The middle of November tends to be a quiet time for documentary releases, as the major year-end contenders have already come out in time for awards consideration. Well, last year, this week saw the theatrical debut of a feature that went on to receive an Oscar nomination, but this year, the same seven days seem less fertile. The Critics Choice Documentary Awards have passed, the Cinema Eye Honors nominees have been announced, a few favorites are still expanding their footprint in cinemas, while a couple of stragglers will finally make their qualifying runs later this month or next.
One thing that was released this past week that I want to highlight here in the introduction is both a Critics Choice and Cinema Eye nominee: Cristóbal Tapia de Veer’s score for Nuisance Bear. The soundtrack to the movie is now available wherever you buy or stream music, and while it did not win the award at the CCDAs last weekend, it is probably my favorite of the year (with Ari Balouzian’s score for You Can See Everything — also available to stream now — extremely close behind). As I’ve expressed in the past, I wish all documentary scores were given the soundtrack treatment. A score composer recently explained to me the reason why they’re not, but I didn’t really understand it. So, I’ll keep on begging.
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 feature directed by Chris Smith). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber for more in-depth highlights and reviews, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give us more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have an upcoming documentary needing coverage or a mention, reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail and let us know its release plans.
Nonfics Picks Of The Week: Crime And Punishment In America (2026)
Another thing that’s consistent with this time last year is that we have a new Ken Burns docuseries as the Pick of the Week. This time it’s a Burns production, but still. Crime and Punishment in America is helmed by longtime Burns co-director and producer Lynn Novick and is narrated by regular voiceover collaborator Keith David. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls, MLK/FBI) joins as a producer. The four-part series chronicles the history and evolution of the American criminal justice system, including the origins of penitentiaries, police, and specific laws.
Some chapters in this history are relatively brief in their coverage compared to more focused PBS programs like Pollard’s Slavery By Another Name and Burns’s Prohibition. Others go in depth on stories such as the Ossian Sweet case, Ida B. Wells’s reporting on lynchings, the Attica riot, and famous pickpocket-turned-memoirist George Appo. Or how the Civil War factors into the backstories of outlaws like Jesse James. I love those kinds of causal history narratives. And trivia such as the connection between Irish immigrants and law enforcement and the truth behind the legend of John Henry.
Fans of true crime ought to watch Crime and Punishment in America to know more about the subject, and also out of shame. The series addresses the sides of the criminal justice system involving spectacle and celebrity that feed our fascination. The popular genre of documentary can be tied to millennia of man’s interest in public executions as well as our longstanding adulation for certain kinds of criminals. This isn’t a judgmental work, however; it just makes you consider our need, concern, and inherent enthusiasm for the subjects of law, order, and justice.
Crime and Punishment in America premieres on PBS (including the PBS app, website, YouTube channel, and Prime Video channel) on Monday, November 16, 2026, with new episodes debuting nightly through this week. The series will also be released in full on DVD on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
Other Documentary Highlights
Cunk On Cinema (2026)
Before anyone questions our highlighting a “mockumentary” on here, I don’t necessarily exclude anything from Nonfics if there’s some level of nonfiction involved (back when we started, I wanted to also cover historical and biographical dramas but we didn’t have enough resources to do it all). Cunk on Cinema is the latest in a tradition of documentaries starring fictional characters. Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) is basically doing the same shtick as Ali G, and while I’ve never covered that character yet have recognized Sacha Baron Cohen’s others, this series interests me more because of its film history focus (I’ve never seen any of the other Cunk programs).
I love that Mark Cousins is one of the real people interviewed for the series since his histories of cinema are the real deal. But this has enough facts alongside the jokes that it could still be a legitimate introduction for anyone who wants a sillier primer. And maybe some bits of the lesson are even more substantial, as with Cunk stressing the impressiveness of Buster Keaton’s iconic Steamboat Bill Jr. house-facade stunt by redoing it and being fake-crushed by stepping just off the tiny mark.
