In 1974, the philosopher Thomas Nagel asked a famous question about consciousness: “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?”

Nagel chose the bat because, as a fellow mammal, we readily accept that it possesses consciousness, in the sense that it is like something to be a bat. A bat has subjective experience.1

But he also chose the bat because it is so weird and alien to us — humans can’t echolocate, for example, or fly — that even if we knew every scientific fact about bat biology, we’d still lack access to what it actually feels like to be one. As Nagel put it, we can rely only on our own experience to provide “the basic material for our imagination, whose range is therefore limited.”

Every documentary begins with an impossible ambition: to understand what it is like to be someone — or something — other than yourself. Telling the truth about the experience of any other being is never easy. You never really know if you are getting it right. But at least with human subjects, you can ask them, “What is it like to be you?” You can ask them, “Did I get that right?”

There’s a reason so many people at Q&As will ask a documentarian, “What did [subject of film] think about the film?” They’re looking, in a way, for a fact-check on the whole enterprise of the filmmaker having tried to represent what it is like to be the subject.

With an animal protagonist, the mystery is even more irresolvable. There are no interviews, and no explanations. Just the best available scientific understanding, close observations of behavior, and ultimately, your own imagination.

This is the challenge I found myself facing when an owl named Flaco escaped from the Central Park Zoo, and immediately became the most captivating protagonist I’ve ever encountered in real life. This owl, who had lived in captivity his whole life, was now suddenly free. He had begun writing his own story. My job became to try, however imperfectly, to tell it.

What is it like to be an owl? The question announced itself to anyone who saw him on the sidewalk near the Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue.

But we weren’t just asking it about owls in general — we were asking it about Flaco. An individual, with his own personal history, his own individual temperament, and his own subjective experience. That’s the invitation at the heart of Wild Inside: to get to know one extraordinary individual, on an extraordinary quest… who just happens to be an owl.

That said, the first step in avoiding the mistake of anthropomorphism is remembering Flaco is, in fact, not a human but an owl. One must try to understand the owl’s world: his umwelt. This wonderfully German word refers to the distinct perceptual reality of a species, deriving from their unique biological abilities.

And so, I asked embarrassingly basic questions of esteemed scientists over many months as I learned about owl biology.2 I was delighted to learn that owls, with their forward-facing eyes fixed inside their sockets and their long-range vision, probably see the world not so differently from a birder with binoculars glued to the face. This parallel vision became a visual motif throughout Wild Inside… especially because it so often seemed Flaco was watching us as much as we were watching him.

Ultimately nothing compared, however, to learning about Flaco alongside the birders, with their long-term, patient, careful observations of not just Flaco, but of other wild owls. What I most want for viewers of Wild Inside is to spend time with Flaco, getting to know this individual bird, instead of simply learning facts about owls from human narrators.

Fortunately, Flaco kept doing things nobody expected — not the scientists, not the birders, and certainly not me. Every time we thought we’d figured him out, he’d surprise us again. That unpredictability is what makes him endlessly fascinating — but it also makes him especially vulnerable to our human interpretations.

It’s easy to anthropomorphize an owl: unlike other birds, they have those wonderfully human round heads and forward-facing eyes. Most of the time, it doesn’t hurt us or the animal to project little stories onto them. Sometimes, it does. It’s important to think about the difference. If audiences leave the theater arguing about what Flaco was thinking or feeling, or about when our natural tendency to anthropomorphize helps or hurts Flaco or other animals — I’ll consider that a success.

But it’s also important to not go too far in our desire to not anthropomorphize. People act as though there are only two possibilities: projecting human emotions onto animals, or refusing to imagine anything at all. It is possible to be empathetic and caring, and not pretend we are living in an animated movie. And, just as it is in our relations with other humans, imagination is the cornerstone of empathy.

I hear my friend’s father died. My ability to imagine what it is like to experience profound loss allows me to guess my friend is feeling something like that, and I thus empathize. This use of imagination isn’t a moral failure, nor is it a departure from the truth. Why should this be any different with non-human animals?

The harder issues arise when we get into story, the domain of meaning and narrative. It is probably the case that humans are truly unique in their story-making obsession.3 Based on some scientific research, I might assume Flaco has some idea of past, present, and future — those are certainly some of the basic ingredients for a narrative. But how about symbolism? Allegory? These are human concerns.

And humans really, really, really care about the meaning and narrative of Flaco’s story. Even the trailer has now been watched over a million times (“those are organic views,” she adds with pride, “meaning not paid.”). And judging by the heat in those comments sections, people can’t stop arguing about what Flaco’s story means to them. If you know me, you know that debate is what got me into this movie, as much as Flaco’s captivating orange eyes.

What is it like to be an owl? What is it like to be Richard Nixon? To be a Satanist? To be Kenny G? To be a kidney donor? A scam artist from the 1920s? A children’s music performer? A sufferer of a contested illness?

Ultimately, I don’t really know! I barely know what it is like to be myself, most days. (I’m very tired.) But with these films… it doesn’t usually feel like it’s my choice to either make or not make them. Most of them — the best ones — sort of demand to exist. They choose me. And then I just do the best I can, with equal parts hope and humility.

I hope Flaco would think I did a good job with his story — if Flaco could even have a thought like that! Maybe the most I could hope for is that he might understand in some owly way that I love him, and that the film comes from that place of love.

The thing I hope audiences take away isn’t a lesson about the science of owls or the ethics of captivity (although those things are in the film and they’re amazing). It’s the feeling of having deeply gotten to know this one owl named Flaco.

In 1974, the philosopher Thomas Nagel asked a famous question about consciousness: “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?”

Nagel chose the bat because, as a fellow mammal, we readily accept that it possesses consciousness, in the sense that it is like something to be a bat. A bat has subjective experience.1

But he also chose the bat because it is so weird and alien to us — humans can’t echolocate, for example, or fly — that even if we knew every scientific fact about bat biology, we’d still lack access to what it actually feels like to be one. As Nagel put it, we can rely only on our own experience to provide “the basic material for our imagination, whose range is therefore limited.”

Every documentary begins with an impossible ambition: to understand what it is like to be someone — or something — other than yourself. Telling the truth about the experience of any other being is never easy. You never really know if you are getting it right. But at least with human subjects, you can ask them, “What is it like to be you?” You can ask them, “Did I get that right?”

There’s a reason so many people at Q&As will ask a documentarian, “What did [subject of film] think about the film?” They’re looking, in a way, for a fact-check on the whole enterprise of the filmmaker having tried to represent what it is like to be the subject.

With an animal protagonist, the mystery is even more irresolvable. There are no interviews, and no explanations. Just the best available scientific understanding, close observations of behavior, and ultimately, your own imagination.

This is the challenge I found myself facing when an owl named Flaco escaped from the Central Park Zoo, and immediately became the most captivating protagonist I’ve ever encountered in real life. This owl, who had lived in captivity his whole life, was now suddenly free. He had begun writing his own story. My job became to try, however imperfectly, to tell it.

What is it like to be an owl? The question announced itself to anyone who saw him on the sidewalk near the Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue.

But we weren’t just asking it about owls in general — we were asking it about Flaco. An individual, with his own personal history, his own individual temperament, and his own subjective experience. That’s the invitation at the heart of Wild Inside: to get to know one extraordinary individual, on an extraordinary quest… who just happens to be an owl.

That said, the first step in avoiding the mistake of anthropomorphism is remembering Flaco is, in fact, not a human but an owl. One must try to understand the owl’s world: his umwelt. This wonderfully German word refers to the distinct perceptual reality of a species, deriving from their unique biological abilities.

And so, I asked embarrassingly basic questions of esteemed scientists over many months as I learned about owl biology.2 I was delighted to learn that owls, with their forward-facing eyes fixed inside their sockets and their long-range vision, probably see the world not so differently from a birder with binoculars glued to the face. This parallel vision became a visual motif throughout Wild Inside… especially because it so often seemed Flaco was watching us as much as we were watching him.

