Buzz
If you’re not yet acquainted with Louis Theroux, I urge you to immediately search for his documentaries on YouTube and start watching. This ranking is entirely based on my personal opinion, considering factors like how captivating I found each documentary, how unfamiliar I was with the topics beforehand, and their overall entertainment and sensational appeal. Louis Theroux, a British-American journalist with numerous awards, is famous for his 'Gonzo' journalism style—a first-person narrative where he often takes center stage. He gained recognition in the early 1990s through various print media features and debuted his first TV series, 'Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends', in 1998. In this series, he immersed himself in obscure American subcultures, aiming to uncover the extraordinary within everyday life. He later produced two more seasons and the series 'When Louis met…', where he engaged with Britain’s most eccentric personalities, along with numerous specials up to the present day. Below, I share my top 10 Louis Theroux documentaries, complete with brief clips from each.
10. Survivalists First aired – 5 February 1998
Survivalism is a movement where individuals prepare for potential future crises, such as government upheavals, pandemics, natural disasters, or wars. Louis interacts with various people preparing for this impending 'shift' in diverse ways. He meets an ex-marine who established 'Almost Heaven', a small group of conspiracy theorists convinced of the imminent New World Order and planning to resist it. He also encounters families who have abandoned suburban life to live in remote areas, safeguarding themselves from perceived threats. Louis observes them patrolling their properties at night and shopping at 'Safetrek', a survivalist store. The clip introduces Mike, a survivalist living in a self-built underground cabin, and later features the Aryan Nations, a white nationalist neo-Nazi group.
9. U.F.O. Hunters First aired – 22 January 1998
This documentary earns its spot on the list due to the sheer eccentricity of its subjects. Among the more conventional UFO enthusiasts, like those visiting Area 51 in Nevada, Louis encounters the community running the ‘Little Ale-Inn’ in Rachel, a small town near Area 51. Unfazed by the oddities, Louis meets ‘Thor Templar’, who declares himself the “Lord Commander of the Earth Protectorate” and claims to have killed over 20 aliens using homemade gadgets. The documentary takes an even stranger turn when Louis seeks out ‘Reverend Robert Shaw’, who claims to communicate with extraterrestrials. Louis gets the chance to speak with an alien named “Korton” from the “Koldas” system, a Saturn-like planet whose inhabitants allegedly once lived in our solar system but fled due to interstellar warfare. Their surreal conversation is featured in the clip.
8. Louis, Martin and Michael First aired – 17 November 2003
A follow-up to Martin Bashir’s ‘Living with Michael Jackson’ documentary from earlier that year, ‘Louis, Martin and Michael’ documents Louis’ attempts to secure an interview with Michael Jackson. Despite efforts to connect through Michael’s friend Uri Geller, Louis is denied access while Bashir is granted permission. The documentary parallels Bashir’s work, as Louis follows Michael to Las Vegas and meets his “personal magician,” Majestik Magnificent, who has lived with the Jackson family for nearly two decades. Louis tries to get closer to Michael through his relatives, even paying $5000 to interview Michael’s father, Joe, hoping it would lead to a meeting with Michael. However, the interview is boycotted. True to his style, Louis asks Joe pointed questions about Michael’s appearance and past abuse, among other topics. The second interview with Joe, included in the clip, reveals tense moments, but Louis maintains his composure, crafting a compelling documentary despite never meeting Michael.
7. Wrestling First aired – 6 July 1999
Louis delves into the world of professional wrestling in the United States, exploring both major WCW events and smaller, more extreme factions like the AIWF, known for using barbed wire and other weapons. He visits the ‘Power Plant’, a training ground for aspiring wrestlers, and meets their fiery trainer, Sarge. Louis probes into how much of the wrestling action is pre-planned, a question that offends Sarge, who views it as a slight against their athleticism. The smaller wrestling groups openly discuss their scripted storylines, calling it a “soap opera in spandex,” while larger organizations are less forthcoming. During his visit to the Power Plant, Sarge puts Louis through a grueling training session, resulting in a humorous yet challenging experience, though the clip doesn’t capture Louis attempting to flee or vomiting afterward.
6. Black Nationalism First aired – 2 June 1999
Black Nationalism centers on the ideals of black unity and independence from white society. In this documentary, Louis delves into the more radical aspects of the movement, which often veer into separatism, racism, and assertions of black superiority. He visits Harlem, New York, meeting key figures like Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist, and Khalid Abdul Muhammed, a black separatist labeled ‘the most dangerous man in America’. The film also highlights the tragic shooting of Amadou Diallo, a young black man killed by white police officers, with Louis joining a protest led by Reverend Sharpton. A striking moment occurs when Louis accompanies Khalid Muhammed on a shopping trip, during which Muhammed expresses his disdain for white people, claiming they are “absolutely disagreeable to coexist with peacefully.” The documentary also features the ‘Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge’, an extremist group that believes historical figures like Jesus, Henry VIII, and William Shakespeare were black. Louis’ encounter with this group is captured in the clip.
