This Week In Documentary: 'The American Revolution' & 'Come See Me In The Good Light'
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - November 14-20, 2025
With my work concluded for this year’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards (see the winners highlighted below), I’m ready to get back to focusing more time on reviewing nonfiction films and series. However, while this week brings a lot of new releases worth mentioning, I really only had the last couple of days to work on the latest newsletter, so each highlight is relatively brief. I’ll have more time going forward, though I’ll also be working on the final ranking of the best documentaries of the year. I’m taking requests for essays on documentary classics for paid subscribers, too.
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 broadcasts, plus 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: The American Revolution (2025)
Winner of a Critics Choice Award for Best Historical Documentary last week, The American Revolution is the latest lengthy docuseries from Ken Burns, who co-directed with Sara Botstein and David P. Schmidt. As Burns said in his acceptance speech, this is a project that began over a decade ago and wound up becoming more and more important as its production continued. He also noted that history is useful when thinking of the country as a sick patient and needing to find the root of the illness.
Most of what I thought I knew about the founding of America and the war to achieve that independence turned out to be extremely simplistic, if not wrong. Across six episodes (each about two hours in length), with narration by Peter Coyote and voiceover work from countless actors, along with several expert historians, Burns, Botstein, and Schmidt deliver both a broad and detailed comprehension of the titular conflict alongside thrilling chronicles of specific battles and other events. I was left proud, amazed, and somewhat conflicted in my appreciation of the stories told here.
The American Revolution premieres on PBS on Sunday, November 16, and airs new episodes nightly through Friday, November 21. The series will also be available to stream for free on the PBS website and PBS app.
Other Documentary Highlights
Come See Me In The Good Light (2025)
Since its Sundance premiere in January, where it received the Festival Favorite Award, Come See Me in the Good Light has been accumulating quite the stack of audience awards. Given that it’s about a woman dying of cancer, you’d be surprised to hear it’s such a crowd-pleaser until you actually watch it. Unless you’re familiar with the work of director Ryan White (Good Night Oppy), who couldn’t make a documentary that brings its viewers down if he tried. He finds uplift in even the saddest stories.
This one follows, in verite fashion, married poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley as they cope with the up-and-down results of treatment for Gibson’s cancer. The film incorporates some biography, features Gibson reciting and discussing some of her works, and climaxes with her final live performance, which almost seemed unlikely to happen. It also tells a very romantic story as it covers Gibson and Falley’s relationship from its inception, and their strength through the difficult times post-diagnosis.
The pace and cinematography beautifully match the poetic nature of its participants, and the documentary will have you in tears for happy and heartbreaking moments throughout. The fact that Gibson has died since the completion and premiere of the film only makes it more emotionally powerful. I don’t know that it’s the Oscar contender that many awards pundits are making it out to be. I haven’t thought much about it since watching it, but while watching it, I was transfixed.
Come See Me in the Good Light opens in theaters on Friday, November 14.
One To One: John & Yoko (2024) & Prime Minister (2025) - Nonfics Picks
Another Critics Choice nominee and Sundance selection, Kevin Macdonald’s One to One: John & Yoko is among the most conceptually original documentaries of this year. It’s also highlighted in my mid-year look at the best documentaries of 2025, as is Prime Minister, which won an audience award at the same festival.
I describe the former as “an archival film following the months leading up to John Lennon’s final concert performance, joined by Yoko Ono for a charity event held at Madison Square Garden in 1972…[but] about the spirit of the time more than what it led to.” I describe the latter as “a character study of a particular person working in a particular political position, but it’s also about a mother, a wife, a woman with thoughts of her own regarding herself, her family, and her fellow New Zealanders. It’s about her achieving many things in her position and about her failing in others, but it’s not about those things themselves.”
One to One: John & Yoko debuts on HBO and HBO Max on Friday, November 14.
Prime Minister, which is currently available to stream on HBO Max, will air on CNN on Sunday, November 16.
Selena Y Los Dinos (2025)
I haven’t yet seen Selena y Los Dinos, but I have heard very good things and I’m sure I’ll like it since I have a soft spot for archival documentaries. I also never watched the 1990s Selena biopic starring Jennifer Lopez, so I don’t know her story at all. What I do know is that her fanbase is still very strong, as evidenced by this film’s popularity as a quickly and considerably bootlegged title during the Sundance Film Festival back in January. Netflix can be assured that at least one person (me) will be tuning in fresh when it’s properly released this week.
Selena y Los Dinos begins streaming on Netflix on Monday, November 17.
