Elon Musk is facing renewed scrutiny after using X to spotlight “Citizen Vigilante,” the controversial action thriller starring Armie Hammer. The platform owner’s promotion gave the film a major visibility boost while reviving debate about its anti-immigration themes.
The film climbed streaming rankings after Elon Musk made it free to watch on X
On June 25, Elon Musk shared the full movie through his X account, formerly Twitter. The post exposed “Citizen Vigilante” to his more than 240 million followers and allowed users to watch it free for about 48 hours.
Musk later responded to a post showing the movie at No. 2 on Apple TV. “Citizen Vigilante 2 will be even better,” he wrote. The free stream arrived shortly after the film’s June 19 digital and limited theatrical release. Variety Australia reported that the movie reached No. 2 on Apple’s chart following Musk’s promotion. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal said it entered the top 10 video-on-demand rankings on Apple and Amazon.
The sudden attention also helped “Citizen Vigilante” secure wider distribution. Director Uwe Boll said Musk’s support brought valuable publicity, even though offering the movie free did not immediately generate direct revenue.
Hammer plays Sanders, an American businessman who turns to vigilante violence after losing faith in the justice system. The film follows his campaign against criminals, including migrants accused of violent offenses, as his actions make him a social media celebrity and put him at odds with law enforcement.
Critics have accused the movie of promoting anti-immigration ideas and glorifying violence. Boll has said Germany’s FSK ratings board denied the film a certificate because officials believed it could incite violence against migrants. That account comes from Boll, not a published FSK ruling.
The backlash around Musk’s promotion also reflects his political activity in Europe. He previously endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany party. He also hosted its co-leader, Alice Weidel, for a livestreamed discussion on X before Germany’s 2025 federal election.
The controversy follows reports that Hammer was unhappy with the finished film and allegedly considered it more hateful than he expected. Still, Musk’s posts pushed the project into a much larger conversation and showed how quickly his platform can elevate a niche release.
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