Ultimately nothing compared, however, to learning about Flaco alongside the birders, with their long-term, patient, careful observations of not just Flaco, but of other wild owls. What I most want for viewers of Wild Inside is to spend time with Flaco, getting to know this individual bird, instead of simply learning facts about owls from human narrators.

Fortunately, Flaco kept doing things nobody expected — not the scientists, not the birders, and certainly not me. Every time we thought we’d figured him out, he’d surprise us again. That unpredictability is what makes him endlessly fascinating — but it also makes him especially vulnerable to our human interpretations.

It’s easy to anthropomorphize an owl: unlike other birds, they have those wonderfully human round heads and forward-facing eyes. Most of the time, it doesn’t hurt us or the animal to project little stories onto them. Sometimes, it does. It’s important to think about the difference. If audiences leave the theater arguing about what Flaco was thinking or feeling, or about when our natural tendency to anthropomorphize helps or hurts Flaco or other animals — I’ll consider that a success.

But it’s also important to not go too far in our desire to not anthropomorphize. People act as though there are only two possibilities: projecting human emotions onto animals, or refusing to imagine anything at all. It is possible to be empathetic and caring, and not pretend we are living in an animated movie. And, just as it is in our relations with other humans, imagination is the cornerstone of empathy.

I hear my friend’s father died. My ability to imagine what it is like to experience profound loss allows me to guess my friend is feeling something like that, and I thus empathize. This use of imagination isn’t a moral failure, nor is it a departure from the truth. Why should this be any different with non-human animals?

The harder issues arise when we get into story, the domain of meaning and narrative. It is probably the case that humans are truly unique in their story-making obsession.3 Based on some scientific research, I might assume Flaco has some idea of past, present, and future — those are certainly some of the basic ingredients for a narrative. But how about symbolism? Allegory? These are human concerns.

And humans really, really, really care about the meaning and narrative of Flaco’s story. Even the trailer has now been watched over a million times (“those are organic views,” she adds with pride, “meaning not paid.”). And judging by the heat in those comments sections, people can’t stop arguing about what Flaco’s story means to them. If you know me, you know that debate is what got me into this movie, as much as Flaco’s captivating orange eyes.

What is it like to be an owl? What is it like to be Richard Nixon? To be a Satanist? To be Kenny G? To be a kidney donor? A scam artist from the 1920s? A children’s music performer? A sufferer of a contested illness?

Ultimately, I don’t really know! I barely know what it is like to be myself, most days. (I’m very tired.) But with these films… it doesn’t usually feel like it’s my choice to either make or not make them. Most of them — the best ones — sort of demand to exist. They choose me. And then I just do the best I can, with equal parts hope and humility.

I hope Flaco would think I did a good job with his story — if Flaco could even have a thought like that! Maybe the most I could hope for is that he might understand in some owly way that I love him, and that the film comes from that place of love.

The thing I hope audiences take away isn’t a lesson about the science of owls or the ethics of captivity (although those things are in the film and they’re amazing). It’s the feeling of having deeply gotten to know this one owl named Flaco.

Beginning in 1900 and continuing over the next thirty years, Edward Sheriff Curtis, or the “Shadow Catcher” as he was later called by some of the tribes, took over 40,000 images and recorded rare ethnographic information from over eighty American Indian tribal groups, ranging from the Inuit people of the far north to the Hopi…

The post Edward S. Curtis Photographed Native American Tribes appeared first on Channel Nonfiction.

Beginning in 1900 and continuing over the next thirty years, Edward Sheriff Curtis, or the “Shadow Catcher” as he was later called by some of the tribes, took over 40,000 images and recorded rare ethnographic information from over eighty American Indian tribal groups, ranging from the Inuit people of the far north to the Hopi…

The post Edward S. Curtis Photographed Native American Tribes appeared first on Channel Nonfiction.

We’re already halfway through summer and while we’ve worked extra hard to supply you with doc recommendations related to things happening through the season–the Men’s World Cup, Pride Month, and Canada Day–don’t forget to make the most of summer itself. Keeping that in mind, here’s a list of 10 documentaries that might inspire you to step outside, touch grass, go for a swim, and above all make the most of the heat while it lasts.

Adventures (1968), NFB

As is customary of our lists, we had to feature an NFB short from the ’60s. Adventures invites you to follow a raccoon as he explores the great big outdoors on his own, overcoming a few challenges and encountering a host of characters in this eventful journey. Accompanied by two voiceovers, one to propel the narrative and one that relays the inner monologue of the raccoon in a manner that is befitting of the adorable rodent, the film crafts an unusual solidarity with the viewer. Additionally, through magnified visuals of the flora and fauna around us, the film captures the beauty of nature that we may often take for granted.

Adventures, Michael Rubbo, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

The Falls (1991), VOD

Arguably the most comprehensive document about Niagara Falls, this documentary covers everything from the inherent beauty and  immense power of the Falls themselves to the environmental disaster controversy surrounding the Love Canal. Despite being an informative motherlode with regards to the Falls, the film sidesteps the confines of a conventional documentary. It instead effectively blends together sketches of the tourism industry, historical accounts, and narrative interjections with a slick synth-heavy soundtrack to create a film that is as much a marvel as its subject of interest.

Waterwalker (1984) NFB

This serene film follows artist, author, conservationist, filmmaker, and naturalist Bill Mason as he sets off on an expedition through the Ontario wilderness in a canoe. In its stellar visuals of Ontario’s natural beauty, the film reminds the viewer of why the wilderness must not only be appreciated but rather valued as a resource that we are privileged to access. Mason’s musings on life, nature, religion, and art ground this meandering documentary as he paints the scenes that he seeks to immortalize, offering insight into the importance of nature for humanity itself. A must watch for anyone feeling trapped in the throes of urban life and seeking inspiration to escape it.

Waterwalker, Bill Mason, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Canada’s National Parks, TVO

The only docuseries on this list, Canada’s National Parks takes the viewer on a journey through four of the country’s many recreation hubs and one marine conservation area, sharing Parks Canada’s role in recalibrating these areas to today’s time. There is an apparent sheen of corporate cleansing as the series brings to light the efforts being taken by the government to consult scientists, local stakeholders, and First Nations representatives to maintain these areas and protect Canada’s natural diversity, but in this context, the information received is essential and not disruptive. Informing audiences of the ecological and biological diversity that exists in the vast landscapes that make our country, the film invites the viewer to seek out at least one of these parks this summer.

Birders (2019), Netflix

An emotionally moving short, Birders centres on birdwatchers on either side of the U.S.–Mexico border as they share their love of these tender winged creatures. Grounded in the idea of migration, the film juxtaposes the freedom of the birds who travel fearlessly across borders with the harsh reality of the humans separated by these man-made divides that not only restrict mobility but also aspirations. The film manages to seamlessly include politics and human rights in its heartwarming discussions around birds and the wilderness, and how humanity is defined by and driven by nature itself.

Trans Canada Summer (1958), NFB

Released four years before the landmark Trans-Canada Highway opened for public access, the documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the process and challenges in constructing this transcontinental roadway. While the film is incredibly informative and a compelling document of the highway, it is problematic in its framing of the colonizers and discussions of Indigenous people, as it proposes colonial industrialization as a necessity in chasing development. The dated nature of the position makes this title a more complicated recommendation than others on this list, but we hope that watching this film motivates one to reflect upon about their relationship with nature, industrialization, and colonialism. It asks viewers to rethink how they seek to engage with the country’s diversity of landscapes and people this summer.

Trans Canada Summer, Ronald Dick, Jack Olsen & Jean Palardy, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

My Octopus Teacher (2020), Netflix

This inclusion is to remind you that the summer is the only time in the year where you can unflinchingly access the plethora of beaches and the incredibly diversity of marine life that this country has to offer. There is a decent chance that you have already seen this Academy-Award winning documentary in the pandemic years or are familiar with it’s unusual premise, but My Octopus Teacher remains as meditative of a watch irrespective of whether it’s your first or fiftieth time viewing it. The tale of a man and his friendship with a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest, the film will make you seek a marine friend of your own.   

