This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - July 11-July 17, 2025
I want to take a moment this week to share my usual process for selecting highlights and reviewing what I’ve seen. On some level, it seems prudent to choose documentaries that more people will watch, as a percentage of those viewers may be curious to read someone’s professional take on that film or series. The good thing about that idea is that I receive screeners of most Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple content without having to ask for them (Netflix typically only automatically provides me with series, not features, though). The bad thing is that many of these are generic.
It takes more work to seek out and request screeners (even those offered by publicists but not automatically shared) of smaller and independent films and series, including releases on less popular streaming platforms. They can be more interesting. However, they, too, can be a gamble if they’re ultimately not worth the effort or time to watch and showcase. I’ll prioritize filmmakers I know and like, yet even then, they can disappoint with their latest. I have little interest in spotlighting documentaries that are bad or even just okay, nor do I take any delight in giving anything a negative review. I wish I could stop time to watch everything and always pull out just the best.
This is all to apologize for any newsletter that feels light in recommendations or even highlights. Should I include anything that I watched in full and don’t think deserves the attention? Or should I let you assume that if, say, a new true crime series on Netflix or a new nature series on Apple, or the latest from one of my favorite directors, is in the listings section but not the highlights, that I mean you should skip it as well? If I have something I want to get off my chest about anything I disliked, I may still feature it. But I’m done including titles that fail to inspire any critical discourse in me, just to acknowledge I watched them and to fill this space, especially if I’m embargoed against reviewing them until later anyway.
If you want to know which docs I’ve watched and decided against reviewing, you can always follow me on Letterboxd. Except for series, which aren’t represented there.
Without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including reviews of new nonfiction films and series. They are followed by daily listings for all notable 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, and to give me more time to watch more, if not everything available to me.
Nonfics Picks Of The Week: Pavements (2024)
I thought about not making Pavements the Pick of the Week again, as it’s only been a couple of months since I did so for its theatrical release. But Pavements is a must-see, in case you haven’t seen its placement on my list of the best documentaries of 2025 so far. And you don’t have to be a fan of its subject to enjoy it. The experimental hybrid film, directed by Alex Ross Perry and produced and edited by Robert Greene, “provides a sense of Pavement more comprehensive (but also more artificial) than a typical talking-head-filled rock documentary would,” I wrote back in May. “It’s the sort of music film that satisfies the film audience even if they don’t care for the music, and vice versa.”
Pavements makes its streaming debut on Mubi on Friday, July 11.
Other Documentary Highlights
Apocalypse In The Tropics (2024)
Five years ago, Petra Costa received an Oscar nomination for her film The Edge of Democracy, which documented the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president of Brazil. Now, her follow-up, Apocalypse in the Tropics, continues the political story of her country with a look at the rise of evangelical Christian influence in Brazil and how it paved the way for Bolsonaro’s reign in the Palácio do Planalto. The documentary also covers the reelection of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and its aftermath. For those who saw Apocalypse in the Tropics at Venice or any of its other fall festival appearances last year, Costa has added an update at the end recognizing news from November.
For American viewers who don’t follow Brazilian politics and current events, Apocalypse in the Tropics can feel like a foreign-language remake of what’s happened in the U.S. (though some Americans will choose the English dub version, including a separately recorded narration from Costa). Scenes of Bolsonaro’s supporters storming federal buildings in January 2023 are especially familiar to us. And as a few other documentaries have explored, President Donald Trump has also benefited from the evangelical movement’s backing. Unlike those forgettable docs, this film has a distinctive touch and perspective thanks to Costa’s direction and voiceover.
Compared to The Edge of Democracy, though, Apocalypse in the Tropics lacks the personal history element that made the earlier film so engaging. It’s got her personality but not the intimacy that fans of hers (myself included), going back to the release of her feature debut, Elena, are drawn to. Apocalypse in the Tropics is also less cohesive in its focus and perhaps too immediate in its historicism to make a strong point. Following stories as they play out can have that effect. It could have just been about Silas Malafaia, the televangelist pastor who was most instrumental in providing Bolsonaro with the religious vote, or it could have had less of him.
Still, there’s no other filmmaker I’d want as a guide through this story or any other regarding Brazil (I recommend following Costa on social media to see her regularly sharing news, including its economic relationship with the U.S. as of late. We named Apocalypse in the Tropics one of our most anticipated documentaries of 2025 at the start of this year, and I can’t say it disappointed. If this is your first taste of Costa’s style, maybe go back and watch her other films first. If you liked The Edge of Democracy in particular, Apocalypse in the Tropics is a must-watch companion piece. I also think it makes for an interesting contrasting double feature with the recently released documentary Prime Minister, about a world leader serving during the same time.
Apocalypse in the Tropics opens theatrically in limited release on Friday, July 11, and premieres on Netflix on Monday, July 14.
