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 29^th 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 21^st century.

The editorial unit

Vice Is Broke is released on Mubi on 29^th August 2025.

Watch the trailer for Vice Is Broke here: