This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - May 23-May 29, 2025
Finishing out the fifth month of 2025, I’m happy to share one of my favorite documentaries of the year as the Pick of the Week. It’s likely to be a major awards contender, though it’s not eligible for the Oscars because it’s a two-parter. The film is already nominated for a Gotham TV Award, and it will surely be popular at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards this fall (could it be the third celebrity doc to win Best Documentary Feature in a row?) and the Emmys next year.
Without further ado, below, you’ll find that top recommendation, plus this week’s other highlights, including more nonfiction film and series endorsements. They are followed by daily listings for documentary releases and a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future.
Nonfics Pick: Pee-wee As Himself (2025)
Early on in Pee-wee as Himself, Paul Reubens says he doesn’t want the film to be a legacy documentary. He knew at the time that he was dying, though. He never even got to finish his planned participation in the project before passing away from cancer in July 2023. Two years later, this does play as a definitive examination of his legacy, but it’s so much more than that, thanks to all that Reubens shared with the production (which was not aware of his terminal diagnosis) before he departed. Through his playfully guarded interview, the documentary is full of life rather than eulogy.
Reubens is, of course, best remembered for his iconic alter-ego, Pee-wee Herman, a character he played in movies, TV shows, and comedy specials, as well as in all public appearances at the peak of his fame. This documentary is a chance for his fans to get to know the performer behind the manchild in the grey suit and red bowtie. The real guy who has otherwise been too long associated with a mug shot following his misunderstood arrest for alleged indecent exposure in 1991. Within minutes, Pee-wee as Himself reveals Reubens to be not much different from Herman in spirit.
Across two feature-length episodes, director Matt Wolf (whom I interviewed about the film here) and Reubens cover a lot of ground for the latter’s in-depth biographical portrait. It goes deep into Reubens’s artistic background pre-Pee-wee, charts the inspiration, evolution, and rise of his Herman character, breaks down the facts behind his two unfortunate arrests, and confirms his sexuality. Along the way, Reubens shines as a screen personality as himself, with grace and humor, and a little bit of sympathy-garnering apprehension. More than most documentaries of this sort, it’s quite meta in its dance between director and subject on matters of creative control and perspective.
The reasons for Reubens remaining closeted his whole life align Pee-wee as Himself with another essential new documentary, Sally (releasing in mid-June), as neither he nor Sally Ride could be out and maintain such high-profile careers (as different as they were), especially later on when their work involved children. Looking back at this and the downfall he experienced proves to be more of an indictment against our society and the media at the time (if not also now, as he probably wouldn’t have been treated much better today) than about his legacy, which turns out well-honored here.
Pee-wee as Himself premieres on HBO and Max on Friday, May 23.
Other Documentary Highlights
Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012)
One thing I found lacking (albeit not critically) in Pee-wee as Himself was acknowledgment of Wayne White’s work on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Fortunately, the underground artist already got the documentary treatment, and I recommend watching it as a companion piece. Here’s an excerpt from my review of Beauty is Embarrassing from its SXSW Film Festival premiere in 2012:
“Directed by first-timer Neil Berkeley, Beauty is Embarrassing took a while to hook me. Wayne White is indeed a funny man and makes some funny art, but at first I wasn’t sure why we should care about his life story any more than that of any other unknown funnyman artist. Part of his unfamiliarity is the point, though, as it’s shocking how much he’s done without garnering any name recognition whatsoever. Once the film starts showing behind-the-scenes footage of Pee-wee’s Playhouse, for which White was a character designer and puppeteer, there’s more of a point of interest. And it keeps going very well from there, often playing like a straight documentary kin toAmerican Splendor (White’s wife, cartoonist and Simpsons pilot scripter Mimi Pond, reminds me of Hope Davis’s portrayal of Joyce Brabner). I heard the film received some standing ovations early on, and I can understand why.”
Beauty is Embarrassing is available to rent or buy digitally on Apple TV or Amazon.