Stop The Insanity: Finding Susan Powter (2025)
This is the latest documentary to remind us of a famous figure we haven’t thought about in ages. Anyone around in the 1990s was familiar with Susan Powter, the star of many weight-loss infomercials of that era and a talk show staple. A few minutes into Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter, I felt like the documentary could be a springboard to relaunch her as a pop culture personality. The more I stuck with the film, though, I sadly understood why she’s not going to be reclaiming her fame. Also, unfortunately, the filmmakers lost me when they showed their intervening helpful hands and steered the documentary rather than letting things play out naturally.
Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 19.
Thoughts & Prayers (2025)
It only took me about a minute of watching Thoughts & Prayers to understand all that the documentary would be communicating: school shootings are now big business. I didn’t need another 84 minutes of it showing us the industry’s wares and sharing kids’ thoughts about the issue or their participation in code red drills of various scopes. The film doesn’t do enough to dig into the problem of the active shooter industrial complex and expose which aspects of these proposed solutions are ineffective. It merely means to show things it expects the viewer to laugh at or be shocked by, and even sets up some of its industry participants to look like clowns in the process.
Thoughts & Prayers premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Tuesday, November 18.
Awards Highlights
Cineme Eye Honors Nominations
The last of the nominees for the 2026 Cinema Eye Honors were revealed last week, with Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV) leading the pack. Other major nominees include The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix), 2000 Meters to Andriivka (premiering on PBS on 11/25), Cover-Up (premiering on Netflix on 12/26), Seeds (currently unavailable), Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (In Theaters), and Afternoons of Solitude (VOD). Those titles all make up the top category. See the full list here.
Critics Choice Documentary Awards Winners
Last Sunday, Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor (now streaming on Netflix) won five Critics Choice Awards, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Archival Documentary, and Best True Crime Documentary. Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5 (now on VOD) won for Best Score and Best Narration, NatGeo’s Ocean with David Attenborough (Hulu and Disney+) won for Best Cinematography and Best Science/Nature Documentary, and Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV) won for Best Biographical Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series.
Single-category winners include My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max), for Best First Documentary Feature, The Alabama Solution (HBO Max), for Best Political Documentary, Saving Superman (Switchboard), for Best Short Documentary, and the series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix), for Best Sports Documentary. Also, 30 for 30 won the award for Best Ongoing Documentary Series for the fourth year in a row — its fifth win in the category overall.
There were ties in two categories: The American Revolution (premiering on PBS on 11/16) and Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (Hulu and Disney+) both won for Best Historical Documentary; Becoming Led Zeppelin (Netflix) and Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu) both won for Best Music Documentary.
Documentary Release Calendar 11/14/25 - 11/20/25
Friday, November 14, 2025
Are We Good? (2025) - A documentary feature about Marc Maron as he mourns his partner, filmmaker Lynn Shelton. (VOD)
Becoming Hitchcock: The Legacy of Blackmail (2024) - A feature documentary by Laurent Bouzereau (Music by John Williams) about Alfred Hitchcock’s style as it originated with his 1929 film Blackmail. (TCM)
Come See Me in the Good Light (2025) - A documentary feature by Ryan White (Pamela: A Love Story) following a poet couple — Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley — after one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer. *NONFICS PICK* (Apple TV)
Conversations with Willard Van Dyke (1981) - A medium-length documentary about the titular photographer. (OVID)
Drop Dead City (2024) - A feature documentary about New York City’s 1975 fiscal crisis. Find our review of Drop Dead City in the highlights section above. Read our review of Drop Dead City. (VOD)
East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 4: “Red Fish Blue Fish” - The fourth 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 5: “Best in the World” - 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)
Heaven (1987) - A documentary feature directed by Diane Keaton about the afterlife. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas)
Kiddie Revue (1930) - A short film showcasing juvenile performers in song and dance numbers. (TCM)
Kinobu (2025) - A documentary feature about a Michelin-starred restaurant in Kyoto, Japan. (In Theaters)
Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 3: “Lincoln Motel” - The latest episode of the true-crime docuseries involves a murder in Pennsylvania. (A&E)
Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 3: “Money Pit” - The latest episode of this true-crime series involves a woman found dead in her bathtub. (A&E)
Nana, Mom and Me (1974) - A medium-length documentary by Amalie R. Rothschild about three generations of her family. (OVID)
One to One: John & Yoko (2024) - A documentary by Kevin Macdonald (Marley) about John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s One to One charity concert for special needs children. Read our review of One to One: John & Yoko. *NONFICS PICK* (HBO Max)
