This Week In Documentary: 'Prime Minister,' 'Sally,' & 'Surviving Ohio State'
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - June 13-19, 2025
As we head into a weekend with a U.S. military parade, I feel torn about my thoughts on propaganda. I’ve always been fascinated by the art of propaganda, whether it’s on “our” side (a la The Battle of Midway) or “their” side (a la The Triumph of the Will). I think it’s okay to appreciate the craftsmanship, if not the ideals being sold. But I also just rewatched The Bridge on the River Kwai, which reminds us that doing our best work, even when it’s for the wrong cause, is not a good look.
I also found myself disagreeing with Bono in his new documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, stating that “motives don’t matter, results do.” You could read that either way, though. The motive could be the cause, and the results the work, or the motive could be the artistic intent, and the result influencing a nation of followers to murder or sacrifice, leading to the deaths of millions. Bono means that if he’s helping others for his own benefit, at least those people are helped in the end.
If the motive is bad and the result is bad, as in the case of something like The Eternal Jew, then it’s propaganda I can’t get behind. Promotion of nationalism in wartime or a dangerous dictator as being heaven-sent can be trickier to defend, especially after a negative historical outcome is known. It depends on how much you believe in the power of propaganda, and what you think are “good” results. With today’s levels of misinformation, propaganda is more difficult to appreciate, so just be wary and as media literate as possible in this time when motives and expectations are dubious.
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: Prime Minister (2025)
Two of the best documentaries of Sundance 2025 are finally being released, and Prime Minister just barely edges out the other for our top pick of the week. The film follows former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern through her many achievements and challenges while in office from 2017 to 2023, as well as some personal milestones. COVID-19 turned out to be her biggest obstacle, one that led to her resignation. Here is an excerpt from my controversial review of Prime Minister (see the comments), a film that some would probably claim to be propaganda:
“Prime Minister makes the position, and any similar highest job of any land, seem like a lifespan of sorts. Consider everything that happened from 2017 to 2023 as representing that life, and the resignation being a kind of departure from that life. Ardern shows throughout the documentary that while working that job and living that life, she was going to make the most of it. Even so, generally, she seems to have put the lives of others, as in all New Zealanders, ahead of her own. At least in the documentary, she is portrayed as a completely selfless leader, running on empathy. It’s unfortunate that so many didn’t see that she performed in the best interests of her country and its citizens.”
Prime Minister will be released in theaters on Friday, June 13.
Watch an exclusive clip from Prime Minister:
Other Documentary Highlights
The Cruise (1998)
Before he became an Oscar-nominated filmmaker of dramas like Capote and Moneyball, Bennett Miller directed this incredible documentary following an eccentric tour bus guide around New York City as he spouts more than basic trivia and history about the Big Apple. Of course, since its release, Timothy “Speed” Levitch has become more well-known for his appearance in Richard Linklater’s Waking Life and the docuseries Up to Speed. Here’s a bit about The Cruise from our list of the best documentaries about New York City: “There are a number of brilliant moments in the film, one of my favorites being when Levitch maddeningly describes New York as a ‘ludicrous’ ‘explosion’ and ‘experiment’ that ‘can not last,’ before pointing out a new Ann Taylor store.”
The Cruise begins streaming on OVID on Tuesday, June 17.
A Photographic Memory (2024)
When you Google a name like Sheila Turner Seed, the majority of results shouldn’t be reviews of a documentary about her. A documentary that only exists because it’s directed by the daughter she never had the chance to know, and vice versa. Alas, that only further proves the need for itself. In A Photographic Memory, Rachel Elizabeth Seed presents her very personal attempt to get to know her mother, who died when she was an infant, and despite the tragic context, it’s a great way to introduce viewers to the woman as well.
Sheila Turner Seed was a journalist whose writing and photography appeared in various publications, but she was best known for her interviews with and pictures of other famous photographers, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Bruce Davidson. Her story is marvelous, and her daughter’s earnest exploration and emotional tribute add up to a wonderful way of sharing that story, never uncomfortable like all the films out there by the unexceptional children of their exceptional subjects. Rachel Elizabeth Seed may never find another story as personally suited to her to follow as this one, but in her directorial debut, she proves confident and competent enough as a filmmaker that I believe she will have great success with whatever she explores next.
A Photographic Memory opens theatrically in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 14.
