Louis Theroux, the celebrated British documentarian known for his unflinching explorations of subcultures, has made his highly anticipated Netflix debut with Inside the Manosphere. Released in March 2026, the feature-length documentary delves into a controversial and increasingly influential online movement: the so-called "manosphere." This digital world is populated by men who champion what they describe as "traditional" masculinity, often advocating for male dominance in relationships and openly disparaging feminism. As the documentary has quickly become a talking point, it’s clear that Theroux’s latest project is stirring both reflection and debate across the UK and beyond.
According to BBC Newsbeat, Netflix describes the film as a "no-holds barred" investigation into a "growing ultra-masculine network." Theroux’s approach, as ever, is to sit down with some of the movement's most prominent—and polarizing—figures. Among them is UK streamer Harrison Sullivan, better known as HS TikkyTokky, who engages in a heated exchange with Theroux over accusations of promoting misogynistic views. The documentary also features American businessman Justin Waller, who, like many in the manosphere, presents himself as a paragon of wealth, success, and masculine dominance, often surrounded by young women.
One notable absence from Theroux’s film is Andrew Tate, the notorious figurehead of the manosphere. While Tate appears in archive footage and is mentioned frequently, Theroux revealed in interviews that he came close to securing a face-to-face encounter but ultimately did not. Instead, the documentary assembles an array of infamous influencers, many of whom are unapologetic about their divisive stances on gender roles. The film exposes the twisted morality of those who scorn OnlyFans models while profiting from their labor, and who criticize sexually liberated women even as they practice what they call "one-way monogamy."
Yet, as Yahoo Entertainment notes, the men who actually consume this content—the followers and fans—are largely absent from Theroux’s narrative. This gap is filled by another recent documentary, Men of the Manosphere, released by James Blake on BBC Three in November 2025 and still streaming on BBC iPlayer. Where Theroux focuses on the high-profile personalities at the top of the manosphere pyramid, Blake’s film turns its lens on the everyday young men who are drawn into the movement’s gravitational pull.
Blake’s documentary offers a more intimate and revealing look at the lower levels of the manosphere. It follows three core case studies: Sam, a lonely 16-year-old from Coventry who paid for a self-improvement course taught by influencer Hamza Ahmed and now aims to launch his own; Jack, a fitness influencer trying to abstain from masturbation for 100 days; and Shayne, a Liverpool boxing enthusiast who entered the manosphere pipeline after a painful breakup. As Blake himself confesses, "The Reels were served up. I didn't notice that gradually they were shaping the way I thought." This honesty, coupled with Blake’s willingness to question his own relationship to masculinity, gives his documentary a raw and relatable edge.
Blake’s approach stands in stark contrast to Theroux’s more formal, detached style. While Theroux’s trademark is to patiently provide a platform for his subjects to expose themselves, Blake’s casual, on-the-level questioning invites his subjects to work out their beliefs in real time. The result, according to Yahoo Entertainment, is a portrayal of young men who are still forming their opinions, unguarded and vulnerable, rather than hardened ideologues. This difference in tone has sparked discussion about which approach better captures the true impact of the manosphere on its audience.
Back on Netflix, Inside the Manosphere has been met with mixed reactions. BBC Newsbeat gathered five young men, aged 20 to 23, to gauge their responses after viewing the documentary. Reece Hunt, 21, admitted that while he’d always found manosphere content "quite funny," Theroux’s film revealed a "new aspect" to the creators, showing them in a more troubling light. Thaua Oliviera De Lima, also 21, said he’d previously thought the content was "jokes" but now saw the creators as "quite bad people," noting that their controversial stances seemed designed to generate more views and profits. "It’s all a scheme," he concluded.
Other panellists observed the influence of manosphere content on their own social circles. Zeesham Khan, 23, recounted knowing people who had "lost friends because those friends believe: 'If you're not rich, I shouldn't be hanging around with you.'" The allure of quick wealth and status, peddled through paid courses and online communities, was a recurring theme. Kenan, 20, said he understood why some young men might invest in these courses, even if he personally hadn’t. "A lot of people, when you get to your 20s, they feel like they're running out of time to make a move, to be rich, so they invest in these courses," he explained. "They're the only ones profiting off that."
Theroux’s documentary has not escaped criticism. Some, like TikTok commentator Jamaal Burkmar, felt the film didn’t break new ground but acknowledged it as a "good introduction" for those unfamiliar with the manosphere’s pervasiveness. Burkmar also pointed to deeper societal issues—an unforgiving job market, under-investment in youth services, and a lack of community—as driving young men online in search of guidance. "If people don't have an opportunity, if people don't have a way to earn a living, if people don't have a way to grow in this country, they'll always resort to the same kind of demons and the same kind of enemies," he told BBC Newsbeat. "And those ones are immigrants and the disenfranchised, essentially."
Forensic science graduate Anakin Lee, 22, echoed this sense of vulnerability. After months of job searching, he understood why some might find the manosphere’s promises of escape and "getting out of the Matrix" so compelling. "There's so many people in your position, they're vulnerable, they've dedicated a lot of time to education, now they feel like they can't get a job," he said.
Women’s voices, however, are notably scarce in Theroux’s documentary—a point raised by both critics and charities. Women’s Aid described the film as "uncomfortable, yet absolutely essential viewing," but called for greater efforts to counter misogyny and for tech companies to be held more accountable for the content young people see. The charity Refuge drew a direct line between the manosphere and real-world violence against women, stating, "The misogynistic and anti-feminist views promoted in the manosphere influence how some men behave in real-world relationships."
Despite its flaws, Inside the Manosphere has succeeded in sparking a vital conversation about what it means to be a man in the digital age, the seductive pull of online influencers, and the urgent need for support and education for young people navigating these treacherous waters. Both Theroux’s and Blake’s documentaries are currently streaming—on Netflix and BBC iPlayer, respectively—offering viewers a chance to explore the many faces and far-reaching consequences of the manosphere.
As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: the conversation around masculinity, influence, and the digital world is far from over.