Artificial Intelligence, Salman Rushdie and Elon Musk: The Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2026 | Culture 2026 Preview

TThe landscape of realistic cinema is fast, fragile and ever-changing in these absurd times; The movies we’re discussing now may never be released, and the movies we’re discussing a year from now may not even have the germ of an idea yet. But between the usual lineup of celebrity retrospectives, music documentaries, and the ongoing work of chronicling the atrocities in Gaza, the 2026 documentary slate already looks full and promising. From the Salman Rushdie assassination attempt to artificial intelligence, from Billie Jean King retrospective to Elon Musk, here are 10 of the most anticipated documentaries of 2026.

The Knife: The attempted murder of Salman Rushdie

In recent years, the Sundance Film Festival has become a premier destination for buzzy and/or prestigious documentaries — three of the last five Oscars have gone to films that premiered in Utah, and the festival is now routinely lit up with major celebrity retrospectives. Possibly bringing the two together at this year’s festival is “The Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie,” director Alex Gibney’s live-action adaptation of the best-selling author’s memoir, which details the 2022 onstage assassination attempt that cost him the sight in one eye. The film is said to bring together never-before-seen footage of the Indian-born, British-raised writer’s recovery, filmed by his wife (who was 11 months old at the time) Rachel Eliza Griffiths, as well as interviews and excerpts from his works, including the fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini on his death in 1989.

Musk Alex Gibney

Speaking of Gibney, we’re still waiting for the prolific documentary about Elon Musk, which has been in production on and off for years. (Supposedly the first half of last year, when the tech billionaire turned unelected White House CEO set the federal government on fire with his “government efficiency management,” as the meme coined it, was a while back.) Gibney, who has directed critical assessments of the Church of Scientology, Elizabeth Holmes and Enron, among others, is no stranger to elusive and complex characters; His film Musk promises to offer a “definitive, frank examination” of the eccentric entrepreneur, with the participation of those previously in his orbit (though not Musk himself, which is somewhat controversial). The last public update on the project was in August 2025, when Bleecker Street acquired the rights for a US theatrical release on a yet-unannounced date.

History of concrete

Any fan of HBO’s How To With John Wilson—in my view, the best New York TV show of the decade—will know that the following makes perfect sense: “After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, director John Wilson tries to use the same formula to sell a documentary about concrete.” The documentary filmmaker’s unique style, sly sense of humor and downright genius’ eye for the gritty charm of urban life make his musings on scaffolding, refuse collection and wine cellars must-see television; His first feature-length documentary on the history of concrete is one of the must-see premieres at Sundance later this month.

geese

The Wicked press tour may finally be coming to an end, but there’s no escaping Oz in 2026. Following the massive success of the two-part adaptation of the Broadway musical, a new documentary will go behind the scenes of the film that inspired it all. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Danny Strong, among others, Oz will revisit the 1939 production of the classic film, which, according to the film’s tagline, “tested the limits of its creators,” including director Victor Fleming and star Judy Garland. Although Oz will of course contain plenty of archival footage from the groundbreaking production, this will be no ordinary historical doc; Filming of the re-enactment (Who? Why?) reportedly took place last year, just after a digital remake of the original premiered at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)

Nominees for the “Most Unlikely Couple” award include James Cameron, master of cinematic epic, and Generation Z icon Billie Eilish. Why did the famous director take a break from the slow world of Avatar to film the Hit Me Hard and Soft singer’s concert tour? The answer appears to have been the opportunity to use fancy cameras – “Nobody has shot a concert film of this scale before… We’re using technology that’s never been used before,” says Cameron in the recently released trailer for the 3D theatrical event described as an “innovative new musical experience” starting on March 20. The jury’s still out on how “innovative” 3D feels… but based on the trailer, I’ll happily watch several minutes of Cameron and Eilish, two massive stars from completely different solar systems, trying to work together.

Amnesty International document

Daniel Rohr, director of Navalny’s Oscar-winning film about the late Russian opposition leader, puts himself at the center of his next film, which ventures into the vast cinematic minefield known as artificial intelligence. Called The AI ​​Doc (subtitle: Or How I Become an Apocaloptimist), the film is premiering at Sundance with a theatrical release to follow in March, and assumes Rohr’s perspective as he explores “the existential perils and incredible promise of this technology that humanity has created” while on the cusp of becoming a father. Co-directed by Charlie Tyrell and produced by Everything Everywhere All At One and co-director Daniel Kwan, The AI ​​Doc will attempt to thread a fine needle, spending time with experts on both sides of the death/promise spectrum.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem

One evening in 1972, genre-defying director William Graves hosted a dinner party at Duke Ellington’s New York home. Guests were the remaining luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance: influential black artists, musicians, librarians, poets, actors, educators, and critics whose works shaped the Jazz Age; It was an occasion for posterity, with Greaves recording more than three hours of familiarity and conversation between old friends, who had not seen each other for 50 years. Newly restored and arranged by Graves’ son David, a camera operator in the day, the cinéma vérité footage promises a quick gateway into one of the most important and vital cultural movements of the 20th century.

Give me the ball!

Few female athletes have been as pioneering or influential as Billie Jean King. Give me the ball! , which will premiere at Sundance, finally gives the tennis legend and quirky icon her flowers, with archival material and exclusive interviews. This retrospective, directed by Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff, will delve into King’s battles on the court, including his infamous battle of the sexes with Bobby Riggs, and off, as she fought for women’s equality in sports, as well as women’s rights and gay rights in general.

Questlove’s Earth, Wind and Fire

In the past few years, Roots member Amir “Questlove” Thompson has established himself as a dynamic and talented director of music documentaries and a keeper of black cultural history. His charming debut film Summer of the Soul, which retells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival (also known as Black Woodstock), won an Oscar in 2022; Foxy’s life last year! AKA The Burden of Black Genius, it brilliantly examined the life of pioneering musician Sly Stone and the specific difficulties faced by black artists. He returns this year with a still-untitled film about Wind & Fire, the Chicago group founded in 1969 by Maurice White. Questlove reportedly gained access to the band’s video and recording archive, and created a celebratory doc, which will premiere on HBO later this year, with support from the band and White’s estate.

American doctor

Last year saw a slew of excellent non-fiction films about Gaza and the larger struggle for Palestinian freedom – among them the Oscar-winning No Other Earth, The Camps, Coexistence, and My Ass! And put your spirit on your hand and walk. “The American Doctor,” which documents three American doctors — Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian — called to Gaza by a moral obligation to help those suffering, promises to be a similarly harrowing watch. