This Week In Documentary
Theatrical & Streaming Releases - New & Recommended - January 3-9, 2025
The first full week of 2025 is fairly light for notable new releases. None of our most anticipated documentaries of the year are coming out in the next seven days. However, a couple of the best documentaries of 2024 are being re-released theatrically and/or released on home video this week. Also making its debut this week is one documentary on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature that should have been on the former list (I thought it had already been released last year to qualify, but that’s not the case). Finally, I recommend a couple of classics to catch up with.
Now, without further ado, here are this week’s highlights, listings, and coming attractions, including our Pick of the Week. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to receive more in-depth highlights and reviews in the future.
Nonfics Pick Of The Week: Hollywood (1980)
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Kevin Brownlow and David Gill’s Hollywood, a 13-part docuseries that premiered its first episode on ITV in the UK on January 8, 1980. Subsequent episodes were aired through April of that year. Nowadays, such a docuseries might be released in its entirety all at once, but the spread-out broadcast of Hollywood made it more like a weekly film history course. Specifically, a course on the history of the silent era.
Interestingly, just as many silent films didn’t anticipate the various formats of media to come, Hollywood wasn’t made for modern home video or streaming platforms. Due to rights issues with its hundreds of clips, the series hasn’t been officially available in any form since its seven-piece Laserdisc set was released in 1991. There are DVD bootlegs made from the discs, but otherwise, the best way to watch it now is with poor-quality copy streaming on the Internet Archive.
At least Hollywood was made when it was, though. The 11-hour-plus series features interviews with many artists of the silent cinema era, including actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, and stunt performers. Many of these people died during the making of Hollywood or a few years later, as in the cases of essential interviewees King Vidor, Gloria Swanson, George Cukor, and William Wyler. (Even narrator James Mason, who got his start acting in films after the sound era began, died four years after the series’ original broadcast.) The commentaries captured are nearly as significant as the films they discuss.
Other Documentary Highlights
The Black Box Diaries (2024)
One of last year's top 20 best documentaries, The Black Box Diaries returns to our highlights for its streaming release. Here’s what I wrote in October when I made it my Pick of the Week:
“Japanese journalist Shiori Ito makes her feature directorial debut with the film, which follows her investigation into her own sexual assault by a prominent TV reporter. Because the man was friends with the country’s prime minister, her fight for truth and justice was a particularly steep hill to climb. On top of all of it, along the way, she created this courageous and triumphant film that is both intimate and tremendous in its power and scope.”
The Black Box Diaries begins streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime on Tuesday, January 7.
From Ground Zero (2024)
Michael Moore recently joined From Ground Zero as an executive producer, calling it “a cinematic miracle.” An anthology film consisting of 22 short pieces, each by a different director, it’s also Palestine’s official submission to the 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Last month, the film made the Oscar shortlist among the 15 finalists. While not all of the shorts are documentary works, the entire feature presents a very real look at Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas.
From Ground Zero will be released in theaters on Friday, January 3.
Let’s Get Lost (1988)
Famed photographer Bruce Weber earned an Oscar nomination for this film, which documents the final year in the life of jazz trumpeter and crooner Chet Baker. Let’s Get Lost is a poetic, relatively free-form work, unlike any other music film I’ve ever seen. Here, I’ve been paraphrasing part of my review of Let’s Get Lost from December 2013 when it arrived on DVD. Here’s the rest of it quoted verbatim:
“Watching the black and white cinematography, at times crisp as can be and other times gorgeously grainy, I wondered if we could ever have another nonfiction film that looks like this. How often do we see docs where every frame is by itself a work of art? Transcending decades, mostly superimposing the ’50s and the ’80s, Let’s Get Lost floats through and around its subject’s life, at times sad and funny and cool and beautiful and entrancing.”
Let’s Get Lost will be released on Blu-ray on Tuesday, January 7.
Soundtrack To A Coup D’Etat (2024)
Landing in the #4 spot on my list of the best documentaries of 2024, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat is a must-experience meld of music and history documentaries. Fortunately, this week brings about two ways of seeing it. Here’s what I wrote in my review of Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat in November when it was a Pick of the Week:
“One of the most original documentaries of the year, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat is so much movie that it’s hard to describe in simple terms. The film chronicles the events that led to the assassination of Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and the subsequent UN Security Council protest enacted by jazz singer Abbey Lincoln and drummer Max Roach. The rich historical narrative involves the Cold War, African decolonization, and jazz musicians unknowingly partnered with spies in a blend of cultural diplomacy and covert political meddling.
