This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - March 13-19, 2026
I don’t have much to discuss this week. A lot of documentaries are on the calendar, including a massive surplus of overpriced DVD titles for fans of art and history, but very few are recommended. At least we finally get to find out what the best documentaries of 2025 were, according to the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. Other than that, the world is going to hell in a handbasket faster than ever before, giving documentary filmmakers plenty to make movies about in the future, if we’re around long enough to see them. Good thing there’s another docuseries on the way about how to live forever (see the sneak peek section). If we might be so lucky, I suggest you spend some of your remaining time binging Werner Herzog documentaries and seeing if you agree with our recently updated ranking.
Without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, followed by daily listings for all known releases and broadcasts, along with 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, plus full access to special posts like our best-of and most-anticipated lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.
Nonfics Pick Of The Week: 2026 Oscar Winners*
Will Geeta Gandbhir win two Oscars for two different documentaries on Sunday? The 98th Academy Awards are this weekend, and at least two nonfiction films will be victorious at the end of the night. Maybe three, but I don’t think the Diane Warren documentary (Diane Warren: Relentless, now available on Kanopy) will be the film to finally win Diane Warren a competitive Oscar for Best Music (Original Song).
I expect that Gandbhir will win the Best Documentary Feature Film award for The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix), given its dominance throughout the season. However, there is also a chance that Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Kino Film Collection) could pull an upset, as it did at the BAFTAs. Or, Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV) could surprise as an audience favorite. Considering even some of the Academy’s Documentary Branch members are abstaining due to new rules requiring all nominees in a category to be watched before voting, there may be fewer votes for these awards than usual. The Alabama Solution (HBO Max) hasn’t performed that well during awards season despite being a strong contender. Cutting Through Rocks (currently unavailable) is the least likely to be recognized, even if all the voters of the category watch it.
As for the Best Documentary Short Film category, I think Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO Max) will speak the most to Academy members who watch all five nominees. However, All the Empty Rooms (Netflix) could pull the win based on its issue and focus on children. Then again, Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” (currently unavailable), which unites some Israelis in solidarity with Palestinians, may be more popular with the same voters who honored the documentary feature No Other Land last year. While Gandbhir’s The Devil is Busy (HBO Max) is my favorite of the bunch (see my ranking of all the 2026 documentary short Oscar nominees), it may not be as timely as those others to resonate with voters. I really don’t see any chance for perfectly a strangeness (The Criterion Channel).
*After the Oscars telecast on Sunday, March 15, 2026, I will update this section highlighting the documentary winners and where to watch them.
Other Documentary Highlights
The Battle Of Chile: Part II (1976)
The second installment of Patricio Guzmán’s The Battle of Chile (subtitled The Coup d’état) turns 50 years old this week, having premiered on Cuban television on March 13, 1976. It’s not as well-known and maybe not as widely seen as the first part of the trilogy, which is famous for its conclusion with the shot of a cameraman documenting his own death. The Battle of Chile: Part II is where events really pick up, though. This installment covers the coup attempt and continued unrest, and climaxes with the end of Salvador Allende’s rule (and life) with a coup d’etat on September 11, 1973. This is a riveting work of political historicism and one of the most essential films of all time.
The Battle of Chile: Part II is currently available to stream on OVID.
Bella! This Woman’s Place Is In The House (2023)
Clearly timed for Women’s History Month, Bella! This Woman’s Place is in the House delivers a basic but necessary biographical documentary about Congresswoman and feminist movement icon Bella Abzug (I’m surprised she hadn’t already received one). The form is standard, mainly chronological, but also segmented into pronounced phases of her life and career. The expected talking heads participated, including Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, and Barbra Streisand (plus Letty Cottin Pogrebin to remind us of the subject’s support for Zionism — a more controversial issue right now). But the archival clips of Abzug herself are what do the job best.
Bella! This Woman’s Place is in the House makes its broadcast premiere on PBS on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as an episode of American Masters.
Born To Bowl (2026)
Not many documentaries strike the perfect balance of appealing to both fans and those unfamiliar with the subject, but this series manages that feat. Executive produced by A24 and Ben Stiller, Born to Bowl tries to do for professional bowlers what other hit sports docuseries (particularly those made by Box to Box Films) have done for their drivers, riders, and other athletes.
