'The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism' Review: A Wake-Up Call in 75 Riveting Minutes
- Romey Norton
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26
By Romey Norton - June 18, 2025
What if the biggest story shaping our lives wasn’t a conspiracy theory, but simply… overlooked? That’s the unsettling premise behind The Invisible Doctrine, a gripping, eye-opening documentary that rips the curtain back on a word many have heard, few can define, and almost all of us live under: neoliberalism.
Narrated by journalist and campaigner George Monbiot, this documentary is a companion to the best-selling book of the same name and is an important lesson in history. Within minutes, the film reframes our everyday experiences, from housing costs and healthcare cuts to climate anxiety and gig-economy fatigue, not as isolated issues, but symptoms of a much bigger ideological shift that’s been quietly steering the ship for decades.
What is 'The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism' about?
One of my favourite quotes from this documentary is “it’s easier to envision the end of the world than the end of Capitalism”, and if that’s not enough to get you hooked, I don’t know what is.
Through sharp editing, animation, and a wry sense of momentum (the pace is fantastic), this documentary traces how a once-fringe economic theory, championed by figures like Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, became mainstream policy, transforming citizens into consumers and the public good into a profit stream. And, how this is effectively destroying the planet and the lives of people on it today.
Rather than overload viewers with jargon, Monbiot’s narration is conversational, offering not only critique but clarity. The setting is simple with Monbiot sitting on a chair in a room, and addressing the camera. No one else gives an opinion or is interviewed, it’s just him. It feels like a casual lecture - and I really like this style of storytelling.
The documentary connects the dots between Thatcherism, Reaganomics, deregulation, (words many people might have heard but can’t explain) and today’s corporate-dominated landscape, painting a picture of neoliberalism not as a conspiracy, but as a quietly successful marketing campaign with global consequences. I want to point out that you don’t have to be a history, political or environmental whizz to understand this documentary.
There are visuals all the way through, from historical footage of Hitler, the suffragettes, to AI imagery. What’s very interesting though, is that the script does not rely on these images. They add value by keeping the audience engaged, but you could strip the audio and listen to this as a Podcast. Monbiot’s voice is clear and authoritative, and the information he provides isn’t over-complicated or confusing.
The Invisible Doctrine succeeds where many political documentaries stumble: it stays focused, digestible, and grounded. The runtime is lean (just over an hour), the visuals engaging without feeling gimmicky, and the tone avoids doom without veering into naïve optimism. There are points where you might feel frustrated, angry and then hopefully inspired by the end. Wanting to make a change, and starting creating a new story for our futures.
Is this documentary worth watching?
Yes. If you’ve ever asked why the rich keep getting richer, why public services feel permanently underfunded, or why the climate crisis seems stuck in committee, this film gives you an insight and answer. And while it doesn’t claim to offer all the solutions, it does offer the tools to recognise the system we’re in. That alone makes it one of the most essential documentaries of 2025. I came away feeling smarter, a little sadder, but more hopeful that we might be able to build a better future - not buy it. In an era defined by burnout, distraction, and misinformation, The Invisible Doctrine invites us to stop scrolling and start seeing.
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