Controversial Documentary 'Collateral Damage' Draws 1.5 Million Viewers
Co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, the controversial documentary 'Collateral Damage' has drawn over 1.5 million viewers globally since its release in 2026.
The controversial documentary film "Collateral Damage" (Neza), co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, has emerged as one of the most-watched documentary releases of 2026. According to figures published by The Guardian, which co-produced the project, the film has drawn an audience of over 1.5 million viewers globally in less than two months.
As of November 6, the documentary was viewed by 1,547,033 people, according to the British media outlet. The film features testimonies from soldiers of Unit 8200 discussing military operations in Gaza. The project premiered after winning the jury prize at the 2026 Venice Film Festival and has been distributed in approximately 50 countries worldwide.
The film achieved notable commercial success in Italy, where it opened in September and attracted 717,517 ticket buyers, making it the third most-watched documentary of all time in the country behind Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "March of the Penguins". In the United Kingdom and Ireland, total ticket sales reached 102,508, while Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg recorded 132,323 viewers.
In France, the film screened for a limited 48-hour period due to local regulations regarding dual online and theatrical releases, yet still attracted over 82,000 viewers across nearly 500 screenings, topping local box office charts during its run. Across the United States and Canada, the film gathered 83,673 viewers following its initial independent release on September 30 before being acquired by a distributor in October.
The documentary has drawn sharp criticism from official figures in Israel, who characterized the work as a biased distortion of reality and Hamas propaganda. IDF Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir strongly condemned the film, describing it as a blood libel and a deliberate distortion of facts.
