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Born to Fake

IMDb 7.7

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Synopsis

In 1996, one of the biggest media scandals in German history shook the public: Michael Born, a self-made journalist, had faked over twenty reports for the newly established private television station between 1990 and 1996. Some seemed amateurish, others dealt with absurd topics: child labor for IKEA in India, drug addicts licking toads to get high, and the Ku Klux Klan in the Eifel region were just some of his numerous fabrications. How did it come to this? Was Michael Born an enlightened figure who subversively exposed the tabloid system, a victim of the system, or simply a bumbling fraud? Film traces Michael Born's footsteps. Put together from hundreds of hours of raw material and the memories of former companions, an incredible story of forgery emerges. A media-theoretical film about levels of reality, fake news, and the question: Why do we actually believe what we see?

Documentary
JournalismSkandalpresseScandalFake NewsDokumentationDokumentarfilmMichael Born

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Frequently asked questions

What is Born to Fake (2026) about?

In 1996, one of the biggest media scandals in German history shook the public: Michael Born, a self-made journalist, had faked over twenty reports for the newly established private television station between 1990 and 1996. Some seemed amateurish, others dealt with absurd topics: child labor for IKEA in India, drug addicts licking toads to get high, and the Ku Klux Klan in the Eifel region were…

Who stars in Born to Fake?

Born to Fake stars Michael Born (Self), Roland Berger (Self), Martin Lettmayer (Self), Dr. Gabriele Schuster (Self), Thomas Pritzl (Self). The film was directed by Erec Brehmer.

How long is Born to Fake?

Born to Fake has a runtime of 1 min and premiered in 2026. It is rated 12.

Is Born to Fake worth watching?

Born to Fake holds an IMDb rating of 7.7/10. Fans of Documentary are most likely to enjoy it — TasteRay can tell you how well it matches your personal taste.

Where can I watch Born to Fake?

Streaming availability for Born to Fake changes by country and service. TasteRay tracks where it is available across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and 50+ other platforms — the current options for your country are shown on this page.