New Documentaries to Stream

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George Carlin's American Dream
George Carlin's American Dream, directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, chronicles the life and work of the legendary comedian.
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Spring Awakening: Those You've Known
Fifteen years after the smash, Tony-winning Broadway run of "Spring Awakening," the original cast and creative team reunite for a spectacular, one-night only reunion concert to benefit The Actors Fund.
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The Invisible Pilot
A documentary series about a daredevil husband and father who unexpectedly jumped off a bridge in 1977, despite a seemingly happy home life and a lucrative career as a pilot. Years later, a mysterious story unfolds involving hypnosis, secret identities, and a double life of dangerous missions and law-breaking.
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Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off
A wide-ranging, definitive look at Hawk’s life and iconic career, and his relationship with the sport with which he’s been synonymous for decades.
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When We Were Bullies
When We Were Bullies begins with a mind-boggling coincidence from 25 years ago, which ultimately leads filmmaker Rosenblatt to track down his fifth-grade class to see what they remember from a bullying incident that occurred 50 years ago.
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How to Survive a Pandemic
How to Survive a Pandemic takes an inside look at the historic, multi-national race to research, develop, regulate, and roll out COVID-19 vaccines in the war against the coronavirus pandemic.
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Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising is a two-part documentary following actress and activist Evan Rachel Wood as she takes her experience as a survivor of domestic violence to pursue justice, heal generational wounds, and reclaim her story.
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Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall
This two-part documentary directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Erin Lee Carr tells the story of accomplished journalist Kim Wall, who tragically went missing in 2017.
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Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches
Five legendary speeches from the most famous American anti-slavery activist are brought to life to further understand the story of Frederick Douglass and the story of our country.
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Icahn: The Restless Billionaire
Directed by Bruce David Klein, this film explores the fascinating contradictions surrounding famed billionaire financier Carl Icahn.
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The Super Bob Einstein Movie
From the team behind HBO’s Eat Breakfast, this documentary celebrates the life and legacy of the late actor, writer, and producer Bob Einstein.
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Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
A rare window into the early days of Sesame Street, revealing the creators, artists, writers and educators who together established one of the most influential and enduring children’s programs in television history.
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The Forever Prisoner
From Oscar®-winner Alex Gibney, this unflinching documentary examines how America’s torture policy began with CIA captive Abu Zubaydah.
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Adrienne
An illuminating tribute to actor and filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, celebrating her life and work while exploring the tragedy of her death.
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Black and Missing
A gripping look at the Black and Missing Foundation's commitment to locating missing persons of color and the uphill battle to raise awareness.
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Simple As Water
Megan Mylan's powerful look at Syrian families as they search for normalcy in building life anew through a whirlwind of obstacles.
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In the Same Breath
The origin and spread of the coronavirus--from its outbreak in Wuhan, China to its rampage across the U.S.--is recounted in this film.
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Four Hours at the Capitol
An immersive look at the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol when Washington D.C. was overrun by protesters of the 2020 presidential election.
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Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes
A six-part docuseries based on Ronan Farrow's book.
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Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump
Follow the colorful staff of a privately owned TV station in the small desert town of Pahrump, Nevada, in this six-part documentary series.
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Nuclear Family
A docuseries from Ry Russo-Young about growing up with two moms in the early 1980s when most sperm banks denied access to gay families.
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NYC Epicenters 9/11-> 2021½
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages New York, Spike Lee shines a light on the city’s racial justice activists amid rising police violence.
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Premieres June 8

The Janes

The Janes is the story of an underground network of women in Chicago in the late 60s and early 70s who provided safe, affordable, illegal abortions to women in need.

