Rust Documentary: Alec Baldwin Criticizes Rory Kennedy's Film

Director Rory Kennedy stated that Alec Baldwin disliked her new documentary about his legal battles and personal life. She made the remark during a question and answer session at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival on October 27. The film, titled The Trial of Alec Baldwin, examines the period following the 2021 set accident on the movie Rust. Kennedy told the audience that the actor did not enjoy the finished product. She described his reaction using emphatic language to convey the intensity of his dissatisfaction.

The documentary covers the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a prop gun on October 21, 2021. Baldwin held the weapon when it discharged, striking Hutchins and director Joel Souza. The film explores the aftermath of that event, including the legal proceedings that followed. It also traces Baldwin's career and his upbringing in Ireland. The narrative links his background to his interactions with the press over the years. The project serves as both a biography and a cultural analysis.

Kennedy explained that the filmmakers grappled with Baldwin's desire to shape his public image. She noted that this drive to reshape perception played a role in the events leading to his trial. She told the festival crowd that Baldwin was not always a reliable narrator of his own story. The team aimed to let viewers form their own conclusions about which parts of his account were genuine. She suggested that most viewers would feel a sense of injustice after watching the film, regardless of their prior opinions about him.

Mark Bailey, Kennedy's husband and producing partner, began filming in March 2023. This timing coincided with Rust returning to production after the accident. The initial involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin was dropped shortly after filming started. A grand jury re indicted him on the same charge in January 2024. The cameras continued to roll during this period of legal uncertainty. Bailey described the process as a way to document a genuine crisis in the actor's life.

Bailey defended Baldwin's sincerity during the production. He said the actor believed what he was saying in the moment, even if his statements contradicted one another. Bailey pointed to a scene at a kitchen table where Baldwin claimed he worked only for the money. His wife Hilaria pushed back against that claim in the same scene. Bailey characterized Baldwin's willingness to let the cameras in as a courageous act during a stressful time.

The film concludes with Baldwin's acquittal in court. It also shows him acknowledging that his public image requires further work. The documentary premiered at Doc NYC last year. It received a worldwide release on October 1, 2026, through Abramorama. Kennedy said the viewing experience was traumatic for Baldwin, who had lost five Hollywood jobs while raising seven children. She described him as a deeply caring and sensitive person who carries the weight of public scrutiny.

Kennedy identified specific elements that drew Baldwin's objection. He took issue with the focus on episodes where he was not at his best. This included the 2007 voicemail in which he called his daughter Ireland a pig. As the film played at various festivals, the reaction from people Baldwin respects became a factor. Those close to him eventually felt the film helped audiences understand his experience. The initial negative reaction from the actor appears to have softened somewhat in the wake of wider viewing.