The five-part documentary follows a handful of notables in their field, while Liev Schreiber, of all actors, voices dry yet jocular narration explaining history and other information about bowling. Like the film Kingpin, it can be enjoyed by audiences who love bowling as well as those who think it’s a silly pastime deserving of ridicule and, like me, had no idea that lanes have patterns that alter the balls’ path. I appreciated the educational element, even if the series tries too hard to be funny, more than the character aspect. None of the bowlers had interesting enough narratives to be memorable beyond little pronounced quirks.
Born to Bowl premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Dynasty: The Murdochs (2026)
Not to be confused with the Murdaugh dynasty, which would seem likely given director Liz Garbus’s association with true-crime series, this four-part documentary follows the family behind the News Corp media empire. Dynasty: The Murdochs will be particularly appealing to fans of the HBO series Succession, which was partly based on Rupert Murdoch and his children. The makers of the series (which also includes producer Sara Enright in a rare capacity as a co-director) know this a little too much, considering they’ve used a music score that constantly reminds viewers of that show’s main title theme. It’s a well-crafted biographical chronicle, though, and goes beyond what Succession took as inspiration to prove the Murdochs are just as bad, if not worse, at family relationships than the Roys.
Dynasty: The Murdochs premieres exclusively on Netflix on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Iron Family (2022)
Patrick Longstreth, a visual effects artist who worked on Good Night Oppy, directed this documentary feature that won the Audience Award at the Slamdance Film Festival four years ago. It’s about the family of the film’s producer, Chad Faries, but mainly focused on his sister, Jazmine, who has Down syndrome. She’s an interesting character, a firecracker personality who writes original, soap-opera-ish stage plays in which she’s in romantic relationships with Matthew McConaughey and Mark Wahlberg. As with many documentaries on people with disabilities, Iron Family portrays its subject as someone who shouldn’t be treated differently but obviously is simply by being the subject of a documentary because of their disability.
Iron Family will be released on VOD on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Magic City: An American Fantasy (2025)
The Atlanta Hawks were supposed to honor the iconic strip club Magic City on Monday night with a tie-in event during their game against the Orlando Magic. They were forced to cancel the promotion because the NBA is too uptight. So, I wanted to recommend the docuseries Magic City: An American Fantasy, a Critics Choice nominee and former Nonfics Pick of the Week that includes Hawks co-owner Jami Gertz among its executive producers, to show why it’s an institution worthy of more respect than the league is allowing. But it’s not available anywhere at the moment, not even on Starz, which is where it exclusively debuted last summer. More disrespect!
The Plastic Detox (2026)
The latest feature from Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos (The Cove), this time collaborating with co-director Josh Murphy, looks at the harms of plastics in our lives. Written by prolific documentary scripter Mark Monroe, The Plastic Detox is primarily centered around the efforts of one scientist leading the cause (environmental and reproductive epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan), follows several couples dealing with infertility in an unofficial experiment to give up plastics to see if it helps them conceive, and throws a whole bunch of other things at the wall tied to the same issue.
[Our opinion of this film is under embargo until March 16, 2026)
The Plastic Detox begins streaming exclusively on Netflix on March 16, 2026.
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (2025)
One of the top-grossing documentaries of the year, Standout: The Ben Kjar Story has made more than half a million dollars in theaters since its late January release. Now it’s heading to home video, where it will continue its popularity. The film is about the titular wrestler turned public speaker, who overcame low expectations for his life after he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. I haven’t seen it yet, but I have heard good things from some of my colleagues. I’ll be making a point to watch it now.
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story will debut exclusively on the Angel Studios streaming platform on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Awards Highlights
As we head into Oscar weekend, we have some updates on other documentary awards winners from around the industry. The best nonfiction feature of last year, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, won the Documentary Award from the American Society of Cinematographers, for Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko, and it won the WGA Award for Best Documentary Screenplay. Becoming Led Zeppelin won an award from the Cinema Audio Society for its sound mix, and Deaf President Now!, Love + War, and Billy Joel: And So It Goes all won Golden Reel Awards for their sound or music editing.
