Bringing Longevity to the Big Screen: Longevity Hackers and the Rise of a Movement

While science drives longevity forward, advocacy is what brings people in. Two longevity films launched just weeks apart. What does that say about public interest and where is the hype going?

“When I first started working on Longevity Hackers, I knew very little about the field and was honestly skeptical about some of the topics discussed. I initially thought of longevity as something for the ultra-wealthy or as a concept pulled from science fiction.” —Marina de la Mora, producer of Longevity Hackers

When will longevity go mainstream? Maybe with more longevity films on the horizon, we're finally getting closer. While biotech and research are essential for progress, advocacy is what brings visibility and the right resources to the field.

In the past few months, two longevity-focused documentaries have hit the screen, just weeks apart. The first was Don’t Die, centered around Bryan Johnson, which launched on the symbolic date of January 1st, 2025. The second was Longevity Hackers, released December 4th, 2024, right before the holidays.

We covered Don’t Die in a previous newsletter, where we noted how Bryan surprisingly took a step back from personal branding to touch on a broad range of longevity topics. Though the documentary did include his own protocol, it wasn’t the sole focus we had expected.

We recently watched Longevity Hackers, and were impressed not only by the breadth of topics it explored but by the depth it delivered. While it didn’t get the same hype as Don’t Die (likely due to Bryan’s massive following), Longevity Hackers stood out for the sheer value it offered to the viewer.

We got in touch with Marina and had the chance to ask her a few questions. One of the first things we were curious about was how Don’t Die may have influenced the outcome or reception of Longevity Hackers.

She shared that the release of Don’t Die might have actually been beneficial.

The more content there is about longevity, the easier it becomes to engage a broader audience.

She added that as awareness grows, so does public understanding of the field, and with it, grows the potential for more funding, which will help facilitate further research and innovation.

Marina acknowledged that while Don’t Die had the upper hand thanks to Netflix’s massive distribution network, Longevity Hackers took a different route:

It’s true that both films were released around the same time, and Netflix ultimately decided not to pick up ours, likely because Bryan is already a well-known figure in mainstream media. As a result, we opted for a pay-per-view release, which naturally meant a smaller initial audience.

Instead of seeing this as a disadvantage, the team embraced a long-term mindset.

While our release didn’t have the same immediate impact, we believe our film has the potential for lasting success.

We also faced some difficulties watching the film, especially from Denmark and Brazil. So we asked Marina why the documentary isn’t yet available in all regions, and whether that’s expected to change.

Currently, there are some distribution limitations that have affected its availability in certain countries. But we hope to have the film accessible worldwide in the next couple of months.

Public Perception

Despite the distribution limitations, we were curious about how the public responded to the film. Marina said the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many viewers reached out to say they felt inspired to start thinking seriously about their own longevity.

Many have shared that they’re now actively researching ways to optimize their health, from diet and exercise to exploring new technologies. It’s exactly the kind of impact we hoped for.

She explained that the primary goal was to:

Reach a broad, mainstream audience and bring the conversation about longevity and health optimization to as many people as possible.

And while the film may feature experts and cutting-edge science, it wasn’t made just for biohackers.

We wanted to help people make informed, proactive decisions about their health.

Industry impacts

We were curious whether the film has sparked any measurable impact within the longevity field, particularly among biotech companies, researchers, or investors.

We've had a lot of experts in the space reach out to us expressing interest in collaborating on our second film, Longevity Revolution.

That’s right, Marina is already working on another longevity film!

She said the documentary also sparked conversations within the industry itself:

it's been exciting to see so many people and organizations eager to be a part of the next phase of this conversation

So, what will Longevity Revolution be about and how will it differ from Longevity Hackers?

The field is advancing so quickly, and this film will allow us to dive deeper into the latest technologies, cutting-edge treatments, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

With AI evolving at an unprecedented pace, we’re genuinely excited to see how this next film will explore its role in shaping the future of health and longevity.

