This Machine Filmworks is an American film and television production company specializing in documentary features and nonfiction series. The company was founded in 2020 by filmmaker R. J. Cutler with backing from Industrial Media. The company's founding team included Emmy-winning producer Trevor Smith and Academy Award–nominated documentary producer Elise Pearlstein, who joined as Executive Vice President of Documentaries.
History This Machine's early productions included Belushi for Showtime, which was nominated for three Critics Choice Documentary Awards. and Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry for Apple TV+, the latter receiving multiple Emmy nominations and being shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction In 2022, Industrial Media was acquired by Sony Pictures Television, bringing This Machine into Sony's nonfiction portfolio. That year, the company produced the docuseries Supreme Models through YouTube Originals.. In 2025, the series became available for streaming on Netflix.
This Machine's 2023 releases included Anthem, South to Black Power, Murf the Surf, and the Netflix series Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul, which won the News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary.
Also in 2023, the company released The Disappearance of Shere Hite, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received critical recognition, including placement on the Cinema Eye Honors “Unforgettables” list. The film also holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 61 critic reviews.
Recent productions In 2024, the company released Elton John: Never Too Late, featuring the Oscar-nominated song “Never Too Late”, as well as Martha on Netflix, which earned two Emmy nominations (Outstanding Documentary, Writing), a WGA Award nomination, and won the Middleburg Film Festival Audience Award.
In 2025, This Machine produced Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful about the Colombian pop artist Karol G on Netflix and Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop, about Lee Soo-man, the SM Entertainment founder, released through Prime Video.
In 2026, This Machine released Marc by Sofia, a feature documentary about Marc Jacobs directed by Sofia Coppola, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The company also produced BTS: The Return, which follows K-pop group BTS during the making of their album Airang and premiered on Netflix on March 27, 2026.
Filmography Year Title Distributor Awards 2020 Belushi Showtime Critics Choice Documentary Awards for Best Historical/Biographical Documentary (N), Best Documentary Feature (N), Best Archival Documentary (N) 2021 Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry Apple TV+ Academy Award Shortlist, BAFTA Longlist, Grierson Shortlist, Cinema Eye Honors (N), Critics’ Choice (N) 2023 Anthem Hulu 2023 South to Black Power HBO 2023 The Disappearance of Shere Hite Showtime Cinema Eye Honoree (N) 2024 Elton John: Never Too Late Disney+ Academy Award Best Song (N), BAFTA Longlist, Grammy (N), Hollywood Music In Media Awards (W) 2024 Martha Netflix Emmy Best Doc (N), Emmy Writing (N), WGA (N), Grierson Shortlist 2025 Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful Netflix Hollywood Music In Media Award (N) 2025 Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop Prime Video 2026 Marc by Sofia a24 2026 BTS: The Return Netflix
Years Title Network Awards 2019 Dear... Apple TV+ Imagen (W), Critics Choice Real TV (N) 2022 Supreme Models YouTube Originals Telly Award (Silver) (W) 2023 Murf the Surf MGM+ MovieGuide Awards (N) Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul Netflix Emmy Award for Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary (W); Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards (N) ; RealScreen Awards (N) 2024 Fight for Glory: 2024 World Series Apple TV+ 2025–present Esports World Cup: Level Up Amazon Prime Video
References