TV series
The Century of the Self
2002, English, on BBC Two. Created by Adam Curtis.
A secret history of the 20th century.
The legacy of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud informs the lives of people throughout the world even to this day, though it's a phenomenon to which most are unaware. The film is an exhaustive examination of his theories on human desire, and how they're applied to platforms such as advertising, consumerism and politics.
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 4
- Episode length
- 58 min
- Status
- Ended in 2002
Absolute Cinema
Drop everything and watch it.
8.4/10 from 125 TMDB viewer ratings.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
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Where to watch The Century of the Self
The Century of the Self isn’t listed on any OTT platform in India yet.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Latest episode
S1 E4: Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering
Aired 7 April 2002
Seasons 1
Cast & crew
- Adam CurtisCreator
- Adam CurtisNarrator · 4 ep
- Anne BernaysSelf · 4 ep
- Martin BergmannSelf · 4 ep
- Robert ReichSelf · 4 ep
- Edward L. BernaysSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Sigmund FreudSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Anna FreudSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Wilhelm ReichSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Tony BlairSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Margaret ThatcherSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Bill ClintonSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
- Ronald ReaganSelf (archive footage) · 4 ep
Details
- First aired
- 17 March 2002
- Last aired
- 7 April 2002
- Network
- BBC Two
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Type
- Miniseries
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Century of the Self: quick answers
Is The Century of the Self worth watching?
Our verdict is Absolute Cinema: Drop everything and watch it. It scores 8.4/10 from 125 TMDB viewer ratings.
How many seasons of The Century of the Self are there?
The Century of the Self has 1 season and 4 episodes, about 58 minutes each.
Is The Century of the Self finished?
Yes. The Century of the Self ended in 2002, so you can watch the whole story.
Which OTT platform is The Century of the Self on?
The Century of the Self isn’t listed on any OTT platform in India yet. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
The Century of the Self parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Century of the Self yet.
What shows are like The Century of the Self?
If you liked The Century of the Self, try WWII in HD, The War, The Civil War.
Who created The Century of the Self?
The Century of the Self was created by Adam Curtis and stars Adam Curtis, Anne Bernays, Martin Bergmann.