Cunk on Cinema will premiere and begin streaming exclusively on Netflix on Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Incident At Oglala (1992)
An early but often overlooked true crime documentary is Michael Apted’s Incident at Oglala, which he sort of remade as a fictionalized drama the same year. While Crime and Punishment in America does cover some matters concerning our Indigenous population and law enforcement on Indian reservations, it skips over the 1975 Pine Ridge shootout that left two federal agents dead and the trials of members of the American Indian Movement (including the titular subject of the more recent documentary Free Leonard Peltier). So this is a good supplement to the series. Here’s what we wrote about the film in a piece on Native American documentary:
“Incident at Oglala does absolutely nail one crucial element. The FBI would like this event to be remembered as an act of terrorism by the American Indian Movement, full stop. Apted, however, dives deep into the social climate of Pine Ridge in the mid-1970s, when the reservation was run by the bullish Dick Wilson and his GOON (Guardians of the Oglala Nation) squads. He cooperated with the government at the expense of those who he represented, profiting off of federal funds and suppressing objections from the community’s traditionalist faction. Murder, was a regular feature of life in those years. Many who lost loved ones are featured in the film, recalling the underreported stories of this violent time. These personal narratives, when combined with some unbelievable archival footage of Wilson himself, underline the political fractures within the Native American community and resist the narrowing brush of the national media.”
Incident at Oglala will air on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Friday, November 13, 2026, and will likely be available afterward on the TCM app and On Demand. The film is also currently available to rent or purchase digitally from VOD platforms.
POV Shorts Season 9
Another reason to spend time watching PBS this week is the Season 9 premiere of POV Shorts, though only the first two films in the anthology series will broadcast on the channel. Bloodlines, Mississippi and The Boys and the Bees, the latter of which is also on the Cinema Eye Honors shorts shortlist, will premiere on both PBS and TIME’s YouTube channel. Subsequent installments will only debut on that YouTube channel, a big change for this offshoot of POV.
Both of this week’s shorts are under 25 minutes and worth watching for their stories set in the South. Other notable films coming soon via POV Shorts include the Cinema Eye Honors-shortlisted and Oscar-qualifying documentary Buckskin, about a member of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Critics Choice-nominated, Cinema Eye Honors-shortlisted, and Oscar-qualifying documentary A Derailment, which is executive produced by John Wilson and is one of the most original short docs of the year. There are also two interesting shorts dealing with the hot topic of AI in some way: In the Morning Sun and Artificial Love, both of which are also Oscar contenders.
POV Shorts Season 9 kicks off with the premieres of Bloodlines, Mississippi and The Boys and the Bees on TIME’s YouTube channel and PBS on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. New films will debut weekly exclusively on TIME’s YouTube channel.
When A Witness Recants (2026)
After you watch Crime and Punishment in America, I recommend you watch When a Witness Recants. Directed by Dawn Porter, a former lawyer whose documentaries on crime and justice include Gideon’s Army and The Sing Sing Chronicles, this film is about the wrongful conviction of three teenagers (the “Harlem Park Three”) in Baltimore in 1983 and their eventual exoneration 36 years later. As the title reveals, this isn’t a case where the imprisoned were freed due to technological developments with DNA testing or new information that came to light. It involves a dishonest testimony.
A lot of the film is focused on the mistakes and possibly malicious intentions of the investigation at the time — the usual systemic issues with law enforcement that will anger viewers. That makes much of the documentary play out as you would expect. But the matter of the titular witness is another through-line of the story that comes to a surprising head at the film’s climax when the three absolved men meet with the recanting individual. What ensues is a stunning discussion of responsibility, forgiveness, and time lost forever. It also left me disagreeing with all parties.
When a Witness Recants premieres on HBO and begins exclusively streaming on HBO Max on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
Awards Highlights
Cinema Eye Honors Nominees
The Cinema Eye Honors announced their feature nominees for their awards recognizing the best in documentary film and television in 2026. The contenders in the top category, Nonfiction Feature, are American Doctor, My Undesirable Friends: Part II - Exile, NAZA, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, Rehearsals for a Revolution, and You Can See Everything (in theaters). Additional films spread across multiple categories include Nuisance Bear, Musk, Time and Water, Closure, and The History of Concrete. Winners will be announced at the 20th annual Cinema Eye Honors ceremony on January 11, 2027.
Critics Choice Documentary Awards Winners
Last week, I and the rest of the Critics Choice Association celebrated the year’s best in nonfiction film and television at the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards. You Can See Everything was the big winner, sweeping all five of its categories, including Best Documentary Feature. Once Upon a Time in Harlem also did well with three wins. Nuisance Bear, Musk, The History of Concrete, NAZA, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, Everest: The Other Side, The Baddest Speechwriter of All, 30 for 30, Lion, The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare, and Lost Women of Alaska all took home awards, the last two tying for Best True Crime Documentary. See the full list of winners here.
