This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - July 18-July 24, 2025
Another week, another crop of celebrity biographies that prove that’s not a bad thing. We also see a couple of Sundance 2025 selections finally arriving in theaters and one Hot Docs 2024 premiere making its broadcast debut. Plus, we share the titles that the Television Academy considers among the best of the past year, and we recognize the return of one of the few truly great ongoing docuseries devoted to investigative journalism, which itself has won multiple Emmys. Be sure to read to the end of this edition for first looks at the latest from such documentarian superstars as Margaret Brown, Joe Berlinger, and Amy Berg.
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: Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)
When critics complain about celebrity-focused documentaries, they should acknowledge that we have two great filmmakers to thank for two types of well-produced celebrity docs with integrity. You’ve got the verité profiles of famous people, especially actors and musicians, that follow D.A. Pennebaker’s intimate style. Then there’s the biographical type perfected by Susan Lacy, creator of the PBS series American Masters. She later jumped to HBO to make features chronicling the lives of such icons as Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Ralph Lauren, and now Billy Joel. Her new documentary, a two-parter titled Billy Joel: And So It Goes, is also her best yet.
Continue reading our review of Billy Joel: And So It Goes.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Friday, July 18.
Other Documentary Highlights
Emmy Nominees
Last week, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards, including those in nonfiction categories (not to be confused with those honored at the News & Documentary Emmys). Among the contenders are some of my favorite films and series from last year and this year. Pee-wee as Himself (now streaming on HBO Max) and Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (now streaming on Hulu), which are on my list of the best documentaries of 2025 so far, are nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. The former is also recognized for its directing, editing, sound editing, and sound mixing.
Emmy nominees that were on my list of the best documentaries of 2024 include Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (HBO Max), which can be found in the Emmy categories for directing, writing, editing, and score. Also, Ren Faire (HBO Max), which is up for its cinematography. Some of the other nominees I recommend include Will & Harper (Netflix), Deaf President Now! (Apple TV+), I Am: Celine Dion (Prime Video), Music by John Williams (Disney+), Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (HBO Max), Simone Biles Rising (Netflix), Social Studies (Hulu), The Rehearsal (HBO Max), and Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years Of SNL Music (currently unavailable).
Heightened Scrutiny (2025)
In my review of Heightened Scrutiny from January, I wrote, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a documentary that feels so immediate and so late in my life.” The film continues to grow in importance, though, even if some of it will now seem a bit dated in light of recent updates. It follows trans ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio in his fight against anti-trans laws, and as a character study, it endures as well. From my review:
“It’s a political profile as much as a political issue film, giving Strangio a cinematic vehicle to showcase his passion for and expertise on the cause. He’s very likable as a documentary lead, and I would follow him into further films about all his cases if they were to be made. In general, the film presents its case for the case at hand superbly through the people it features on screen, from a fiery young trans girl to several trans men and women given close-up and personal testimonial time.…the chance of the film affecting its viewers should make for its lasting importance.”
Heightened Scrutiny opens in theaters on Friday, July 18.
Life After (2025)
Another documentary I covered during Sundance this year, Reid Davenport’s Life After is a little more complex in its exploration of certain human rights, in this case, the rights of the disabled. Specifically, it deals with laws concerning the right to die (a.k.a. assisted dying). Here’s an excerpt from my review of Life After:
“Initially, Life After is a confusing documentary, in part because it begins with a focus on an American case from 40 years ago where a disabled woman wished to be euthanized but was denied such a fate. Much of the documentary is an investigation into what happened to her, and at first, I wasn’t sure where Davenport was going or what stance he was taking on the story or legal issue. Really, though, it’s just that this film deals with a very complicated subject and isn’t just about one angle on the matter. It may be especially difficult for viewers who think Canada has better healthcare for all of its citizens. If you stick with it, though, it makes sense.”
Life After opens in theaters on Friday, July 18.
The Ride Ahead (2024)
This is the second highlight this week focused on persons with disabilities. The Ride Ahead is also similarly directed by a filmmaker with a neurodevelopmental disorder who is also a wheelchair user. Well, co-directed. Samuel Habib makes his feature directorial debut with the documentary, which expands on his Emmy-winning, Critics Choice-nominated 2022 short My Disability Roadmap, again working alongside his veteran filmmaker father, Dan Habib.
For Samuel, who narrates his story, it’s a first-person account of a young man with a disability making the transition to adulthood, getting his own place, going to college, wondering about sex, and struggling with a world and people that treat him differently. Samuel is another very likable documentary character, one I could watch and listen to through more of his life’s journey, and it feels even more like his film than the short did, yet this is unfortunately another documentary with very unnecessary animations that harm the flow and groundedness of its narrative.
The Ride Ahead makes its broadcast premiere on PBS as an episode of POV on Monday, July 21.
Shari & Lamb Chop (2023)
It took five years after director Lisa D’Apolito gave us the entertaining biographical documentary Love, Gilda, which truly got to the heart and humanity of its subject (Gilda Radner), to deliver a follow-up where she did the same thing for another ray of sunshine: Shari Lewis. Now it’s taken another two years for the film to come out. It’s surprising enough that it took so long for a documentary to be made about Lewis, but better late than never when it’s handled as well as it is in Shari & Lamb Chop.
