TikTok Never Dies follows a handful of the content creators who took on the government in the name of free speech. Directed by Hao Wu, the film takes an in-depth look at a ban that was nothing more than a smokescreen.
A social media app known for catchy voiceovers and viral dances collided with Capitol Hill in a battle that seemed more xenophobic than sound. Its popularity and subscriber base drew ire from Congress, which argued the app’s parent company, ByteDance, couldn’t be trusted. Its influence over young people and the 170 million Americans who use the app drew national security concerns. Some use it for fun, while others use it for business. Either way, in a country that touts free speech, you just can’t get rid of a social media platform because you “think” they’re stealing information. That’s where three TikTokers, Steven King (@btypep), Chloe Joy Sexton (@chloebluffcakes), and Topher Townsend (@tophertownmusic, join the platform’s lawsuit against the federal government for their livelihoods and the First Amendment.
(Richard Randolph/THE PEACH REVIEW®)
The flow of the documentary was fantastic, guiding the audience through civic slush, viral dances, and cheeky voiceovers. Whenever the discussion leaned into politics, it never divulged too much. The laser-sharp focus on the reasons behind the ban and how removing the app would affect users only aided the film’s quality.
The documentary features firsthand commentary from Steven, Chloe, and Topher, as well as journalists Drew Harwell (Washington Post) and Sapna Maheshwari (New York Times), attorney Ashley Gorski, and professionals James Lewis and Alan Rozenshtein.
The film traces the app’s meteoric rise in America and its impact on culture and civic life over just a few years’ time. As the case moved to the Supreme Court, there was an apparent divide, not just between users and non-users, but generations. A wide chasm existed between Gen-Alpha and everyone else, with exceptions like the film’s participants. With half of the country using the platform daily, public enemy No. 1 was Washington, D.C. For people taking part in the fight, their free speech was at risk. For bystanders, the TikTok ban drew ire. With more pressing matters at hand (healthcare, affordability, corruption, etc.), people saw Congress pursuing a mobile app as a waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
When TikTok shut down, a media firestorm occurred. Emotions ran high, lives were crushed, and a large swath of users pushed back against the government’s warnings about China and downloaded other apps like Red Note. But the story took an unexpected turn once we discovered the platform’s savior: Donald Trump. It came as no surprise that the man who tried to ban the platform in 2020 would save it after building a massive following on the app during his campaign. With personal relationships being affected by the platform’s removal (i.e., Jeff Yass), it magically reappeared on users’ phones, with a message praising the President’s efforts. It was something never seen before.
TikTok Never Dies gets a 9 out of 10. It took courage for the featured creators to do what they did. The film serves as a lesson that anything truly worth having is worth fighting for. Hao Wu and his team capture this very essence in this poignant and, at times, humorous (thanks to the platform’s users) documentary. The weaving of serious topics, social trends, and viral moments made for a unique viewing experience.
SCHEDULE:
Friday, June 5 – 3:00 PM | Village East by Angelika
Saturday, June 13 – 2:45 PM | Village East by Angelika
TikTok Never Dies made its world premiere on June 4 at the 2026 Tribeca Festival at Village East by Angelika.
-Jon Jones
Category: Spotlight Documentary
Country: USA
Director: Hao Wu
Cast: Steven King, Chloe Joy Sexton, Topher Townsend
Runtime: 96 mins
Trailer: N/A
U.S. Release Date: June 4, 2026