Documentary Release Calendar 11/13/26 - 11/19/26
Friday, November 13, 2026
Bearing Witness, Native American Voices in Hollywood (2024) - A documentary about the villainization of “indians” in Western movies. (DVD)
Black Cats and Broomsticks (1955) - A short documentary about superstitions, personal rituals, taboos, and talismans. (TCM)
Clangold (2026) - A true-crime docuseries about a stolen gold coin. (HBO Max)
Expedition: Saving Our Seas (2026) - A medium-length documentary special about the impact of rapid environmental change on the world’s oceans. (National Geographic)
Incident at Oglala (1992) - A documentary feature directed by Michael Apted (the Up series) and narrated by Robert Redford about a 1975 shootout between Native Americans and federal agents and the trial that ensued. See our highlights section for more info. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)
The Last Cowboy Season 7, Episode 2 - The latest installment of a docuseries created by Taylor Sheridan about a horse reining competition. (CMT)
Maniacs of the Truth (2026) - A two-part true-crime documentary about major cases in Hungary from its political transition period, as recalled by investigators. (HBO Max)
Nostradamus Says So! (1953) - A short documentary about the titular seer and his predictions. (TCM)
The Terroirist (2026) - A documentary feature about one winemaker’s pursuit to create the first truly American grape. (VOD)
TheyDream (2026) - A Sundance award-winning, partly animated first-person documentary feature executive produced by John Leguizamo about a Puerto Rican family over 20 years. (In Theaters)
threeASFOUR: FOUR CIRCLE (2026) - A documentary feature by Sean Ono Lennon about the avant-garde NYC designers Gabi Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil. (In Theaters)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd Season 4, Episode 6: “Wild Encounters” - The latest installment of a docuseries about mysterious and bizarre people and things. (History)
Who’s Superstitious? (1943) - A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Changing (1971) - A short documentary about a young family coping with changing social values in the 1960s. (TCM)
Earth Odyssey with Dylan Dreyer Season 9, Episode 7: “Giants and Ghosts of the Forest” - The latest installment of an adventure series that takes viewers to exotic locations. (NBC)
Homicide for the Holidays Season 6, Episode 1: “A Deadly Homecoming” - The return installment of a true-crime docuseries about violent acts committed during the holidays. This episode involves the murder of a college co-ed over Thanksgiving weekend in Washington. (Oxygen True Crime)
Jimi Plays Berkeley (1971) - A 4K restoration re-release of a concert film starring Jimi Hendrix. (In Theaters)
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Season 4, Episode 7: “Protecting Bear Country” - The latest installment of a nature series focused on wildlife conservation. (NBC)
Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler Season 3, Episode 6: “Stand Your Ground” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving murder trials in Texas. (Oxygen True Crime)
The Silent Enemy (1930) - A documentary feature about the Ojibway of Northern Canada. (TCM)
Sunday, November 15, 2026
Annie Oakley (2006) - A medium-length American Experience documentary about the titular sharpshooter. (PBS Documentaries on Prime Video)
Austin City Limits Season 52, Episode 11: “Americana 25th Annual Honors” - The latest installment of a long-running music series. (PBS)
The Biggest Little Farm Series Episodes 3: “A Patient Pig” - The first two installments of a 12-part docuseries sequel to the film The Biggest Little Farm that continues the story of the Chesters, their land, and their animals. (YouTube)
Catfish Murders Season 1, Episode 5: “The Deadly Offer” - The latest installment of a true-crime series about murders involving catfish scenarios. (Oxygen True Crime)
Cunk on Cinema (2026) - A hybrid series hosted by the titular fictional character involving real interviews about cinema. See our highlights section for more info.(Netflix)
Dear Black Writers (2026) - A documentary feature about the Black literary movement. (In Theaters)
MGM Parade Show #16 (1955) - An installment of a Hollywood-focused docuseries. This film showcases the MGM movies Maytime, That Inferior Feeling, Prophet Without Honor, and I’ll Cry Tomorrow. (TCM)
Snapped: Killer Moms Season 1, Episode 5: “Kristen Dean Jennings” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about mothers who kill to protect or avenge their children. (Oxygen True Crime)
Monday, November 16, 2026
Ben Pollack & His Orchestra (1934) - A short music film starring the titular band as they perform with singer Doris Robbins. (TCM)
Crime and Punishment in America Episode 1: “A House of Repentance (Beginnings to 1880)” - The first installment of a four-part docuseries directed by Lynn Novick (The U.S. and the Holocaust), executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David about the history of the American criminal justice system. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Darius Rucker: They Called Me Hootie (2026) - A documentary feature about the titular singer best known for the group Hootie and the Blowfish. (Hulu)
Eddie Duchin & Orchestra (1933) - A short music film starring the titular band as they perform in roller skates with singer Sylvia Froos. (TCM)
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist Season 2, Episode 7: “Blood in the Ozarks” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries exposing shocking murders and scandals. This episode involves the killing of a 22-year-old college student. (CBS and Paramount+)
