Welcome to Documental, a monthly column keeping fans of nonfiction films and docuseries up to date on all the documentary content coming to theaters and your favorite streaming services. Here’s a guide to all the essential documentary titles to watch in June 2022.
The month of June is traditionally when kids are out of school, whether it’s at the start of the month or the end. Fortunately, for those who love to keep learning and experiencing new things, documentary programming goes on year-round. And this month brings a lot of great classics and new releases to the big and small screens. Broaden your historical knowledge and your empirical empathy as you watch films and series tackling heavy issues and telling important stories. But be sure to leave some room for some comedy storytelling as well.
Here are some of the highlights from the month followed by a calendar marking all the notable documentaries and other nonfiction programs to watch in June 2022:
Pride Month Programming
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and many of the major streaming services are supporting the occasion. Among the classics you’ll find scattered about this month are The Celluloid Closet on Amazon Freevee, Paris is Burning on HBO Max, After Stonewall on Pluto TV, The Salt Mines on The Criterion Channel, and Portrait of Jason on OVID. Also, as part of the Netflix is a Joke Festival, you’ll find the special Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration, and on Discovery+ there’s a new reality series called Generation Drag. Outside of the streaming services, check out the uncut version of George Michael: Freedom in theaters and the drag queen superstar doc Being BeBe on VOD and Fuse.
The Janes
This documentary received decent buzz when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January, but it’s, sadly, become a very hot film with an unfortunately very timely subject. The Janes spotlights the titular network offering safe and affordable abortions when they were illegal, before Roe v. Wade. Directed by Tia Lessin (Trouble the Water) and Emma Pildes (producer of Jane Fonda in Five Acts), it’s sure to be an inspiring work in this time of uncertainty regarding a woman’s right to choose in America. If only it was merely a historical showcase. Find it on HBO Max on June 8.
Bernstein’s Wall
Everyone’s talking about Leonard Bernstein lately. Between Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake and Bradley Cooper’s upcoming Bernstein biopic, Maestro, there’s good reason to be celebrating the legendary conductor and composer. Before you feast on Cooper’s transformational performance in his own study of Bernstein’s life, though, the doc option is finally releasing after a highly acclaimed festival run that started exactly a year ago. Bernstein’s Wall is directed by Douglas Tirola, who previously had us laughing through history with Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead. This one is heading to theaters beginning on June 10.
Humphrey Jennings Documentaries
Finally, get a good helping of documentary film history with OVID’s Humphrey Jennings retrospective. Beginning with the 1939 World War II GPO Unit short The First Days, co-directed by Harry Watt and Pat Jackson, the series also includes the Oscar-nominated London Can Take It!, co-directed by Watt, plus The Silent Village, A Diary for Timothy, the hybrid docudrama Fires Were Started, and the Oscar-nominated propaganda film Listen to Britain. Most of these docs are streaming exclusives at OVID, and they drop on the service on June 14.
