grown and embedded itself into our lives.

The Youtube Effect premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, and will open exclusively with Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas July 7th before expanding to theaters nationwide July 14th, followed by its debut on Kanopy and other digital platforms.

The feature documentary from Winter (Bill & Ted Franchise, Showbiz Kids, The Panama Papers, Zappa), explores the ascension and acceleration of YouTube, a video-sharing website that started with humble origins and has gone on to change how we experience the world. With exclusive access to some of YouTube’s biggest stars, the film presents an eye-opening and troubling look at the platform now so powerfully embedded in our lives.

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Drafthouse Films and Kanopy on our release”, said Winter. “The unparalleled scale of Google’s YouTube has significant and problematic implications worldwide, and has received much less attention than its competitors.”

Those featured in the doc include: Caleb Cain, Steve Chen, Hany Farid, Carrie Goldberg, Ian Hecox, Loann Kaji, Ryan Kaji, Shion Kaji, Talia Lavin, Dave Lauer, Becca Lewis, Anthony Padilla, Andy Parker, Nitasha Tiku Tyler, Susan Wojcicki, Brianna Wu, Natalie Wynn and Jillian C. York.

The documentary features an innovative electronic score from Emmy-nominated composer Paul Haslinger. Node Records, a subsidiary of Wise Music Group, will release the soundtrack album on July 7.

Watch the official trailer for The Youtube Effect.