Television series
The Anarchists
- Political drama
- Very dark
A six-part HBO documentary following an anarchist conference in Acapulco that spirals from utopian gathering into something darker and deadlier. It's an intimate, unsettling portrait of idealism meeting reality—how clever people with the best intentions can create conditions for disaster. For anyone fascinated by the gap between theory and practice, or how communities can turn toxic.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy patient, wry documentaries that let a crowd of true believers argue themselves into corners while the camera keeps rolling.
Skip it if you want a tidy argument for or against libertarian ideas; this is more interested in the people and their contradictions than in settling the debate.
What it asks of you: Six one-hour episodes, a patient watch that stays with its subjects over years, so expect slow stretches and loose threads rather than a neat through-line.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Toys That Made Us2017
Similar episodic structure examining how small, passionate communities created massive cultural phenomena. Warm, accessible, with genuine insight into the human drive to build something lasting and meaningful.
But If you're looking for moral complexity, this leans more celebratory than critical. It's comfort viewing, not provocation.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey2022
Documents another idealistic community—a polygamous fundamentalist sect—that became corrupted from within. Same arc: charismatic leader, true believers, slow descent into control and abuse. Gripping and deeply human.
But Heavy subject matter about manipulation and trauma. Unflinching in ways that can be hard to sit with.
Chicago Fire2012
Another cautionary tale of utopian ambition colliding with reality and ego. Shows how confidence and cryptocurrency can seduce smart people into terrible decisions. Darkly funny but substantive.
But Some might find the schadenfreude tone glib given real people were harmed. Lighter in mood than The Anarchists, which some prefer and others resent.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Anarchists
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Death of Stalin2017
Both are about communities of true believers destroyed from within by ego and vision. The Anarchists lets you see it close-up; this film shows you why it's always the same story, told through laughter instead of dread.
Satirical film about power vacuum and ideology in Stalinist USSR. Uses absurdist comedy to show how utopian rhetoric becomes cynical power-grabbing. Same structure—idealists, factions, violence—told in completely different register, which is clarifying.
But Black-and-white satire with a cast of Russian characters. Tone is arch and distancing, not intimate. Won't give you the human connection that makes The Anarchists so painful.
More like this (5)
The Vow2020
Follows the implosion of a self-help cult from the perspective of people still trying to make sense of their involvement. Methodical, empathetic, shows how ideology becomes justification for harm.
But Moves slowly. If you want a thriller-paced takedown of bad actors, this prioritizes understanding over accusation.
Food Network Star2005
Another story of visionary thinking curdled by narcissism and delusion. Slick, fast-moving, shows how charisma and ideology can blind smart investors and employees to obvious red flags.
But Business documentary mode can feel shallow after The Anarchists' emotional depth. Less interested in the human casualties, more in the financial spectacle.
McMillion$2020
A con disguised as a game, told across the McDonald's empire. Methodical unraveling of a fraud with real victims. Shows how people rationalize participating in something rotten.
But Organized-crime procedural rather than ideological examination. The stakes feel smaller, the villains more obvious.
Showbiz Kids2020
Explores a community—child actors—where ideology (parental support, industry grooming) enables exploitation. Thoughtful about complicity and how systems protect abusers while blaming the harmed.
But Narrower focus than The Anarchists. Less about a charismatic movement, more about structural abuse in a specific industry.
Killer Ratings2019
Brazilian true crime exploring media, corruption, and violence. Shows how ideology and greed collapse into tragedy. Raw and genuinely disturbing in unexpected ways.
But Language barrier unless you speak Portuguese or are comfortable with subtitles. Tonal shift from prestige HBO to grimy news documentary.
