RJ Cutler and Esports World Cup: Level Up
RJ Cutler, an award-winning filmmaker, has built a storied career capturing pivotal cultural moments through his production company, This Machine. Known for producing compelling documentaries that blend raw emotion with sharp insight, Cutler has tackled subjects ranging from politics to pop culture. His work, marked by a keen eye for human stories, has earned critical acclaim and a reputation for illuminating the defining issues of our time.
With Esports World Cup: Level Up, Cutler turns his lens to the electrifying world of esports. This five-part docuseries, premiering exclusively on Prime Video on June 6, 2025, dives into the Esports World Cup, an annual event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that unites top esports Clubs in a unique cross-game competition for the largest prize pool in esports history. Directed by Cutler and produced by This Machine, the series showcases the grit, passion, and community behind this global celebration of competitive gaming. Through intimate storytelling and dynamic visuals, Level Up brings viewers into the heart of the action, revealing the human drive that fuels the world’s biggest esports event.
Esports World Cup: Level Up offers a rare look inside a global competition that’s redefining what it means to be a champion for a new generation of athletes and fans. R.J. Cutler and his team of expert storytellers embedded themselves within the eight-week tournament – watched by over 500 million fans globally – to uncover the personal sacrifices, rivalries and stakes driving the action.
Shot in verité style, the series combines intimate home visits from around the world andon-the-ground coverage from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It follows a wide cast of characters – from Club CEOs orchestrating million-dollar strategies to rising stars chasing life-changing wins – while capturing the pulse of elite esports competition.
“What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding withinthis high-stakes arena,” said Cutler. “Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prizemoney; it’s about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process.”
At the heart of Level Up is the “EWC Club Championship,” an unprecedented, multi-titletournament format where Clubs compete across more than 20 games, earning points toward asingle leaderboard. Every match, every point, reshapes the race for global dominance. With thehighest prize pool in esports history on the line, the EWC is not just a tournament – it’s a proving ground for the next generation of sports icons.
“A win might make the headlines — but the real story is the people behind it,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Level Up dives into the human side of esports: the pressure, the ambition, the sacrifices. It’s about what it really takes to compete at the highest
level — and why it matters. R.J. is the heart of what we’re building.
For more on the Esports World Cup, visit esportsworldcup.com.