Documentary Release Calendar 3/13/26 - 3/19/26
Friday, March 13, 2026
The Big Sur (1965) - A short documentary narrated by Richard Burton promoting his movie The Sandpiper. (TCM)
Dynasty: The Murdochs (2026) - A four-part docuseries by Liz Garbus about the succession battle of the Murdoch family media empire. *NONFICS PICK* (Netflix)
Main Street Today (1944) - An Oscar-nominated short documentary promoting community efforts on the home front during World War II. (TCM)
Neighbors Episode 5: “Halloween Competition” - The fifth installment of a six-part docuseries executive-produced by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein about outrageous conflicts between neighbors. (HBO Max)
The Proof is Out There Season 6, Episode 2: “The Mystery Drones Over New Jersey, Taiwan’s Green Monster, and Spinning Fish Syndrome” - The latest installment of a docuseries investigating UFOs, conspiracies, and mythical creatures. (History)
Twisted Yoga (2026) - A docuseries about an abusive yoga studio. (Apple TV)
Saturday, March 14, 2026
The Blue Angels 3D (2024) - A documentary feature about the titular flight squadron. Presented as part of AMC’s IMAX Documentary Showcase. (AMC’s IMAX Theaters)
Buried in the Backyard Season 6, Episode 13: “2000 lb Secret” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about the odd locations where murder victims were found. This episode involves a man found buried at a construction site. (Oxygen True Crime)
Vet Detective Season 1, Episode 3: “The Dog That Swallowed a Skewer” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows the work of veterinarian Dr. Lauren Adelman. This episode involves a dog suffering from seizures. (National Geographic)
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Audioscopiks (1935) - An Oscar-nominated short presenting the spectacle of 3D cinema. (TCM)
History’s Greatest Picks with Mike Wolfe Season 1, Episode 4: “Famous Finds” - The latest installment of a docuseries about legendary treasures, relics, and artifacts from history. (History)
MGM Parade Show #4 (1955) - The fourth installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This film features a tour of Lake Metro on the MGM backlot. (TCM)
A Plan to Kill Season 2, Episode 2: “Killer Competition” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries on the meticulous planning conducted by serial killers. (Oxygen)
Monday, March 16, 2026
Beyond Awestruck: The Scientific Search for Connection Episode 1 - The first installment of a three-part docuseries about a research project studying awe. (Outside TV)
Born to Bowl (2026) - A five-part docuseries that follows five professional bowlers. (HBO Max)
Fatal Attraction: I’d Kill to Be You Season 1, Episode 8: “Blinded by Jealousy” - The latest installment of a true-crime series about cases involving jealousy. (TV One)
History’s Deadliest with Ving Rhames Season 1, Episode 7: “Missions” - The latest installment of a docuseries about history’s most devastating killers, weapons, battles, and disasters. (History)
Iron Family (2022) - A documentary about a playwright with Down syndrome. (VOD)
The Plastic Detox (2026) - A documentary about couples who try to reduce their exposure to plastics. (Netflix)
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Adriatic: The Sea That Unites (2019) - A documentary feature about the sea between Italy and the Balkans. (DVD)
Artists of the 20th Century: Jackson Pollock (2024) - A documentary about the painter Jackson Pollock. (DVD)
Artists of the 20th Century: Marc Chagall (2024) - A documentary about the artist Marc Chagall. (DVD)
Artists of the 20th Century: Wassily Kandinsky (2024) - A documentary about the painter Wassily Kandinsky. (DVD)
Baby Love: Babies Being Babies (1996) - A documentary showcasing clips of babies. (DVD)
Bella! This Woman’s Place is in the House (2023) - A documentary about Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Presented as an episode of American Masters. (PBS)
Breaking the Silence (2022) - A medium-length documentary about people silently suffering. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Eugene Delacroix (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the French Romantic artist Eugene Delacroix. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Kurt Schwitters (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the German artist Kurt Schwitters. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Leonardo Da Vinci (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Maxfield Parrish (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the painter Maxfield Parrish. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Michelangelo (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the artist Michelangelo. (DVD)
Discovery of Art: Toulouse-Lautrec (2024) - A medium-length documentary about the French painter Toulouse-Lautrec. (DVD)
Eastern Philosophy (2002) - A docuseries about the doctrines of Confucianism, Shinto, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. (DVD)
Eden’s Last Chance (2023) - A documentary feature about a teenage activist entering the environmentalism movement. (DVD)
The English Masters: Hogarth (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the painter William Hogarth. (DVD)
Even Though the Whole World is Burning (2024) - A documentary feature about the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin. (DVD)
