2022 has been a great year for documentaries, and September is no exception. With exciting and exciting titles across various streaming platforms, the month promises to be a treat for anyone looking to see a well-executed documentary title.
This month, popular OTT platforms like Showtime, Netflix, HBO, Disney+ and Apple TV+ will bring their own new documentaries. Whether it’s sports, wildlife or famous personalities, the titles scheduled for September promise to have it all.
Mark your calendars and be sure to check out these exciting releases throughout the month.
McEnroe, Escape from Kabul, and more: some must-see documentaries coming this September
1) McEnroe
Release date – September 2, 2022, on demand and September 4, 2022, on air
Platform – Show time
Showtime is set to release a documentary about John McEnroe, the legendary tennis rock star. The film, titled McEnroe, it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. It has been directed by Barney Douglas and gives viewers a closer look at the person behind the star on the court.
John McEnroe is celebrated as one of the greatest tennis players, both for his accolades and his personality. He gained fame with his prowess in the game, especially his volleys and shots, and later his on-court rivalries with Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg.
The upcoming documentary also includes first-hand accounts from McEnroe, as well as his close associates and rivals.
The film’s official synopsis describes McEnroe as “one of the most explosive and compelling sports icons of all time.” He mentions that the tennis star was “prone to self-destruction” and goes on to say that while these internal conflicts propelled him to fame, they too almost “broke” him.
The synopsis continues:
“McEnroe features previously unreleased film archives from some of the biggest matches in tennis history, including the US Open and Wimbledon, as well as home video footage from John himself. Contributions from John’s children and his wife Patty Smyth they provide a level of intimacy that takes The film goes beyond a mere sports biopic and into the realms of something deeply personal and confessional.With icons like Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Keith Richards, the film revives an era golden age of tennis and the excesses of the 1980s in John’s hometown of New York.”
two) Anthrax attacks
Release date – September 8, 2022
Platform – Netflix
Anthrax attacks is an upcoming Netflix documentary revolving around the mail-order anthrax attacks that began in the US a few weeks after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Directed by Dan Krauss, the investigative piece will premiere on September 8, 2022., exclusively on Netflix.
One week after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, emails containing the deadly anthrax virus were sent to various addresses across the United States. These addresses included the headquarters of several channels, as well as two Democratic senators. The attacks killed five people and infected 17 others.
The perpetrator is believed to be Dr. Bruce Ivins, a biodefense scientist at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The case, codenamed Amerithrax, was closed after the alleged perpetrator committed suicide.
The Netflix documentary recreates the incident to offer a cumulative view on the subject.
3) Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory
Release date – September 8, 2022
Platform – Disney+
Disney+ is set to launch an exciting new wildlife documentary series produced by the house of National Geographic. The series has multiple directors including James Brickell, Hugh Pearson, Susie Povey, Parker Brown, George Pagliero, and Will West. It will be hosted by National Geographic explorer Bertie Gregory.
The five-episode adventure series follows 29-year-old wildlife explorer Bertie Gregory as he travels to some of the world’s most breathtaking and secret places. The BAFTA-winning cinematographer will be equipped with some of the best film equipment as he ventures into the jungles of Zambia and the icy cold of Antarctica.
Throughout the five-episode documentary series, Gregory will be seen attempting to film the largest gathering of feeding fin whales and the second largest animal in the world near Elephant Island in Antarctica. In Zambia, the adventurer will also explore the habitat of lions that kill buffalo.
4) Escape from Kabul
Release date – September 21, 2022
Platform – HBO, HBOMax
Escape from Kabul is an HBO original documentary that follows the 18-day evacuation that took place at Kabul International Airport during August 2021. The film is directed by Jamie Roberts and produced by Dan Reed. Both have previously worked on HBO Four hours in the Capitol.
Escape from Kabul gives viewers a detailed account of the largest evacuation in US history. It recounts how 124,000 people were flown out of Kabul after the Taliban took control of the capital city ahead of schedule, sending many Afghans into panic. To flee the country, they all gathered near Kabul International Airport hoping to escape the oncoming Taliban regime.
The final week of the evacuation also saw a suicide bombing attack that claimed the lives of 13 US military personnel and 170 civilians.
The 18-day evacuation program finally marked the end of the twenty-year war between Afghanistan and the United States, which began after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The documentary uses archival and previously unseen footage from Ground Zero, along with accounts from Marines, the Taliban and Afghan civilians.
Escape from Kabul premieres on HBO and HBO Max on September 21, 2022 at 9 pm ET
5) sydney
Release date – September 23, 2022
Platform – AppleTV+
sydney is an upcoming Apple TV+ documentary chronicling the life of legendary black artist Sidney Poitier. The title has been directed by the black godfather Director, Reginald Hudlin. It has been produced by none other than Oprah Winfrey.
sydney tells the story of Sidney Poitier, a famous black actor, filmmaker and activist who was one of the last big stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Poitier was the first black actor to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor. The upcoming documentary explores Poitier’s legacy as one of the leading black actors of his day. Aside from that, it also takes a closer look at his role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
The film features interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee, and many others.
sydney It will launch exclusively on Apple TV+ on September 23, 2022.
With all these exciting documentaries set to premiere in September, the curious audience is sure to enjoy their fall nights.
Coming soon!
