This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - November 21-27, 2025
The holidays are just around the corner, and I’m happy to share any special deals or gifts targeting documentary fans. Zipporah Films has already provided this year’s info for its offers on orders of Frederick Wiseman films. They’re giving away free shipping in the U.S. (code: FREESHIP) on orders over $80 and DVD copies of At Berkeley, City Hall, Crazy Horse, and Monrovia, Indiana (your choice of one using the respective code ATBERKELEY, CITYHALL, CRAZYHORSE, or MONROVIA) with purchases of three or more other DVD titles. Gifting to yourself is allowed, 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 (including a film about Chevy Chase). 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: Teenage Wasteland (2025)
I caught this movie during Sundance when it was called Middletown, and unfortunately, I never had time to review it. I hate the retitling, and I haven’t seen the film since January, so I can’t say if anything else has changed, but the version I watched was fantastic. I’m still surprised that no distributor picked it up at all, let alone immediately. Especially given the prestige of its directors, Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine (most recently of Boys State and Girls State success), and the fact that it’s the best thing they’ve done since The Overnighters.
Teenage Wasteland chronicles, through present-day talking head interviews and a lot of archival footage, an investigation by high school students in the 1990s into an environmental conspiracy. They were led by their media teacher, and maybe part of why I love the film is that I took a similar television production class in high school around the same time. But mostly, I have to recommend this documentary because its storytelling is near-perfect, thrillingly guiding viewers through the narrative as if it were unfolding right in front of them. After seeing the film earlier this year, I said it might be tied with 2000 Meters to Andriivka for my favorite of the festival. Given that 2000 Meters remains at the top of my list of the best documentaries of 2025, Teenage Wasteland will likely join the rankings in a close spot, but I need to see it again first.
Teenage Wasteland opens theatrically at the Film Forum in New York City on Wednesday, November 26.
Other Documentary Highlights
2000 Meters To Andriivka (2025) *Nonfics Pick*
Speaking of 2000 Meters to Andriivka, I would highlight this film as the Pick of the Week because it’s still currently my favorite of the year, but I already gave it that honor in July, tied to its theatrical release. Since then, it’s been nominated for many more awards (including Critics Choice Documentary Awards), has been lauded as a major Oscar contender (if recognized, director Mstyslav Chernov would be two for two with the Academy), and released an essential soundtrack album. Now I’m excited to share that it’s finally arriving on television and streaming courtesy of Frontline. Here’s a repeat of the excerpt from my review of 2000 Meters to Andriivka:
“In the summer of 2023, Chernov and his AP colleague Alex Babenko joined a Ukrainian brigade as they slowly advanced toward Andriivka, avoiding mine-covered roads, trekking through a thin, mile-long stretch of forest, and securing their positions in foxholes. What would have taken a couple of minutes to reach by car took days and many lives, on both sides, and when Andriivka was reached, it was in ruins. Months later, Russia took it back. This is anything but a picture of the futility of war, however. Through Chernov’s firsthand coverage, including brief on-the-spot interviews with some of the soldiers along the way, 2000 Meters to Andriivka shows fighting for the sake of fighting. It’s not pointless for these Ukrainian men who’ve volunteered to defend and honor their homeland. As their leader, Fedya, says, it’s an opportunity to start over. The territory is key. It can be rebuilt upon and repopulated.”
2000 Meters to Andriivka airs on PBS on Tuesday, November 25, and will then be available to stream for free on the PBS website, app, and YouTube channel.
Claude Lanzmann Documentaries
Claude Lanzmann was born 100 years ago this week, so I recommend watching his films in honor of his centenary. He’s best known for the Holocaust epic Shoah (available on Philo), which is considered by many critics to be the best documentary of all time. His other works are related, some of them even created out of footage shot for Shoah. They include The Four Sisters (VOD), The Last of the Unjust (Kanopy), and Israel, Why (DVD). You should also check out Adam Benzine’s Oscar-nominated short, Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah (Prime Video’s Cohen Media Channel)
Cutting Through Rocks (2025) *Nonfics Pick*
Another film I saw late into my Sundance coverage and never got around to reviewing is the World Cinema Documentary program’s Grand Jury Prize winner, Cutting Through Rocks. It’s a profile of Iranian politician and women’s advocate Sara Shahverdi, and as such, it’s the perfect sort of feature to be recognized by the Cinema Eye Honors’ Unforgettables spotlight.
The film around her is impressive, too, delivering greater cinematography than you could hope for with this type of documentary, but it’s still primarily worth watching to get to know its remarkable subject. I think it probably could have worked at half the runtime, but Shahverdi and her feminist efforts, including her support for young girls staying in school and not marrying as preteens, are never not captivating.
Cutting Through Rocks opens in theaters on Friday, November 21.
Zodiac Killer Project (2025)
Another documentary that premiered at Sundance, this one I did cover. I also didn’t like it nearly as much as many of my colleagues. Here’s an excerpt from my review of Zodiac Killer Project:
“While I appreciate what Zodiac Killer Project is doing and how it’s doing it, the film can be frustratingly vague, incomplete in several of its points, and monotonous in its overall expression. I think there’s more to be explored in the ‘evocative b-roll’ cliches that are addressed, most of them originating with Errol Morris’s 1988 true-crime masterpiece The Thin Blue Line and copied ever since. Even the non-cliche parts of the documentary that might appear unique reminded me of the anti-sensationalist format of Masao Adachi’s 1975 film A.K.A. Serial Killer (a.k.a. Ryakushō Renzoku Shasatsuma) and that doc’s display of ‘landscape theory.’”
Zodiac Killer Project opens in theaters on Friday, November 21.
Awards Highlights
IDA Awards Nominations
Last week, the Independent Documentary Association announced this year’s IDA Awards nominations, with Petra Costa’s Apocalypse in the Tropics (Netflix) leading the pack. Its competition in the Best Feature Documentary category includes Life After (unavailable), Seeds (unavailable), Songs of Slow Burning Earth (Hoopla), and The Tale of Silyan (in theaters 11/28). Each filmmaker behind these titles is up for Best Director.
Among the other features nominated, My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow (unavailable) is up for Best Editing, The Alabama Solution (HBO Max) for Best Production, Architecton (VOD) for Best Sound Design, and Sally (Hulu and Disney+) for Best Writing. Series nominees include Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015 (HBO Max) and Turning Point: The Vietnam War (Netflix).
Movies For Grown Ups Nominations
The AARP announced its nominees for this year’s Movies for Grownups Awards, with five films named in the Best Documentary category: Becoming Led Zeppelin (now streaming on Netflix), Cover-Up (on Netflix 12/26), My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Max), Riefenstahl (VOD), and Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost (Apple TV).
Documentary Release Calendar 11/21/25 - 11/27/25
Friday, November 21, 2025
The Age of Disclosure (2025) - A political documentary about the American government’s cover-up of UFOs and aliens. (In Theaters)
The American Revolution Episode 6: “The Most Sacred Thing” - The final installment of a Critics Choice-winning docuseries directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt about the Revolutionary War. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Cutting Through Rocks (2025) - A Sundance award-winning documentary about Iranian politician Sara Shahverdi and her fight against child marriage. *NONFICS PICK*
(In Theaters)
East Harbor Heroes Season 1, Episode 5: “Between A Fin And A Hard Place” - The fifth 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 6: “Brew City Beatdown” - The latest installment of a travel food series following the titular pro wrestler as he attempts to eat every item on restaurant menus. This episode takes him to Milwaukee. (USA Network)
Island Windjammers (1956) - A short documentary in the Sportscope franchise about the annual Out Island Regatta in the Bahamas. (TCM)
Glimpses of Australia (1939) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Sydney and Melbourne. (TCM)
Mirrors (1934) - A short film starring Freddie Rich and His Orchestra as they perform popular songs. (TCM)
Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 4: “Fallbrook Inn” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries involves the murder of a Military reservist. (A&E)
Murder on Trial Season 1, Episode 4: “Daytona Beach Serial Killer” - The latest episode of this true-crime series involves women found dead on Daytona Beach. (A&E)
The Propaganda Game (2015) - A documentary showing the reality of North Korean life. (Film Movement Plus)
The Shepherd and the Bear (2024) - A documentary feature about a shepherd whose flock is threatened by bears. (In Theaters)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd Season 3, Episode 3: “Shocking Missions” - The latest installment of a docuseries about mysterious and bizarre people and things. (History)
Vantara: Sanctuary Stories Season 1, Episode 3 - The latest installment of a six-part docuseries on the world’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, in India. (Animal Planet)
Zodiac Killer Project (2025) - A meta-textual true-crime documentary about an abandoned documentary on the Zodiac Killer. Read our review of Zodiac Killer Project. (In Theaters)
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Accident, Suicide, or Murder Season 6, Episode 1: “A Man and His Balloon” - The latest episode of this true-crime series involves a 71-year-old man shot dead in a field. (Oxygen True Crime)
Austin City Limits Season 51, Episode 8: “Role Model; MJ Lenderman & The Wind” - The latest installment of a music docuseries based in Austin, Texas. (PBS)
Lucky Dog: Down Under Season 1, Episode 8: “Martin & Wolfie” - 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 8: “Magnolia Reunion” - The latest installment of a docuseries starring animal trainer Brandon McMillan as he revisits past clients. (CBS)
The Power of Film Part 3 - The third episode of this docuseries on cinematic storytelling is titled “The Power of Character Relationships” and is focused on character dynamics. (TCM)
Toronto Airport: Uncovered Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2: “Frozen Frontline” & “Seconds From Disaster” - The first two installments of a docuseries that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Toronto Pearson Airport. (National Geographic)
Victory Quiz (1942) - A short film quizzing the audience on U.S. involvement in World War II. (TCM)
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember (2025) - A documentary special following the titular actor and his father, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.(National Geographic)
For King + Country: No Turning Back (2025) - A documentary about the titular Christian pop duo. (Wonder Project)
In the Eye of the Storm Season 3, Episode 4: “Nebraska Super Outbreak” - The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters involves a tornado outbreak that struck the Central Plains in April 2024. (Discovery Channel)
Killer Grannies Season 1, Episode 3: “Granny’s Addiction” - 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 3: “Fighting for Her Life” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about romances gone tragically wrong. This episode involves the killing of a pregnant woman. (Oxygen)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints Season 2, Episode 2: “Peter” - The latest episode of this docuseries exploring the lives and sacrifices of historical saints focuses on Saint Peter. (Fox Nation)
Snapped: Behind Bars Season 3, Episode 3: “Coty Martinez” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries featuring interviews with murderers who appeared on the show Snapped. (Oxygen)
Monday, November 24, 2025
24 Hour Alert (1955) - An Oscar-nominated short docudrama about the importance of air defense. (TCM)
Bring Them Home (2024) - A documentary feature about the effort to bring wild buffalo back to the Blackfeet Reservation. (PBS)
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember (2025) - A documentary special following the titular actor and his father, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. (Disney+)
Missing: Dead or Alive? Season 2 - The return of the true-crime docuseries about missing person cases. (Netflix)
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025) - A documentary feature by Oscar-winning director Mstyslav Chernov (20 Days in Mariupol) about a Ukrainian platoon’s effort to liberate a village from Russian occupation. Presented as an episode of Frontline. Read our review of 2000 Meters to Andriivka. *NONFICS PICK* (PBS)
Air Maine (2009) - A medium-length documentary offering an aerial view of the state of Maine. (Blu-ray)
The Beatles Anthology (1995-1996, 2025) - An update of a 1990s docuseries about the titular band. (Disney+)
Brillo Box (3¢ Off) (2016) - A short documentary about the auctioning of one of Andy Warhol’s Brillo Box sculptures. Read our review of Brillo Box (3¢ Off). (DVD)
Caterpillar (2023) - A documentary about a man who travels to India to permanently change his eye color. Read our review of Caterpillar. *NONFICS PICK* (VOD)
The Cinema: A Brief History (2013) - A medium-length documentary on the evolution of film. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Dressed in Blue (1983) - A documentary about transgender sex workers in Madrid. (TCM)
High on Maine (1996) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of the state of Maine. (Blu-ray)
In the Room (2025) - A documentary feature about five Afghan women who reclaimed their homeland. (National Film Board)
Luv Ya, Bum! (2025) - A feature documentary narrated by Dennis Quaid about the titular coach of the Houston Oilers in the 1970s. (VOD)
MGM Parade Show #31 (1956) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the later films of Greta Garbo. (TCM)
Monk in Pieces (2025) - A documentary feature about composer and performer Meredith Monk. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2, Episode 3: “Shady Secrets” - The latest installment of a docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 5: “Winter Works” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows young Canadian homesteaders living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)
On the Edge (2023) - A documentary feature about a psychiatrist at a state hospital in Paris. (OVID)