Blue: The Life And Art Of George Rodrigue (2024)
Painter George Rodrigue gets a very uncomplicated biographical documentary treatment with this medium-length PBS film. He’s not alive, so we mostly get to know him through interviews with others, including his widow and sons. There’s not a lot of appraisal of his talent or work, either. Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue doesn’t try to convince us that his paintings were masterpieces. It just tells his story and presents the facts on his success as the Cajun artist best known for his Blue Dog motif. For those curious about the man behind that familiar New Orleans staple, it’s an educational documentary.
Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue airs on PBS on Thursday, May 29.
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (2025)
This true-crime docuseries looks at the still-unsolved poisoning murders of at least seven people who took Tylenol pills tainted with cyanide in the 1980s.
[Review embargoed until Monday, May 26.]
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders begins streaming on Netflix on Monday, May 26.
Memorial Day Documentaries
For the holiday weekend, honoring fallen U.S. servicemen and servicewomen, a few streaming and cable platforms offer content relevant to Memorial Day. Netflix has a new documentary feature debuting Friday called Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds, and while it’s not about individuals who’ve died, it is at least focused on a part of the U.S. military. Similar to that new film’s focus on training, the Oscar-nominated 1942 short Marines in the Making airs on TCM on Saturday.
The following day, TCM has programmed The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress and The United States Army Air Force Band, both of which also look at men serving during World War II. And on Monday, Memorial Day, the same cable channel is showing the World War II-related documentaries Report from the Aleutians, Souvenirs of Death, and Victory Quiz. If you wait one day after the holiday, the 2025 Iraq War veterans film Brothers After War will release on DVD.
I have some additional recommendations. Among my favorites to share around Memorial Day are the World War II propaganda film With the Marines at Tarawa (which is for sale on Amazon), John Ford’s The Battle of Midway (now streaming on Prime Video, Tubi, and IndieFlix), and the Vietnam War films The Mills of the Gods (free on the CBC site) and Hearts and Minds (Max and The Criterion Channel). Also, this is an appropriate time to watch Restrepo (VOD) and its sequel, Korengal (Kanopy).
Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa (2023) & The Turnaround (2024)
Two of our previous highlights are recommended again this week, as Lucy Walker’s Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa and Ben Proudfoot and Kyle Thrash’s The Turnaround won the awards for Outstanding Long Documentary and Outstanding Short Documentary, respectively, at the 46th Annual Sports Emmys last week. Both are now streaming on Netflix. The latter ranked among our picks for the best documentaries of 2024 as my favorite short of the year.
Other Sports Emmy winners this year included NFL Draft: The Pick Is In (available on Roku) and the docuseries In the Arena: Serena Williams (streaming on Hulu and Disney+), Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North (Max), The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses (Hulu), E:60 (ESPN), The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (Netflix), and Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix).
Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa and The Turnaround are both available to stream on Netflix.
The Rehearsal Season 2 Finale
I’ve already highlighted The Rehearsal Season 2, but now that it’s wrapping up, I want to recommend it again. Also, the Season 2 finale involves a twist that I’m sure nobody sees coming. Even for a show filled with elements I can’t believe are permitted and afforded with this sort of program, what’s revealed and achieved in this episode is not just surprising but absolutely stunning. My hat is off to Nathan Fielder for this season.
The final episode of The Rehearsal Season 2 premieres on HBO on Sunday, May 25.