Secrets of Great British Castles Season 2 - A docuseries about six of Great Britain’s most famous castles. (PBS Documentaries on Prime Video)
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
67 Bombs to Enid (2026) - A documentary feature executive produced by Errol Morris about survivors of nuclear bomb testing in the Marshall Islands. (VOD)
André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever (2026) - A documentary feature about the titular fashion icon. (DVD)
Bloodlines, Mississippi (2025) - A short documentary about the diabetes crisis in the Mississippi Delta. Presented as an episode of POV Shorts. See our highlights section for more info. (TIME’s YouTube Channel and PBS)
The Boys and the Bees (2025) - A short documentary about a beekeeping family in Georgia. Presented as an episode of POV Shorts. See our highlights section for more info. (TIME’s YouTube Channel and PBS)
The Brain with Dr. David Eagleman Season 1 - A docuseries about the inner workings of the brain. (PBS Documentaries on Prime Video)
Crime and Punishment in America (2026) - A four-part docuseries directed by Lynn Novick (The U.S. and the Holocaust), executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David about the history of the American criminal justice system. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (DVD)
Crime and Punishment in America Episode 2: “The Criminal Type (1880-1929)” - The second installment of a four-part docuseries directed by Lynn Novick (The U.S. and the Holocaust), executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David about the history of the American criminal justice system. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
The Curse of Oak Island Season 14, Episode 2: “Bubbling Up” - The latest installment of a docuseries about treasure-hunting brothers. (History)
He Said, She Said: Till Death Do Us Part (2026) - A three-part docuseries that follows a custody battle between two high-profile lawyers. (Paramount+)
Hell’s Angels: At War (2026) - A six-part docuseries about the titular motorcycle club and their rivalries. (Vice TV)
History’s Mystery Files Season 1, Episode 2: “Puzzling Places” - The latest installment of a docuseries about mysteries that challenge what is known about the past and what’s possible. (History)
Never Stop Chasing (2026) - A documentary feature that follows storm chaser Reed Timmer in his dangerous profession. (VOD)
Pinball Beyond the Bumpers (2026) - A documentary feature on the history of pinball. (DVD)
Roaming Through Arizona (1944) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores landmarks, a dude ranch, natural wonders, and more in the titular state. (TCM)
Skinnay Ennis and His Orchestra (1941) - A short music film starring the titular band as they perform a few songs. (TCM)
When a Witness Recants (2026) - A documentary by Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble) about three men who were wrongfully convicted of killing a fellow teenager in Baltimore in 1983. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (HBO and HBO Max)
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Crime and Punishment in America Episode 3: “Public Enemies (1929-1969)” - The third installment of a four-part docuseries directed by Lynn Novick (The U.S. and the Holocaust), executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David about the history of the American criminal justice system. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
The Hotline (2026) - A short documentary about an anonymous hotline to prevent drug overdoses. (HBO Max)
How Deep is Your Love (2025) - A documentary feature about the quest to collect and name the ocean’s remaining undiscovered species. (OVID)
Rocky Mountain Grandeur (1937) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton National Parks and a dude ranch in Colorado. (TCM)
Thursday, November 19, 2026
Crime and Punishment in America Episode 4: “Tough on Crime (1970-Onward)” - The final installment of a four-part docuseries directed by Lynn Novick (The U.S. and the Holocaust), executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, and narrated by Keith David about the history of the American criminal justice system. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
MGM Parade Show #16 (1955) - An installment of a Hollywood-focused docuseries. This film showcases the MGM movies Maytime, That Inferior Feeling, Prophet Without Honor, and I’ll Cry Tomorrow. (TCM - Technically airing early Friday morning.)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 3, Episode 2: “Unfortunate Finds” - The latest installment of a docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Wandering Here and There (1944) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores various places in the United States. (TCM)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
11/24 - Rob Lowe: The Outsider - A documentary feature directed by Chris Smith (Wham!) about the titular actor. (Netflix)
12/8 - The Elite: Army Rangers - A docuseries narrated by Sterling K. Brown about the U.S. Army Ranger School. Watch the new trailer for the series below. (Paramount+)
12/16 - To Hold a Mountain - A Cinema Eye Honors-nominated documentary feature about a shepherd mother and daughter who defend their land in Montenegro from military threats. (In Theaters)
2/5 - TWICE: This is For… You - A concert film starring the K-pop group TWICE featuring a performance at London’s O2 Arena. (In Theaters)