The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster (2025)
It’s a shame that documentaries about the furry community still have to be more reactionary than celebratory. The first one I saw, 2016’s Fursonas, addressed a lot of the negative views of the subculture, most notably the belief that it’s mainly a sexual kink. Now, the latest documentary from Theo Love (The Legend of Cocaine Island) is focused on the sub-sect of zoophiles, particularly those who engage in animal abuse of a sexual nature. The Furry Detectives: Unmasking A Monster is an overlong and disturbing series that has such a difficult-to-convey subject that it can’t even get into the details of what it’s about without self-censoring some of the language and images illustrating the horrible crimes.
Thankfully so, but it makes for a documentary light on clarity, specifics, and substance. It leaves things too much up to the audience’s imagination, which might even be worse. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation, and after watching the first two of its four episodes, I don’t have any interest in continuing. That’s due to the limitations of its storytelling as well as the fact that I don’t want to even hear a hint of any more of the cruel activity. At least Love doesn’t lean into sensationalism. Unfortunately, the story he’s telling doesn’t have the intrigue of something like Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer either. I just don’t want to know more than what I got out of the series’ first couple of minutes.
The Furry Detectives premieres its first episode on SundanceTV on Thursday, July 17, and will be available to stream on AMC+ and Sundance Now. Subsequent episodes will then premiere weekly.
Little, Big, And Far (2024)
In May, we highlighted the work of Jem Cohen (Museum Hours) as several of his films were added to The Criterion Channel that month. Hopefully, his latest will join them eventually, but for now, Little, Big, and Far is best seen on the big screen. It’s another hybrid feature, but even that classification might be misleading. It’s certainly not like Pavements. It’s not exactly a work of both documentary and drama, nor is it a work that can be described as neither fiction nor nonfiction.
It follows a barely there narrative of a scientist couple (fictional characters) drifting apart, yet still bonded together (representing the pull of dark energy and dark matter?). There’s another couple early into their relationship. But it’s mainly an epistolary work that functions like an essay film, as its characters wonder about the stars, butterflies, climate change, light pollution, meteorites, and more.
If you’re unfamiliar with Cohen’s previous work, there are other comparisons to be drawn. In its fictions, I thought of Richard Linklater films and Kogonada’s Colombus. In its nonfiction, I was reminded of The City Dark, Nostalgia for the Light, and Chris Marker, among other heavily narrated documentaries. You could just listen to it or just watch it, and have a great experience either way. With both, it feels transcendent.
Little, Big, and Far opens in theaters on Friday, July 11.
New Day Films Documentaries
One of the many reasons I love the streaming service OVID (or OVID.tv) is that it’s the exclusive or near-exclusive home to many distributors’ libraries either in totality or rather substantially. Many of these companies, such as Icarus Films, Bullfrog Films, dGenerateFilms, and others, are focused on or heavily include documentaries, making OVID essential for nonfiction fans. This month, New Day Films will be added to that roster, with eight of their documentaries premiering on OVID on Wednesday, July 16. Another 12 will begin streaming in the coming weeks, so look out for those, too. The most notable among this week’s crop for its link to current events is the anti-ICE short Expanding Sanctuary.
Documentary Release Calendar 7/11/25 - 7/17/25
Friday, July 11, 2025
Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024) - A documentary by Petra Costa (The Edge of Democracy) about former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and how the evangelical movement paved the way for his election. (In Theaters)
Commune (2005) - A 20th anniversary restoration of a documentary about the Black Bear Ranch Commune, which was started in Northern California in 1968. (In Theaters)
Investigation Shark Attack Episode 6: “Maui Mayhem” - The sixth installment of a docuseries about scientists studying shark attacks. (National Geographic)
Little, Big, and Far (2024) - A hybrid film by Jem Cohen that, to put it too simply, follows a husband and wife scientist couple who are growing apart. (In Theaters)
One Night in Idaho: The College Murders (2025) - A four-part true-crime docuseries about the 2022 Idaho University massacre. (Prime Video)
Pavements (2024) - A hybrid feature about the rock band Pavement. Read our review of Pavements, and see where it ranks on our list of the best documentaries of 2025 so far. (Mubi)
Planet Weird Episode 5: “Fight Club” - The latest installment of a nature docuseries about the world’s strangest species. (National Geographic WILD)
Super Shark Highway Episode 6 - The final installment of a docuseries following shark scientists in Australia. (National Geographic)
We Are Guardians (2023) - A documentary about Indigenous people trying to save what’s left of the Brazilian Amazon. (In Theaters: NYC Opening)
The Wild Ones (2025) - A nature docuseries following a team working for the conservation of endangered species around the world. (Apple TV+)
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Believe It or Not (Second Series) #2 (1931) - A short documentary hosted by Robert L. Ripley presenting shocking phenomena, including a fish with legs and a giant typewriter. (TCM)
Buried in the Backyard Season 6, Episode 1 - The return of this true-crime docuseries about the odd locations where murder victims were found. (Oxygen True Crime)
My Brooklyn (2012) - A documentary about gentrification, specifically the redevelopment of Fulton Mall in Brooklyn. (OVID)
My Dear Children (2017) - A medium-length documentary about the pogroms in Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus from 1917-1921. (OVID)
Planet Weird Episode 5: “Fight Club” - The latest installment of a nature docuseries about the world’s strangest species. (Hulu)
