This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - November 7-13, 2025
This Sunday, the 10th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards will be held in New York City, and I’ll be there for the event as always. Be sure to check out this year’s nominees, and tune in to the live-stream via YouTube, X, or Facebook (on the Critics Choice Association accounts) starting at 7:00 pm ET. Also, check back on this post or on the Nonfics site to see the list of winners once the show is over.
Speaking of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, one of last year’s big nominees, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, is being remade as a dramatic film starring Charlie Plummer as the titular gamer who found his chosen family in a virtual world. While we wait to see how unnecessary that project winds up being (I assume it will flop, a la the Marwencol adaptation), you can watch the original on Netflix.
We found out from last week’s DOC NYC Monday Memo about the passing of documentary filmmakers Gilles Blais and Sara Terry. Blais regularly directed works for the National Film Board of Canada, and you can watch his shorts Sophie Wollock’s Newspaper and Water, Water, Everywhere… on the NFB website (his feature The Followers is also on there, but only for Canadians). Terry helmed Fambul Tok, which is currently unavailable, and A Decent Home, which you can find on Kanopy.
Now, without further ado, below are this week’s documentary highlights, including capsule 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. If you have a doc in need of coverage or a mention in our listings, you can reach me at christopherbartoncampbell (at) gmail.
Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Caterpillar (2023)
It’s too bad this film didn’t come out in time for Halloween, because it’s about changing your appearance, and at times, it’s terrifying. Directed by Liza Mandelup, Caterpillar follows its protagonist, David, as he travels to India for a cosmetic surgical procedure that will permanently change his eye color. While the film addresses the risks of iris implants, it’s not an investigation or takedown of the predatory industry behind such promises of physical reinvention.
Mandelup got lucky with the circular way this true story goes, even if it ends sort of predictably. As is her approach, Caterpillar often plays like a fiction film, but not in a way that ever feels manipulated. The documentary is along for the whole journey, geographically, narratively, and psychologically. It’s a character piece, about David rather than the specific procedure. That comes with themes concerning identity, self-image, self-confidence, and the desire for physical metamorphosis.
Caterpillar almost always comes across as organic and genuine. If you ever start to think you’re watching a drama, something takes you out of that idea. This is especially clear in scenes with David’s mother, who more than anyone else in the film shows an awareness that there’s a camera on her. But throughout, David is as pure and natural as documentary characters get, always honest in his feelings and behaviors, which is somewhat ironic given how self-conscious he is and how self-contained the film is.
Caterpillar opens in theaters on Friday, November 7.
Other Documentary Highlights
Being Eddie (2025)
This biographical profile of Eddie Murphy marks the feature directorial debut of Angus Wall, who is best known as a two-time Oscar-winning editor of David Fincher films (his wins came for The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and he was nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). He’s also a producer of many documentaries, including the Oscar-winning Icarus and Oscar-nominated 13th. Anyway, I’m just filling space because my thoughts on the film are embargoed.
Being Eddie premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, November 12.
Brothers On Three (2024)
It may not make you understand rugby, but Brothers on Three will make you believe that male West Point cadets are some of the most emotional college athletes ever. This feature follows one season of the United States Military Academy men’s rugby team in the wake of winning the national championship in 2022. The players talk a lot about their familial camaraderie, and there’s a ton of talk about how cadets on the Army rugby team are more likely to reach the rank of general than any other students.
The only problem with Brothers on Three is that it wants to cover more ground than it needs to, even if most of its content returns to addressing the significance of the team. We’re introduced to stories of past players who have died in action, and even follow the West Point hopes of the son of one of those fallen heroes, despite him having no other connection to rugby. It’s the kind of documentary that keeps trying to pack in a lot of information and additional story points while its end credits are rolling.
Brothers on Three opens in theaters on Friday, November 7.
