This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - May 8-14, 2026
This weekend is Mother’s Day, a time to celebrate the woman who raised us. It’s also an occasion to meet the mothers who were special or crazy enough to have a documentary made about them. Two years ago, I listed a bunch of documentaries worth watching on Mother’s Day, and they’re all still recommended.
Here’s an update with must-see films released since then: Mariska Hargitay’s My Mom Jayne, about her Hollywood icon mother, Jayne Mansfield; Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s A Photographic Memory, about her photojournalist mother, Sheila Turner Seed; Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor, about the murder of a concerned mother of four; and Skye Borgman’s Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, the relevance of which would be a spoiler. The recently released film Modern Whore also has some nice moments involving the primary participant and her mom.
Before getting to this week’s highlighted recommendations, I wanted to share a piece on another Substack. The latest newsletter from filmmaker Penny Lane (Confessions of a Good Samaritan) is titled “What a Documentary Director Actually Does,” and it’s an enlightening read for those of us who watch a lot of nonfiction films (and especially for those of us who give out Best Director awards at events honoring documentaries). Though she recognizes that “the job can look extremely different, from person to person,” Lane also stresses two important things every documentary director should be doing. I won’t share what they are here. You have to visit her Substack to find out.
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 (including the latest from Fire of Love director Sara Dosa!). 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 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 Picks Of The Week: The Python Hunt (2025)
One of my favorite new documentary filmmakers, Lance Oppenheim (Some Kind of Heaven, Ren Faire), produced this ensemble-driven feature and brought along many of his regular collaborators, including cinematographer David Bolen. While The Python Hunt often looks and feels like one of Oppenheim’s own films, the director this time is Xander Robin, and he’s an excellent substitute. As I wrote in conclusion in my review, “As much as I am a fan of Oppenheim’s own directorial projects, I have to admit I’m glad he had his friend helm this one, as Robin seems even more of a compassionate collaborator than curious observer when it comes to the subject matter.”
This documentary uses the Florida Python Challenge to examine that annual event, the larger issue of the invasive Burmese python population in the Everglades, and the region's ecological crisis. It’s the kind of film I consider a positive bait-and-switch, since it may lure in viewers expecting a lowbrow competition documentary with trashy characters and sensational situations, but it actually offers a deeper, more empathetic study of the people and the place at the center of this wild story. It’s no trick, though, as it’s still a very entertaining, occasionally amusing (respectfully so), and visually stunning. Read my full review of The Python Hunt to learn more.
The Python Hunt will be released in theaters on Friday, May 8, 2026, via Oscilloscope Laboratories.
Other Documentary Highlights
The A List: 15 Stories From Asian And Pacific Diasporas (2025)
Looking at the more famous interviewees assembled for The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas, including Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani, Bowen Yang, and Connie Chung, I expected this film to be more along the lines of an AAPI equivalent to Number One on the Call Sheet. It’s not as much of a conversation, though, as 15 isolated monologues in which a variety of AAPI representatives talk about their AAPI identity and how it has related to their successes in their respective entertainment, journalism, science, and athletic professions.
Some of them play a bit more randomly and specifically than others, not adding to the generalized discussions of representation and identity. Nanjiani’s bit is familiar if you’ve followed his career and especially if you’ve seen his semi-autobiographical movie The Big Sick. The film starts with what I found to be the best segment, in which Oh talks about the evolution of having to assimilate and not stand out, then being able to be part of stories centered on people of her background. She and one or two others also express a catch with these kinds of showcases: no white person is ever asked what it’s like to be white in their spaces. But there’s a lack of such cohesive discourse.
The A-List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (2026)
If you’re a Billie Eilish fan, you’re going to want to watch Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, which captures a single concert experience filmed in Manchester, England, last summer. You may even want to see it exhibited in 3D to feel like you were really there. Otherwise, you can skip this concert film co-directed by Eilish and James Cameron. There’s not a lot to Eilish’s stage show that warrants the 3D format, as well-shot and mechanically advanced as it is, in Cameron fashion. Maybe forgetting that you’re watching 3D means is a win on some technical level, but that can still be frustrating for the paying audience expecting more spectacle.
Meanwhile, I zoned out during many of the numbers. There isn’t much visual variety to these sequences. In one of the documentary’s behind-the-scenes bits, Eilish notes that each song has a unique aesthetic, but that doesn’t come across as well in this presentation. The film is very choppy anyway, rarely allowing a single shot to last long enough to appreciate what’s in the frame. I could have done without all the reminders of why I don’t attend concerts in person: the screaming, sing-along attendees holding up their phones and recording the whole show. But I get that for that crowd, and for Eilish, it’s the communal experience they desire. If you missed it live or couldn’t get enough in person, you now have a second chance.
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour will be released in theaters in 3D on Friday, May 8, 2026, via Paramount Pictures.
