This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - December 5-11, 2025
With the holiday season in full swing, don’t forget that documentaries make the best gifts. Seriously, you can find a perfect documentary for anyone in your life, whether it suits their interests or they love great nonfiction stories. Subscriptions to streaming services like GuideDoc and OVID are recommended for the true documentary fan, or if they already subscribe to OVID specifically, the streamer has some merch available on sale (use promo code THANKS for 40% off!). You can also find some fun gifts for documentary fans on Etsy, but too much of what’s there is for true crime junkies.
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 known notable releases and broadcasts, plus a brief look at what’s coming soon for doc fans (including a few that are already Nonfics Picks). 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: WTO/99 (2025)
How do you like your history? Most documentaries revolve around reflective commentary, as talking heads are intercut with supplementary images. Then there are the films and series that present only archival footage for the visuals, while the results of new interviews are included in audio form as voiceover. Few are strictly compilation films, the kind without any explanation or insight from historians looking back. Other than what’s inferred through the director and editor’s cuts, that is. Ian Bell’s WTO/99 is this type of chronicle film, letting material from the past tell a story seemingly on its own, though not in as objective a manner as that sounds.
The documentary chronologically compiles footage from individuals and the news media to depict the protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle in November and December of 1999. On the one hand, there’s an agenda in the way Bell and his co-editor, Alex Megaro, organize the footage both politically and narratively. But unlike most historical documentaries, WTO/99 and others like it encourage more independent thinking because they’re not explicitly telling the audience anything. Instead, it immerses us while also giving us an omniscience not felt on the streets.
This particular film resonates in certain ways today for obvious reasons, given the current global economy, but it’s as timeless as it is timely and may play differently in another quarter century. It’s a story of the power of protest, albeit nostalgically for simpler times, yet it’s also a story of just one temporary win of a minor battle in a long, ongoing war that the majority of the world is losing. The more I think about it, however, I’m less affected by its point, or what point I infer from the film, than I am by examples of its impeccable editorial craftsmanship. There’s one scene shown from two different sources, each focused on the other, that I couldn’t help but applaud, and I hope Bell and Megaro deservedly allowed themselves to applaud themselves for it.
WTO/99 opens in theaters on Friday, December 5.
Other Documentary Highlights
Endless Cookie (2025)
One of my flaws as a documentary critic is my aversion to most animated films in this space, and I have to admit immediately that I couldn’t get into Endless Cookie. I appreciate its creativity, but it’s not my thing. It very well could be yours, and it’s clearly being considered among the best films of the year (it just received an Independent Spirit Award nomination). Using vibrant, surreal animation, co-directors and half-brothers Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver humorously recount stories from their family’s past. This could be a crossover hit with the Adult Swim crowd.
Endless Cookie opens in theaters on Friday, December 5.
The New Yorker At 100 (2025)
While it could have just been a self-congratulatory special celebrating a magazine’s centenary, The New Yorker at 100 reminds us of the titular publication’s cultural importance rather than just its history. That makes the documentary significant to the future of the magazine, and all it covers, as well as to its past. In that way, it reminded me of this year’s Saturday Night Live documentary specials, but it’s not surprising since this film is directed by Marshall Curry (Street Fight), who also helmed one of the episodes of the series SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. It also reminded me of Martin Scorsese’s shockingly accessible documentary The 50-Year Argument, about the New York Review of Books. And similarly, it continues the conversations about the state of journalism today. Even if you’re not a New Yorker reader, you should check it out.
The New Yorker at 100 premieres on Netflix on Friday, December 5.
Pare Lorentz Documentaries
On Thursday, December 11, we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Pare Lorentz. The filmmaker made poetic cinematic works within the confines of government propaganda and issue documentaries, including the New Deal-fueled, Depression-era classics The Plow That Broke the Plains (available on the Internet Archive and YouTube under public domain) and The River (streaming on Prime Video, Tubi, and Fawesome). You can also easily find his lesser-known film The Rural Co-Op online, and see his substantial directorial contributions to Nuremberg (a film solely credited to Stuart Schulberg) via Tubi and Kino Film Collection.
