Kanye West Documentary “In Whose Name?” Premieres in Theaters

Lead: Kanye West’s documentary “In Whose Name?” premiered today, September 19, 2025, in select theaters, offering an unfiltered chronicle of the artist’s life from 2018 to 2024 through over 3,000 hours of footage by director Nico Ballesteros.

Nut Graf: This vérité film dives into West’s mental health battles, high-profile controversies and intimate celebrity encounters, making it one of the most revealing portraits of a polarizing cultural figure and underscoring ongoing debates about fame, accountability and artistic freedom.

Premiere Details

  • Director: Nico Ballesteros, who began filming at age 18 and amassed six years of continuous access to West’s life.
  • Runtime & Rating: 1 hour 46 minutes; rated R for language and brief sexual content.
  • Distribution: Released by AMSI Entertainment nationwide on September 19.

Key Themes and Moments

Mental Health and Personal Struggles

Ballesteros frames the documentary around West’s bipolar disorder, which he first publicly disclosed in 2018, revealing his view that medication stifled his “true self” and fueling some of his most erratic behavior.

Political and Social Controversies

  • West is seen wearing a MAGA hat during a heated phone call with Kris Jenner, insisting “I would rather be dead than to be on medication,” and demanding accountability from the Kardashian family for his hospital visit.
  • Archival footage captures his 2018 White House meeting with President Trump and candid discussions about power, culture and identity.

Celebrity Interactions

  • A rare scene relaxes West and Elon Musk on a floor cushion discussing their romantic lives, portraying the rapper’s surprising candor about love and creativity.
  • Appearances by Pharrell Williams, Chris Rock, Michael Che and others highlight moments of frank critique and camaraderie, illustrating West’s impact on peers and the tensions it created.

Critical Response

Early reviews acknowledge the film’s raw intimacy but debate its narrative coherence:

  • The Guardian calls it a “grimly compelling watch” that illuminates West’s “visceral need to always be right” but offers few new revelations.
  • Variety describes it as “frustrating,” noting its extensive footage still feels disjointed to those familiar with West’s recent controversies.

Cultural Impact

By peeling back the layers of Kanye West’s public persona, “In Whose Name?” challenges viewers to confront the complexities of mental health, celebrity influence and the fine line between self-expression and hate speech-topics that remain fiercely relevant in today’s cultural landscape.