David Attenborough Documentaries
Sir David Attenborough turns 100 this Friday. He was born on May 8, 1926, and halfway through his life, he changed the game for nature and wildlife documentaries with the BBC series Life on Earth. Over the next 50 years, he has also become known for his prolific narration credits, and his brand of programming showcasing the wonders of the planet and its many ecosystems and habitats has inspired everything from the Disneynature film franchise to real scientific discoveries and developments. He’s been around long enough to be a part of many retrospectives of his work already.
For his centenary, various streamers have been celebrating his career with new works, including Netflix’s A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough and the PBS special Life On Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, both of which look back at his achievements with Life on Earth. National Geographic is highlighting its recent award-winning film Ocean with David Attenborough, while Pluto TV is running an extensive marathon of Attenborough’s programs, including several installments of Natural World, on its BBC Earth channel every Thursday and Friday in May. We also recommend Netflix’s Critics Choice Award winners Our Planet, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, and Life in Color with David Attenborough.
Marty, Life Is Short (2026)
Selena Gomez and Steve Martin have gotten the documentary treatment in recent years, so now it’s time for their Only Murders in the Building co-star to get his. Marty, Life is Short is a biographical feature celebrating the life and career of Martin Short. Making this one stand out in the sea of celebrity showcases is its director, Lawrence Kasdan, who has previously only helmed two documentaries: a short about a favorite West Hollywood diner and a six-part series about Industrial Light & Magic.
The connection between the subject and the Oscar-nominated writer/director seems only to be that Kasdan produced Short’s 1987 rom-com Cross My Heart and directed him among the ensemble of his 1999 movie Mumford. Netflix shared this one too late for coverage and has set the usual day-of-release review embargo, so I’m not sure of any additional relevance. But as a longtime fan of the comedic actor who even rushed to see such duds as Pure Luck and Captain Ron in the theater, I’ll definitely be making time for it. Here’s hoping it adds to the Three Amigos! appreciation we got in Lorne.
Marty, Life is Short premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Natchez (2025)
Given both the film’s original runtime and the PBS broadcast window being around 90 minutes, I don’t expect anything to be cut for the Independent Lens airing of Suzannah Herbert’s Natchez. That’s good since it’s a feature without any fat to trim. We highlighted the film as our Pick of the Week at the end of January for its true theatrical release. We also included it on our list of the best documentaries of 2025 since it had an Oscar-qualifying run (I was shocked it didn’t at least make the shortlist). Here’s the same excerpt I’ve shared previously from the end-of-year list:
“What starts seemingly as a curious look at one Mississippi town’s legacy regarding slavery winds up as a deeper exploration of how history should be represented, especially when it comes to humanity’s mistakes. By the end of this uniquely photographed documentary, Natchez’s past is anything but a black or white issue (or, not just a black and white issue, if we’re talking race) as Herbert bursts bubbles filled with expectations and stereotypes.”
Natchez will make its broadcast premiere on PBS as an episode of Independent Lens on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Startup.com (2001)
There are a few notable documentary anniversaries this week, including Madonna: Truth or Dare turning 30, Emile de Antonio’s Underground turning 50, and Pare Lorentz’s The Plow That Broke the Plains turning 90, but the one I want to highlight and recommend is Chris Hegedus and Jehane Noujaim’s Startup.com. Produced by D. A. Pennebaker, the little-remembered film opened in theaters on May 11, 2001, following its debut at Sundance. While it’s become visually dated over the 25 years since its release, the DV-shot documentary remains an essential time capsule of the era, perfectly chronicling the dot-com bubble and burst.
As I wrote in the film’s entry on our list of the best documentaries about the internet, “Startup.com is one of the most representative films of the late ’90s and the initial e-commerce craze that took the world by storm and left it shipwrecked.” It’s also significant now for being the debut of Jehane Noujaim, who knew the right people to be there at the right time. She would go on to make one of the best films about broadcast journalism (Control Room) and then received an Oscar nomination nearly a decade later for her feature covering the 2011 Egyptian Revolution (The Square). Next month, she and Vikram Gandhi will release a four-part docuseries about Burning Man called The Man Will Burn, and I can’t wait for it.
Startup.com is available to purchase on DVD or VHS. The latter might be the most suitable format for optimal nostalgia. Or you can find bootlegs all over YouTube.
Tucci In Italy Season 2
Stanley Tucci is having a big month. He reprises his supporting role as fashion magazine art director Nigel Kipling in the movie sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 (now in theaters) and his part as tech genius secret agent Bernard Orlick in the second season of Citadel (now on Amazon Prime Video). He also returns as himself in the second season of Tucci in Italy, the docuseries where he travels around the Beautiful Country eating amazing food. Not only that, but he and the series were just nominated for three Critics Choice Real TV Awards, recognizing them in the categories for Best Culinary Show, Best Travel/Adventure Show, and Best Show Host.