The Flats (2024) - A documentary about people in a Belfast neighborhood who were children during the Troubles and now reenact their memories of the era. (OVID)
Genius: Charles Darwin (2023) - A documentary about the naturalist and biologist Charles Darwin. (DVD)
Great Adventurers: Ernest Shackleton - To the End of the Earth (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the Irish explorer famous for his expedition to Antarctica. (DVD)
Great Generals of the Ancient World: Hannibal (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca. (DVD)
Great Kings of England: Alfred the Great (1994) - A medium-length documentary about the 9th-century English ruler Alfred the Great. (DVD)
Great Kings of England: King Charles I (1994) - A medium-length documentary about the 17th-century English ruler King Charles I. (DVD)
Great Kings of England: King Henry VIII (1994) - A medium-length documentary about the 16th-century English ruler King Henry VIII. (DVD)
Great Kings of England: Richard the Lionheart (1994) - A medium-length documentary about the 12th-century English ruler Richard I. (DVD)
Great Kings of England: William the Conqueror (1994) - A medium-length documentary about the 11th-century ruler William the Conqueror. (DVD)
Great Queens Of England: Boudicca Of The Iceni (1996) - A documentary about the ancient British Iceni leader Boudicca. (DVD)
He Calls Me Daughter (2026) - A documentary feature celebrating God as the perfect father figure for women. (Theatrical Event via Fathom Entertainment)
The Heroes of Scotland: William Wallace, The True Story (1996) - A documentary about the Scottish knight William Wallace, the subject of the film Braveheart. (DVD)
The Impressionists: Degas (2003) - A medium-length documentary about the painter Edgar Degas. (DVD)
The Impressionists: Pissarro (2003) - A medium-length documentary about the painter Camille Pissarro. (DVD)
The Kremlin (1963) - A medium-length documentary about Russia’s presidential palace. (DVD)
Leaders in Battle: Oliver Cromwell (2001) - A medium-length documentary about the English statesman Oliver Cromwell. (DVD)
The Legends of King Arthur: Camelot (2001) - A medium-length documentary about the castle and court of King Arthur. (DVD)
Living in the Past: Life in Medieval Times (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the medieval period in England. (DVD)
Living in the Past: Life in Victorian Times (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the historical era of Queen Victoria’s reign. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Ancient China (2000) - A medium-length documentary about China’s ancient emperors, armies, and landmarks. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Ancient India (2000) - A medium-length documentary about India’s ancient era. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Pompeii (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the ancient seaside city destroyed by the volcano Mount Vesuvius. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: The Pyramids (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the Great Pyramids of Egypt. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: The Romans in North Africa (2000) - A medium-length documentary about North African reaches of the Roman Empire. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Samurai Japan (2000) - A medium-length documentary about Samurai warriors and their noble Code of Bushido. (DVD)
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: The Seven Wonders (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the greatest architectural achievements of antiquity. (DVD)
The Mysteries of Egypt: The Pharaohs (2007) - A medium-length documentary about the leaders of Ancient Egypt. (DVD)
Operation Carpetbagger: The Story of Henry D. Macmillan Jr. and The William’s Crew (2018) - A documentary feature about a top-secret World War II mission. (DVD)
Pillars of Faith: Religions Around the World (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the world’s religions. (DVD)
The Post-Impressionists: Cézanne (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the painter Paul Cézanne. (DVD)
The Post-Impressionists: Gauguin (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the painter Paul Gauguin. (DVD)
The Romantic Poets (1999) - A medium-length documentary about the Romantic era of poetry. (DVD)
Romantics & Realists: Whistler (2006) - A documentary about the painter James McNeill Whistler. (DVD)
Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny Season 2, Episode 1: “Escape Armageddon” - The return of a docuseries about declassified government activities. This installment focuses on how close we’ve gotten to apocalyptic events. (History)
The Supernatural: Nostradamus (2000) - A medium-length documentary about the seer Nostradamus. (DVD)
The Supernatural: Vampires (2000) - A medium-length documentary about vampires. (DVD)
The Supernatural: Witchcraft (2000) - A medium-length documentary about witches. (DVD)
Zodiac Killer Project (2025) - A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
The Bad Foot Clinic Season 1, Episode 1: “Toe Be or Not Toe Be” - The first installment of a new docuseries following a podiatrist couple in their work. This episode involves a rare and painful genetic disorder. (TLC)
Dirty Rotten Scandals: The Price is Right (2026) - The third installment in a trilogy of investigative documentaries about scandals involving TV shows. (E!)
