The Librarians

Play trailer

The Librarians

In Theaters Fri Oct 3

1h 34m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

17 Reviews

Popcornmeter

0 Verified Ratings

Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories -- triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of White Christian Nationalism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work -- the librarians' rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.

Coming Soon

In Theaters Fri Oct 3

Reserve Tickets

Kim A. Snyder

Director

Carolyn Foote

Self

Leo Muñoz

Writer

Claudio X. González

Writer

Jack Youngelson

Writer

Kim A. Snyder

Producer

Lisa Kennedy

Variety

Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder’s illuminating documentary offers a rattling look at coordinated efforts to ban books. More importantly, it introduces viewers to the everyday and increasingly vital heroes pushing back.

Feb 6, 2025

Full Review

Zachary Lee

RogerEbert.com

What Snyder does so effectively is affirming the dignity of this vocation by showing how the work of librarians goes beyond just saving books.

Jan 30, 2025

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

The Hollywood Reporter

That deft level of craft is maintained throughout, while the aching musical bed by contemporary composer Nico Muhly adds just the right tone of plangent despair tinged with hope.

Jan 26, 2025

Full Review

Sarah Manvel

Movies We Texted About

So anxious to avoid the bigger picture it doesn’t so much as ignore the forest for the trees as ignore the trees for the leaves.

Jul 21, 2025

Full Review

Derrick Murray

This is For Reel

The Librarians is a hard but necessary watch, and you won’t find a more relevant and timely documentary this year. It is both a cautionary tale and a battle cry call to action. No matter how uncomfortable it makes you, everyone needs to see this film.

Jul 15, 2025

Full Review

Gerald Peary

Arts Fuse

Hooray for this weighty and necessary film! Hooray for mighty librarians!

Jun 23, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

View more photos

Zurawski v Texas

100%

99%

Zurawski v Texas

Watchlist

Antidote

91%

%

Antidote

Watchlist

Plan C

96%

%

Plan C

Watchlist

The American Question

%

95%

The American Question

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The American Question

A Sexplanation

100%

%

A Sexplanation

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Synopsis

Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories -- triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of White Christian Nationalism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work -- the librarians' rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.

Director: Kim A. Snyder
Producer: Kim A. Snyder, Janique L. Robillard, Maria Cuomo Cole, Jana Edelbaum
Screenwriter: Leo Muñoz, Claudio X. González, Jack Youngelson
Distributor: Independent Lens
Production Co: Good Gravy Films, Two Chairs Productions, Artemis Rising Productions, Pretty Matches Productions, World of HA Productions, The Brandt Jackson Foundation, iDeal Partners Film Fund, ITVS International, Independent Television Service, Cuomo Cole Productions, KA Snyder Productions, The Harnisch Foundation, Independent Lens
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 34m