Quiet Voices in a Noisy World (2025) - A documentary feature about Black volunteers in Jasper, Texas, working to advance social justice. (In Theaters)
Sallywood (2024) - A documentary about a guy who moves to Hollywood inspired by actress Sally Kirkland. (VOD)
The Song Writers’ Revue (1929) - A short film showcasing composers and lyricists. (TCM)
Steve Schapiro: Being Everywhere (2025) - A biographical documentary feature about the titular photojournalist. (In Theaters)
Tim Ballard’s Hidden War (2025) - A documentary feature about operations to save children from sex trafficking. (In Theaters)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd Season 3, Episode 2: “Freak Accidents” - The latest installment of a docuseries about mysterious and bizarre people and things. (History)
Vantara: Sanctuary Stories Season 1, Episode 2 - The latest installment of a six-part docuseries on the world’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, in India. (Animal Planet)
Woo Who? May Wilson (1970) - A short documentary following a woman to New York City after her husband leaves her. (OVID)
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 7: “Kelsea Ballerini; Cam” - The latest installment of a music docuseries based in Austin, Texas. (PBS)
CNBC Sport: On the Record Season 2, Episode 6 - The latest installment of a sports news and documentary series. (CNBC)
Deep Dive Australia (2023) - A docuseries on the marine life of Australia. (National Geographic WILD)
Handlebars (1933) - A short film on the history of the bicycle. (TCM)
j-hope Tour ‘Hope on the Stage’ (2025) - A concert film starring the titular BTS member. (In Theaters)
Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 7: “Digger & Cara” - 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 7: “Panda Reunion” - The latest installment of a docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)
Motoring in Mexico (1943) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores the Pacific International Highway from Mexico City to Acapulco. (TCM)
On the Rise: Juju Watkins Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2 - The return of a docuseries following the titular basketball player. (Peacock)
The Power of Film Part 2: “Trapped” - The second installment of a docuseries about the art of cinematic storytelling. (TCM)
Sunday, November 16, 2025
The American Revolution Episode 1: “In Order to Be Free” - The first installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Deep Dive Australia (2023) - A docuseries on the marine life of Australia. (Hulu and Disney+)
In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 3: “The Mayfield Beast” - The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters involves a deadly and catastrophic tornado that struck Western Kentucky in 2021. (Discovery Channel)
Killer Grannies Season 1, Episode 2: “Granny’s Garden” - The latest installment of a true-crime series hosted by June Squibb about elderly woman killers. (Oxygen)
Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins Season 4, Episode 2: “Risky Business” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about romances gone tragically wrong. This episode involves the brutal killing of a businessman in Georgia. (Oxygen)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints Season 2, Episode 1: “Saint Patrick” - The latest episode of this docuseries exploring the lives and sacrifices of historical saints focuses on Saint Thomas of Canterbury. (Fox Nation)
On the Rise: Juju Watkins Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4 - The second half of the second season of a docuseries following the titular basketball player. (Peacock)
Prime Minister (2025) - A documentary about the former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Read our review of Prime Minister from Sundance. *NONFICS PICK*(CNN)
Redemption (2025) - A three-part docuseries about the Ohio State football team. (Wonder Project)
Snakes in the City Season 9 - The return of a docuseries about venomous snake handlers. (National Geographic WILD)
Snapped: Behind Bars Season 3, Episode 2: “Gloria Aiken” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries featuring interviews with murderers featured on the show Snapped. (Oxygen)
Monday, November 17, 2025
After Action Season 3, Episode 7: “Warrior Tradition” - The latest installment of a docuseries spotlighting U.S. military veterans. (PBS)
The American Revolution Episode 2: “An Asylum for Mankind” - The second installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
American Skyjacker (2025) - A true-crime documentary about a 1972 airline hijacking and a manhunt that followed. (VOD)
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)
The Film That Was Lost (1942) - A short film on film preservation in the 1930s and 1940s. (TCM)
Okay for Sound (1946) - A short documentary about the Vitaphone sound-on-film process made for its 20th anniversary. (TCM)
Selena y Los Dinos (2025) - A documentary feature about the Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla. (Netflix)
Smart as a Fox (1946) - A short nature film following the life of a fox cub. (TCM)
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The American Revolution Episode 3: “The Times That Try Men’s Souls” - The third installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
The Americas (2025) - A 10-part nature docuseries narrated by Tom Hanks showcasing the flora and fauna of North America and South America. Read our review of The Americas. (DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD)
Chang: A Drama in the Wilderness (1927) - An Oscar-nominated silent documentary feature by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack depicting life in the jungles of Northern Siam. *NONFICS PICK* (Blu-ray)
Grass: A Nation’s Battle For Life (1925) - A silent documentary feature by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack following Iranian nomadic shepherds. Read more about the film here. *NONFICS PICK* (Blu-ray)
