The Dropout: Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos Fraud Drama Now Free on ITVX
A gripping true crime drama that chronicles one of the most shocking corporate frauds in modern history is now available to stream for free. The Dropout, the acclaimed limited series about Elizabeth Holmes and her fraudulent blood-testing company Theranos, has been added to ITVX's streaming library this week.
From Billionaire to Convicted Felon
The series follows the astonishing real-life story of Elizabeth Holmes, who founded Theranos in 2003 at just 19 years old. The American biotechnology entrepreneur claimed to have revolutionized blood testing with technology that required only tiny blood samples from fingerpricks. Holmes asserted her methods were superior, more affordable, and faster than conventional laboratory testing.
However, these claims proved to be completely fraudulent. The technology was not only ineffective but dangerously inaccurate, potentially jeopardizing patient health through incorrect medical diagnostics. Despite this, Theranos managed to secure over $700 million from venture capitalists and private investors, achieving a peak valuation of $9 billion in 2013.
In 2015, Forbes named Holmes the youngest and wealthiest self-made female billionaire in the United States. Yet within a year, her empire began to crumble as journalists and regulatory investigations exposed the truth behind Theranos' operations.
Award-Winning Television Adaptation
The Dropout spans eight episodes and is based on the popular ABC Audio podcast of the same name. The series features an impressive ensemble cast led by Amanda Seyfried in her Emmy-winning portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes. Supporting performances come from Naveen Andrews, Elizabeth Marvel, William H. Macy, Stephen Fry, and Sam Waterston.
The show has been a critical success, earning six Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. It maintains a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising Seyfried's "disquieting portrayal" of Holmes that "brings fresh blood to this retelling of recent history."
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Response
Variety noted in their review: "It was only a matter of time before someone adapted Holmes' story to the screen. The Dropout is the first – and its canny performances, writing, and directing should set a high bar for every other version to come."
Rolling Stone described the series as "a maddening, gripping, and at times startlingly funny recreation of a story that would feel too absurd to be true if we didn't already know otherwise."
Vanity Fair highlighted how the show "employs a deftly selected soundtrack of early-to-mid-aughts bangers to bring home the cultural specificity of her rise and fall, compounding both the gravity and ridiculousness of what Holmes did not achieve."
We Live Entertainment particularly praised Seyfried's performance: "In Amanda Seyfried, it's difficult to imagine a better choice, as the Oscar-nominated performer not only captures the socially-stunted side of Holmes but the aggressively vile liar who lay at the centre of the carefully crafted persona."
Viewers have consistently described the series as "captivating," "insightful," and exceeding their expectations.
The Legal Aftermath
In 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Theranos, Holmes, and former chief operating officer Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani with raising $700 million through fraudulent claims about their blood-testing technology's accuracy.
Following a high-profile trial, Holmes was convicted in 2022 of defrauding investors (though acquitted of defrauding patients). She received a sentence of just over 11 years in prison and, along with Balwani, was ordered to pay $452 million in restitution to fraud victims.
Now 42, Holmes has been in a relationship with hotel heir William Evans since 2017, with whom she shares two children. She is scheduled for release in 2032.
Streaming Availability
The Dropout is now available to stream for free on ITVX, offering viewers the opportunity to experience this compelling dramatization of one of the most notorious corporate scandals of the 21st century. The series provides a detailed examination of ambition, deception, and the dramatic consequences when technological promises prove dangerously false.