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Coming Soon

SEASON 2 COMING SOON
The Vow
This documentary series follows a range of people who joined NXIVM, the controversial self-improvement group that disintegrated when criminal charges were brought against its highest leaders.
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SEASON 2 COMING SOON
100 Foot Wave
Garrett McNamara journeyed to Nazare, Portugal with one goal in mind: to conquer a 100-foot wave. His effort drove the sport of surfing to new heights and helped transform a tiny fishing village into the world's preeminent big-wave surfing destination.
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PREMIERES THIS FALL
All That Breathes
All That Breathes, directed by Shaunak Sen follows two brothers who run a bird hospital dedicated to rescuing injured black kites, a staple in the skies of New Delhi, India.
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COMING SOON
Katrina Babies
From director Edward Buckles, Jr., Katrina Babies offers an intimate look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on the youth of New Orleans.
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Must-See Music Films

Music Box is a collection of documentary films created by Bill Simmons exploring pivotal moments in the music world.

Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss
An immersive profile of rapper Juice WRLD, whose meteoric rise was fueled by his prolific songwriting but cut short by struggles with drug use and mental health.
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Mr. Saturday Night
A profile of Robert Stigwood, the visionary impresario who brought Saturday Night Fever to life and launched the movie soundtrack phenomenon.
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Listening to Kenny G
A surprising examination of how Kenny G became the best-selling instrumentalist of all time – yet is reviled by many.
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DMX: Don’t Try to Understand
An intimate year in the life of the late rapper DMX as he searches for reinvention and redemption after his release from prison in 2019.
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Jagged
An exploration of how Alanis Morissette's groundbreaking 1995 album "Jagged Little Pill" shattered the glass ceiling for female pop musicians.
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Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
An examination of Woodstock 99, the infamous music festival that, instead of celebrating peace and love, descended into mayhem.
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HBO Podcasts

Looking to dive deeper into your favorite programs? Listen to the below companion podcasts and check out the podcast page for the full list.

Allen v. Farrow
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Between The World And Me Podcast
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I'll Be Gone In The Dark Podcast
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The McMillion$ Podcast
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HBO Docs Club Podcast

Hosted by Brittany Luse (For Colored Nerds) and Ronald Young Jr. (Solvable), this new podcast pulls back the curtain on a different documentary film or series each episode - with expert cultural critics as your guides.

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Resources

Explore educational and mental health resources related to HBO documentaries.

How to Survive a Pandemic

Phoenix Rising

Fredrick Douglas: In Five Speeches

JuiceWRLD: Into the Abyss

Every Crime Has a Story

Get a glimpse of the crime documentaries now streaming.

The Murders at Starved Rock
This three-part documentary series explores the brutal murders of three women in 1960 in Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, Illinois.
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The Slow Hustle
Director Sonja Sohn (HBO’s "The Wire") chronicles the still unsolved death of Baltimore police detective Sean Suiter, who was fatally shot in 2017 while on duty.
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Life of Crime: 1984-2020
The third and final part of an epic documentary trilogy tells the full story of three friends from Newark, New Jersey whose lives have been defined by and torn apart by their addictions.
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The Mystery of DB Cooper
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper brings to life the stories of four individuals fervently believed by their family and friends to be "D.B. Cooper," the mystery man who hijacked a 727 flying out of Seattle, traded passengers' lives for $200,000 and four parachutes, lept from the jet over some of Washington state's roughest terrain, and was never heard from again.
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The Art of Political Murder
Based on Francisco Goldman's book of the same name and executive produced by Oscar winner George Clooney and Grant Heslov, this film tells the story of the 1998 murder of Guatemalan human rights activist Bishop Juan Gerardi, which stunned a country ravaged by decades of political violence.
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Crazy, Not Insane
Directed and produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney, Crazy Not Insane follows Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a psychiatrist who has dedicated her career to studying murders and understanding why people kill.
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Baby God
This haunting probe into the work of infamous Nevada fertility specialist Dr. Quincy Fortier follows a man who deceived countless women struggling to conceive using his own sperm- without their knowledge or consent- to impregnate them.
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Alabama Snake
Explore the story of Pentecostal minster Glenn Summerford, who was accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake in the sleepy town of Scottsboro, Alabama.
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2021 Emmy Nominees

Watch last year's nominated documentaries.

2021 Emmy Winner
The Bee Gees: How You Can Mend a Broken Heart
Allen v. Farrow
Welcome to Chechnya
Q: Into the Storm

Watch HBO Documentaries For Free