Vice Is Broke: Eddie Huang’s insider documentary charts the rise and ruin of a cultural juggernaut
Mubi has announced the exclusive release of Vice Is Broke, a bold new documentary that chronicles the explosive ascent and spectacular implosion of Vice magazine – the Montreal-born punk ’zine turned global media powerhouse. Directed by filmmaker, chef and cultural provocateur Eddie Huang, the film will premiere on the platform on 29th August 2025.
With a deeply personal lens, Huang – who hosted Huang’s World for Vice over four seasons – revisits the publication’s chaotic golden era from an insider’s point of view. The documentary captures how Vice redefined digital-age journalism, gave a platform to fringe voices, and helped shape millennial identity with its provocative mix of style, irreverence and unfiltered reportage. But what began as a countercultural experiment valued at $5.7 billion at its peak ultimately collapsed into bankruptcy, undone by its own contradictions.
Vice Is Broke blends archival material, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage to explore how the brand that built its reputation on rebellion and political incorrectness found itself outpaced by the very forces it once mocked – commodification, spectacle and institutional ambition. It’s a gripping exposé of disaster capitalism and ego-driven empire-building, told from the perspective of someone who was embedded in its rise.
As much a cultural autopsy as a cautionary tale, the film reflects on Vice’s transformation from punk disruptor to corporate player, and what its downfall says about the state of media, authenticity and rebellion in the 21st century.
The editorial unit
Vice Is Broke is released on Mubi on 29th August 2025.
Watch the trailer for Vice Is Broke here:
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