Night In West Texas (2025)
If you’re a true crime junkie, you will find Night in West Texas slow and less engaging in that typical sensationalist way you like, but you also should balance all that focus on violence, family drama, and serial killers with films honoring the victims and/or centered on justice for the wrongly convicted. This feature, produced by Texas Monthly magazine, is both. It offers more depth in its attention to a case in which a closeted Catholic priest was slain in a motel room in 1981, after which a gay Apache man spent decades in prison and on parole for the murder, which he didn’t commit. It’s not a thrilling tale, but the film respectfully addresses historical and cultural circumstances while following the latest in the story involving the pursuit of exoneration.
Night in West Texas opens in theaters on Friday, December 5.
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos (2025)
We should start considering HBO’s Music Box brand the way we do 30 for 30, just for music documentaries instead of sports docs. But I don’t know if it fits because not all of them are produced with the branding in mind (last week, Sundance acquisition It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley was released as part of the series). I believe Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is a Music Box original, and it’s the sort of film that may best be served as part of an umbrella brand so that fans of yacht rock, Jeff Buckley, and Counting Crows may also tune in to learn about a Nigerian Afrobeats superstar. What’s most interesting is the way some people in the film talk about how important Wizkid is for Nigeria and Africa, while others talk about how Nigeria and Africa and race shouldn’t define him.
Wizkid: Love Live Lagos premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Thursday, December 11.
Awards Highlights
Independent Spirit Awards Nominations
This year’s Independent Spirit Awards nominees for Best Documentary include Come See Me in the Good Light (now streaming on Apple TV), Endless Cookie (opening in theaters this weekend), The Tale of Silyan (now in theaters), and the two highlighted titles below. Nominees for the award for Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series include Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), Citizen Nation (free on the PBS website), Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (Hulu and Disney+), Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (HBO Max), and Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae (Hulu). Three new filmmakers are up for the Truer Than Fiction Award with their upcoming releases: Tony Benna with André Is an Idiot, Rajee Samarasinghe with Your Touch Makes Others Invisible, and Brittany Shyne with Seeds.
My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow (2024)
The documentary receiving the most notice on the awards circuit last week was My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow (now playing in Los Angeles). Julia Loktev’s lengthy feature was named Best Documentary Feature at the Gotham Awards and Best Non-Fiction Film by the New York Film Critics Circle, and it was also nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.
The Perfect Neighbor (2025)
Following its big wins at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards last month, Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor (now streaming on Netflix) continued racking up accolades. The found footage true-crime film was named Best Documentary by the Atlanta Film Critics Circle (of which I’m a member) and received an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
However, it wasn’t recognized (nor was My Undesirable Friends) by the less relevant National Board of Review, which named Cover-Up (coming soon to Netflix) the Best Documentary but then listed five other films as their top five documentaries: 2000 Meters to Andriivka (free on the PBS website), Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV), My Mom Jayne (HBO Max), Natchez (coming soon), and Orwell: 2+2=5 (VOD).