The Endless Summer (1966), VOD

An engaging documentary about a rapturous sport, The Endless Summer follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, on a trip around the world. While director Bruce Brown’s passion for surfing shines through this film, so does his perspective on people who aren’t white men like himself. As the film hops all over from Australia to Tahiti to Hawaii to Senegal and more, there is an apparent difference in the manner the protagonists approach people and in how the film frames characters based off of their ethnicity and racial belonging. In line with Trans Canada Summer, the documentary is a product of its time, but we encourage readers to cautiously recognize the film’s exploration of how this unusual sport turned into a worldwide phenomenon.

In Pursuit of Silence (2015), MUBI

In Pursuit of Silence features people and places from across the world, exploring mankind’s relationship with silence. The film is an evocative reminder of how so little of our lives are actually spent in stillness, thinking and reflecting, as industrial development and capitalism have constructed elaborate soundscapes that surround us at every given interval. With its captivating visuals of spaces, ceremonies, and celebrations from around the world and extremely potent cultural and personal discussions on silence, the film is essential viewing for the summer where often one seeks the hubbub of large public gatherings outside and not enough moments of individual solitude in nature, which are equally as important.

My Friend The Green Horse (2024), NFB

This meditative documentary by legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, centres on her tender relationship with the titular Green Horse, who taught her the importance of appreciating all living creatures, big or small. As covered in our piece on the film, it “emphasizes the importance of nature and curiosity,” two essential identifiers of humanity that are being recklessly replaced in the pursuit of industrial development. Blending live-action footage and stop-motion animation, the film creates unforgettable visuals that are sure to inspire you to seek your own Green Horse – to find life outside of the one that you are experiencing yourself.

My Friend the Green Horse, Alanis Obomsawin, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

The post Summer Adventure Documentaries: 10 Docs that Will Inspire You to Touch Grass appeared first on POV Magazine.

Now that we’re into the second half of 2026, this year’s awards season for nonfiction releases has officially begun. Emmy nominations have already been announced, and the Critics Choice Association has just begun accepting submissions for the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards (which I co-founded and executive produce). Also, many critics, including yours truly, have published lists of the best documentaries of 2026 so far. And Deadline’s Matthew Carey is already discussing early contenders for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature on his Doc Talk podcast.

All but one of our most anticipated films of 2026 have premiered (the last one, Penny Lane’s Wild Inside, arrives this month), and many of those have made their commercial debut as well. Other late reveals that didn’t make that list are still to come, such as Alex Gibney’s Musk and Ava DuVernay’s 14th (a sequel to her Oscar-nominated film 13th), and we still have the fall festival titles to look forward to. Somehow, it feels like the year in documentary is already winding down but also just getting started.

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 a new Oasis film). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can now reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Picks Of The Week: American Pachuco: The Legend Of Luis Valdez (2026)

I love a unique and creatively done narration. Edward James Olmos lends his voice to this documentary in character as “El Pachuco,” reprising his breakout stage role from Luis Valdez’s 1979 play Zoot Suit. The idea is perfectly executed, fitting the film’s tone and elevating it above the usual biographical fare. For those wanting the conventional elements, too, it’s otherwise a mix of archival footage and talking heads (including Olmos as himself) celebrating its subject.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez profiles the titular playwright and filmmaker, best known to mainstream audiences for writing and directing La Bamba. In a centerpiece interview, Valdez tells most of his own story and explains the meaning of much of his work. Olmos’s “Pachuco” provides more historical and cultural context, such as the origin of the term “Chicano” and the background of the Zoot Suit Riots. And he does so in a way that gives the documentary a distinct attitude.

As a kid, I went to see La Bamba a few times, helping make it a hit without any awareness of how difficult it was to get made or the importance of its success. I came away with a greater appreciation for the movie beyond being your average music biopic, both for how personal it was for Valdez and for its depiction of the divide between cultural identity and assimilation. The documentary also delivers some much-needed education on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and Chicano theater.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez will be released in theaters on Friday, July 17, 2026, and will be broadcast on PBS this fall via American Masters.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Dating Game (2025) & POV Season 39

The 39th season of POV begins this week on PBS with the broadcast premiere of The Dating Game. The documentary feature follows a few attendees of a week-long dating camp in Chongqing as they’re coached on how to get women to go out with them and maybe eventually marry. The film, at its core, is focused on the issue of China having 30 million more men than women thanks to the nation’s former one-child policy. In addition to the primary narrative following the three campers, director Violet Du Feng (Hidden Letters) shares glimpses of matchmaking events and the growing trend where women prefer virtual boyfriends on AI romance apps to real men.

As a result of wanting to include so much, The Dating Game loses its way a few times and is imbalanced in its structure. I wonder if there was a realization that the dating camp stuff was too repetitive and dull to carry the film on its own. Only one of the attendees is truly memorable: 36-year-old Zhou, who doesn’t like the idea of lying, acting unlike himself, wearing different clothes, and staging dating app profile photos that don’t show the real him. Of course, that’s the whole point of the camp. But we never get to understand what he expected. There’s also, sadly, no payoff with his story.

The most interesting parts of the film are the scenes depicting the lives of the camp’s counselor, Hao, and his wife, Wen, also a dating coach. We see their marital issues and disagreements in the advice they give. The fact that The Dating Game’s epilogue, revisiting the film’s subjects one year later, is concentrated on this couple, who should have been the main characters all along. The documentary is entertaining and enlightening anyway, but it reminded me of Mistress Dispeller (also finding a new streaming home this week — see the listings below) in that it shows us this intriguing professional in China and somehow fails to captivate thoroughly with its storytelling.

The Dating Game will be broadcast on PBS on Monday, July 21, 2026, as the first episode of POV Season 39. Future installments of this season will include The Gas Station Attendant, How to Build a Library, and Ross McElwee’s Remake.

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026)

Just when you think we don’t need another documentary about Charles Manson, here comes one that nobody else could have possibly made before. Actress and filmmaker Sophia Maddox found out a few years ago that she’s the granddaughter of Manson thanks to Ancestry.com. She teamed up with producer Alexandra Orton (both women are making their feature directorial debut with this film) to explore her discovery, with My Grandfather Charles Manson being the documented result. She learns more about the notorious cult leader and worries about what she might have inherited from him, but she also comes to understand Manson beyond the sensational.

Note: My thoughts on the film are embargoed until July 21. Come back then for my review.

My Grandfather Charles Manson premieres on Hulu on Wednesday, July 22.

Pompeii: Out Of Time (2026)

Why not cast the star of Marvel’s Loki as a “time detective,” right? Well, considering Tom Hiddleston reveals himself to be an “amateur classicist” who majored in that subject at Cambridge after his life was changed during a trip to Pompeii as a teenager, he’s anything but an obligatory celebrity host hired for his star appeal. Hiddleston is an executive producer of Pompeii: Out of Time, reuniting with Marvel Studios’ Kevin R. Wright to present a passion project that combines informative and effects-supplemented interviews with dramatizations depicting the title city’s final hours.

Note: My thoughts on the series are embargoed until July 20. Come back then for my review.

Pompeii: Out of Time will premiere all three of its episodes on National Geographic on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and will begin streaming in full exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2

The first season of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross was nominated for Best Ongoing Documentary Series at last year’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards, so I’m anxious to see if the show holds up with its sophomore season. The series continues to follow actress Tracee Ellis Ross in a celebration of traveling by oneself, this time visiting Australia, Thailand, and Switzerland. I still think it’s a funny idea for a show since Ross is technically not alone in her documented travels, but the sentiment of the premise works nonetheless.

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 premieres in full and begins exclusively streaming on The Roku Channel with three new episodes on Monday, July 20, 2026.