Over Acadia (2006) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of Maine’s Acadia National Park. (Blu-ray)
Over Acadia: Autumn (2009) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of Maine’s Acadia National Park in the fall. (Blu-ray)
Over Downeast Maine (2009) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of parts of Maine. (Blu-ray)
Over the Coast of Maine (2020) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of Maine’s coast. (Blu-ray)
Over the Lighthouses of Maine (2020) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of Maine’s lighthouses. (Blu-ray)
Over the North of Maine (2009) - A short documentary offering an aerial view of Northern Maine. (Blu-ray)
Paris is Burning (1990) - A documentary about the New York City drag ball scene. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)
The Shuffle (2025) - A short documentary about the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears’ “Super Bowl Shuffle” rap video. (HBO Max)
Skull World (2013) - A documentary feature about cardboard-based combat. (Blu-ray)
Striptease: The Greatest Exotic Dancers of All Time (2004) - A medium-length documentary about famous exotic dancers from the late 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. (DVD)
Super Bowl Champions: The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles (2025) - A documentary covering the Eagles’ 2024 season. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Taboo: The Beginning of Erotic Cinema (2004) - A documentary feature covering a history of the first 50 years of adult films. (DVD)
Three Idiots in Kenya (2025) - A travel docuseries starring Lee Soo Geun, Eun Ji Won, and Kyu Hyun. (Netflix)
Until the Light Takes Us (2008) - A documentary feature about black metal music in Norway in the 1990s. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 4: “A Hard Man to Kill” - The latest installment of a six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire plots. (Investigation Discovery)
Wildflower (2020) - A documentary feature about a young woman caring for her parents. (DVD)
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
About Face Season 1, Episode 5: “Mystery of the Eyelid”- The latest episode of a series that follows surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. (TLC)
Edna (2021) - A medium-length documentary about a woman living in ruins on the edge of the Transbrasiliana highway. (OVID)
Expedition Unknown Season 16, Episode 4: “The Nazis’ Lost Super Sub” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows an archaeologist looking for lost artifacts. (Discovery Channel)
Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 15 & 16 - The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)
Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940) - A short film about the fashions seen in movies. (TCM)
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age (2025) - The third season of a VFX-driven docuseries narrated by Tom Hiddleston about life in the prehistoric world. (Apple TV)
The Rocky Mountain Mortician Murder (2025) - A three-part true-crime docuseries about the killing of a mortician in Colorado. (ID: Investigation Discovery)
Sportsmen at Work (1957) - A short documentary showcasing a New York State Conservation camp. (TCM)
Sunday Ball (2015) - A documentary feature about the “favela league” of soccer teams in Rio de Janeiro. (OVID)
Teenage Wasteland (2025) - A documentary feature by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine about high school students uncovering a conspiracy in their town. Note: Teenage Wasteland premiered at Sundance under the title Midletown. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
Thursday, November 27, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
11/28 - Benita - A documentary by Alan Berliner (Nobody’s Business) about the late filmmaker Benita Raphan. (In Theaters)
12/1 - Song of My City - An archival documentary depicting New York City in the 1970s through movie clips. (HBO Max)
12/3 - Peaches Goes Bananas - A documentary feature following the musician known as Peaches over 17 years. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)
12/4 - It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley - A Critics Choice-nominated biographical documentary by Amy Berg (Janis: Little Girl Lost) about the titular musician. Read our review of It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley. *NONFICS PICK* (HBO and HBO Max)
12/5 - The New Yorker at 100 - A documentary feature by Marshall Curry (Street Fight) narrated by Julianne Moore about the titular magazine. (Netflix)
12/19 - Cover-Up - A documentary feature by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus about reporter Seymour Hersh. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
12/25 - Happy and You Know It - A documentary feature by Penny Lane (Listening to Kenny G) about children’s music. (HBO and HBO Max)
1/1 - I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not - A biographical documentary by Marina Zenovich (Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind) profiling the titular actor. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (CNN)