Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – The American Revolution

Play trailer 2:20 Poster for Season 1 – The American Revolution Nov 2025 Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Examining how America's founding turned the world upside-down as the thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The American Revolution — Season 1

The American Revolution — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Assembling a vast story into an approachable package replete with Ken Burns' signature techniques, The American Revolution is a treasure trove of insight that ought to satisfy even the most studious of history buffs.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Jill Lepore The New Yorker Nov 17
What’s so astonishing about “The American Revolution” is how it deploys what has long been called the “Ken Burns effect” to an altogether sharper end... The new series is the best film out of Burns’s shop and, I suspect, the hardest to make. Go to Full Review G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle Nov 17
4/4
“The American Revolution” is not just a history lesson, but a reframing. Go to Full Review Chris Vognar Boston Globe Nov 17
It is a dense, exhaustive, and, yes, highly rewarding march through a period of early American history that treats generalizations and cliches the way patriot mobs treated suspected loyalists. That is, not very kindly. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Nov 26
Such a well rounded portrayal of this time of American history. Not just the perspective of the patriots. Go to Full Review Melissa Camacho Common Sense Media Nov 25
5/5
From the early taxation of the 13 American colonies to the horrifically violent battles fought by militia groups and the Continental Army, the brilliant docuseries offers interpretations of the American Revolution that are educational and powerful. Go to Full Review Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex Nov 23
10/10
The series is sprawling in every way that matters, digging into popular myth to reveal stories and perspectives that have long been ignored. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Alex L @Lex3458 Feb 24 This is a must see for anyone interested in American history. The production is fabulous and the storytelling is fair and appropriately nuanced — it does not simply try to portray the founding fathers as flawless human beings. Such a good show. Thank you Mr. Burns. Well done! See more John F @Jjfrostie22 Jan 18 Absolute woke trash. See more Mar•Garet W @RLM-Fan-Club-76 Jan 6 Not up to the Standard of Excellence set by previous Ken Burns Documentary Films, and a slanted, unevenly-framed look at the "30,000 foot macro view" that was The American Revolution. See more kelly w @Kbwindsor Jan 4 I love American history and have been a big fan of Ken Burns in the past, but I can’t recommend this it’s so…slow……and boring. No new insights. See more Jason A @RT66883166 Dec 17 Wonderfully nuanced series with less historical revisionism than usual. See more John U. @wbbcmt Dec 13 What a horribly slanted portrayal of history. Who allows him to make such junk See more Read all reviews
The American Revolution — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Peter Coyote

Narrator

Ken Burns

Director

Sarah Botstein

Director

David Schmidt

Director

Geoffrey Ward

Writer

Buddy Squires

Cinematographer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Nov 16, 2025 In Order to Be Free Opposition in colonial North America to British policies over taxes, land and sovereignty escalates into violent confrontation; war gives 13 colonies a common cause. Details Episode 2 Aired Nov 17, 2025 An Asylum for Mankind Congress puts George Washington in command of a new Continental Army; Congress declares American independence in July 1776. Details Episode 3 Aired Nov 18, 2025 The Times That Try Men's Souls British General Howe defeats General Washington, forcing the Americans to abandon New York; Washington's army regroups in New Jersey before attacking an outpost at Trenton. Details Episode 4 Aired Nov 19, 2025 Conquer by a Drawn Game General Howe takes Philadelphia, but the Americans' surprising victory over General Burgoyne at Saratoga encourages France to support the U.S. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 20, 2025 The Soul of All America The French-American alliance changes the war and moves it to other theaters; navies battle off England and in the Caribbean, while armies advance in Indian Country and the South; the British take Charleston. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 21, 2025 The Most Sacred Thing British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states; supported by the French, a victory at Yorktown secures independence for the Americans. Details
View All

The American Revolution — Season 1

The American Revolution: Documentary Series Trailer The American Revolution: Documentary Series Trailer 2:20 View more videos
View All

The American Revolution — Season 1

The American Revolution The American Revolution The American Revolution The American Revolution View more photos

Season Info

Director
Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, David Schmidt
Screenwriter
Geoffrey Ward
Network
PBS
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date
Nov 16, 2025