The American Revolution makes every episode count, and right now it's all streaming on PBS and beyond. A strong pick for any doc fan.

Originally commissioned by PBS, The American Revolution quickly became exactly the kind of show that viewers rearrange their evenings for. The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a war of conquest, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. It impacted millions from Vermont’s Green Mountains to the swamps of South Carolina, from Indian Country to the Iberian Peninsula. In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside-down. It aired in 2025.

Documentary fans who value serious journalism and strong storytelling will find The American Revolution essential — if The Civil War is on your list, move The American Revolution to the top. Not background viewing.