A Toxic Love Story (2026)

I’m embargoed from sharing pretty much anything — be it plot or opinion — about A Toxic Love Story other than that it’s the next notable Netflix true-crime offering. I also will just say that I watched this in the same 24-hour span as I caught up with the new hit horror movie Obsession, and doing so made me appreciate both more than I would have otherwise. Consider this the Doc Option of the week if you wish.

A Toxic Love Story premieres and begins streaming exclusively on Netflix on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Why We Fight (2005)

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of Eugene Jarecki’s Why We Fight, a documentary feature not to be confused with Frank Capra’s World War II propaganda series of the same name. This film looks at the rise of the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned about as he left office in 1961. In a list I originally posted on Cinematical in 2009, Why We Fight was named the Best Expository Documentary of the 2000s. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

“Documentaries comprised primarily of talking heads and archive footage are so conventional, common and, yes, oftentimes boring that it’s a shame most people associate them with nonfiction cinema as a whole. Occasionally, though, the stringing together of facts and expert testimony can be stimulating as well as educational, such as in the case of Eugene Jarecki‘s Why We Fight, a film that says and asks so much about the questionable direction of the U.S. military in the past 50 years and the complicated origins of our current conflicts in part by referencing, with the intention of contrast, Frank Capra’s far more clear-cut expository Why We Fight films from WWII. Everything within the actual film simply and straightforwardly illustrates history and the filmmaker’s stance on it, which is all you really need from a doc.”

Why We Fight will be released on Blu-ray with a special 20th anniversary edition on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, via Sony Pictures Classics. This release comes with a commentary track with Eugene Jarecki and Col. Lawrence Wilkerson.

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Documentary Release Calendar 7/17/26 – 7/23/26

Friday, July 17, 2026

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) – A documentary feature about the titular activist and filmmaker. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

Mistress Dispeller (2024) – A documentary about a woman who hired someone to stop her husband from cheating. (OVID)

Shake Hands with Danger (1980) – A safety training film concerning heavy equipment. (TCM)

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 4, Episode 2: “When the Music Stops” – The latest installment of an Atlanta-focused true-crime docuseries. This episode involves the death of an aspiring rapper. (Oxygen)

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Capital City: Washington, D.C. (1940) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Washington, D.C.’s famous buildings and monuments. (TCM)

A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965) – A short documentary about the casting of Elizabeth Hartman in the film A Patch of Blue. (TCM)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 13: “Cereal Sensations” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves pioneering cereal brands. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 13: “Animal Anarchy” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves disastrous activities involving animals. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 4, Episode 4: “Houston Hurricane Hell” – The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters. This episode involves 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. (Discovery Channel)

Madeira: ‘Isle of Romance’ (1938) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Funchal, the capital of Madeira. (TCM)

On Location with: Fame (1980) – A short documentary about the making of the movie Fame. (TCM)

Monday, July 20, 2026

Colorful Bombay (1937) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores the Indian city of Mumbai. (TCM)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature that follows three bachelors in China as they attend a week-long dating camp. Presented as the POV Season 39 opener. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (PBS)

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 8: “Change Agents” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

A Killer Among Friends Season 2, Episode 1: “Secret Life of a Private Eye” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about murders that tear friend groups apart. This episode involves the disappearance of a Florida woman. (Investigation Discovery)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 8: “To Live and Die in Hotlanta” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame.(Investigation Discovery)

Races to Remember (1956) – A short documentary in the Sportscope franchise highlighting significant horse races of the decade. (TCM)

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 – The return of a travelogue series starring the titular actress. See our highlights section for more info. (The Roku Channel)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

5 Pointz: An Historical Journey (2024) – A medium-length documentary about the titular graffiti museum. (DVD)

The Best of B.L.A.C.C. Heart: World Tour (2017) – A documentary about the rap group B.L.A.C.C. Heart. (DVD)

Dark Side of the Ring Season 7, Episode 4: “Necro Butcher vs. Samoa Joe” – The latest installment of a docuseries that shares the darkest stories of professional wrestling. (Vice)

Deformer (2000) – A short documentary about the artist and skateboarder Ed Templeton. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (1999) – A documentary feature about the French jazz/pop/electronica duo Air. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

The Hidden Master (1940) – A short film about the importance of luck. (TCM)

Homestead Rescue: Intervention Season 1, Episode 2: “A Homestead Divided” – The latest installment of a docuseries that follows wilderness living experts as they save lives. (Discovery)

Kedi (2016) – A documentary feature that follows stray cats around Istanbul. Read our review of Kedi. *NONFICS PICK* (OVID)

New York City Urban Documentary Project Vol. 1 (2026) – A collection of three documentaries by Dwayne Buckle. (DVD)

Once Upon a Time in Space Episode 2: “The Russian Thing” – The second installment of a docuseries about the space race. This episode involves the Mir space station. (PBS)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 8: “Bizarre Finds” – The latest installment of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

Saggin’ (2019) – A medium-length documentary about the titular hip-hop street style. (DVD)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 10: “The Twilight Zones” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

Why We Fight (2005) – A documentary feature by Eugene Jarecki on the rise of the military-industrial complex. *NONFICS PICK*(Blu-ray)

WWE: Unreal Season 3 – The return of a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of the titular wrestling organization. (Netflix)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

911: Did the Killer Call? Season 2, Episode 2: “The Sound of Fear” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about cases where the murderer is on the 911 call. (Investigation Discovery)

Decade for Decision (1957) – A short documentary about the threat of the Soviet launch of the first satellite, Sputnik. (TCM)

Duck and Cover (1952) – A short instructional film on how to survive a nuclear attack. (TCM)

ER: Caught on Camera Season 1, Episode 3 – The latest installment of a docuseries in which medical patients recall experiences in hospital emergency rooms. (TLC)

For All Mankind (1989) – An Oscar-nominated feature documentary about NASA’s missions to the Moon. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)

Fortune Seekers (1956) – A short documentary about simple inventions we now take for granted, including bobby pins and cellophane tape. (TCM)

The House in the Middle (1954) – A short film sponsored by the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association about how fresh paint could benefit your home during an atomic blast. (TCM)

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026) – A documentary co-directed by and about Charles Manson’s granddaughter, Sophia Maddox. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Hulu)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK*(National Geographic)

A Toxic Love Story (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a case involving a woman convicted of stalking her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant wife. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Thursday, July 23, 2026

The Man Will Burn Episode 3 – The third installment of a four-part docuseries by Jehane Noujaim (The Square) and Vikram Gandhi (Kumare) about Burning Man. Read our review of The Man Will Burn. *NONFICS PICK* (HBO and HBO Max)

MGM Parade Show #8 (1955) – This installment of the behind-the-scenes docuseries showcases Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in The Philadelphia Story. (TCM)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Disney+ and Hulu)

Surviving Earth Episode 7: “When the Continents Collided” – The seventh installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves ancient elephants. (NBC)

Young, Black and Gifted: Diversity at the Paris Opera (2024) – A medium-length documentary that follows two Black artists during a season at the Paris Opera. (OVID)

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Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

7/24 – A Life Illuminated – A documentary feature about marine biologist Edith Widder and her study of bioluminescence. (In Theaters)

7/28 – The Best Pizza is in L.A. – A documentary claiming the best pizza is in Los Angeles. (VOD)

7/31 – A Paradise Lost – A partly animated documentary feature about a bird that sued the state of Hawaii to prevent its own extinction. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

7/31 – Wild Inside – A documentary feature by Penny Lane (Nuts!) about Central Park’s Flaco the Owl. (In Theaters)

8/6 – Monsters of God – A docuseries by Eric Goode (Tiger King) about exotic reptile smugglers. (HBO and HBO Max)

8/7 – The Big Cheese – A documentary feature that follows an American team competing in France’s Mondial du Fromage. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

8/11 – Coroner to the Stars – A documentary feature about Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County, who performed autopsies on many celebrities. (VOD)

8/28 – Hanging by a Wire – A documentary feature about a malfunctioned cable car that trapped eight people high above a valley and the rescue operation to save them. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

9/2 – Turning Point: Generation 9/11 – The latest historical documentary by Brian Knappenberger in his Turning Point franchise. This feature-length installment is about Americans who grew up post-9/11. (Netflix)

9/11 – Don’t Look Back in Anger – A documentary about the band Oasis as they reunite for their 2025 tour. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In IMAX Theaters)

9/17 – Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie – A documentary feature by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney about the titular author’s recovery from a knife attack. (In Theaters)

9/22 – Twiggy – A documentary feature about the titular model. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters and VOD)

Now that we’re into the second half of 2026, this year’s awards season for nonfiction releases has officially begun. Emmy nominations have already been announced, and the Critics Choice Association has just begun accepting submissions for the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards (which I co-founded and executive produce). Also, many critics, including yours truly, have published lists of the best documentaries of 2026 so far. And Deadline’s Matthew Carey is already discussing early contenders for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature on his Doc Talk podcast.