Perhaps it seemed like there wasn’t enough drama in the life of the popular ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children’s television host best known for creating the character Lamb Chop. As a portrait of a significant female creative and performer making her way up and down in the male-dominated industry, though, it chronicles a beautiful story of an artist who kept going until she managed a wonderful comeback. There’s a lot of nostalgia fodder for multiple generations of viewers in the archival smorgasbord, and the film sells how much of a pioneer Lewis was, even if in the end, it doesn’t have quite as much to say about the world of children’s television as recent documentaries on Fred Rogers, Sesame Street, or Reading Rainbow.
Shari & Lamb Chop opens in theaters on Friday, July 18.
Trafficked With Mariana Van Zeller Season 5
Knowing Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller is returning for another season is hopeful for the state of journalism, even as so many other signs are pointing to otherwise at the moment. The Peabody-winning Mariana van Zeller, whose ongoing series has won a Critics Choice Award and been nominated several other times, is still as intrepid as ever. This season, she goes deep into more stories about the trafficking of drugs, humans, weapons, animals, and more.
Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller Season 5 premieres on National Geographic on Saturday, July 19.
Documentary Release Calendar 7/18/25 - 7/24/25
Friday, July 18, 2025
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025) - A two-part documentary by Susan Lacy (Jane Fonda in Five Acts) and Jessica Levin about the titular singer-songwriter. (HBO and Max)
Death & Taxes - A documentary about wealthy Americans’ refusal to pay taxes. (In Theaters)
Dreams (1940) - A short film in MGM’s Passing Parade series that examines the meaning of various dreams. (TCM)
Heightened Scrutiny (2025) - A documentary following civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio in his fights against anti-trans laws. Read our review of Heightened Scrutiny. (In Theaters)
I’m Still a Superstar (2025) - A documentary about the Spanish pop star known at different times as Yurena, Ámbar, and Tamara. (Netflix)
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)
Planet Weird Episode 5: “Gangsters” - The latest installment of a nature docuseries about the world’s strangest species. (National Geographic WILD)
Shari & Lamb Chop (2023) - A biographical documentary by Lisa D’Apolito (Love, Gilda) about puppeteer and children’s show host Shari Lewis. Check out our review of Shari & Lamb Chop in the week’s highlights section above. (In Theaters)
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Ancient Egypt (1939) - A short documentary from James A. FitzPatrick’s Traveltalk franchise focused on historical landmarks in Egypt. (TCM)
Believe It or Not (Second Series) #3 (1931) - This installment of the Robert L. Ripley documentary franchise includes a baseball team made up of nine brothers. (TCM)
Buried in the Backyard Season 6, Episode 2: “Dead End Town” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about the odd locations where murder victims were found. This episode involves the death of a young Texas mother. (Oxygen True Crime)
Looking at Lisbon (1953) - A short documentary from James A. FitzPatrick’s Traveltalk franchise focused on Portugal’s capital. (TCM)
Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller Season 5, Episode 1: “Cartel USA” - The return of this award-winning series begins with a look at the influence of Mexican cartels in the U.S. (National Geographic)
Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood (2000) - A documentary narrated by Uma Thurman about the titular screenwriter. (TCM)
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus (2025) - A documentary special about a legendary flying shark. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Great White Assassins (2025) - A documentary special about orcas killing great white sharks. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Night Descends on Treasure Island (1940) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that showcases the nighttime festivities of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition. (TCM)
Monday, July 21, 2025
Great White Sex Battle (2025) - A documentary special examining which gender of great white sharks is the superior predator. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Hotel Monterey (1973) - A medium-length documentary by Chantal Akerman about a cheap hotel residence in New York City for seniors and other outcasts of society. (TCM)
In the Eye of the Storm: Shark Storm (2025) - A documentary special about the outbreak of shark attacks along the Gulf Coast in 2024. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Jaws vs. Mega Croc (2025) - A special based on scientific data that imagines a fight between the great white shark and the Nile crocodile. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Justice on Trial (2025) - A docuseries from Judge Judy in which notable court cases are reenacted based on official transcripts. (Prime Video)
A Killer Among Friends Season 1, Episode 2: “Your Smiles and Your Lies” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about murders that tear friend groups apart. This episode involves the death of the star of a community theater production of Fiddler on the Roof. (Investigation Discovery)
The Ride Ahead (2024) - A documentary about a young disabled man with a rare genetic disorder attempting to plan for adulthood. Presented as an installment of POV. Check out our review of The Ride Ahead in the week’s highlights section above.(PBS)
Survival Mode Season 1, Episode 3: “Hurricane Ian” - The latest installment of this new docuseries focuses on the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, in 2023. (NBC)
Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari (2025) - A three-part docuseries about the death of Bianca Rudolph during a hunting trip in Africa. (Hulu)