Burden Of Dreams (1982)
One of the best documentaries about filmmaking, Les Blank’s Burden of Dreams is a classic that appeals to fans of Werner Herzog’s eclectic personality. Was this the start of Herzog’s celebrity and his trademark manner of speech? I’m not sure, but it’s the best place to find his monologuing outside of his own documentaries. The feature follows the difficult making of Herzog’s 1982 dramatic film Fitzcarraldo, for which the auteur insisted on actually pulling a ship over a mountain in the jungles of Peru. It’s a portrayal of genius and insanity, and thanks to Les Blank’s son, Harrod, it’s been re-restored in 4K, giving me another reason to think about buying a new Blu-ray player.
The Criterion Collection will release the 4K restoration of Burden of Dreams on Blu-ray on Tuesday, November 11.
Saving Superman (2024)
Nominated for Best Short Documentary at this weekend’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Saving Superman is an 11-minute film spotlighting an autistic man in the suburbs of Chicago who dresses as the titular comic book character and is a prominent figure in his community. The film depicts his dilemma regarding housing and the assistance he receives from neighbors. There’s not enough here story-wise for me, but I also find it othering of and negatively sympathetic toward ASD individuals.
Saving Superman begins streaming via Switchboard on Monday, November 10.
Sherman’s March (1985)
Ross McElwee’s breakout first-person feature, which turns 40 on Thursday, November 13, made my list of the best documentaries of all time. It’s definitely one of the funniest documentaries, sort of like a nonfiction romantic comedy (it’s no wonder a dramatic remake has been in the works for eons), and it’s obviously one of the essential documentaries about love. It’s also one of the best documentaries to come out of the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize in 1987, and features one of the most memorable documentary characters of all time, Charleen Swansea. Here’s what I wrote about Sherman’s March for the Sight & Sound poll:
McElwee can do personal documentary in a way that doesn’t feel self-indulgent. Even though this is a film about him making a film while also trying to find a mate, it’s always about more than him. So many today try to do what Sherman’s March does, and few seem to get what makes it so magical. Besides Charleen Swansea, that is. It’s wonderful.
Documentary Release Calendar 11/7/25 - 11/13/25
Friday, November 7, 2025
Brothers on Three (2025) - A documentary feature following the West Point rugby team. (In Theaters)
Caterpillar (2023) - A documentary about a man who travels to India to permanently change his eye color. (In Theaters)
East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 3: “No Time Like the Wind” - The third installment of a docuseries following various maritime workers in St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Discovery Channel)
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman Season 1, Episode 4: “Meet Me in Vegas” - The latest installment of a travel food series following the titular pro wrestler as he attempts to eat every item on restaurant menus. (USA Network)
Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films (2025) - A two-part documentary about the making of the Avatar movies. (Disney+)
Love+War (2025) - A documentary feature by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (Free Solo) about Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario as she covers the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read our review of Love+War. (Hulu and Disney+)
Matter of Time (2025) - A documentary feature starring Eddie Vedder about the cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa. (In Theaters)
Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 2: “Primrose Motel” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves a murder in Colorado. (A&E)
Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 2: “The Lady in the Trash Dump” - The latest episode of this true-crime series involves the death of a woman in Florida. (A&E)
Pistachio Wars (2024) - An investigative documentary about a farming empire in California. (VOD)
Seventeen: Our Chapter (2025) - A docuseries about the titular Korean boy band. (Disney+)
This Is the Turning Point (2025) - A docuseries about the movement fighting to keep Charlie Kirk’s mission alive. (Fox Nation)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd Season 3, Episode 1: “Strange Sightings” - The return of this docuseries about mysterious and bizarre people and things. (History)
The Vallecas Files (2025) - A three-part true-crime docuseries investigating a poltergeist case in Spain. (HBO Max)
Vantara: Sanctuary Stories Season 1, Episode 2 - The first installment of a six-part docuseries on the world’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, in India. (Animal Planet)