All but one of our most anticipated films of 2026 have premiered (the last one, Penny Lane’s Wild Inside, arrives this month), and many of those have made their commercial debut as well. Other late reveals that didn’t make that list are still to come, such as Alex Gibney’s Musk and Ava DuVernay’s 14th (a sequel to her Oscar-nominated film 13th), and we still have the fall festival titles to look forward to. Somehow, it feels like the year in documentary is already winding down but also just getting started.

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 a new Oasis film). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can now reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Picks Of The Week: American Pachuco: The Legend Of Luis Valdez (2026)

I love a unique and creatively done narration. Edward James Olmos lends his voice to this documentary in character as “El Pachuco,” reprising his breakout stage role from Luis Valdez’s 1979 play Zoot Suit. The idea is perfectly executed, fitting the film’s tone and elevating it above the usual biographical fare. For those wanting the conventional elements, too, it’s otherwise a mix of archival footage and talking heads (including Olmos as himself) celebrating its subject.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez profiles the titular playwright and filmmaker, best known to mainstream audiences for writing and directing La Bamba. In a centerpiece interview, Valdez tells most of his own story and explains the meaning of much of his work. Olmos’s “Pachuco” provides more historical and cultural context, such as the origin of the term “Chicano” and the background of the Zoot Suit Riots. And he does so in a way that gives the documentary a distinct attitude.

As a kid, I went to see La Bamba a few times, helping make it a hit without any awareness of how difficult it was to get made or the importance of its success. I came away with a greater appreciation for the movie beyond being your average music biopic, both for how personal it was for Valdez and for its depiction of the divide between cultural identity and assimilation. The documentary also delivers some much-needed education on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and Chicano theater.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez will be released in theaters on Friday, July 17, 2026, and will be broadcast on PBS this fall via American Masters.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Dating Game (2025) & POV Season 39

The 39th season of POV begins this week on PBS with the broadcast premiere of The Dating Game. The documentary feature follows a few attendees of a week-long dating camp in Chongqing as they’re coached on how to get women to go out with them and maybe eventually marry. The film, at its core, is focused on the issue of China having 30 million more men than women thanks to the nation’s former one-child policy. In addition to the primary narrative following the three campers, director Violet Du Feng (Hidden Letters) shares glimpses of matchmaking events and the growing trend where women prefer virtual boyfriends on AI romance apps to real men.

As a result of wanting to include so much, The Dating Game loses its way a few times and is imbalanced in its structure. I wonder if there was a realization that the dating camp stuff was too repetitive and dull to carry the film on its own. Only one of the attendees is truly memorable: 36-year-old Zhou, who doesn’t like the idea of lying, acting unlike himself, wearing different clothes, and staging dating app profile photos that don’t show the real him. Of course, that’s the whole point of the camp. But we never get to understand what he expected. There’s also, sadly, no payoff with his story.

The most interesting parts of the film are the scenes depicting the lives of the camp’s counselor, Hao, and his wife, Wen, also a dating coach. We see their marital issues and disagreements in the advice they give. The fact that The Dating Game’s epilogue, revisiting the film’s subjects one year later, is concentrated on this couple, who should have been the main characters all along. The documentary is entertaining and enlightening anyway, but it reminded me of Mistress Dispeller (also finding a new streaming home this week — see the listings below) in that it shows us this intriguing professional in China and somehow fails to captivate thoroughly with its storytelling.

The Dating Game will be broadcast on PBS on Monday, July 21, 2026, as the first episode of POV Season 39. Future installments of this season will include The Gas Station Attendant, How to Build a Library, and Ross McElwee’s Remake.

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026)

Just when you think we don’t need another documentary about Charles Manson, here comes one that nobody else could have possibly made before. Actress and filmmaker Sophia Maddox found out a few years ago that she’s the granddaughter of Manson thanks to Ancestry.com. She teamed up with producer Alexandra Orton (both women are making their feature directorial debut with this film) to explore her discovery, with My Grandfather Charles Manson being the documented result. She learns more about the notorious cult leader and worries about what she might have inherited from him, but she also comes to understand Manson beyond the sensational.

Note: My thoughts on the film are embargoed until July 21. Come back then for my review.

My Grandfather Charles Manson premieres on Hulu on Wednesday, July 22.

Pompeii: Out Of Time (2026)

Why not cast the star of Marvel’s Loki as a “time detective,” right? Well, considering Tom Hiddleston reveals himself to be an “amateur classicist” who majored in that subject at Cambridge after his life was changed during a trip to Pompeii as a teenager, he’s anything but an obligatory celebrity host hired for his star appeal. Hiddleston is an executive producer of Pompeii: Out of Time, reuniting with Marvel Studios’ Kevin R. Wright to present a passion project that combines informative and effects-supplemented interviews with dramatizations depicting the title city’s final hours.

Note: My thoughts on the series are embargoed until July 20. Come back then for my review.

Pompeii: Out of Time will premiere all three of its episodes on National Geographic on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and will begin streaming in full exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2

The first season of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross was nominated for Best Ongoing Documentary Series at last year’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards, so I’m anxious to see if the show holds up with its sophomore season. The series continues to follow actress Tracee Ellis Ross in a celebration of traveling by oneself, this time visiting Australia, Thailand, and Switzerland. I still think it’s a funny idea for a show since Ross is technically not alone in her documented travels, but the sentiment of the premise works nonetheless.

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 premieres in full and begins exclusively streaming on The Roku Channel with three new episodes on Monday, July 20, 2026.

A Toxic Love Story (2026)

I’m embargoed from sharing pretty much anything — be it plot or opinion — about A Toxic Love Story other than that it’s the next notable Netflix true-crime offering. I also will just say that I watched this in the same 24-hour span as I caught up with the new hit horror movie Obsession, and doing so made me appreciate both more than I would have otherwise. Consider this the Doc Option of the week if you wish.

A Toxic Love Story premieres and begins streaming exclusively on Netflix on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Why We Fight (2005)

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of Eugene Jarecki’s Why We Fight, a documentary feature not to be confused with Frank Capra’s World War II propaganda series of the same name. This film looks at the rise of the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned about as he left office in 1961. In a list I originally posted on Cinematical in 2009, Why We Fight was named the Best Expository Documentary of the 2000s. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

“Documentaries comprised primarily of talking heads and archive footage are so conventional, common and, yes, oftentimes boring that it’s a shame most people associate them with nonfiction cinema as a whole. Occasionally, though, the stringing together of facts and expert testimony can be stimulating as well as educational, such as in the case of Eugene Jarecki‘s Why We Fight, a film that says and asks so much about the questionable direction of the U.S. military in the past 50 years and the complicated origins of our current conflicts in part by referencing, with the intention of contrast, Frank Capra’s far more clear-cut expository Why We Fight films from WWII. Everything within the actual film simply and straightforwardly illustrates history and the filmmaker’s stance on it, which is all you really need from a doc.”