Sharks of the North (2025) - A documentary about great white sharks around Canada’s Atlantic coast. (National Geographic)
Six Hits and a Miss (1942) - A short film showcasing musical performances by the titular singing group. (TCM)
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Billionaire Boys Club (2025) - A docuseries about the rise and fall of Joe Hunt and his Ponzi schemes. (CNN)
The Golden Years (1960) - A short documentary about bowling innovations. (TCM)
Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World (2025) - A docuseries about the titular 1985 concert. (CNN)
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under Season 5, Episode 10: “Savannah Elephants” - The latest installment of a nature docuseries filmed at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo involves elephants. (National Geographic WILD)
Shark Quest: Hunt for the Apex Predator Episodes 1 & 2: “Close Calls” & “Hot Spots” - Two installments of a docuseries about shark behavior. (National Geographic)
Monday, July 14, 2025
Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024) - A documentary by Petra Costa (The Edge of Democracy) about former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and how the evangelical movement paved the way for his election. (Netflix)
A Killer Among Friends Season 1, Episode 1 - A true-crime docuseries about murders that tear friend groups apart. (Investigation Discovery)
MGM Parade Show #28 (1956) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the MGM films Captains Courageous and Forbidden Planet. (TCM)
Survival Mode Season 1, Episode 2: “Maui Wildfires” - The latest installment of this new docuseries focuses on the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, in 2023. (NBC)
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Blur: To the End (2024) - A documentary about the reunion of the Britpop group Blur. (Blu-ray)
Her Last Broadcast: The Abduction of Jodi Huisentruit (2025) - A three-part true-crime docuseries about a TV anchor who went missing in Iowa in 1995. (Hulu)
Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf (2025) - A documentary about the titular trans model and activist. (VOD)
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty Episode 2: “Rivalry” - The second installment of this three-part docuseries about the rivalries between Renaissance artists Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. (PBS)
The Sea Around Us (1953) - An Oscar-winning feature documentary adapted from Rachel Carson’s book on ocean life. (TCM)
Trainwreck: The Balloon Boy (2025) - The latest installment in the Trainwreck series examines the 2009 Balloon Boy hoax. (Netflix)
The Wolf in the Chute (2024) - A documentary about World Champion cowboy Braylon Johnson. (DVD)
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Amy Bradley is Missing (2025) - A three-part true-crime docuseries about a young woman who disappeared during a family vacation in 1998. (Netflix)
Benevolence (2018) - A documentary about five former incarcerated women who go to work on a farm. (OVID)
Deej (2017) - A documentary about a non-talking autistic man as he heads to college. (OVID)
Elephant Path: Njaia Njoku (2018) - A medium-length documentary about the last herd of Forest Elephants in the Central African Rainforest. (OVID)
English Hustle (2023) - A short documentary about the tutoring industry in the UK. (OVID)
Expanding Sanctuary (2023) - A short documentary about a community leader who fought to stop the Philadelphia police from sharing data with ICE. (OVID)
Expedition Unknown Season 15, Episode 5: “Treasure of the Pirate Queen” - The latest installment of this docuseries, which follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts, focuses on the lost treasure of Anne Bonny. (Discovery)
How to Power a City (2024) - A documentary about clean energy, such as solar and wind. (OVID)
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Alert Today - Alive Tomorrow (1956) - A short documentary about civil defense in the event of a nuclear disaster. (TCM)
Don’t Get Angry (1953) - A short film teaching kids about anger management. (TCM)
The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster (2025) - A true-crime documentary about animal abuse in the furry community. (AMC+ and Sundance Now)
How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer (2023) - A feature documentary about the titular author. (Kino Film Collection)
Lie Detector: Truth or Deception Season 1, Episode 2: “Matheau Moore” - The latest installment of this docuseries, about suspected but not charged individuals taking lie detectors to prove their innocence, focuses on a man aiming to prove he didn’t kill his wife. (A&E)
Realm of Satan (2024) - A documentary feature about the Church of Satan. (In Theaters)
Surf Girls: International (2025) - The second season of the Surf Girls docuseries about women surfers. (Prime Video)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
7/18 - Heightened Scrutiny - A documentary following civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio in his fights against anti-trans laws. Read our review of Heightened Scrutiny. (In Theaters)
7/25 - 2000 Meters to Andriivka - 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)
7/28 - Adaptive - A three-part docuseries following four athletes over four years leading up to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Peacock and TeamUSA TV)
7/30 - BTS Army: Forever We Are Young - A documentary about BTS fans. (In Theaters)
8/1 - Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation - A documentary about Jack Kerouac’s On the Road from the lens of today. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)
8/4 - Atomic People - A documentary about the last survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. (PBS)
8/8 - It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley - A documentary by Amy Berg (Janis: Little Girl Lost) about the titular musician. (In Theaters)
9/5 - Riefenstahl - A documentary about the legacy of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, best known for directing Triumph of the Will. (In Theaters)
9/9 - Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect - A documentary about Thurgood Marshall. (PBS)
9/19 - Predators - A documentary about the TV series To Catch a Predator. Read our review of Predators from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (In Theaters)