“The content alone would be engaging enough. But the freeform jazziness of the editing of so much archival material combined with the soundtrack of tunes by the many involved jazz legends plus clever voiceover narration consisting of related readings makes for a particularly thrilling telling of this thickly layered story.”
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat will return to theaters on Friday, January 3, and the film will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD on Tuesday, January 7.
Documentary Release Calendar 1/3/25 - 1/9/25
Friday, January 3, 2025
Dallas, 2019 Episodes 1 & 2 - A five-part docuseries observing the titular city in the titular year. Presented as part of Independent Lens. (PBS)
From Ground Zero (2024) - An anthology film compiling 22 short documentaries made in Gaza. (In Theaters)
Lady Like (2024) - A feature documentary following drag queen Lady Camden as she competes on RuPaul’s Drag Race. (VOD)
The Last Republican (2024) - A documentary about Congressman Adam Kinzinger and the January 6 Capitol riot. (In Theaters)
Millennial Money Season 2 - A financial docuseries aimed at millennials. (Peacock)
Poet and Peasant Overture (1955) - A short documentary presenting a performance of the title composition by the MGM Symphony Orchestra. (TCM)
Samantha Brown's Places to Love Season 8 - The return of the travel series starring Samantha Brown. (PBS)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (2024) - An essay film surrounding the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and the incident where jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crashed the UN Security Council in 1960. (Back In Theaters)
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Believe It or Not (Second Series) #8 (1932) - This installment of the Robert L. Ripley documentary franchise features one of the largest books in the world, a 17-year-old grandmother, two 119-year-olds, and more. (TCM)
The Cincinnati Kid Plays According to Hoyle (1965) - A short documentary about a magician and former gambler who taught the actors how to play poker for the production of The Cincinnati Kid. (TCM)
Dallas, 2019 Episodes 3, 4 & 5 - A five-part docuseries observing the titular city in the titular year. Presented as part of Independent Lens. (PBS)
Dreams (1940) - A short film in MGM’s Passing Parade series that examines the meaning of various dreams. (TCM)
MGM Parade Show #23 (1956) - This installment of the Hollywood-focused docuseries showcases the MGM films Anchors Aweigh, The King Without a Crown, and The Last Hunt. (TCM)
To Catch A Smuggler: Mediterranean Season 2, Episode 4: “Lives At Stake” - The latest episode of this spinoff docuseries involving the Spanish Coast Guard and drug traffickers. (National Geographic)
Sunday, January 5, 2025
The Wedding in Monaco (1956) - A short documentary of Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco. (TCM)
Monday, January 6, 2025
Aqua Babes (1956) - A short documentary about a swimming instructor for children. (TCM)
Calling All Girls (1942) - A short documentary about the selection of chorus girls for movies. (TCM)
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter Episodes 1 & 2 - The third and final season of this true-crime docuseries about an infamous adult who pretended to be a little girl. (Investigation Discovery)
The Great American Mug (1945) - A short film in MGM’s Passing Parade series that showcases the typical barbershop. (TCM)
Minted (2023) - A documentary about the rise and fall of NFTs. Presented as an episode of Independent Lens. (PBS)
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Black Box Diaries (2024) - A feature documentary in which Japanese journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itô investigates her own sexual assault. (Paramount+ with Showtime)
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter Episodes 3 & 4 - The third and final season of this true-crime docuseries about an infamous adult who pretended to be a little girl. (Investigation Discovery)
Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North Episode 6 - The latest installment of the Hard Knocks franchise follows the titular NFL division, including the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. (HBO/Max)
Heyday - The Mic Christopher Story (2019) - A biographical documentary about the titular singer-songwriter. (DVD and Blu-ray)
How It Really Happened Season 8 - The most recent season of the CNN true crime docuseries starring Jesse L. Martin about the worst mysteries and murders. (Max)
I Am Samuel (2020) - A documentary about a Kenyan man torn between his family and his dreams for the future. (DVD and Blu-ray)
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (2025) - A two-part documentary about The Jerry Springer Show. (Netflix)
Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley's Holmes vs. Doyle (2024) - A docuseries about the complex relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his literary hero Sherlock Holmes. (DVD)
