Hold-up (2020 film)

Hold-up is a 2020 French documentary film directed by Pierre Barnérias. The film presents a conspiratorial narrative regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. It claims that the pandemic was orchestrated by global elites to establish greater control and influence over the world's population. The film features interviews with various individuals, including doctors, scientists, and journalists, who support the conspiracy theories presented.

The documentary alleges that the virus was deliberately created or spread and that the response to the pandemic was exaggerated and manipulated for nefarious purposes. It promotes skepticism towards official narratives surrounding the virus's origin, severity, and treatment. The film garnered significant attention and controversy upon its release, generating both support from those who believed in the presented theories and widespread criticism from the scientific and medical communities.

Critics have widely condemned Hold-up for spreading misinformation and promoting dangerous conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous fact-checking organizations have debunked the claims made in the film, highlighting inaccuracies and unsubstantiated assertions. The film has been accused of exploiting fear and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic to promote a false and harmful narrative. Due to the controversial and often demonstrably false nature of its claims, Hold-up has been removed from some platforms and has been subject to widespread criticism for promoting misinformation.