In December 2019, Netflix revealed that the documentary was set to premiere at the 

2020 Sundance
Film Festival.[13] In an interview with Chris Willman of Variety, it was revealed that the opening act of
the film deals with "juxtaposing the joys of creation with the aggravations of global stardom" while
the second half is a "provocative turn focused on why Swift became a political animal". Willman
wrote that the film further features clips capturing Swift's increasing LGBTQ allyship, Swift's reaction
to her mother's cancer diagnosis, and Swift's response to her 2017 album Reputation not receiving
any nominations in general categories at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Wilson stated that she views
the movie as "looking at the flip side of being America's sweetheart", meant to shed light on the less-
glamorous side of fame and stardom.[7]

Promotion[edit]
On January 15, 2020, Swift revealed the release date and a poster of the film through her social
media accounts.[14] Six days later, an official trailer to the film was released on YouTube and on
Swift's social media accounts.[15][16] On January 30, Swift announced the list of select theatres that will
play Miss Americana, for a limited time. It includes 25 Alamo Drafthouse theatres and an iPic theatre
in the United States, and the Prince Charles Cinema in the United Kingdom.[17]

Music[edit]
Main article: Only the Young
The documentary includes the song "Only the Young", playing during the end credits, which was
released as a promotional single alongside the film. The song was written by Swift after the 2018
United States elections,[7] but did not make it on the track-list of Lover.[18] Upon release, the song
received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised its politically charged lyrics that deal
with gun violence and school shootings in the United States. "Only the Young" debuted and peaked
at number one on the US Billboard Digital Song Sales chart, and entered the charts in several other
countries.[19]

Critical reception[edit]
Miss Americana was met with critical acclaim upon release. On review aggregator website Rotten
Tomatoes, the film has a "certified fresh" approval rating of 91% based on 92 reviews, with an
average rating of 7.40/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Miss Americana provides an engaging
if somewhat deliberately opaque backstage look at a pop star turned cultural
phenomenon."[20] On Metacritic, it has a mean score of 65 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating
"generally favorable reviews".[21]
The film premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to praise and a standing ovation from the
critics and audience.[22] Miss Americana has been described as an intimate, genuine, funny and
empowering film, documenting "her humble beginnings as a country-music star to her position as an
influential figure in pop culture".[23] Reviews complimented the film for Wilson's direction, and the
"emotional heft" that came from Swift's vulnerable interviews discussing issues such as eating
disorder, self esteem and sexual assault,[23] and for capturing Swift's creative process as well.
Wesley Morris of The New York Times chose Miss Americana as his Critic's Pick, describing it as
"85 minutes of translucence" with Swift, stating that she is "self-critical, grown up and ready,
perhaps, to deliver a message beyond the music".[24] Nancy Coleman, of the same publication,
opined that the film "opens a rare, honest window on what makes this star [Swift] tick". [25] Hannah
Woodhead of Little White Lies said the film offers "unprecedented access to the notoriously private
singer and her dizzying world" through "interviews, studio footage, home videos and concert
recordings". She described it as "glossy, conventional, flicking between past and present with a
warm intimacy" as Swift "bares her soul in this intimate, earnest docu-portrait". [26] Slash Film's Chris
Evangelita termed the film a "dynamite crowd pleaser" and described it as "a sweet, surprisingly
funny portrait of Taylor Swift growing up and getting political". [27] Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood
Reporter wrote: "what's ultimately very endearing about Swift is her intelligence and self-awareness,
qualities that also make her music compelling, sophisticated and capable of appealing both to
adolescent kids and hipster musicologists".[28] Writing for The Salt Lake Tribune, Sean Means stated
that the film is "an eye-opening look at Taylor Swift finding a new voice" and "shows Swift as an
artist and activist just warming up for the next act".[29] Amber Wilkinson of The Times wrote that the
"intimate and open" documentary offers "a much more personal and open consideration of a star
who has always been known for her onstage sound and who is now finding her political voice off
stage too".[30]
The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber wrote that Miss Americana portrays "a pop star facing a daunting
challenge—redefining success", acting as "a container for the dictates of
supposedly meritocratic capitalist patriarchy". He added that the film does not depict a drastic
change but rather "a tough, somewhat deflating process of self-recognition". [31] Decider's Anna Menta
commented that "Wilson and her team captured moments that felt personal, vulnerable, and deeply
authentic, and they did so with a skill and artistry that Instagram Live stories just can't match".
[32]
 Steve Pond of TheWrap pointed out that "the heart of Miss Americana is Taylor Swift telling us
what she stands for on gay rights and women's rights, and what she's learned about the fate of
being a woman in the public eye".[33] Glamour's Marie-Claire Chappet wrote: "Miss Americana shows
Taylor is sick of the restrictive parameters set out for women in the spotlight. She defies her advisors
and gets political — breaking her silence and following in the footsteps of the Dixie Chicks – with
thankfully less damaging consequences. She begins using her voice for what she cares about –
like LGBTQ rights – and stops caring if Twitter thinks she's over – if the industry doesn't think she's
'likeable'."[34] The New Yorker's Amanda Petrusich concluded that the "beautiful" film is "far more
interesting than any acceptance speech, red-carpet interview, or paparazzi photo".[35] In his Critic's
Pick review, IndieWire's David Ehrlich wrote that the power of Miss Americana is "watching someone
who stands astride the world gradually realize that her art is the only thing that she can control",
adding that Wilson is excellent at "splitting the difference that some of her documentary's most
humanizing moments are beautiful for how they contradict Swift's intention". He concluded that "it's
truly enough to make you feel like an asshole for ever thinking that Swift was some kind of
Aryan crypto-fascist, and not just a mega-famous young woman who didn't yet love herself enough
to be hated for her convictions". [36]
In a two-star review for The Guardian, Benjamin Lee found Miss Americana too stage-managed and
a "brand management dressed up as insight".[37] Nick Allen for RogerEbert.com said the film is
"engineered to appease her fans and promote Swift's self-awareness". [38] Mike Ryan of Uproxx wrote
that the movie is "frustrating" due to its "lack of depth when discussing interesting issues", instead
opting for victory montages.[39] Beth Webb of Empire opined that Miss Americana does not have Swift
break any new barriers.[40] Variety's Owen Gleiberman opined that the documentary is "a controlled
and sanded-off confection of pop-diva image management", where Swift "presents of herself is just
chancy and sincere enough" in the film "to draw us in". [41]