New Documentary Challenges Iconic Bigfoot Footage

The Patterson-Gimlin film, long considered the best evidence for Bigfoot's existence, may have been debunked.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:34pm

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring sharp, jagged black silhouettes against a high-contrast red and white background, conceptually representing the iconic Bigfoot footage being challenged and debunked.A new documentary claims to have uncovered evidence that the legendary Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot footage was staged, potentially dealing a major blow to the creature's enduring mythos.Patterson Today

A new documentary called 'Capturing Bigfoot' that premiered at SXSW Film & TV Festival is reportedly challenging the authenticity of the famous 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film, which has long been viewed as solid evidence for the existence of Bigfoot. Attendees claim the documentary features new footage that appears to show a man in a fur suit, as well as testimony from the son of Roger Patterson stating his father's film was a hoax.

Why it matters

The Patterson-Gimlin film has been a cornerstone of the Bigfoot legend for decades, inspiring countless sightings, theories, and pop culture references. If this new documentary can conclusively prove the footage was staged, it would be a major blow to the Bigfoot community and force a reevaluation of the evidence supporting the creature's existence.

The details

The upcoming documentary 'Capturing Bigfoot' reportedly features newly unearthed footage from 1966 that appears to show a man in a fur suit, along with testimony from Clint Patterson, the son of Roger Patterson, who claims his father's iconic 1967 film was a hoax and that he watched Roger burn the Bigfoot costume piece by piece. While some have speculated the new footage could be AI-generated or an elaborate hoax, attendees seem convinced by the evidence presented in the film.

  • In 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin captured the famous footage of what appears to be a Bigfoot creature in northern California.
  • The 'Capturing Bigfoot' documentary premiered at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in March 2026.

The players

Roger Patterson

The filmmaker who, along with Robert Gimlin, captured the iconic 1967 footage that has long been considered the best evidence for Bigfoot's existence.

Robert Gimlin

The cowboy who was with Roger Patterson when they filmed the famous Bigfoot footage in 1967.

Clint Patterson

The son of Roger Patterson, who claims his father's 1967 Bigfoot film was a hoax and that he watched his father burn the Bigfoot costume.

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What they’re saying

“Clint also claims to have watched his father burn the Bigfoot suit in a barrel, piece by piece.”

— Clint Patterson, Son of Roger Patterson

What’s next

The 'Capturing Bigfoot' documentary is not yet publicly available, but its premiere at SXSW has already sent shockwaves through the Bigfoot community. If the film's claims about the Patterson-Gimlin footage hold up, it could mark the end of one of the most iconic pieces of Bigfoot evidence.

The takeaway

While the Patterson-Gimlin film has long been considered the strongest proof of Bigfoot's existence, this new documentary threatens to undermine that foundation. Even if the Bigfoot legend persists, the collapse of this central pillar of evidence would force the cryptid community to reevaluate the case for the creature's reality.