Documentary Release Calendar 12/5/25 - 12/11/25
Friday, December 5, 2025
Cutting Through Rocks (2025) - A Sundance Award-winning documentary about Iranian politician Sara Shahverdi and her fight against child marriage. Read our review of Cutting Through Rocks. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters: Los Angeles)
Endless Cookie (2025) - An animated documentary feature by Canadian half-brothers, one white and one Indigenous, about their family. (In Theaters)
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman Season 1, Episode 8: “Florida Man vs Food” - 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 Tampa. (USA Network)
The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived (1974) - A medium-length documentary about the anti-colonial struggle of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf. (OVID)
Leila and the Wolves (1984) - A documentary feature looking at the political significance of Lebanese and Palestinian women in the 20th century. (OVID)
Monsta X: Connect X in Cinemas (2025) - A concert film starring the titular Korean boy band. (In Theaters)
Murder at the Motel Season 2, Episode 5: “Rodeway Inn” - The latest episode of this true-crime docuseries focuses on a murder in Venice, Florida. (A&E)
The New Yorker at 100 (2025) - A documentary feature by Marshall Curry (Street Fight) narrated by Julianne Moore about the titular magazine. *NONFICS PICK* (Netflix)
Night in West Texas (2025) - A true-crime documentary about a gay Apache man framed for the murder of a closeted Catholic priest. (In Theaters)
This Ordinary Thing (2025) - A medium-length documentary about non-Jews who helped save Jewish people in Europe during the Holocaust. (In Theaters)
Outrider (2025) - A documentary about poet Anne Waldman. (In Theaters)
The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd Season 3, Episode 5: “Man vs. Nature” - The latest installment of a docuseries about mysterious and bizarre people and things. (History)
Vantara: Sanctuary Stories Season 1, Episode 5: “Habitats for the Future” - The latest installment of a six-part docuseries on the world’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, in India. (Animal Planet)
WTO/99 (2025) - A Critics Choice-nominated archival documentary about the 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Accident, Suicide, or Murder Season 6, Episode 3: “Death Below Deck” - The latest episode of this true-crime series involves the mysterious death of a Navy officer. (Oxygen)
The Battle of Gettysburg (1955) - A double-Oscar-nominated short documentary about the titular Civil War battle. (TCM)
The Power of Film Part 5: “The Power of Paradox” - This fifth installment of a docuseries on cinema focuses on the appeal of movies that aren’t what they seem or what’s expected, and how even paradoxical plots are particularly engaging. (TCM)
The Tale of Silyan - A Critics Choice-nominated documentary feature that follows a struggling North Macedonian farmer. Read our review of The Tale of Silyan. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters: Los Angeles)
Toronto Airport: Uncovered Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6: “Racing the Storm” & “Unauthorized Entry” - The latest two installments of a docuseries that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Toronto Pearson Airport. (National Geographic)
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Keep Off the Grass (1970) - A short educational film on the dangers of smoking marijuana. (TCM)
Killer Grannies Season 1, Episode 5: “Granny’s Boarding House” - 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 5: “Episode #0” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about romances gone tragically wrong. (Oxygen)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, Season 2, Episode 4: “Carlo Acutis” - The latest installment of a docuseries that explores the lives and sacrifices of historical saints. This episode focuses on the 21st-century teenage saint Carlo Acutis. (Fox Nation)
Night Life in Chicago (1948) - A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Chicago. (TCM)
Rate It X (1986) - A documentary feature about male sexism. (In Theaters)
Snapped: Behind Bars Season 3, Episode 5: “Cameo Clines” - The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries featuring interviews with murderers who appeared on the show Snapped. (Oxygen)
This Is the Bowery (1941) - A short documentary about the titular New York City neighborhood. (TCM)
Words + Music Season 1, Episode 2: “Sheryl Crow” - The latest episode of a new music docuseries in which artists perform and discuss their hit songs. (MGM+)
Monday, December 8, 2025
40 Takes Willy (2025) - A medium-length documentary about director William Wyler. (TCM)
Between Goodbyes (2024) - A documentary about a Queer Korean adoptee as he meets his birth mother in Seoul. (PBS)
Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade (2025) - A documentary feature on John Lennon’s decade post-Beatles, leading up to his death in 1980. (In Theaters)
Grandpa Called It Art (1944) - A short documentary looking at the difference in taste in art over generations. (TCM)
Here Come the Irish Season 2 - The return of a docuseries that follows the Notre Dame football team. (Peacock)
MGM Parade Show #1 (1955) - The first installment of a documentary series devoted to promoting MGM’s films. This inaugural film features Judy Garland and Cyd Charisse. (TCM)
Predators (2025) - A documentary about the TV series To Catch a Predator. Read our review of Predators from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. *NONFICS PICK* (Paramount+)
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Dawn of the Dogman (2025) - A documentary feature about a mythological wolf-like creature said to haunt the forests of Michigan. (VOD)
Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East Episode 2 - The latest installment of a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of NFL teams. (HBO Max)
