Documentary Explores the Rise and Fall of Vice Media

The documentary ‘Vice Is Broke,’ directed by Eddie Huang, presents a heartfelt yet sharp examination of Vice Media’s journey from a modest Montreal zine to a billion-dollar global media empire that ultimately filed for bankruptcy. Once valued at $5.7 billion and backed by major investors like Disney and Rupert Murdoch, Vice’s rise was marked by a blend of punk spirit and high-profile ambitions. Huang, a former Vice collaborator, digs into the company’s internal struggles, including sensationalism, questionable business strategies, workplace misconduct, and a disconnect between its edgy journalism ethos and corporate pressures. Through interviews with former employees and key figures, the film reveals the cultural clash between the original disruptive punk attitude and the subsequent push for mainstream investment success. The documentary not only serves as a historical insight into Vice but also highlights the larger challenges faced by digital media companies attempting to maintain authenticity while scaling rapidly.