Why We Fight will be released on Blu-ray with a special 20th anniversary edition on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, via Sony Pictures Classics. This release comes with a commentary track with Eugene Jarecki and Col. Lawrence Wilkerson.

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Documentary Release Calendar 7/17/26 – 7/23/26

Friday, July 17, 2026

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) – A documentary feature about the titular activist and filmmaker. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

Mistress Dispeller (2024) – A documentary about a woman who hired someone to stop her husband from cheating. (OVID)

Shake Hands with Danger (1980) – A safety training film concerning heavy equipment. (TCM)

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 4, Episode 2: “When the Music Stops” – The latest installment of an Atlanta-focused true-crime docuseries. This episode involves the death of an aspiring rapper. (Oxygen)

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Capital City: Washington, D.C. (1940) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Washington, D.C.’s famous buildings and monuments. (TCM)

A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965) – A short documentary about the casting of Elizabeth Hartman in the film A Patch of Blue. (TCM)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 13: “Cereal Sensations” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves pioneering cereal brands. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 13: “Animal Anarchy” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves disastrous activities involving animals. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 4, Episode 4: “Houston Hurricane Hell” – The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters. This episode involves 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. (Discovery Channel)

Madeira: ‘Isle of Romance’ (1938) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Funchal, the capital of Madeira. (TCM)

On Location with: Fame (1980) – A short documentary about the making of the movie Fame. (TCM)

Monday, July 20, 2026

Colorful Bombay (1937) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores the Indian city of Mumbai. (TCM)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature that follows three bachelors in China as they attend a week-long dating camp. Presented as the POV Season 39 opener. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (PBS)

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 8: “Change Agents” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

A Killer Among Friends Season 2, Episode 1: “Secret Life of a Private Eye” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about murders that tear friend groups apart. This episode involves the disappearance of a Florida woman. (Investigation Discovery)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 8: “To Live and Die in Hotlanta” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame.(Investigation Discovery)

Races to Remember (1956) – A short documentary in the Sportscope franchise highlighting significant horse races of the decade. (TCM)

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 – The return of a travelogue series starring the titular actress. See our highlights section for more info. (The Roku Channel)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

5 Pointz: An Historical Journey (2024) – A medium-length documentary about the titular graffiti museum. (DVD)

The Best of B.L.A.C.C. Heart: World Tour (2017) – A documentary about the rap group B.L.A.C.C. Heart. (DVD)

Dark Side of the Ring Season 7, Episode 4: “Necro Butcher vs. Samoa Joe” – The latest installment of a docuseries that shares the darkest stories of professional wrestling. (Vice)

Deformer (2000) – A short documentary about the artist and skateboarder Ed Templeton. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (1999) – A documentary feature about the French jazz/pop/electronica duo Air. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

The Hidden Master (1940) – A short film about the importance of luck. (TCM)

Homestead Rescue: Intervention Season 1, Episode 2: “A Homestead Divided” – The latest installment of a docuseries that follows wilderness living experts as they save lives. (Discovery)

Kedi (2016) – A documentary feature that follows stray cats around Istanbul. Read our review of Kedi. *NONFICS PICK* (OVID)

New York City Urban Documentary Project Vol. 1 (2026) – A collection of three documentaries by Dwayne Buckle. (DVD)

Once Upon a Time in Space Episode 2: “The Russian Thing” – The second installment of a docuseries about the space race. This episode involves the Mir space station. (PBS)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 8: “Bizarre Finds” – The latest installment of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

Saggin’ (2019) – A medium-length documentary about the titular hip-hop street style. (DVD)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 10: “The Twilight Zones” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

Why We Fight (2005) – A documentary feature by Eugene Jarecki on the rise of the military-industrial complex. *NONFICS PICK*(Blu-ray)

WWE: Unreal Season 3 – The return of a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of the titular wrestling organization. (Netflix)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

911: Did the Killer Call? Season 2, Episode 2: “The Sound of Fear” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about cases where the murderer is on the 911 call. (Investigation Discovery)

Decade for Decision (1957) – A short documentary about the threat of the Soviet launch of the first satellite, Sputnik. (TCM)

Duck and Cover (1952) – A short instructional film on how to survive a nuclear attack. (TCM)

ER: Caught on Camera Season 1, Episode 3 – The latest installment of a docuseries in which medical patients recall experiences in hospital emergency rooms. (TLC)

For All Mankind (1989) – An Oscar-nominated feature documentary about NASA’s missions to the Moon. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)

Fortune Seekers (1956) – A short documentary about simple inventions we now take for granted, including bobby pins and cellophane tape. (TCM)

The House in the Middle (1954) – A short film sponsored by the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association about how fresh paint could benefit your home during an atomic blast. (TCM)

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026) – A documentary co-directed by and about Charles Manson’s granddaughter, Sophia Maddox. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Hulu)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK*(National Geographic)

A Toxic Love Story (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a case involving a woman convicted of stalking her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant wife. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Thursday, July 23, 2026

The Man Will Burn Episode 3 – The third installment of a four-part docuseries by Jehane Noujaim (The Square) and Vikram Gandhi (Kumare) about Burning Man. Read our review of The Man Will Burn. *NONFICS PICK* (HBO and HBO Max)

MGM Parade Show #8 (1955) – This installment of the behind-the-scenes docuseries showcases Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in The Philadelphia Story. (TCM)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Disney+ and Hulu)

Surviving Earth Episode 7: “When the Continents Collided” – The seventh installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves ancient elephants. (NBC)

Young, Black and Gifted: Diversity at the Paris Opera (2024) – A medium-length documentary that follows two Black artists during a season at the Paris Opera. (OVID)

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Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

7/24 – A Life Illuminated – A documentary feature about marine biologist Edith Widder and her study of bioluminescence. (In Theaters)

7/28 – The Best Pizza is in L.A. – A documentary claiming the best pizza is in Los Angeles. (VOD)

7/31 – A Paradise Lost – A partly animated documentary feature about a bird that sued the state of Hawaii to prevent its own extinction. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

7/31 – Wild Inside – A documentary feature by Penny Lane (Nuts!) about Central Park’s Flaco the Owl. (In Theaters)

8/6 – Monsters of God – A docuseries by Eric Goode (Tiger King) about exotic reptile smugglers. (HBO and HBO Max)

8/7 – The Big Cheese – A documentary feature that follows an American team competing in France’s Mondial du Fromage. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

8/11 – Coroner to the Stars – A documentary feature about Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County, who performed autopsies on many celebrities. (VOD)

8/28 – Hanging by a Wire – A documentary feature about a malfunctioned cable car that trapped eight people high above a valley and the rescue operation to save them. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

9/2 – Turning Point: Generation 9/11 – The latest historical documentary by Brian Knappenberger in his Turning Point franchise. This feature-length installment is about Americans who grew up post-9/11. (Netflix)

9/11 – Don’t Look Back in Anger – A documentary about the band Oasis as they reunite for their 2025 tour. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In IMAX Theaters)

9/17 – Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie – A documentary feature by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney about the titular author’s recovery from a knife attack. (In Theaters)

9/22 – Twiggy – A documentary feature about the titular model. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters and VOD)

Now that we’re into the second half of 2026, this year’s awards season for nonfiction releases has officially begun. Emmy nominations have already been announced, and the Critics Choice Association has just begun accepting submissions for the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards (which I co-founded and executive produce). Also, many critics, including yours truly, have published lists of the best documentaries of 2026 so far. And Deadline’s Matthew Carey is already discussing early contenders for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature on his Doc Talk podcast.

All but one of our most anticipated films of 2026 have premiered (the last one, Penny Lane’s Wild Inside, arrives this month), and many of those have made their commercial debut as well. Other late reveals that didn’t make that list are still to come, such as Alex Gibney’s Musk and Ava DuVernay’s 14th (a sequel to her Oscar-nominated film 13th), and we still have the fall festival titles to look forward to. Somehow, it feels like the year in documentary is already winding down but also just getting started.

