Image Credit: Wheelhouse Creative/Music Box Films
The true story stranger than fiction that captivated festival audiences at SXSW is finally coming to streaming. Secret Mall ApartmentThe documentary about a group of artists who lived secretly inside a major shopping center for years has been picked up by Netflix.
director jeremy workman (the world before your feet) and executive produced Jesse EisenbergThe film has been a topic of discussion ever since its festival premiere in 2024. After a limited theatrical run last year, it is now set to reach a global audience.
we can confirm this Secret Mall Apartment Will be available to stream on Netflix starting Friday, January 23, 2026. Per when to streamThis marks the first time that the doc has been available on a streaming service. The film received rave reviews upon its VOD release in September and at select theatrical screenings throughout 2025.
Wheelhouse Creative is behind the production with Wrong Turn Productions. Submarine Entertainment is reportedly the sales representative, and Music Box Films Distributor.
What is the story behind this? Secret Mall Apartment?
The documentary describes a bizarre and audacious stunt that began in 2003. A group of eight Rhode Island artists led by Michael Townsend explored 750 square feet of unused space inside the Providence Place Mall.
Rather than ignore it, they (Townsend, Colin Bliss, Adriana Valdez-Young and Andrew Oesch) decided to move forward.
For four years, the group lived anonymously in the mall, building a fully furnished apartment equipped with electricity (tapped from the mall’s grid), a sectional sofa, a china cabinet, and even a PlayStation. The film uses hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage shot by the cast during their secret residence.
The official summary describes it as:
“In 2003, eight young creative Rhode Islanders built a secret apartment inside the Providence Place shopping mall and lived in it for four years, filming everything along the way. More than just a joke, the apartment became a deeply meaningful space for its residents – a personal expression of defiance against local civilization and a boundary-pushing work of performance art.”
It also has a certified fresh rating and strong audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. for andrew parker Gate wrote in its review“Whether you see [it] As a little comment or in a lighthearted manner, either way, you are right. Secret Mall Apartment profiles people who created a work of disruptive art that creates an emotional connection without being traditionally disruptive.
Image Credit: Music Box Films
will you check it out Secret Mall Apartment On January 23rd? Let us know in the comments below!