Abby Martin’s Earth’s Greatest Enemy is a triumph: a documentary that fuses uncompromising journalism with cinematic power, exposing truths the mainstream media refuses to touch. Review by Siobhan Miller.
ABBY MARTIN'S new feature documentary, Earth’s Greatest Enemy, is not just another climate film—it is a radical intervention into the conversation about ecological collapse. Co-directed with Mike Prysner, the film makes a devastating case that the U.S. military is the single largest institutional polluter on the planet, exempt from international climate agreements and shielded from scrutiny by corporate media. Martin’s work here is both urgent and visionary, a continuation of her career-long commitment to independent, left-wing journalism that has been criminally shunned by mainstream outlets.
From the opening scene—an unhoused veteran playing piano on “Veterans Row” in Brentwood, California—the film establishes its method: connecting the human wreckage of empire to the planetary devastation wrought by militarism. This is not a detached environmental documentary. It is a polemic, a rallying cry, and a meticulously researched indictment of the Pentagon’s role in accelerating climate collapse. Martin draws on testimonies from veterans, scientists, and frontline communities, weaving together stories of poisoned ecosystems, contaminated water, and scorched landscapes. The result is a tapestry of evidence that leaves no doubt: empire is incompatible with ecological survival.
What makes Earth’s Greatest Enemy so powerful is Martin’s refusal to sanitise or soften her message. She has never played by the rules of corporate media, and this film is another example of why. While mainstream outlets obsess over consumer recycling or greenwashing corporate pledges, Martin points the camera at the elephant in the room: the U.S. war machine. This courage has defined her career. From Breaking the Set to The Empire Files, she has consistently exposed imperial crimes, only to be marginalised, censored, or ignored by establishment platforms. That exclusion is not accidental—it is the price of telling the truth. And yet, Martin persists, building an independent media ecosystem that refuses compromise.
The documentary’s scope is global. We see Alaska’s melting glaciers, toxic battlefields abroad, and contaminated bases across the United States. Each vignette underscores the same point: the military’s operations are not just collateral damage to the environment—they are central drivers of ecological collapse. Martin’s framing is unapologetically anti-imperialist. She does not reduce the crisis to abstract “human activity” but names the system responsible: endless expansion, militarised empire, and capitalist plunder. This clarity is rare, and it is why her work resonates with audiences hungry for honesty.
Cinematically, the film is stunning. The juxtaposition of intimate human testimony with sweeping environmental imagery creates a rhythm that is both haunting and galvanising. The pacing is deliberate, allowing viewers to absorb the enormity of the evidence while never losing sight of the human cost. The score underscores the urgency without slipping into melodrama. It is a film crafted with precision, but also with passion—a reflection of Martin’s own uncompromising voice.
The reception has been overwhelmingly positive. On platforms like Letterboxd, the film has earned near-universal acclaim, with audiences praising its courage and clarity. Screenings across the U.S. have sold out, a testament to the hunger for media that dares to confront empire. This success is particularly striking given Martin’s exclusion from mainstream coverage. While corporate outlets continue to ignore her work, audiences are voting with their feet, filling theatres and spreading the word.
Ultimately, Earth’s Greatest Enemy is more than a documentary—it is a weapon of truth. It challenges viewers not only to recognise the military as the planet’s greatest polluter, but to act on that knowledge. Martin’s career has always been about agitation, about shaking people out of complacency. This film continues that tradition, offering both analysis and inspiration. It is a reminder that independent journalism, though shunned by the mainstream, can still shape consciousness and spark movements.
In a media landscape dominated by silence and spin, Abby Martin stands as a beacon of integrity. Earth’s Greatest Enemy proves that when journalists refuse compromise, they can produce work that is both artistically compelling and politically transformative. The mainstream may try to bury her, but Martin’s voice is louder than ever. This film is not just a documentary—it is a call to arms for those who believe that survival requires confronting empire head-on.
Siobhan Miller is presently living in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
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