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 a new Oasis film). Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future, plus full access to special posts like our best-of lists, and to give me more time to watch more (if not everything) available. If you have a doc needing coverage or a mention, you can now reach us at nonficseditor (at) gmail.

Nonfics Picks Of The Week: American Pachuco: The Legend Of Luis Valdez (2026)

I love a unique and creatively done narration. Edward James Olmos lends his voice to this documentary in character as “El Pachuco,” reprising his breakout stage role from Luis Valdez’s 1979 play Zoot Suit. The idea is perfectly executed, fitting the film’s tone and elevating it above the usual biographical fare. For those wanting the conventional elements, too, it’s otherwise a mix of archival footage and talking heads (including Olmos as himself) celebrating its subject.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez profiles the titular playwright and filmmaker, best known to mainstream audiences for writing and directing La Bamba. In a centerpiece interview, Valdez tells most of his own story and explains the meaning of much of his work. Olmos’s “Pachuco” provides more historical and cultural context, such as the origin of the term “Chicano” and the background of the Zoot Suit Riots. And he does so in a way that gives the documentary a distinct attitude.

As a kid, I went to see La Bamba a few times, helping make it a hit without any awareness of how difficult it was to get made or the importance of its success. I came away with a greater appreciation for the movie beyond being your average music biopic, both for how personal it was for Valdez and for its depiction of the divide between cultural identity and assimilation. The documentary also delivers some much-needed education on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and Chicano theater.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez will be released in theaters on Friday, July 17, 2026, and will be broadcast on PBS this fall via American Masters.

Other Documentary Highlights

The Dating Game (2025) & POV Season 39

The 39th season of POV begins this week on PBS with the broadcast premiere of The Dating Game. The documentary feature follows a few attendees of a week-long dating camp in Chongqing as they’re coached on how to get women to go out with them and maybe eventually marry. The film, at its core, is focused on the issue of China having 30 million more men than women thanks to the nation’s former one-child policy. In addition to the primary narrative following the three campers, director Violet Du Feng (Hidden Letters) shares glimpses of matchmaking events and the growing trend where women prefer virtual boyfriends on AI romance apps to real men.

As a result of wanting to include so much, The Dating Game loses its way a few times and is imbalanced in its structure. I wonder if there was a realization that the dating camp stuff was too repetitive and dull to carry the film on its own. Only one of the attendees is truly memorable: 36-year-old Zhou, who doesn’t like the idea of lying, acting unlike himself, wearing different clothes, and staging dating app profile photos that don’t show the real him. Of course, that’s the whole point of the camp. But we never get to understand what he expected. There’s also, sadly, no payoff with his story.

The most interesting parts of the film are the scenes depicting the lives of the camp’s counselor, Hao, and his wife, Wen, also a dating coach. We see their marital issues and disagreements in the advice they give. The fact that The Dating Game’s epilogue, revisiting the film’s subjects one year later, is concentrated on this couple, who should have been the main characters all along. The documentary is entertaining and enlightening anyway, but it reminded me of Mistress Dispeller (also finding a new streaming home this week — see the listings below) in that it shows us this intriguing professional in China and somehow fails to captivate thoroughly with its storytelling.

The Dating Game will be broadcast on PBS on Monday, July 21, 2026, as the first episode of POV Season 39. Future installments of this season will include The Gas Station Attendant, How to Build a Library, and Ross McElwee’s Remake.

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026)

Just when you think we don’t need another documentary about Charles Manson, here comes one that nobody else could have possibly made before. Actress and filmmaker Sophia Maddox found out a few years ago that she’s the granddaughter of Manson thanks to Ancestry.com. She teamed up with producer Alexandra Orton (both women are making their feature directorial debut with this film) to explore her discovery, with My Grandfather Charles Manson being the documented result. She learns more about the notorious cult leader and worries about what she might have inherited from him, but she also comes to understand Manson beyond the sensational.

Note: My thoughts on the film are embargoed until July 21. Come back then for my review.

My Grandfather Charles Manson premieres on Hulu on Wednesday, July 22.

Pompeii: Out Of Time (2026)

Why not cast the star of Marvel’s Loki as a “time detective,” right? Well, considering Tom Hiddleston reveals himself to be an “amateur classicist” who majored in that subject at Cambridge after his life was changed during a trip to Pompeii as a teenager, he’s anything but an obligatory celebrity host hired for his star appeal. Hiddleston is an executive producer of Pompeii: Out of Time, reuniting with Marvel Studios’ Kevin R. Wright to present a passion project that combines informative and effects-supplemented interviews with dramatizations depicting the title city’s final hours.

Note: My thoughts on the series are embargoed until July 20. Come back then for my review.

Pompeii: Out of Time will premiere all three of its episodes on National Geographic on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and will begin streaming in full exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2

The first season of Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross was nominated for Best Ongoing Documentary Series at last year’s Critics Choice Documentary Awards, so I’m anxious to see if the show holds up with its sophomore season. The series continues to follow actress Tracee Ellis Ross in a celebration of traveling by oneself, this time visiting Australia, Thailand, and Switzerland. I still think it’s a funny idea for a show since Ross is technically not alone in her documented travels, but the sentiment of the premise works nonetheless.

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 premieres in full and begins exclusively streaming on The Roku Channel with three new episodes on Monday, July 20, 2026.

A Toxic Love Story (2026)

I’m embargoed from sharing pretty much anything — be it plot or opinion — about A Toxic Love Story other than that it’s the next notable Netflix true-crime offering. I also will just say that I watched this in the same 24-hour span as I caught up with the new hit horror movie Obsession, and doing so made me appreciate both more than I would have otherwise. Consider this the Doc Option of the week if you wish.

A Toxic Love Story premieres and begins streaming exclusively on Netflix on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Why We Fight (2005)

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the theatrical release of Eugene Jarecki’s Why We Fight, a documentary feature not to be confused with Frank Capra’s World War II propaganda series of the same name. This film looks at the rise of the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned about as he left office in 1961. In a list I originally posted on Cinematical in 2009, Why We Fight was named the Best Expository Documentary of the 2000s. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

“Documentaries comprised primarily of talking heads and archive footage are so conventional, common and, yes, oftentimes boring that it’s a shame most people associate them with nonfiction cinema as a whole. Occasionally, though, the stringing together of facts and expert testimony can be stimulating as well as educational, such as in the case of Eugene Jarecki‘s Why We Fight, a film that says and asks so much about the questionable direction of the U.S. military in the past 50 years and the complicated origins of our current conflicts in part by referencing, with the intention of contrast, Frank Capra’s far more clear-cut expository Why We Fight films from WWII. Everything within the actual film simply and straightforwardly illustrates history and the filmmaker’s stance on it, which is all you really need from a doc.”

Why We Fight will be released on Blu-ray with a special 20th anniversary edition on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, via Sony Pictures Classics. This release comes with a commentary track with Eugene Jarecki and Col. Lawrence Wilkerson.

