‘Vice Is Broke’ Review: The Rise and Crash of a Fleeting Empire

The documentary "Vice Is Broke" by Eddie Huang chronicles the rise and fall of the media company Vice. Once a scrappy Montreal zine, Vice grew into a billion-dollar empire before facing financial turmoil and bankruptcy. The documentary presents an insider's perspective on Vice's transformation, from its early days as an alternative publication to its rapid expansion and eventual downfall. It explores the company's culture, leadership, and the factors that contributed to its meteoric success and eventual decline. The film offers a critical analysis of Vice's business model, its struggles to maintain its counterculture identity while appeasing investors, and the personal toll the changes took on its employees. It serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of maintaining authenticity and integrity in the face of corporate growth and external pressures. Overall, "Vice Is Broke" provides a nuanced and insightful look at the rise and fall of a once-dominant media company, offering lessons for businesses navigating the complex landscape of the modern media industry.