The Panama Papers

When a huge trove of secret records leaked from a Panama law firm, a network of journalists raced to identify the people and institutions hiding money offshore. The film traces that effort from the first tip to coordinated reporting across newsrooms, following reporters from Süddeutsche Zeitung and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists as they sort mountains of files, corroborate evidence, and arrange secure cooperation. Elijah Wood provides the voice of an anonymous source called John Doe, while Bastian Obermayer, Frederik Obermaier, Katrin Langhans, and Marina Walker Guevara appear on camera, showing how methodical reporting and data work turned hidden ledgers into a public scandal without revealing surprise twists.

Directed by Alex Winter and released in 2018, the film builds on the real world leak of Mossack Fonseca documents and the collaborative reporting that followed, adapting newsroom coverage into a cinematic investigation.

Critical reaction was mixed to positive, reflected in a moderate vote average. Reviewers appreciated the inside look at investigative methods, though some felt the film could have gone deeper into legal and political fallout. Major themes include secrecy in global finance, the mechanics of investigative journalism, and how information moves from a private dump to public accountability.

The Panama Papers story had clear cultural effects outside the film, prompting conversations about offshore finance and transparency. The documentary reminds viewers why a leak of financial records mattered, and it helped bring more attention to the journalists and sources who made the revelations possible.

The film played at festivals and had a limited theatrical run, reaching most viewers through specialty venues and digital platforms rather than wide commercial distribution. It functions more as a record of a real world scandal and a primer on cross-border reporting than as mainstream box office fare.