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Documentary Release Calendar 7/17/26 – 7/23/26

Friday, July 17, 2026

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez (2026) – A documentary feature about the titular activist and filmmaker. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (In Theaters)

Mistress Dispeller (2024) – A documentary about a woman who hired someone to stop her husband from cheating. (OVID)

Shake Hands with Danger (1980) – A safety training film concerning heavy equipment. (TCM)

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 4, Episode 2: “When the Music Stops” – The latest installment of an Atlanta-focused true-crime docuseries. This episode involves the death of an aspiring rapper. (Oxygen)

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Capital City: Washington, D.C. (1940) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Washington, D.C.’s famous buildings and monuments. (TCM)

A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965) – A short documentary about the casting of Elizabeth Hartman in the film A Patch of Blue. (TCM)

The Food That Built America Season 7, Episode 13: “Cereal Sensations” – The latest installment of a docuseries about popular American foods. This episode involves pioneering cereal brands. (History)

Hazardous History with Henry Winkler Season 2, Episode 13: “Animal Anarchy” – The latest installment of a docuseries about dangerous toys and household items that used to be common. This episode involves disastrous activities involving animals. (History)

In the Eye of the Storm Season 4, Episode 4: “Houston Hurricane Hell” – The latest installment of a docuseries about natural disasters. This episode involves 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. (Discovery Channel)

Madeira: ‘Isle of Romance’ (1938) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores Funchal, the capital of Madeira. (TCM)

On Location with: Fame (1980) – A short documentary about the making of the movie Fame. (TCM)

Monday, July 20, 2026

Colorful Bombay (1937) – A short documentary installment of James A. FitzPatrick’s TravelTalks travelogue franchise that explores the Indian city of Mumbai. (TCM)

The Dating Game (2025) – A documentary feature that follows three bachelors in China as they attend a week-long dating camp. Presented as the POV Season 39 opener. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. (PBS)

History’s Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren Episode 8: “Change Agents” – The latest installment of a docuseries about the machines that shaped our world. (History)

A Killer Among Friends Season 2, Episode 1: “Secret Life of a Private Eye” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about murders that tear friend groups apart. This episode involves the disappearance of a Florida woman. (Investigation Discovery)

Lethally Blonde Season 2, Episode 8: “To Live and Die in Hotlanta” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries involving people pursuing beauty and fame.(Investigation Discovery)

Races to Remember (1956) – A short documentary in the Sportscope franchise highlighting significant horse races of the decade. (TCM)

Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross Season 2 – The return of a travelogue series starring the titular actress. See our highlights section for more info. (The Roku Channel)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

5 Pointz: An Historical Journey (2024) – A medium-length documentary about the titular graffiti museum. (DVD)

The Best of B.L.A.C.C. Heart: World Tour (2017) – A documentary about the rap group B.L.A.C.C. Heart. (DVD)

Dark Side of the Ring Season 7, Episode 4: “Necro Butcher vs. Samoa Joe” – The latest installment of a docuseries that shares the darkest stories of professional wrestling. (Vice)

Deformer (2000) – A short documentary about the artist and skateboarder Ed Templeton. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing (1999) – A documentary feature about the French jazz/pop/electronica duo Air. Released as part of the Criterion Collection box set “I’ll Remind You of Everything: The Films of Mike Mills.” (4K UHD and Blu-ray)

The Hidden Master (1940) – A short film about the importance of luck. (TCM)

Homestead Rescue: Intervention Season 1, Episode 2: “A Homestead Divided” – The latest installment of a docuseries that follows wilderness living experts as they save lives. (Discovery)

Kedi (2016) – A documentary feature that follows stray cats around Istanbul. Read our review of Kedi. *NONFICS PICK* (OVID)

New York City Urban Documentary Project Vol. 1 (2026) – A collection of three documentaries by Dwayne Buckle. (DVD)

Once Upon a Time in Space Episode 2: “The Russian Thing” – The second installment of a docuseries about the space race. This episode involves the Mir space station. (PBS)

The Proof is Out There: Unexplained Edition Season 2, Episode 8: “Bizarre Finds” – The latest installment of a docuseries about strange phenomena captured on camera. (History)

Saggin’ (2019) – A medium-length documentary about the titular hip-hop street style. (DVD)

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Season 7, Episode 10: “The Twilight Zones” – The latest installment of a docuseries about UFO phenomena at the Skinwalker Ranch. (History)

Who’s Superstitious? (1943) – A short documentary examining various superstitions. (TCM)

Why We Fight (2005) – A documentary feature by Eugene Jarecki on the rise of the military-industrial complex. *NONFICS PICK*(Blu-ray)

WWE: Unreal Season 3 – The return of a docuseries that goes behind the scenes of the titular wrestling organization. (Netflix)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

911: Did the Killer Call? Season 2, Episode 2: “The Sound of Fear” – The latest installment of a true-crime docuseries about cases where the murderer is on the 911 call. (Investigation Discovery)

Decade for Decision (1957) – A short documentary about the threat of the Soviet launch of the first satellite, Sputnik. (TCM)

Duck and Cover (1952) – A short instructional film on how to survive a nuclear attack. (TCM)

ER: Caught on Camera Season 1, Episode 3 – The latest installment of a docuseries in which medical patients recall experiences in hospital emergency rooms. (TLC)

For All Mankind (1989) – An Oscar-nominated feature documentary about NASA’s missions to the Moon. *NONFICS PICK* (TCM)

Fortune Seekers (1956) – A short documentary about simple inventions we now take for granted, including bobby pins and cellophane tape. (TCM)

The House in the Middle (1954) – A short film sponsored by the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association about how fresh paint could benefit your home during an atomic blast. (TCM)

My Grandfather Charles Manson (2026) – A documentary co-directed by and about Charles Manson’s granddaughter, Sophia Maddox. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Hulu)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK*(National Geographic)

A Toxic Love Story (2026) – A true-crime documentary about a case involving a woman convicted of stalking her ex-boyfriend and his pregnant wife. See our highlights section for more info. (Netflix)

Thursday, July 23, 2026

The Man Will Burn Episode 3 – The third installment of a four-part docuseries by Jehane Noujaim (The Square) and Vikram Gandhi (Kumare) about Burning Man. Read our review of The Man Will Burn. *NONFICS PICK* (HBO and HBO Max)

MGM Parade Show #8 (1955) – This installment of the behind-the-scenes docuseries showcases Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in The Philadelphia Story. (TCM)

Pompeii: Out of Time (2026) – A three-part docuseries starring Tom Hiddleston about the final hours of Pompeii before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See our highlights section for more info and a brief review. *NONFICS PICK* (Disney+ and Hulu)

Surviving Earth Episode 7: “When the Continents Collided” – The seventh installment of an eight-part docuseries about extinct creatures. This episode involves ancient elephants. (NBC)

Young, Black and Gifted: Diversity at the Paris Opera (2024) – A medium-length documentary that follows two Black artists during a season at the Paris Opera. (OVID)

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Sneak Peek At What’s Coming Soon

7/24 – A Life Illuminated – A documentary feature about marine biologist Edith Widder and her study of bioluminescence. (In Theaters)

7/28 – The Best Pizza is in L.A. – A documentary claiming the best pizza is in Los Angeles. (VOD)

7/31 – A Paradise Lost – A partly animated documentary feature about a bird that sued the state of Hawaii to prevent its own extinction. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

7/31 – Wild Inside – A documentary feature by Penny Lane (Nuts!) about Central Park’s Flaco the Owl. (In Theaters)

8/6 – Monsters of God – A docuseries by Eric Goode (Tiger King) about exotic reptile smugglers. (HBO and HBO Max)

8/7 – The Big Cheese – A documentary feature that follows an American team competing in France’s Mondial du Fromage. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

8/11 – Coroner to the Stars – A documentary feature about Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former chief medical examiner for Los Angeles County, who performed autopsies on many celebrities. (VOD)

8/28 – Hanging by a Wire – A documentary feature about a malfunctioned cable car that trapped eight people high above a valley and the rescue operation to save them. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters)

9/2 – Turning Point: Generation 9/11 – The latest historical documentary by Brian Knappenberger in his Turning Point franchise. This feature-length installment is about Americans who grew up post-9/11. (Netflix)

9/11 – Don’t Look Back in Anger – A documentary about the band Oasis as they reunite for their 2025 tour. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In IMAX Theaters)

9/17 – Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie – A documentary feature by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney about the titular author’s recovery from a knife attack. (In Theaters)

9/22 – Twiggy – A documentary feature about the titular model. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (In Theaters and VOD)

IDA Member Spotlight: Rémi Grellety
idastaff
Wed, 07/15/2026 – 15:08

IDA Member Spotlight: Rémi Grellety
idastaff
Wed, 07/15/2026 – 15:08