Documentary Release Calendar 5/23/25 - 5/29/25
Friday, May 23, 2025
Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds (2025) - A feature-length documentary about the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds flight squadron. (Netflix)
Clarkson’s Farm Season 4 - The new season of this docuseries continues to follow Jeremy Clarkson’s attempt to run a farm in the countryside. (Prime Video)
Couples Therapy Season 4, Episodes 10-12 - The final episodes of the fourth season of this relationship series. (Paramount+ with Showtime)
Missing Presumed Dead Episodes 1 & 2: “Michael Scott Moore - The Negotiator” & “The Robertsons - Lost at Sea” - The first two episodes of this new series about real-life disappearances involve a journalist captured by Somali pirates and a family attacked by killer whales. (National Geographic)
Pee-wee as Himself (2025) - A two-part documentary about Paul Reubens, the man behind Pee-wee Herman. Find our review of Pee-wee as Himself in the highlights section above, where it’s our Pick of the Week, and read our interview with director Matt Wolf about the film. (HBO and Max)
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Marines in the Making (1942) - An Oscar-nominated short documentary showcasing U.S. Marine Corps combat training. (TCM)
The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 3, Episode 15: “Caught in the Crossfire” - The latest episode of this Atlanta-focused true-crime docuseries involves the killing of two friends outside a nightclub. (Oxygen True Crime)
Sunday, May 25, 2025
David Frost Vs Episode 5: “David Frost vs Elton John” - The fifth installment of this six-part docuseries about talk show host David Frost focuses on his interview with the iconic singer-songwriter Elton John. (MSNBC)
Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain Episode 5: “Galicia” - The latest installment of this travel series in which the titular actress explores parts of Spain. (CNN)
The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944) - A feature documentary about the titular B-17 bomber and its final mission during World War II. Read our review of The Memphis Belle. (TCM)
The Rehearsal Season 2, Episode 6 - The Season 2 finale of this nonfiction series starring Nathan Fielder about people rehearsing their lives. Read our review of The Rehearsal Season 2. (HBO)
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under Season 5, Episode 3: “Raising Gracie” - The latest episode of this docuseries filmed at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo focuses on an abandoned koala. (National Geographic WILD)
Tucci in Italy Episode 3: “Trentino-Alto Adige” - The latest city-specific installment of this limited docuseries starring Stanley Tucci as he explores Italy through its cuisine. Read our review of Tucci in Italy. (National Geographic)
The United States Army Air Force Band (1942) - A short concert film showcasing the United States Army Air Force Band and Chorus as they perform on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (TCM)
Unknown Serial Killers of America Season 1, Episode 2: “William Suff” - The latest episode of this new true-crime series about less-famous murderers. This installment looks at a serial killer who took the lives of 13 sex workers. (Oxygen True Crime)
Monday, May 26, 2025
America’s Most Wanted Season 3, Episode 6 - The latest installment of this iconic crime series revival. (Fox)
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (2025) - A three-part true-crime docuseries in the Cold Case franchise about an unsolved mass killing by cyanide in the 1980s. Find our review of Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders in the highlights section above. (Netflix)
Earnhardt Episodes 2-4: “The Intimidator,” “One Tough Customer,” & “Dale” - The final three installments of this four-part biographical docuseries about NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. (Prime Video)
Kevin Costner's The West Episodes 1 & 2: “Fallen Timbers” & “Colter’s Run” - The first two episodes of a three-part docuseries about the American frontier. (History)
Photography as Art (2025) - A documentary about the creative artistry of photography. (In Theaters)
The Playboy Murders Season 3, Episode 4: “The Doctor and the Bunny” - The third season of this docuseries continues with a story involving a Playboy Bunny’s affair with a plastic surgeon. (Investigation Discovery)
Report from the Aleutians (1943) - An Oscar-nominated short documentary by John Huston about U.S. soldiers protecting Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. (TCM)
Souvenirs of Death (1948) - A short film following the journey of a souvenir World War II pistol. (TCM)
Toxic Season 1, Episode 4: “Don’t Shoot Mommy” - The latest episode of this new docuseries about toxic relationships. (Investigation Discovery)
Victory Quiz (1942) - A short film quizzing the audience on U.S. involvement in World War II. (TCM)
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got (1985) - An Oscar-winning documentary feature about the titular clarinetist and bandleader. Read our review of Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Brothers After War (2025) - A follow-up to Brothers at War that follows Iraq War veterans as they reconnect. (DVD)