Documentary Release Calendar for June 2022
| Date | Title | Streaming Service | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | All or Nothing: New Zealand All Blacks (2018) | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Original series |
| The Celluloid Closet (1995) | Amazon Freevee | Pride Month | |
| Chamisso's Shadow (2016) | The Criterion Channel | "Directed by Ulrike Ottinger" | |
| Fire Music: The Story of Free Jazz (2021) | The Criterion Channel | Exclusive streaming premiere | |
| Generation Drag (2022) | Discovery+ | Pride Month | |
| Karen Dalton: In My Own Time (2020) | The Criterion Channel | Exclusive streaming premiere | |
| How to Survive a Plague (2012) | HBO Max | Pride Month | |
| McQueen (2018) | HBO Max | Pride Month | |
| Of Time and the City (2008) | The Criterion Channel | "Terence Davies / A Retrospective" | |
| Original Cast Album: “Company" (1970) | The Criterion Channel | "Oversighted: The Musical!" | |
| Paris Calligrammes (2020) | The Criterion Channel | "Directed by Ulrike Ottinger" | |
| Paris is Burning (1990) | HBO Max | Pride Month | |
| Prater (2007) | The Criterion Channel | "Directed by Ulrike Ottinger" | |
| Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968) | The Criterion Channel | "Microbudget Movies" | |
| Taiga (1992) | The Criterion Channel | "Directed by Ulrike Ottinger" | |
| 6/2 | #ABTalks - Season 2 (2022) | Netflix | |
| The Book of Queer (2022) | Discovery+ | Pride Month | |
| Change Days - Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | ||
| Lands (2009) | OVID | ||
| Margin (2007) | OVID | ||
| Plastic Island (2022) | Netflix | ||
| 6/3 | After Stonewall (1999) | Pluto TV | Pride Month |
| Codebreaker (2011) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife (2022) | In Theaters | ||
| Floor is Lava - Season 2 (2022) | Netflix | ||
| How We Got Gay (2013) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Joe Papp in Five Acts (2012) | PBS | American Masters | |
| Love v. Kentucky (2017) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Mr. Good: Cop or Crook? - Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | ||
| On My Way with Irina Rimes (2022) | HBO Max | Max Original Documentary | |
| Outrage (2009) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Trixie Motel (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| 6/4 | Bear Nation (2010) | Pluto TV | Pride Month |
| 6/6 | Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival |
| Keyboard Fantasies (2019) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| 6/7 | Being BeBe (2021) | VOD | Pride Month |
| Night Mail (1936) | OVID | ||
| That’s My Time with David Letterman - Part 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| 6/8 | Finding Kim (2016) | Pluto TV | Pride Month |
| Hungry for Answers (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original limited series | |
| The Janes (2022) | HBO Max | HBO Original Documentary Premiere | |
| The Joneses (2016) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| The Pearl (2016) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Transgender Nation (2019) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Transmilitary (2018) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| 6/9 | America ReFramed: The Hand That Feeds (2016) | WORLD Channel & PBS | |
| Dr. Delirium & The Edgewood Experiments (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| My Daughter Joined a Cult (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| Rhythm + Flow Nouvelle Ecole -Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Rhythm + Flow Nouvelle Ecole -Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021) | HBO Max | Max Original Documentary Premiere | |
| Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| 6/10 | Bernstein's Wall (2021) | In Theaters | |
| Echoes of the Empire: Beyond Genghis Khan (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis (2022) | Amazon Freevee | Amazon Freevee Original | |
| The Image You Missed (2018) | OVID | OVID exclusive | |
| Love in Paradise: The Caribbean -Season 2 (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| The Patriot Game (1979) | OVID | OVID exclusive Streaming premiere |
|
| A Tribute to Bob Saget (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| 6/11 | Amy Schumer’s Parental Advisory (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival |
| 6/12 | Silos Baking Competition (2022) | Discovery+ | |
| That’s My Time with David Letterman - Part 2 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| 6/13 | The Gospel of Eureka (2018) | The Criterion Channel | Pride Month |
| Pete Davidson Presents: The Best Friends (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| Making Modern with Brooke and Brice - Season 2 (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| When the Waters Get Deep (2020) | WORLD Channel | (Also on the KQED Arts YouTube channel) | |
| 6/14 | American Swing (2008) | DOX | |
| Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (2021) | PBS | American Masters | |
| Chez Jolie Coiffure (2018) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| A Diary for Timothy (1946) | OVID | OVID exclusive - Humphrey Jennings Retrospective | |