The Worst Trip Around the World (2025) - A docuseries following Juanpa Zurita in his travels to all the continents. (Disney+)
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 6: “ACL Celebrates Antone’s & The Blues” - The latest installment of this music docuseries based in Austin, Texas. (PBS)
CNBC Sport: On the Record Season 2, Episode 5 - The latest installment of this sports news and documentary series. (CNBC)
Countdown: Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis (2025) - A docuseries about the upcoming boxing match between the two titular fighters. (Netflix)
Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 6: “Dewy & Chai” - The latest installment of a docuseries in the Lucky Dog franchise starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he works in Australia. (CBS)
Lucky Dog: Reunions Season 3, Episode 6: “Agility Pros” - The latest installment of a docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)
The Power of Film Part 1: “Popular and Memorable” - The first installment of a docuseries about the art of cinematic storytelling. (TCM)
Weather Wizards (1939) - A short documentary showcasing the advances of meteorology at the time. (TCM)
Sunday, November 9, 2025
Body Cam Season 10, Episode 1 - The return of this true-crime docuseries that follows law enforcement via their body cameras. (Investigative Discovery)
In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 2 - The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters. (Discovery Channel)
Killer Grannies Season 1, Episode 1: “Granny’s Fatal Fantasy” - The first installment of this true-crime series hosted by June Squibb about elderly woman killers involves a murdered chef. (Oxygen)
Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins Season 4, Episode 1: “The Ultimate Betrayal” - The return of this true-crime docuseries about romances gone tragically wrong. This installment involves a pregnant woman shot to death in Texas. (Oxygen)
Snapped: Behind Bars Season 3, Episode 1: “Afton Ferris and Michael Schallert” - The return of this true-crime docuseries featuring interviews with murderers featured on the show Snapped. (Oxygen)
Monday, November 10, 2025
After Action Season 3, Episode 6: “We Were There” - The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)
Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth (2025) - A true-crime docuseries investigating the death of the titular British TV presenter. (Hulu)
Marines (2025) - A docuseries following members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Netflix)
Saving Superman (2024) - A Critics Choice-nominated short documentary about a beloved man with autism spectrum disorder who dresses as Superman. (Switchboard)
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue (2024) - A documentary feature about the longtime editor of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. (VOD)
Blue Carbon: Nature’s Hidden Power (2023) - A documentary feature about the idea of oceans absorbing more carbon than trees. (DVD)
Breaking 10 (2025) - A documentary feature about an amateur triathlete as he aims to finish an Ironman in under 10 hours. (DVD)
Burden of Dreams (1982) - A restored 4K version of the classic documentary directed by Les Blank (Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe) that follows the making of Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo. (Blu-ray)
Callas (1978) - A biographical documentary feature about opera icon Maria Callas. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from The Letter People (2025) - A documentary feature about a popular program that helped kids learn to read. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos (2024) - A documentary about the frontman of the punk band Cro-Mags. (Blu-ray)
How Do They Make It? Season 1 - A docuseries about the making of unique products. (DVD)
Hunting in Wartime (2016) - A medium-length documentary about Vietnam War veterans from Hoonah, Alaska. (OVID)
Ice Road Rescue Season 7, Episode 3: “Roadblock Emergency” - The latest installment of a docuseries about rescue workers in Norway. (National Geographic)
In the Hour of Victory (2012) - A documentary feature about a romantic correspondence during World War II. (DVD)
In the Starlight (2018) - A medium-length documentary following the work of outdoor photographer Paul Zizka as he captures the night sky. (DVD)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2, Episode 1: “National Treasures” - The return of this docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 3: “You Guessed It, Winter Is Coming” - The latest installment of a docuseries following young Canadians living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)
Nosferatu: The Real Story (2024) - A documentary feature about the history of the 1922 film Nosferatu. (DVD and Blu-ray)
On the Trail of the Iguana (1964) - A short documentary on the making of the film The Night of the Iguana. (TCM)
Operation Dirty Dozen (1967) - A short documentary on the making of the movie The Dirty Dozen. (TCM)
