Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis
Louis Theroux revisits Westboro Baptist Church as defections and legal pressure expose fractures beneath its notorious public extremism.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- provocative
- unsettling
- darkly comic
- social issue documentary night
- discussion viewing
What critics said
Critics largely found the documentary captivating, extraordinary, and revealing in its examination of Westboro Baptist Church, while some questioned its sensational publicity value and felt the initial excitement faded.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Louis Theroux revisits Westboro Baptist Church members and becomes more challenging in his exchanges with their beliefs and conduct.
The Phelps family's anti-gay demonstrations and publicity-seeking rhetoric are central to the documentary's subject.
Several members of the Phelps family have left the group, creating the film's central internal crisis.
The film's reception repeatedly raises whether giving the group attention rewards the shocking views it uses to attract publicity.
Films like Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis, and why
Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America
observational documentary treatment of religious extremism and a provocative American subculture
Jesus Camp
immersive documentary examination of insular religious fundamentalism and its social consequences
The Act of Killing
confrontational nonfiction portrait of extremist ideology and public spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Emma Cooper
- Release Date
- 2011-08-14
- Runtime
- 60 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (63)
Cast
- Louis Theroux
- Fred Phelps
- Shirley Phelps-Roper
- Lauren Drain
- Steve Drain
- Betty Phelps
- Jael Phelps
- Libby Phelps
- Sara Phelps
- Grace Phelps-Roper
Common questions
- What is Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis about?
- Louis Theroux revisits Westboro Baptist Church as defections and legal pressure expose fractures beneath its notorious public extremism.
- What is Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis.
- What did critics think of Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis?
- Critics largely found the documentary captivating, extraordinary, and revealing in its examination of Westboro Baptist Church, while some questioned its sensational publicity value and felt the initial excitement faded.
- Which films are like Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis?
- Films with a similar feel include Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America, Jesus Camp, and The Act of Killing.
- How long is Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis?
- Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis runs 60 minutes.