| Echoes of the Empire: Beyond Genghis Khan (2021) | VOD | ||
| End of the Line (2021) | VOD | ||
| The First Days (1940) | OVID | OVID exclusive - Humphrey Jennings Retrospective | |
| Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| Jennifer Lopez: Halftime (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original | |
| Listen to Britain (1967) | OVID | Humphrey Jennings Retrospective | |
| London Can Take It! (1940) | OVID | OVID exclusive - Humphrey Jennings Retrospective | |
| The Silent Village (1943) | OVID | OVID exclusive - Humphrey Jennings Retrospective | |
| Split Ends, I Feel Wonderful (2012) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| 6/15 | Anonymous Club (2021) | In Theaters | |
| Family Reboot (2022) | Disney+ | ||
| Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend - Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Sing, Dance, Act: Kabuki featuring Toma Ikuta (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original | |
| Snoop Dogg’s F*cn Around Comedy Special (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Ben-Gurion, Epilogue (2016) | ChaiFlicks | The Prime Ministers | |
| 6/16 | America ReFramed: Broken Heart Land (2014) | WORLD Channel & PBS | |
| The Kardashians - Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Martin: The Reunion (2022) | BET | ||
| 6/17 | An Act of Love (2015) | Pluto TV | Pride Month |
| Bitterbrush (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| Chely Wright: Wish Me Away (2011) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Coming of Age in Cherry Grove (2014) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Gen Silent (2011) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo (2014) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines - Season 6 (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| Stay Prayed Up (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family (2004) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Where We Call Home - Season 2 (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| 6/18 | After Jackie (2022) | History | |
| 6/19 | Civil: Ben Crump (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original |
| Estonia - Season 2 (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty (2022 | Discovery+ | ||
| 6/20 | Born This Way: Awa's Story/The Rogers (2020) | WORLD Channel | |
| The Salt Mines (1990) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| The Transformation (1995) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| Who Killed Vincent Chin? (1987) | PBS | POV encore presentation | |
| 6/21 | Being BeBe (2021) | Fuse | Broadcast Premiere - Pride Month |
| The Future Of… - Season 1 (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original series | |
| Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original stand-up special | |
| Remembrance of József Romvári (2020) | The Criterion Channel | ||
| The Wrecking Crew! (2008) | DOX | ||
| 6/22 | Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes (2022) | HBO Max | HBO Original Documentary Premiere |
| George Michael: Freedom Uncut (2018) | In Theaters | Pride Month | |
| Golda (2019) | ChaiFlicks | The Prime Ministers | |
| We (Nous) (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| 6/23 | America ReFramed: Little Miss Westie (2020 | WORLD Channel & PBS | |
| Best of the Festival (2022) | Netflix | Netflix is a Joke Festival | |
| Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann (1994) | OVID | ||
| Menudo: Forever Young (2022) | HBO Max | Max Original Documentary Premiere | |
| 6/24 | At Home With the Gils (2022) | Amazon Prime Video | |
| Beba (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| Bitterbrush (2021) | VOD | ||
| A Bit of Scarlet (1997) | OVID | OVID Celebrates Pride Month! | |
| Fifi Howls from Happiness (2013) | OVID | OVID Celebrates Pride Month! | |
| The Human Trial (2022) | In Theaters | ||
| Maria Luiza (2019) | OVID | OVID exclusive | |
| Portrait of Jason (1967) | OVID | OVID Celebrates Pride Month! | |
| Vedette (2021) | In Theaters | ||
| 6/26 | Call Me Kuchu (2012) | Pluto TV | Pride Month |
| Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World (2003) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| Jack Osbourne’s Night of Terror: Bigfoot (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| The Queen of Ireland (2015) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| A Queer Country (2016) | Pluto TV | Pride Month | |
| 6/27 | Grey Gardens (1975) | The Criterion Channel | |
| 6/28 | The China Hustle (2017) | DOX | |
| Cristela Alonzo: Middle Classy (2022) | Netflix | Netflix Original stand-up special | |
| Fannie's Film (1981) | The Criterion Channel | "Short Films by Fronza Woods" | |
| Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot (2014) | DOX | ||
| The Wolfpack (2015) | DOX | ||
| 6/29 | Peace and War (2020) | ChaiFlicks | The Prime Ministers |
| We (Nous) (2021) | Mubi | ||
| 6/30 | America ReFramed: Before You Know It (2015) | WORLD Channel & PBS | |
| Fright Club (2022) | Discovery+ | ||
| The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) | OVID | OVID exclusive | |