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Black Mako of the Abyss (2025) - A documentary special about a unique shark that might be a cross between a mako and a great white. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Great White Northern Invasion (2025) - A documentary special about the presence of great white sharks off the coast of Nova Scotia. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Hip Hop Was Born Here (2025) - A five-part docuseries starring LL Cool J about the history of hip hop in New York City. (Paramount+)
How to Survive a Shark Attack (2025) - A documentary special about a shark attack survivor attempting to be attacked again. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty Episode 3: “Redemption” - The final installment of this three-part docuseries about the rivalries between Renaissance artists Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael. (PBS)
Trainwreck: P.I. Moms (2025) - The latest installment in the Trainwreck series looks at a story of soccer mom private investigators from 2010. (Netflix)
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Alien Sharks: Death Down Under (2025) - A documentary special in which a biologist injects himself with shark venom. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
The Best of Victor Borge: Act One & Two (1990) - A concert film in which Victor Borge performs his classic comedy and music routines. (VHS)
Count Me In (2021) - A feature documentary about legendary drummers. Read our review of Count Me In. (DVD)
Critical: Between Life and Death (2025) - A medical docuseries following emergencies at London’s trauma centres and operating rooms. (Netflix)
Expedition Unknown: Shark Files (2025) - A documentary special about shark mysteries. Presented as part of Shark Week and technically the sixth episode of Expedition Unknown Season 15. (Discovery)
Expedition X: Malpelo Monster (2025) - A documentary special about a monster shark off the coast of Colombia. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Film: The Living Record of Our Memory (2021) - A feature-length documentary about the importance of film preservation. (TCM)
The Interpreters (2018) - A feature-length documentary about interpreters who worked with the U.S. military in various wars. (OVID)
The Movie Man (2024) - A feature documentary about a Canadian movie theater owner. (TCM)
Nobody Wants Us (2020) - An Emmy-nominated short documentary about three families who fled Nazi Germany during World War II. (OVID)
Rollout (2024) - A short documentary about Kenyans under pressure to get a COVID shot. (OVID)
Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War - Three new episodes mark the second-season return of the docuseries about the reality-TV-starring Duggar family. (Prime Video)
Side by Side: Out of a Korean Orphanage and Into the World (2018) - A short documentary about international adoptees from South Korea. (OVID)
Silvio Rodriguez: My First Calling (2020) - A short documentary about the titular Cuban musician and the story of his youth in the Cuban Literacy Campaign in 1961. (OVID)
Sin País (Without Country) (2010) - A short documentary about a family that fled Guatemala during its civil war and sought refuge in America. (OVID)
Walking with Dinosaurs (2025) - A docuseries about dinosaurs. (DVD and Blu-ray)
What These Walls Won’t Hold (2023) - A medium-length documentary by a formerly incarcerated filmmaker revealing an insider’s perspective on prison life. (OVID)
Who Am I to Stop It (2016) - A short documentary following people who’ve had traumatic brain injuries and are now artists. (OVID)
With a Stroke of the Chaveta (2007) - A short documentary spotlighting Cuban cigar factories. (OVID)
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) - A feature documentary about one of the first pay cable TV stations in the U.S. (The Criterion Channel)
Thursday, July 24, 2025
The Anonymous People (2013) - A documentary about people in long-term recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. (Kino Film Collection)
The Bridge (2006) - A documentary about people who take their own lives by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. (Kino Film Collection)
Caught! Sharks Strike Back (2025) - A documentary special about shark attacks captured on camera. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Epic Ride: The Story of Universal Theme Parks (2025) - A three-part docuseries about Universal’s theme parks and the opening of Epic Universe. (Peacock)
Frankenshark (2025) - A documentary special about the creation of the perfect apex predator. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Hitmakers (2025) - A docuseries about songwriters who create hits for major music stars. (Netflix)
Lie Detector: Truth or Deception Season 1, Episode 3: “Jesse Holton” - The latest installment of this docuseries, about suspected but not charged individuals taking lie detectors to prove their innocence. This episode focuses on a man aiming to prove he didn’t murder his parents. (A&E)
Surviving Jaws (2025) - A documentary special about the truth behind the premise of the movie Jaws. Presented as part of Shark Week. (Discovery)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
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)
7/30 - Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes - A true-crime docuseries by Joe Berlinger in the Conversations with a Killer franchise, focused on the titular serial killer. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (Netflix)
8/3 - The Yogurt Shop Murders - A true-crime docuseries by Margaret Brown (Descendant) about the killing of four teenagers in 1991. Watch the new trailer for the series here. (HBO Max)
8/8 - It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley - A biographical documentary by Amy Berg (Janis: Little Girl Lost) about the titular musician. Watch the new trailer for the highly anticipated film below. (In Theaters)
8/9 - American Prince: JFK Jr. - A docuseries about the famous son of President John F. Kennedy. Watch the new trailer for the series here. (CNN)
9/5 - Riefenstahl - A documentary about the legacy of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who is best known for directing Triumph of the Will. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (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)