Tucci in Italy Season 2 premieres its first two episodes on National Geographic on Monday, May 11, 2026, with new episodes airing throughout the month. However, all five of this season’s episodes also begin streaming exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Documentary Release Calendar 5/8/26 - 5/14/26
Friday, May 8, 2026
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (2026) - A concert film directed by James Cameron and Billie Eilish and starring Billie Eilish, presented in 3D. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (In Theaters)
Deadliest Catch Season 22, Episode 1: “Kings of the Frozen North” - The return of a nonfiction series that follows Alaskan crab fishermen. (Discovery Channel)
Linda Perry: Let it Die Here (2024) - A documentary feature about the titular singer-songwriter. (In Theaters)
Louder Than Guns (2024) - A music documentary directed by Doug Pray (Hype!) that addresses the issue of gun violence. (In Theaters)
MGM Parade Show #6 (1955) - The sixth installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This short spotlights the movies Anna Christie and Quentin Durward. (TCM)
The Proof is Out There Season 6, Episode 9: “Classic British UFO, Cheshire Cat Water Monsters, and Alabama Bigfoot Growl” - The latest installment of a docuseries investigating UFOs, conspiracies, and mythical creatures. (History)
The Python Hunt (2025) - A documentary feature about an annual public python hunt in the Everglades. See our highlights section for a link to our review. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
Sleeping Dog (2026) - A documentary feature about journalist Jeremy Corbell and his lifelong pursuit to find the truth about UAPs. (In Theaters)
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Daughters of the Voice (2018) - A documentary about women musicians from various religious traditions. (ChaiFlicks)
K-Everything (2026) - A docuseries about the global explosion of Korean pop culture. (CNN)
Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever Episode 4: “The Korean Miracle” - The fourth installment of a six-part docuseries starring journalist Kara Swisher about the latest in longevity science. (CNN)
Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979) - An Oscar-winning short documentary about the titular actor and activist. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)
Philly Homicide Season 2, Episode 5: “Deadly Drive-Thru” - The latest installment of a docuseries following Philadelphia detectives. This episode involves the death of a school teacher. (Oxygen)
Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949) - A short documentary on MGM’s major productions during their first 25 years. (TCM)
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Eva Longoria: Searching for France Episodes 7 & 8: “France in Seven Courses” & “Brittany” - The latest installments of an eight-part docuseries in the Searching For… travelogue franchise following Eva Longoria on a culinary tour of France. (CNN)
The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 4: “Drive-Thru Burger Revolution” - The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode looks back at the origins of fast food drive-thru windows. (History)
Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 4: “Hell on Wheels” - The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves dangerous parts of automobiles. (History)
Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever Episode 4: “The Korean Miracle” - The fourth installment of a six-part docuseries starring journalist Kara Swisher about the latest in longevity science. (CNN All Access)
A Plan to Kill Season 2, Episode 10: “A Burning Plot” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries on the meticulous planning conducted by serial killers. (Oxygen)
Monday, May 11, 2026
96 Pounds of Dynamite (2026) - A documentary about a genetically diminutive billiards celebrity. (VOD)
Natchez (2025) - A documentary feature about the historical legacy of the titular town in Mississippi. Presented as an installment of Independent Lens. See where the film ranks on our list of the best documentaries of 2025. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Operation Raintree (1957) - A short documentary about the making of the movie Raintree County. (TCM)
Tucci in Italy Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2: “Naples & Campania” & “Sicily” - The return of a docuseries starring actor Stanley Tucci as he explores Italy through its cuisine. (National Geographic)
Where It Lies Episode 2: “Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles” - The second installment of a four-part docuseries about public golf. (ESPN App)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home - A documentary about Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. (DVD)
America’s Most Deadly UFO Encounters (2026) - A documentary about shocking UFO encounters. (DVD)
Betrayal: Secrets & Lies Episode 7: “Marked for Murder” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving stories of infidelity. (ABC, Disney+, and Hulu)
Botticelli’s Primavera (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular painting. (Blu-ray)
Dr. Cliff: Worldwide Vet (2023) - A documentary that follows a veterinarian and his daughter as they travel overseas to help animals. (DVD)
Frank Whittle: A Genius in the Family (2025) - A medium-length documentary about the pioneer of the jet plane. (DVD)
Frontline Season 44, Episode 14: “Caught in the Crackdown” - The latest installment of a long-running investigative documentary series. This episode looks into federal immigration sweeps. (PBS)
