League of Legends Origins

Leslie Iwerks's 2019 documentary describes the emergence of the game League of Legends. Two university students decide to build their own game starting from a free add-on to another one; nobody believes a free game can make money and they struggle to find investment. The documentary follows that founding story and the game's growth over a decade into a worldwide competitive arena, with professional players, broadcasters and tournaments filling stadiums as a second line. Interviews with players describe what the game has meant to them. It was made with the support of the company that publishes the game and offers no critical view; addiction, working conditions and harassment inside the community are almost entirely absent. Who it's for: viewers curious about game culture and the history of esports. Who it's not for: anyone expecting a critical study of the industry.