El Sisi - Egypt's New Pharaoh (2026) - A medium-length documentary about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. (OVID)
Feds Season 2, Episode 3: “We Sell Babies” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows the FBI on various cases. This episode involves an adoption scam. (Investigation Discovery)
He Calls Me Daughter (2026) - A documentary feature celebrating God as the perfect father figure for women. (Theatrical Event via Fathom Entertainment)
Hunt for the Missing: Chicago Episode 3: “The Secret Life of Jerrica Laws” - The third installment of a six-part series following a retired police detective as she re-investigates cold cases. (Investigation Discovery)
Super Bowl Champions: The 2025 Seattle Seahawks (2026) - A documentary narrated by Jeffrey Dean Morgan about this year’s Super Bowl winner. (The Roku Channel)
To Catch a Smuggler Season 10, Episode 4: “Whole Lotta Blow” - The latest installment of a docuseries following U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. This episode involves the smuggling of cocaine. (National Geographic)
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Ancient Structures: Secrets Revealed Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4: “Battling Giants” & “Volcanic Origins” - The latest installments of a docuseries about ancient landmarks. These episodes involve the Roman Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, and a fortress in Sri Lanka. (National Geographic)
David: King of Israel Episode 4: “The King” - The fourth and final installment of a docudrama series hosted by Zachary Levi about the titular biblical figure. (Fox Nation)
The Dialogue Police (2025) - A documentary feature about a police unit in Sweden created to prevent violence during protests. (OVID)
Meal Ticket (2026) - A documentary about young basketball prospects competing in the McDonald’s All American Games. (Prime Video)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2, Episode 14: “Wild Discoveries” - The latest installment of a docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Predator Hunters Episode 3: “We Have to Act Fast” - The latest installment of a docuseries produced by Louis Theroux following the work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This episode involves a teacher inappropriately messaging a student. (A&E)
The Proof is Out There: Alien Edition Season 3, Episode 2: “Bright Lights and Orbs” - The latest installment of a UFO-focused spinoff of the docuseries investigating mysteries of the unknown. (History)
Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (2025) - A biographical documentary about the titular wrestler and professional speaker who has Crouzon syndrome. (Angel)
True Crime Story: It Couldn’t Happen Here Season 3, Episode 5: “Mayfield, Kentucky” - The latest installment of a true-crime series focused on murders in small towns. (Sundance TV)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
3/20 - Spacewoman - A documentary feature about astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a Space Shuttle mission. (In Theaters)
3/23 - Keep Quiet and Forgive - A documentary about sexual abuse in the Amish community. (PBS)
3/24 - White with Fear - A documentary about the conservative push to divide races and claim white victimization. (PBS)
3/25 - Homicide New York Season 2 - The return of Dick Wolf’s docuseries about notorious murder cases in New York City. (Netflix)
3/31 - Untold: The Death & Life of Lamar Odom - The first installment of Untold Season 3. This documentary feature is about (still alive) NBA star Lamar Odom. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (Netflix)
4/6- The Tallest Dwarf - A documentary by Julie Wyman about her place in the Little People community, presented as the season opener of Independent Lens. (PBS)
4/7 - Untold: Chess Mates - A documentary feature about the chess rivalry between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann. (Netflix)
4/11 - Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever - A six-part docuseries starring journalist Kara Swisher about the latest in longevity science. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (CNN)
4/12 - Eva Longoria: Searching for France - An eight-part docuseries in the Searching For franchise following Eva Longoria on a culinary tour of France. (CNN)
4/16 - Ronaldinho: The One and Only - A three-part docuseries about Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho Gaúcho. (Netflix)
4/17 - Lorne - A documentary directed by Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) about Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels. (In Theaters)
4/24 - Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks - A documentary feature about the punk band Lunachicks. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters and VOD)
4/29 & 5/3 - Power To The People: John & Yoko Live in NYC - A multiscreen concert film presenting John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s two Madison Square Garden shows on August 30, 1972. (Theatrical Event)
5/7 - USA 94: Brazil’s Return to Glory - A documentary about the 1994 World Cup. (Netflix)
6/8 - The Root of the Game - A documentary about Brazil’s Super Copa Pioneer soccer tournament. (Netflix)