Vivian Kubrick Debunks Conspiracy Theories About 'Eyes Wide Shut' Missing Footage

Vivian Kubrick, daughter of the late director Stanley Kubrick, has refuted long-standing conspiracy theories regarding alleged missing footage from his final film, Eyes Wide Shut. The theories, amplified recently by podcaster Joe Rogan and filmmaker Roger Avary, claimed a 20-minute section was removed after Kubrick’s death.

Kubrick's Denial of Missing Footage

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Kubrick stated, “You know, this is as good a time as any to finally address the missing 20 minutes from Eyes Wide Shut. It’s a story that has been circulating for many years, so let me tell you what I actually know and don’t know.” She clarified that her father routinely destroyed outtakes after a film’s completion to prevent studio tampering and the creation of alternative versions.

Kubrick emphasized that she heard no credible information about the missing footage at the time and has not since. She acknowledged she wasn’t privy to all events surrounding her father’s death, as she was in Los Angeles scoring a film.

CGI and the R Rating

Kubrick did confirm one alteration: the use of CGI to obscure nudity in the orgy scene to secure an R rating from Warner Brothers. She stated that at the time of her father’s death in 1999, Eyes Wide Shut had reached “picture lock” and was in the final stages of post-production.

Archival Information and Editing Process

Kubrick explained that the film was edited on Avid, a system that didn't create the kind of permanent digital archives common today. While the University of the Arts London holds the official archive of Stanley Kubrick’s papers and production materials, Kubrick stated that, to her knowledge, no surviving Avid rushes from Eyes Wide Shut exist.