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991) - Eleanor Coppola’s documentary about the making of her husband’s movie Apocalypse Now, in collaboration with directors Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper. *NONFICS PICK* (4K Blu-ray)
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 (2024) - A documentary by Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975) about Sweden’s coverage of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. (DVD and VOD)
Laemmle’s List (2024) - A biographical documentary about Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle and his rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. (In Theaters)
Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within (2025) - A short documentary about dancing kids in Uganda who became a YouTube sensation. (Netflix)
The Mighty Oaks (2025) - A documentary feature about a community in California that created a lacrosse program for their school. (DVD)
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Season 2, Episode 5: “Famous Finds” - The latest installment of a docuseries exploring hidden worlds. (History)
Northwoods Survival Season 2, Episode 7: “Spring Has Sprung” - The latest installment of a docuseries that follows young Canadian homesteaders living in remote landscapes. (National Geographic)
Pastor: Four Movements (2024) - A documentary feature about Polish dancer and choreographer Krzysztof Pastor. (OVID)
A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant (2025) - A biographical documentary about political cartoonist Patrick Oliphant. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular ‘90s wellness icon known for her infomercials. Read our review of Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter. (VOD)
Who Hired the Hitman? Season 1, Episode 6: “Dead Body Shop” - The final installment of a six-part true-crime docuseries about murder-for-hire plots. This episode involves the killing of three mechanics in Connecticut. (Investigation Discovery)
Without Warning (2025) - A documentary feature following a woman racing the Iditarod. (DVD)
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott (2025) - A documentary about the titular SportsCenter anchor. (ESPN)
Creating Paradise (2024) - A medium-length documentary about TenBel, a vacation spot in the Canary Islands. (OVID)
Fugitives Caught on Tape Season 2, Episodes 19 & 20 - The latest installments of a docuseries following law enforcement in their pursuit of fugitives. (A&E)
The Pavilion on the Water (2023) - A documentary about Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. (OVID)
Rebbeca (2025) - A documentary feature about pop star Becky G. (In Theaters)
Simon Cowell: The Next Act (2025) - A documentary series about the titular talent scout’s legacy. (Netflix)
Thursday, December 11, 2025
The Automat (2021) - A documentary about the history of automat restaurants. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)
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)
Dean Martin: King of Cool (2021) - A feature-length documentary about the titular actor and crooner. (TCM)
Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star (2016) - A medium-length documentary about the titular movie star. (TCM)
Murdering Love Episodes 3 & 4: “Stefan and Jens” & “Bengt and Kicki” - The second half of a true-crime docuseries about romances gone deadly. (Viaplay)
Nichols and May: Take Two (1996) - A medium-length episode of American Masters about the titular comedy duo. (TCM)
Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular screenwriter. (TCM)
Rolling Stones — At the Max (1991) - A re-release of the 1991 concert film starring the titular rock band. (In IMAX Theaters)
The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh (2014) - A biographical documentary about the titular movie director. (TCM)
What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael (2018) - A biographical documentary about the iconic titular film critic. (TCM)
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos (2025) - A documentary feature about the titular Nigerian singer/songwriter. Presented as an installment of Music Box. (HBO Max)
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) - A feature documentary about one of the first pay cable TV stations in the U.S. (TCM)
Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon
12/12 - The King of Color - A documentary feature about the creator of the Pantone Matching System. (In Theaters)
12/14 - Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey - A documentary feature about a young combat chaplain and the remains of a former Army chaplain who died 70 years earlier. (Wonder Project)
12/18 - Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? - A documentary feature about the titular band. (HBO Max)
12/19 - Death Cap: The Mushroom Murders - A true-crime documentary about three men killed with beef wellington. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (CNN)
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. (CNN)
1/6 - Bombshell - A documentary feature about the lies the American government told about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (PBS)
1/9 - Been Here Stay Here - A documentary about a Christian community on Tangier Island, which is threatened by rising sea levels. (In Theaters)
1/16 - Seeds - A Critics Choice-nominated documentary feature about Black generational farmers. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
1/30 - Natchez - A documentary feature about the historical legacy of the titular town in Mississippi. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)
3/6 - André Is An Idiot - A documentary feature following a man after his cancer diagnosis. Read our review of André Is An Idiot. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)