George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey (1984) - A documentary by George Stevens Jr. about the life and work of his father, the famous Hollywood director. (Blu-ray)
Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (2004) - A documentary about the 1974 kidnapping of the heiress Patty Hearst. (VOD)
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) - A documentary feature by Amy Berg about Janis Joplin. (VOD)
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution (2026) - A two-part documentary on the American Revolution. (DVD)
Marty, Life is Short (2026) - A biographical documentary directed by Lawrence Kasdan about actor and comedian Martin Short. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)
The Propagandist (2024) - A documentary about the Dutch Nazi filmmaker Jan Teunissen. (VOD)
Raphael’s School of Athens (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular painting. (DVD and Blu-ray)
S10 (2024) - A documentary about the titular singer and her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. (Viaplay)
Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny Season 2, Episode 9: “Smoke and Mirrors” - The latest installment of a docuseries about declassified government activities. (History)
Silent Fallout (2023) - A documentary feature about victims of nuclear testing. (DVD)
Stagebound: Marla Mindelle’s Journey to Opening Night of “Titaníque” (2026) - The latest installment of a Great Performances series that looks behind the scenes at Broadway productions. (PBS)
Suburban Fury (2024) - A documentary about Sara Jane Moore, who attempted to assassinate President Ford in 1975. (Kino Film Collection)
Tucci in Italy Season 2 - The return of a docuseries starring actor Stanley Tucci as he explores Italy through its cuisine. (Disney+ and Hulu)
The Ubiquitous Compact Disc (2025) - A documentary about music CDs. (DVD)
U.S. Against the World: Four Years With the Men’s National Soccer Team (2026) - A five-part docuseries about the U.S. men’s national soccer team in the four years leading up to the 2026 World Cup. (HBO and HBO Max)
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas (2025) - A feature-length anthology by Eugene Yi of interviews with people, mostly celebrities, representing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (HBO and HBO Max)
Anxious in Beirut (2023) - A documentary portrait of Beirut. (OVID)
Conspiracies & Coverups Episode 7: “Programmed by AI” - The latest installment of a docuseries starring ex-CIA officer Andrew Bustamente about the biggest conspiracies in pop culture today. (Discovery Channel)
The Face Doctors Season 2, Episode 1: “The Elephant’s Trunk” - The return of a nonfiction series about facial reconstruction specialists and their patients. (TLC)
On the Case with Paula Zahn Season 29, Episode 5: “Through the Smoke” - The latest installment of a true-crime documentary series starring journalist Paula Zahn. (Investigation Discovery)
We Loved Each Other So Much (2003) - A documentary about the Lebanese singer Fairuz. (OVID)
Thursday, May 14, 2026
More Than Honey (2012) - A documentary about honeybees around the world. (Kino Film Collection)
On the Roam Season 2, Episode 1 - The return of a nonfiction series that follows actor Jason Momoa as he meets extraordinary people around the country. (HBO Max)
The Perfect Meal - The Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet (2024) - A docuseries about the Mediterranean Diet. (OVID)
Welcome to Wrexham Season 5, Episodes 1 & 2: “The Heart of Wrexham” & “Joey Jones” - The return of a docuseries about a Welsh soccer team co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. (FXX)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
5/15 - The Crash - A true-crime documentary feature about a teen girl who intentionally crashed her car into a wall, killing her boyfriend and his friend. (Netflix)
5/21 - Stolen Kingdom - A documentary feature about theft and other misdeeds committed at Walt Disney World over 30 years. (Theatrical Roadshow)
5/22 - The Yogurt Shop Murders Episode 5: “The End of Wondering” - A new feature-length bonus installment of a true-crime docuseries by Margaret Brown about the killing of four girls at a frozen yogurt shop in 1991. Watch the new trailer for the episode below. (HBO Max)
5/25 - The Many Lives of Benjaman Kyle - A two-part true-crime documentary about a man claiming to suffer from a rare form of amnesia who may have a shady past. (Investigation Discovery)
5/29 - Time and Water - A documentary feature directed by Sara Dosa (Fire of Love) about Icelandic author Andri Snær Magnason and his mission to preserve the memory of his nation’s glaciers. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)
5/29 - With Hasan in Gaza - A documentary feature directed by Kamal Aljafari that revisits footage he shot in 2001 about his search for a man he met in prison years earlier. (In Theaters)
6/1 - If I Could Stay - A documentary about two mothers trying ot keep their families together and avoid deportation. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (PBS)
6/5 - Underland - A documentary feature narrated by Sandra Hüller that explores underground worlds in nature. (In Theaters)
6/7 - This Land - A six-part docuseries that explores the history of America through six defining frontiers. (CNN)
6/9 - The Man Will Burn - A four-part docuseries by Jehane Noujaim (The Square) and Vikram Gandhi (Kumare) about Burning Man. (HBO and HBO Max)
8/7 - Cookie Queens - A documentary feature about Girl Scouts selling cookies. Read our review of Cookie Queens. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)