What We, the Hated is really about
We, the Hated puts you inside the lives of people most of the country has already decided to despise. Director Rich Felgate doesn't stand at arm's length from his subjects — he embeds with Just Stop Oil activists as they stage the kind of disruptive protests that have made them arguably the most publicly reviled group in recent British political memory. The film's central question isn't whether their tactics are right or wrong. It's something harder: what does it actually cost a person — emotionally, legally, socially — to take a radical stand inside a society that calls itself a democracy? At 89 minutes, the film doesn't overstay its welcome, but it doesn't let you off the hook easily, either.
How We, the Hated came together — production and premiere
The film is a UK production, brought together by Passion Planet and Firebreak Films, with executive producers David Allen (of Passion Planet) and Hugh Hartford steering it toward completion. Rich Felgate, who has built a reputation for getting close to subjects that most filmmakers would treat with more distance, directs. That proximity is the whole point here — the camera doesn't observe from across the street.
Sheffield Doc/Fest selected We, the Hated as its opening night film for 2026, which is not a small thing. Sheffield DocFest is one of the most respected documentary festivals in the world, and opening night is a curatorial statement — the programmers are saying this is the film that sets the tone for everything that follows. It's the kind of recognition that signals a documentary has something genuinely urgent to say, not just a well-crafted argument.
As of this writing, there's no wide theatrical release date confirmed, and IMDb lists the film without aggregated scores — which makes sense, given it's still in its festival run. Box office figures haven't been reported, and critic consensus scores on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic don't exist yet. That will change once it screens more broadly. For now, the DocFest opening night slot is the clearest signal of the film's standing. Movie OTT will update streaming and theatrical availability as new platforms confirm the title.
Why We, the Hated stands out from other climate documentaries
Honestly, the climate documentary space is crowded — and a lot of those films make the same mistake of preaching to people who already agree with them. What's striking about We, the Hated is that it doesn't seem interested in converting anyone. Felgate appears more concerned with the psychological and social texture of what it means to be hated publicly, in a sustained way, for something you believe is morally necessary.
The film's title does a lot of work before a single frame plays. It reclaims the hostility rather than apologizing for it — the activists aren't framed as misunderstood heroes waiting for vindication, but as people who have accepted the label and kept going anyway. That's a more complicated portrait than most activist documentaries manage.
There's a moment — I won't say more than this — where one of the subjects describes the gap between how they're covered in the media and how they experience their own actions, and it's the kind of thing that makes you sit with the discomfort rather than resolve it. The film seems to trust that discomfort. It doesn't rush to reassure you. Craft-wise, Felgate's approach here is observational without being passive; the camera is present in a way that feels earned rather than intrusive. For a documentary tracking real legal repercussions and real public hostility, that's harder to pull off than it sounds. Movie OTT tracks critical consensus as reviews come in post-festival, so check back for updated scores once the film reaches wider audiences.
Where to stream We, the Hated online
We, the Hated is currently available on major OTT services — the Where-to-Watch widget at the top of this page has the full, up-to-date breakdown of every platform carrying the film right now. Streaming availability for documentary titles can shift quickly after a festival run, especially as distribution deals get finalized in the months following a high-profile premiere like Sheffield DocFest. Movie OTT, which aggregates streaming data across platforms in real time, is the easiest way to check whether the film has landed on a service you already subscribe to rather than hunting through each app individually. If you don't see it on your usual platform yet, it's worth checking back — post-DocFest pickups often move fast.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed We, the Hated?
We, the Hated was directed by Rich Felgate, a British documentary filmmaker known for close-access work with politically charged subjects. The film is produced by Passion Planet and Firebreak Films, with executive producers David Allen and Hugh Hartford.
Q: Where can I watch We, the Hated?
We, the Hated is available on major OTT services. The Where-to-Watch widget at the top of this Movie OTT page lists every platform currently streaming the film, and availability is updated in real time as new distribution deals are confirmed.
Q: Is We, the Hated based on a true story?
Yes — it's a documentary, not a dramatization. The film follows real Just Stop Oil activists through actual protests, legal proceedings, and media scrutiny in the UK. The people on screen are not actors, and the situations depicted are drawn from real events.
Q: When did We, the Hated premiere?
The film is scheduled to premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2026, where it was selected as the opening night film — a significant curatorial distinction for one of the world's leading documentary festivals. A wider release timeline has not been confirmed as of current reporting.
Q: How long is We, the Hated?
The film runs 89 minutes, making it a single-sitting watch without feeling rushed or padded. It was released in 2026 and is classified as a documentary feature.
Final thoughts on We, the Hated
Not every film about protest is actually about the people protesting. We, the Hated seems to be — and that's what makes it worth your time, whatever you think of Just Stop Oil. Rich Felgate's documentary doesn't ask you to agree with its subjects. It asks you to look at them as human beings absorbing a remarkable amount of social punishment for a conviction. That's a harder ask than it sounds. If you're drawn to documentary filmmaking that sits in moral ambiguity without flinching from it, this is one to catch early. Check current streaming options at Movie OTT.