Kevin Costner's The West Episode 3 “Oregon Trails” - The final episode of a three-part docuseries about the American frontier. (History)
Louder Than You Think (2023) - A feature-length documentary about Pavement’s original drummer, Gary Young. (Blu-ray)
October 8 (2025) - A documentary about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and social media after the October 7 attacks in Israel. Read our review of October 8. (Blu-ray)
Physician, Heal Thyself (2023) - A documentary about a doctor who had been a rebellious youth. (Blu-ray)
Pluto: The Dwarf Planet (2025) - A documentary about Pluto. (DVD)
Sherri Papini: Caught in a Lie (2025) - A true-crime docuseries about a woman who faked her kidnapping. (ID: Investigation Discovery)
Sitting Bull (2025) - A docuseries about the titular Hunkpapa Lakota chief. (History)
Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts. (2024) - A documentary portrait of America from the perspective of former Pizza Hut buildings. (DVD and Blu-ray)
What We Left Unfinished (2019) - A documentary about unfinished fiction films from Communist-era Afghanistan. (Blu-ray)
Youth (Hard Times) (2024) - A nearly four-hour documentary sequel from Wang Bing about migrant workers in clothing factories. (VOD)
Youth (Homecoming) (2024) - The third installment in Wang Bing’s Youth trilogy involves migrant workers celebrating the new year with their families. (VOD)
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Ado SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinema (2024) - A concert film starring Ado as she performs at the Japan National Stadium. (In Theaters)
Border Security: Australia’s Front Line Season 15, Episodes 8 & 9: “Hidden Agenda” & “Business or Holiday” - The latest episodes of this docuseries continue to follow the work of the Australian Border Force. (National Geographic)
Bugs That Rule the World Episode 4: “Beetle Mania” - The final installment of this four-part docuseries about the mysterious world of bugs focuses on beetles. (PBS)
F1: The Academy (2025) - A documentary about female Formula One drivers. (Netflix)
Ghost Adventures Season 29, Episode 7: “Midnight at the Museum” - The latest installment of this docuseries investigating haunted places involves a serial killer exhibit at a Las Vegas museum. (Discovery+)
Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster (2025) - A documentary feature about the 2023 OceanGate submarine tragedy. (Discovery)
Let's Sing a Song of the West (1947) - A short film about four songs associated with the western United States. (TCM)
Life or Death: The Negotiators Season 1, Episode 6: “The Negotiators vs. Rogue Cop” - The latest episode of this docuseries involves a sheriff’s deputy who took six women hostage inside a bank. (National Geographic)
The Man Who Makes the Difference (1968) - A short making-of documentary about the cinematography of the film Ice Station Zebra. (TCM)
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America Season 4, Episode 6 - The latest installment of this docuseries about abandoned and forgotten ruins in America. (Discovery Channel)
Thursday, May 29, 2025
100 Foot Wave Season 3, Chapter V: “Family Business” - The latest episode of the Emmy-winning surfing docuseries. (HBO and Max)
Accused: Guilty or Innocent? Season 7, Episode 12: “Hit-and-run or Tragic Accident?” - The latest episode of this docuseries about individuals charged with crimes, as told from their perspective. (A&E)
American Dignity (2025) - A documentary about civil rights activists Charles Mauldin and Charles Douglas III. (In Theaters)
Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the titular artist. Find our review of Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue in the highlights section above. (PBS)
Not Her First Rodeo Episodes 3 & 4: “Legacy” & “The Name of the Game is Pain” - The latest episodes of a new docuseries about the Elite Lady Bull Riders. (Freeform)
The Polar Passage (2025) - A short documentary in the YETI Presents series, this installment follows an expedition to the Northwest Passage. (YouTube)
Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 4: “Built to Last” - The latest episode of this award-winning sports docuseries features guest-star Channing Tatum. (FX)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
5/30 - It’s All Gonna Break - A documentary about the Canadian indie rock band Broken Social Scene. (In Theaters)
6/1 - The Mortician - A docuseries about a corrupt funeral home. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (Max)
6/6 - Slumlord Millionaire - A documentary feature about residents, activists, and nonprofit attorneys fighting corrupt landlords. (In Theaters)
6/10 - Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy - A documentary about the tragic Travis Scott concert that left 10 dead in 2021. (Netflix)’
6/13 - Prime Minister - A documentary about the former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Read our review of Prime Minister from Sundance. (In Theaters)
6/16 - Sally - A biographical documentary about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Read our review of Sally from Sundance. (National Geographic)
6/23 - Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything! - A biographical documentary feature about the titular journalist. (Hulu)