Safe Haven (2020) - A documentary feature about war resisters who went to Canada to avoid serving in the Vietnam and Iraq wars. (OVID)
The Siege of Ape Canyon (2025) -A documentary feature about an alleged encounter with Bigfoot in Washington in 1924. (VOD)
Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay Part 1: “A Bad Mormon” - The first installment of a three-part docuseries exploring secrets of the Mormon Church. (Bravo)
The United States Service Bands (1943) - A short documentary presenting performances by the service bands of the Army Air Corps, Navy, Marines, and Army in front of national landmarks in Washington, D.C. (TCM)
Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 2: “The Murder of Big Joe” - The latest installment of this new six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire plots involves the death of a snow plowman. (Investigation Discovery)
Wicked: The Real Story (2024) - A documentary feature about the history of the titular musical. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
About Face Season 1, Episode 3: “A Tumor Invader”- The latest episode of a series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)
Being Eddie (2025) - A biographical documentary about Eddie Murphy. (Netflix)
Eloá the Hostage: Live on TV (2025) - A true-crime documentary about a teenage girl kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend. (Netflix)
Expedition Files Season 3, Episode 2: “Madness Explained” - The latest installment of a docuseries that presents historical stories. (Discovery Channel)
Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 2: “Great Pyramid Secrets Revealed” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)
Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 11 & 12 - The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)
Ghost Adventures Season 30, Episode 3: “Hollydale Asylum of Hell” - The latest installment of a docuseries following paranormal investigators. (Discovery Channel)
The Invention of Cinema: Cinema Finds Its Voice (2021) - A documentary feature narrated by Leonard Maltin about the development of sound in movies. (TCM)
j-hope Tour ‘Hope on the Stage’ (2025) - A concert film starring the titular BTS member. (In Theaters)
The Man Who Makes the Difference (1968) - A short making-of documentary about the cinematography of the film Ice Station Zebra. (TCM)
The Murder Tapes Season 10 - The return of this true-crime docuseries that follows homicide detectives as they pore through footage that could be evidence. (Investigation Discovery)
Nature Season 44, Episode 4: “Jaguar Beach” - The latest installment of this long-running docuseries focuses on sea turtles and jaguars in Costa Rica. (PBS)
Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay Parts 2-3: “The Highest Level of Heaven” & “Change is Gonna Come” - The final two installments of a three-part docuseries exploring secrets of the Mormon Church. (Bravo)
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – The End of an Era (2025) - A docuseries following Taylor Swift on her last concert tour. (Disney+)
Thursday, November 13, 2025
50 Seconds: The Fernando Báez Sosa Case (2025) - A true-crime docuseries about a man beaten to death outside of a club. (Netflix)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
11/14 - Come See Me in the Good Light - An award-winning documentary feature by Ryan White following a poet couple — Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley — after one is diagnosed with terminal cancer. (Apple TV)
11/18 - Thoughts & Prayers - A documentary feature on the issue of mass shootings. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (HBO Max)
11/19 - Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter - A documentary feature about the titular ‘90s wellness icon known for her infomercials. (In Theaters)
11/20 - High Horse: The Black Cowboy - A three-part docuseries executive produced by Jordan Peele about Black cowboys. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (Peacock)
11/21 - Zodiac Killer Project - A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (In Theaters)
11/26 - Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age - The third season of a VFX-driven docuseries about life in the prehistoric world. (Apple TV)
12/1 - Carol & Joy - A short documentary executive-produced by Natalie Portman about actress Carol Kane and her music teacher mother. (The Criterion Channel)
12/5 - This Ordinary Thing - A medium-length documentary about non-Jews who helped save Jewish people in Europe during the Holocaust. (In Theaters)
1/9 - Been Here Stay Here - A documentary about a Christian community on Tangier Island, which is threatened by rising sea levels. (In Theaters)
2/25 - Man on the Run - A documentary feature by Morgan Neville (Piece by Piece) about Paul McCartney post-Beatles as he formed Wings. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (Prime Video)