Poster
Description: Louis Theroux looks nervous,
caught in a headlock by a faceless man with huge biceps and prominent veins. Louis
Theroux Inside the Manosphere is written in white and blue against a
grey-blue background.
As a documentary producer, Louis Theroux is arguably the most well-known right now. My initial exposure to his work was through his interview with notorious TV personality and sexual predator Jimmy Savile, which led me to believe that much of Theroux’s work covered topics too uncomfortable for me to watch for entertainment. However, I later realised Theroux’s approach was empathetic, especially during his recent BBC series with such talented individuals as Stormzy, Bear Grylls, and Dame Judi Dench. Theroux comes across as warm, engaging, and self-deprecating, and he’s skilled at asking tough questions that challenge his subjects. Theroux’s style makes him particularly suited to tackling difficult topics, which is why Netflix’s Inside the Manosphere piqued my interest. I’d followed renowned misogynist Andrew Tate’s rise and fall from a distance, like watching a clown car crash in slow motion.
The so-called “manosphere” is a network of men on social media who promote their views on male success. Some seem to enjoy creating controversy for its own sake, but others genuinely believe their alarming rhetoric. Among the influencers featured in Inside the Manosphere, Theroux spends most time with British influencer Harrison Smith (HStikkyTokky). Initially, Smith seems curious, expecting “clout” and extra views. Over time, he turns hostile, mocking Theroux’s appearance and strength, and boasting about his sexual exploits as if they are aspirational. I admire Theroux’s composure in such moments: Smith’s final ambush involving his mother is intense yet unintentionally funny.
Theroux also appears on a
podcast, Fresh and Fit, hosted by Amrou Fudl (also called Myron Gaines).
Fudl/Gaines introduces his girlfriend, Angie, as “the dishwasher.” Dustin
Poynter, pass me a big red flag, please. Theroux observes how Angie appeared
uncomfortable throughout her brief interaction with him and Fudl, though
Fudl/Gaines brushes it off. As a result, an interview with her outside of
Fudl’s intimidating shadow could have been quite enlightening; the only hint we
get of her feelings is at the end of the documentary. Similarly, we almost get a
sense of nuance on Fudl when Theroux tries to talk to his assistant offstage.
The woman finds the female influencers whom Fudl/Gaines actively belittles on
his show; however, he quickly shuts down the possibility of an interview. If I
were Theroux, I would have been tempted to ask the poor women if they felt
unsafe.
Inside the Manosphere is a tough watch for women. The documentary personally evoked anger, concern, and amused disbelief. The men—though all physically different—appear eerily similar: rich, muscular, and proudly promiscuous. The obsession with Lamborghinis borders on parody. Moreover, their claims of taking “the red pill” and escaping “the matrix” are bizarre, especially as those terms were created by the Wachowski sisters, both transgender women. Smith calls Theroux a puppet while obeying his subscribers by referencing Jimmy Savile, clearly aiming to provoke Theroux without success. These influencers profit from controversy and vulnerable followers, and their narrow definition of “real manhood” seems stunted. The use of “gay” as an insult and anti-Semitic remarks reminded me of the immaturity of high school banter from the 2000s.
In conclusion, Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is less a deep dive into a dark aspect of social media and more a polite glance at the surface: at an hour and thirty minutes, it's too short. Theroux asks some good questions to get the influencers to think outside the box, but he fails to include those who might receive the brunt of these men’s frustration: what do female influencers make of the “manosphere”? While social media misogynists get attention, there are also creators who highlight toxic relationship behaviours—Dustin Poynter stands out, and his growing collection of red and green flags. Theroux could have included such voices in the documentary. Nevertheless, it is a gentle start to raising awareness of the importance of positive male role models and what happens when toxicity seeps in.
My Rating: 3 STARS OUT OF 5
My Sources:
Louis Theroux:
Inside the Manosphere poster
– https://msmagazine.com/2026/03/22/inside-the-manosphere-social-media-louis-theroux/
Which influencers
does Theroux interview? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy57z4v2z97o
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