I’m ‘George Lucas’: A Connor Ratliff Story (2024) - A documentary feature about the titular comedian, who starred on The George Lucas Talk Show. (Blu-ray)
The James Dean Story (1957) - A biographical documentary feature about the titular actor. (Blu-ray)
The Making of a Japanese (2023) - A documentary feature by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki (Instruments of a Beating Heart) that follows students and teachers through one year at a Tokyo public school. (DVD and VOD)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2, Episode 2: “Blasts from the Past” - The latest installment of a docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 4: “Plenty Below Zero” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows young Canadian homesteaders living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)
Nuremberg: The Real Story (2025) - A documentary about the Nuremberg Trials, where Nazi leaders faced justice. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Riefenstahl (2024) - A documentary about the legacy of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl. *NONFICS PICK* (DVD, Blu-ray, and Kino Film Collection)
Rural Hungary (1939) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores rural parts of Hungary. (TCM)
Secret Mall Apartment (2024) - A documentary about eight artists in Providence who created a secret apartment inside a shopping mall in 2003. Read our review of Secret Mall Apartment. *NONFICS PICK* (DVD and Blu-ray)
Shelby American: The Carroll Shelby Story (2019) - A biographical documentary feature about the titular automotive icon. (DVD)
Soul of a Nation (2025) - A documentary about current Israeli politics. (DVD)
Thoughts & Prayers (2025) - A documentary feature on the issue of mass shootings. (HBO Max)
True American Horror (2023) - A documentary feature spotlighting 30 real-life horror stories. (DVD)
Vinnie Plays Vegas: The Con Man of Comedy (2025) - A documentary feature about the comedian and con artist Vinnie Favorito. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 3: “The Witch Doctor” - The latest installment of a six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire plots. (Investigation Discovery)
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015) - A documentary feature showcasing the titular actor’s car racing hobby. (DVD)
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
About Face Season 1, Episode 4: “A Real Life Picasso”- The latest episode of a series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)
The American Revolution Episode 4: “Conquer by a Drawn Game” - The fourth installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICKS* (PBS)
The Carman Family Deaths (2025) - A true-crime documentary about a woman who went missing during a fishing trip with her son. (Netflix)
Expedition Files Season 3, Episode 3: “Time Reveals All” - The latest installment of a docuseries that presents historical stories. (Discovery Channel)
Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 3: “The Great Gold Rush Shootout” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)
The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery (2025) - A feature documentary about a mysterious ecological crisis that nearly wiped out the fish of the Great Lakes. (OVID)
For the Living (2024) - A documentary feature about cyclists retracing the journey of a Holocaust survivor. (In Theaters)
Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 13 & 14 - The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)
Ghost Adventures Season 30, Episode 4: “Hospital of the Damned” - The latest installment of a docuseries following paranormal investigators. (Discovery Channel)
The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Story (1951) - A medium-length documentary presenting footage from new MGM movies of that year. (TCM)
Raid on the Atlantic (2023) - A medium-length documentary about overfishing in West Africa. (OVID)
Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular ‘90s wellness icon known for her infomercials. (In Theaters)
Thursday, November 20, 2025
American Gangster: Trap Queens Season 4 Part 2 - The return of this docuseries about America’s most notorious women criminals. (BET+)
The American Revolution Episode 5: “The Soul of All America” - The fifth installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Celluloid Underground (2023) - A documentary by Ehsan Khoshbakht about his relationship to cinema. (OVID)
High Horse: The Black Cowboy (2025) - A three-part docuseries executive produced by Jordan Peele about Black cowboys. (Peacock)
Hollywood Wonderland (1947) - A short documentary offering a promotional tour of Warner Bros. studios. (TCM)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
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)
11/25 - 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. (PBS)
11/29 - Seventeen World Tour [New_] in Japan - A concert film starring the titular K-pop icons. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)
12/5 - This Ordinary Thing - A medium-length documentary about non-Jews who helped save Jewish people in Europe during the Holocaust. (In Theaters)
12/8 - Between Goodbyes - A documentary about a Queer Korean adoptee as he meets his birth mother in Seoul. (PBS)
12/12 - American Masters – Starring Dick Van Dyke - A biographical documentary about the titular actor, who turns 100 this December. (PBS)
The Ken Burns docuseries on the American Revoultion sounds incredible. I appreciate how he connects histrical events to current challenges, its a reminder that understanding where we came from helps navigate where we're going. The Come See Me in the Good Light review is touching too, its impressive how White finds uplift in such difficult subject mater.