Credibility

One thing that stood out in Longevity Hackers was how often expert commentary was backed by research references and on-screen visualizations. We asked Marina whether her team independently verified those claims, or if they were provided by the experts themselves.

Our team took great care to independently verify the claims and research highlighted in the documentary. While many of the studies and findings were indeed provided by the experts we interviewed, we made sure to cross-reference the research and studies with reputable sources and peer-reviewed papers to ensure accuracy and credibility.

That focus on scientific grounding was especially important, given how many documentaries allow speakers to make unverified claims that often go unchallenged.

She also noted that the team had support from an experienced advisory board made up of several of the experts featured in the film, ensuring scientific integrity throughout the production process.

Including Nils Regge, Todd White, Sebastian A. Brunemeier, Allison Duettmann, Dr. Ole Mensching, Fiona Miller, Jim Plante, Dr. Ashish Rajput, Naveen Jain, and Dr. Matthew O'Connor.

The film also introduces viewers to companies like Nanotics, which is developing a new class of precision-targeted medicines designed to clear specific pathogenic factors from the bloodstream.

Personal Reflection

We were curious about the personal impact the documentary had on Marina herself.

Did making Longevity Hackers change her own views on longevity? Was there a specific moment that completely shifted her perspective?

What really surprised me was how quickly the science is advancing. Concepts like gene therapy, cellular rejuvenation, and AI-driven medicine, which once seemed like distant possibilities, are actually happening right now.

Marina acknowledged that we’re in an exciting era, one where change is happening faster than most people realize.

She reflected on her mindset at the very beginning of the project:

When I first started working on Longevity Hackers, I had a fairly traditional view of longevity and aging. I hadn’t yet delved deeply into the more experimental aspects of longevity science, so a lot of the topics in the film, especially at the beginning, felt a bit out there.

One of the subjects that initially shocked her was plasma transfusions.

The first time I came across it was in an article about Bryan Johnson’s family, and honestly, I was stunned. It sounded almost like science fiction, young blood potentially reversing aging?

But her initial skepticism gave way to curiosity as the team continued researching and interviewing experts, including Bryan himself.

My perspective began to shift. Hearing about the research and the way these plasma transfusions work, I started to see the logic behind it.

Marina said that it completely changed the way she views longevity.

It’s definitely been eye-opening and has made me more aware of just how much we still have to learn and how exciting the future could be in this area.

Lifestyle Changes

The film covered a wide range of lifestyle interventions, from cold showers and meditation to diet and exercise. We were curious whether working on the project had inspired Marina to adopt any of these longevity habits herself.

She was clear: the documentary had absolutely changed her approach to daily life.

Especially when it comes to what I eat. I focus on “eating the rainbow” and I track my food intake to ensure I'm getting the necessary nutrients at every meal.

She also recognized that her sleep routine needed improvement, so she turned to wearables.

I got an Oura Ring to help me stay on top of my sleep and overall health. It’s given me a much deeper understanding of my cycle and how hormones influence my energy levels. It’s been incredibly informative in connecting how I feel to what’s going on in my body.

When it comes to exercise, she’s made movement a non-negotiable part of her day.

I make sure to hit the gym at least five times a week, and on the days I don’t, I do lighter, fun exercises to keep my body active. I prioritize staying moving, no matter what.

Meditation, however, is still causing her problems.

The act of being still and fully present is something that’s harder than it sounds, especially in today’s fast-paced world. I’m learning to embrace the stillness. The more I practice, the more I realize how powerful being fully present can be for my mental clarity and overall well-being.

She closed by saying that working on Longevity Hackers encouraged her to take charge of her health in a much more proactive way.

As more people begin to understand what longevity is really about, and as these films continue entering everyday conversation, we’ll start to see a real impact, both in the field and in people’s lives.

AI might accelerate this shift, empowering longevity advocates and enthusiasts to create their own content, spark debate, and raise awareness like never before.

And soon, we may see exactly how AI is shaping the future of health in Longevity Revolution.