Elon Musk pushes anti‑immigration film on X, boosting its streaming success

Elon Musk used his X platform to promote the controversial Arm Hammer film “Citizen Vigilante,” offering the movie for free viewing for 48 hours. The promotion drove the film into the top‑10 video‑on‑demand rankings on Apple TV and Amazon, and it reached No. 2 on Apple’s movie chart. Musk’s posts linked the film’s vigilante theme to anti‑immigration rhetoric, describing vigilante killings of immigrants as a “moderate response.”

The billionaire’s activity has drawn criticism for amplifying far‑right views in Europe. He has previously voiced support for France’s Marine Le Pen, British activist Tommy Robinson, and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, even hosting AfD co‑leader Alice Weidel for a livestream ahead of the 2025 German federal election. The film’s director, German filmmaker Uwe Boll, acknowledged the surge in awareness generated by Musk’s endorsement, though it has not yet translated into direct revenue.

Musk’s promotion of “Citizen Vigilante” highlights his use of X to influence political discourse, particularly around immigration and demographic change, and has raised concerns about the platform’s role in spreading extremist narratives.