5. Most Hated Family in America First aired – 1 April 2007
Louis Theroux described the Phelps family, the focus of this documentary, as the most extreme individuals he had ever encountered. Despite their radical beliefs, they were polite, articulate, and, particularly the younger members, quite amiable. Led by Fred Phelps, the family operates the ‘Westboro Baptist Church’ in Kansas, a hate group infamous for its slogan, “God hates Fags.” Their distorted interpretation of the Bible leads them to blame all global tragedies on homosexuality, which they deem the ultimate sin, and society’s growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. The group gained notoriety for picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, displaying signs like ‘Thank God for dead soldiers’ and ‘God hates fag soldiers.’ As always, Louis maintains a neutral stance, joining them on protests and examining their belief system without bias. In the clip, Shirley Phelps explains their ideology, controversially interpreting ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ as a condemnation of homosexuality and asserting that God “does evil.” Despite the shocking claims, Louis remains composed throughout.
4. Behind Bars First aired – 13 January 2008
In one of my favorite documentaries, Louis immerses himself in San Quentin prison, located in San Francisco, one of America’s most notorious penitentiaries housing gang members, rapists, and murderers. While the film doesn’t delve as deeply into individual stories as some of his other works, Louis highlights a range of inmates, including guards, a gang member known as ‘Playboy Nolan,’ and ‘David Silver,’ who is serving 500 years plus 11 life sentences. The constant presence of violent criminals around Louis, not just during meals or yard time, creates a surreal atmosphere. He explores racial friendships and relationships within the prison, such as the bond between a transgender woman named Deborah and her boyfriend, who share a cell. Despite the prison’s grim environment, Louis manages to connect with its inhabitants, sometimes pushing them to discuss topics they’d rather avoid. In the clip, he engages with a group of white inmates about racial segregation and their crimes.
3. Louis and the Nazis First aired – 21 December 2003
Louis delves into the world of white supremacists and neo-Nazis, living among individuals with some of the most detestable ideologies imaginable. He meets Tom Metzger, labeled the most dangerous racist in America, a former KKK grand dragon, congressional candidate, and leader of a white resistance group. Louis also encounters a mother who indoctrinates her two 11-year-old daughters with racist beliefs, evident as they sing hateful songs during a car ride. The documentary focuses on how these ideologies affect children raised in such environments and exposes contradictions in their beliefs. Louis follows Metzger and his associate to Mexico and a skinhead rally, questioning the young girls about their morals, which they parrot without understanding. A notable inconsistency arises when Louis discovers Metzger has a Peruvian immigrant friend, Oscar, whom he helps with television repairs. This revelation challenges Metzger’s racist rhetoric.
In one segment, Louis visits a man named ‘Skip,’ whose entire family are skinheads and racists. When accused of being Jewish, Louis refuses to answer, believing that doing so would validate their prejudice. Despite threats, he maintains his stance until the accusers walk away. This moment stands out as one of the most memorable in his documentaries, showcasing his courage, especially after Skip threatens violence if Louis were Jewish. In the clip, Louis questions Oscar, Metzger’s Peruvian friend, about his contradictory views, leaving Tom Metzger visibly embarrassed.
2. Porn First aired – 29 January 1998
Louis discovers that there are fewer male porn actors globally than astronauts while exploring the American adult film industry from an insider’s perspective. Unlike his usual journalistic approach, he immerses himself deeply in the industry, even receiving an offer to star in a porn film. He joins a talent agency and observes firsthand the filming process, uncovering the financial allure and dark realities, such as drug abuse and the risk of HIV. He spends time with J.J. Michaels, a rising pornstar seemingly unaware of the industry’s dangers, and meets Troy, an actor who identifies as straight but performs in gay films for money, a practice known as “gay for pay.” In the clip, director Rob Black attempts to recruit Louis, who humorously declines, stating it’s “not something people in England are ready to see.”
1. Law and Disorder First aired – 30 November 2008
The 2008 specials ‘Law and Disorder in Philadelphia’ and ‘Law and Disorder in Johannesburg’ take Louis to crime-ridden areas worldwide. In Philadelphia, he accompanies a specialized police unit tackling gun violence and the so-called “War on Drugs,” interacting with gun offenders, drug dealers, addicts, and even a drug lord. In Johannesburg, he observes private security firms, one of which violently apprehends and beats suspects. Despite the extreme violence, including witnessing a brutal beating and receiving multiple warnings about potential shootings or mob attacks, Louis remains composed. A particularly graphic scene involves a security team handling a street disturbance. Throughout, Louis wears a bulletproof vest and employs his signature wide-eyed curiosity to engage with criminals, leading to shocking interviews. In the clip, he speaks with two South African criminals, one of whom chillingly describes how he would rob Louis by threatening his family.
