Where to Watch
Checking availability in your country…
Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year2013
Runtime1h 32m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDocumentary
Votes31
DirectorSpencer McCall
WritersJeff Hull
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.1 out of 10
Cast4 credited
Also Known AsThe Institute
About The Institute
Thousands of participants in a San Francisco-based alternate reality game end up getting more than they bargained for. Told from the players’ perspectives, the film looks over the precipice at an emergent new art form where the real world and fictional narratives merge to create unforeseen and often unsettling consequences. Examining counter-culture, new religious movements and street art, this film takes the viewer on a journey into a secret underground world teeming just beneath the surface of everyday life.
Directed by Spencer McCall, The Institute leans on a strong ensemble — Arye Bender, Jeff Hull, Gordon McLaughlin — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2013.
Read More on the Blog
You Might Also Like
More like The Institute, picked from what people are watching
8.3S4: The Bob Lazar Story
2026 8.3
Over 35 years after Bob Lazar's revelations, this documentary exposes secrets of a facility the government still denies. Featuring Lazar's testimony, recreations, and new evidence, it reopens a case that continues to spark global curiosity
S4: The Bob Lazar Story
2026
8.0My Mom Jayne
2025 8.0
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
My Mom Jayne
2025
6.2Elstree 1976
2015 6.2
A documentary about ten very different lives connected by having appeared onscreen wearing masks or helmets in Star Wars.
Elstree 1976
2015
7.0The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button
2009 7.0
A documentary about the making of David Fincher's 2008 film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Virtually every element in the evolution of the Fincher's film is documented here, from the project's attachment to numerous other directors during the 1990s, to its shoot in 2006 and 2007 in New Orleans, to its complex, CGI-intensive postproduction process.
The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button
2009
7.2Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
2022 7.2
An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
2022
7.5McQueen
2018 7.5
Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.
McQueen
2018
User Reviews
6.1
Community rating
Loading reviews…
From the Blog
All Posts
News
Michael OTT Release Date: The Michael Jackson Biopic Streams August 29
The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.
News
Jana Nayagan OTT Release Date: When Vijay’s Film Streams on ZEE5
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is headed to ZEE5 for its digital premiere. Here is the latest on its OTT release date and where to watch, updated as news is confirmed.
Guides
What Should I Watch Tonight? How to Decide in 5 Minutes
The average person spends more time scrolling than watching. Here's a 5-minute method to pick tonight's movie or show by mood, not by endless browsing.