My Scientology Movie

2016 • 99 minutes

About this movie

Louis Theroux's first theatrical feature documentary, from the Oscar winning producer of Searching for Sugarman and Man on Wire, sees the renowned filmmaker delve into the world of Scientology, one of the worlds most mysterious and powerful religions, in what he regards as 'the Holy Grail of Stories'. With a lifetime of experience dealing with eccentric, unpalatable and unexpected human behaviour, the unassuming Theroux won't take no for an answer when his request to enter the Church of Scientology headquarters is turned down. Inspired by the Church's alleged techniques, and aided by former Scientology members-turned-whistleblowers, Theroux uses actors to recreate incidents people claim to have experienced as members in an attempt to better understand the way it operates. However, in a bizarre twist, it becomes clear that Louis is not the only one making a documentary... Suffused with a good dose of humour and moments worthy of a Hollywood script, My Scientology Movie is as outlandish as it is revealing.

Ratings and reviews

Like I said I'm no fan of Scientology but really this is not a very good documentary at all, it was confusing, oddly paced, felt highly edited as if all the important interviews were cut down to make room for uninformative random conversations, and just when you think its getting started it ends, Panorama's investigation into Scientology was much better. Very disappointed.

Couldn't wait to see this is the cinema and even went out of my way on a visit to London to see it at Leicester Square and pleased I did. It's unfair for people to compare this documentary with other Scientology documentaries as Louis' style is much more relaxed all around, almost child like curiosity in everything he does and that's why it works.

I am a huge fan of Louis Theroux so i was excited to see he was finally making a docu-movie on scientology. Unfortunately this didnt meet exoectations. Louis seemed different somehow like everything was forced and acted out like he was working to a script and deliberately trying to get a rise from people .. When he naturally winds people up its so much funnier. I dont know it had great potential but just didn't have the oomph his documentaries nornally do