Sally (2025)
The other favorite from this year’s Sundance Film Festival arriving this week is Sally, a biographical documentary about astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. It makes for a great double feature with the recently released two-part doc Pee-wee as Himself, since it’s about another public figure who couldn’t come out during their lifetime, for various reasons, including their work involving or being for children. Here is an except from my review of Sally from Sundance:
“Well-paced and engaging throughout, the documentary uses necessary archival footage for much of its storytelling while leaning heavily on an interview with Ride’s longtime partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy. The film also features dramatizations that sometimes took me out of the story rather than immersing me deeper. Ride’s story offers a perfect mix of one glass ceiling being broken while a thick door remained shut, making for a triumphant yet heartbreaking narrative.”
Sally premieres on National Geographic on Monday, June 16, and begins streaming on Hulu and Disney+ on Tuesday, June 17.
Street Fight (2005)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Street Fight. The film introduced us to now-Oscar-winning director Marshall Curry and his subject, now-U.S. Senator Cory Booker. The film follows Booker during his unsuccessful first mayoral campaign in Newark in 2002, but while he didn’t win that race, he proved, as is seen in Street Fight, that he was a major political figure. Recently, Booker broke the record for the longest U.S. Senate speech in history, continuing to confirm his stardom on the political stage. Street Fight shows us how it all started.
Street Fight is screening in New York City as part of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, June 13. The film is also available to stream on Kanopy.
Surviving Ohio State (2025)
The succession of justice in America: criminal trial; civil lawsuit; damning documentary spotlight. In the case of Ohio State’s sexual abuse scandal involving a team doctor, the offender has been dead for 20 years and can’t be charged, let alone tried for his crimes. As an alternative, the university has been sued for damages by several athletes claiming the school knew and did nothing to protect them. Those are ongoing, have been for seven years, and don’t seem anywhere near being properly decided or settled. So, here’s the documentary, which aims to at least garner justice in the form of public support for the survivors and against the Ohio State University.
What makes the story of Surviving Ohio State different from similar cases of abuse, particularly the one documented in both Athlete A and At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal, is that its survivors were bulky male college athletes, including wrestlers and ice hockey players. The public has a harder time believing they wouldn’t have successfully fought off physical abuse. So, this film, while specific to the testimonials of its participants, is also broadly about how authority figures can get away with things simply because they are in a position of power, especially if their prey has something to lose, like a scholarship. It doesn’t matter who is abused or why they “let it happen” or didn’t come forward earlier; they must be heard and believed.
Surviving Ohio State premieres on HBO and Max on Tuesday, June 17.
Documentary Release Calendar 6/13/25 - 6/19/25
Friday, June 13, 2025
Blind AF (2024) - A feature-length documentary about a blind Paralympic champion attempting a record-breaking cross-country bike ride. (In Theaters)
Ennio (2021) - A feature documentary about film composer Ennio Morricone. Read our review of Ennio. (TCM)
Esports World Cup: Level Up Episode 2 - The second part of a docuseries by R.J. Cutler on last year’s inaugural Esports World Cup. (Prime Video)
A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole (2024) - A documentary about the titular fashion designer. (In Theaters)
Missing Presumed Dead Episodes 7 & 8: “Shiva Mahbobi - Under Lock and Key” & “Rhiannon Bragg - At Gunpoint” - The latest two episodes of this new series about real-life disappearances focus on a man jailed for protesting the Iranian regime and a woman held hostage by an ex-boyfriend. (National Geographic)
The Playboy Murders Season 3, Episode 6: “The Girl in the Red Tub” - The third season of this docuseries continues with a story involving the murder of a waitress-turned-Playboy model. (Investigation Discovery)
Prime Minister (2025) - A documentary about the former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Read our review of Prime Minister from Sundance. (In Theaters)
Romcon: Who the F**k is Jason Porter? (2025) - A true-crime docuseries about a woman who learned her new boyfriend had a criminal past. (Prime Video)
Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible (2023) - A documentary about the titular Scottish band best known for the ‘80s hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. (In Theaters)
The Proof is Out There Season 5 - The return of this docuseries investigating UFOs, conspiracies, and mythical creatures. (History)
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Black Cats and Broomsticks (1955) - A short documentary about superstitions, personal rituals, taboos, and talismans. (TCM)
The Forest Commandos (1946) - A short documentary about Ontario’s forest rangers as they fight a large fire. (TCM)
A Photographic Memory (2024) - A documentary about the photographer and journalist Sheila Turner Seed made by her daughter, who never knew her. Read our review of A Photographic Memory. (In Theaters - L.A.)