Lady Like (2024) - A feature documentary following drag queen Lady Camden as she competes on RuPaul’s Drag Race. (DVD)
Let’s Get Lost (1988) - A feature documentary by Bruce Weber about jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. (Blu-ray)
Life Below Zero Season 22, Episode 12: “100 Miles From Nowhere” - The latest episode of this docuseries following secluded life in Alaska. (National Geographic)
Lucy Worsley Investigates Season 2, Episode 1: “Jack the Ripper” - The first episode of the second season of this docuseries digs into the truth about the titular serial killer. (PBS)
The Soul of Ashanti (2009) - A medium-length documentary about the Ashanti Kingdom’s Golden Stool. (Blu-ray)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (2024) - An essay film surrounding the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, and the incident where jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crashed the UN Security Council in 1960. (DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD)
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The Alien Perspective (2025) - A medium-length documentary about the UFO phenomenon. (VOD)
Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) - A feature documentary about Elvis Presley’s return to the stage in 1970. This is the version that was restored in 2001. (TCM)
I Am a Killer Season 6 - Six more episodes of this true-crime docuseries spotlighting incarcerated murderers. (Netflix)
Murder Under the Friday Night Lights Season 4, Episode 1: “Aaron Hernandez and the Untold Murders of Bristol” - The return of this true-crime docuseries involving high school football and murder also involves infamous Patriots player Aaron Hernandez. (Investigation Discovery)
This is Elvis (1981) - A biographical documentary about Elvis Presley heavily consisting of dramatizations. (TCM)
UFOs: Investigating the Unknown Season 2, Episode 1: “The UFO Whistleblower” - The return of this docuseries on unidentified flying objects. (National Geographic)
The Wonderful World of Tupperware (1965) - A short industrial film about Tupperware. (TCM)
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Biography: Alice Cooper (2024) - An installment of the Biography series focused on the titular rock star. (Hulu)
Biography: Chris Farley - Anything for a Laugh (2019) - An installment of the Biography series focused on the titular comedic actor. (Hulu)
Biography: Jeff Dunham - Talking Heads (2019) - An installment of the Biography series focused on the titular comedian and ventriloquist. (Hulu)
Biography: Jeff Foxworthy - Stand Up Guy (2019) - An installment of the Biography series focused on the titular comedian. (Hulu)
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter - The third and final season of this true-crime docuseries about an infamous adult who pretended to be a little girl. (Max)
Elvis on Tour (1972) - A concert film starring Elvis Presley with backstage material. (TCM)
Fugitive Hunters Mexico Season 1, Episode 2: “Going Undercover” - The latest episode of this new docuseries involves a murderer staked out at a gym and a drug trafficker apprehended at a Mexican beach town. (A&E)
Homicide Squad New Orleans Season 1, Episode 3: “Mardi Gras Murder” - The latest episode of this new docuseries involves a man shot in New Orleans. (A&E)
Kyiv Theater: An Island of Hope (2024) - An episode of the docuseries Aux arts et cætera about a theater workshop in Ukraine. (Ovid)
Lost Treasures of the Bible Season 1, Episode 4: “Secrets of the Tower of Babel” - The latest episode of this Biblical history docuseries looks into the origins of the story of Babel. (National Geographic)
UFOs: Investigating the Unknown Season 2, Episode 1: “The UFO Whistleblower” - The return of this docuseries on unidentified flying objects. (Hulu and Disney+)
Sneak Peak At What’s Coming Soon
1/10 - Every Little Thing - A feature documentary about a woman who cares for injured hummingbirds. (In Theaters)
1/14 - Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy - A documentary about the titular rapper and record producer from his beginnings through his sexual misconduct charges. Watch the new trailer for the film below. (Peacock)
1/27 - Resistance: They Fought Back - A feature documentary about the Jewish resistance fighters during the Holocaust. Read our review of Resistance: They Fought Back. (PBS)
1/27 - Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music - A documentary by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Summer of Soul) and Oz Rodriguez about music performances on Saturday Night Live. (NBC)
2/7 - Becoming Led Zeppelin - A feature documentary following the origins of the titular rock band. (IMAX Theaters)
2/13 - Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) - A feature documentary by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (Summer of Soul) about Sly and the Family Stone. (Hulu)