Six Hits and a Miss (1942) - A short film showcasing musical performances by the titular singing group. (TCM)
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Four Minute Fever (1956) - A short documentary about the quest to run a mile under four minutes. (TCM)
Hazardous History with Henry Winkler (2025) - A new docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. (History)
Let’s Sing Grandfather’s Favorites (1948) - A short presentation of music from the late 19th century. (TCM)
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under Season 5, Episode 6: “Chimp Challenge” - The latest episode of this docuseries filmed at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo focuses on chimpanzee health exams. (National Geographic WILD)
Underdogs (2025) - A nature docuseries narrated by Ryan Reynolds about evolutionary underdogs and how they survive. (National Geographic)
Monday, June 16, 2025
The Cat Man Eshete (2025) - A short documentary about an Ethiopian refugee caring for stray cats in Brooklyn. (Al Jazeera English)
Kevin Costner's The West Episodes 5: “Bleeding Kansas” - The latest installment of this docuseries about the American frontier focuses on Kansas’s part in the debate over slavery. (History)
Sally (2025) - A biographical documentary about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Read our review of Sally from Sundance. (National Geographic)
Toxic Season 1, Episode 6: “Chasing a Ghost” - The latest episode of this new docuseries about toxic relationships. (Investigation Discovery)
Walking with Dinosaurs (2025) - A new docuseries about dinosaurs. (PBS)
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The Cruise (1998) - A classic documentary about the poet, philosopher, and New York City tour guide Timothy “Speed” Levitch. (OVID)
Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call (2024) - A short documentary about the titular artist. Presented as an episode of the American Masters shorts series In the Making. (PBS)
Jeannette (2022) - A documentary about the queer bodybuilder Jeannette Feliciano. (DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD)
Sally (2025) - A biographical documentary about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Read our review of Sally from Sundance. (Disney+)
Surviving Ohio State (2025) - A documentary about Ohio State’s athletic department’s abuse scandal. Read our review of Surviving Ohio State in the highlights section above. (Max)
Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem (2025) - A documentary about the scandalous former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. (Netflix)
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Season 2 - The return of the award-winning docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. (Netflix)
Border Security: Australia’s Front Line Season 15, Episodes 14 & 15: “High Risk” & “Lethal Container” - The latest episodes of this docuseries continue to follow the work of the Australian Border Force. (National Geographic)
Expedition Unknown Season 15 - The return of this docuseries following an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery)
Fortune Seekers (1956) - A short documentary about simple inventions we now take for granted, including bobby pins and cellophane tape. (TCM)
Headpin Hints (1955) - A short documentary where the pros offer tips to young bowlers. (TCM)
Somebody Feed Phil Season 8 - The return of this docuseries starring Phil Rosenthal as he travels the world tasting local food. (Netflix)
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Before Midnight (2022) - A medium-length documentary about the making of the movie Round Midnight. (TCM)
The Many Deaths of Nora Dalmasso (2025) - A true-crime docuseries about the unsolved murder case of Nora Dalmasso. (Netflix)
Row of Life (2025) - A documentary about Paralympian Angela Madsen as she attempted to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. (In Theaters)
Say Amen, Somebody (1982) - A documentary about the American gospel scene. (TCM)
Secrets of the Bunny Ranch Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4: “Predator” & “The Cathouse Murders” - The latest episode in this docuseries about the Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel. (A&E)
Soul Power (2008) - A documentary about the Zaire ‘74 soul music festival. Read more about it in our showcase of James Brown concert films. (TCM)
Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 7: “Life or Death” - The latest episode of this award-winning sports docuseries. (FX)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
6/20 - Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos - A documentary about the frontman of the punk band Cro-Mags. (In Theaters)
7/17 - The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster (2025) - A four-part true-crime docuseries produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Theo Love (The Legend of Cocaine Island) about an investigation into animal abuse in the Furry community. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (SundanceTV, Sundance Now, and AMC+)
7/18 - Life After (2025) - A Sundance-winning documentary by Reid Davenport (I Didn’t See You There) about a disabled woman who sought “the right to die.” Read our review of Life After. (In Theaters)
7/25 - 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025) - A documentary by Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov (20 Days in Mariupol) about a Ukrainian platoon’s effort to liberate a village from Russian occupation. Read our review of 2000 Meters to Andriivka from Sundance. (In Theaters)
8/15 - Magic City: An American Fantasy (2025) - A docuseries about the titular Atlanta strip club. Watch the new teaser for the series below. (Starz)
9/19 - Predators (2025) - A documentary about the series To Catch a Predator. Read our review of Predators. (In Theaters)
10/10 - Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 - A documentary by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975) about reportage on the Israel and Palestine conflict in Sweden. The film was just acquired by Icarus Films. (In Theaters)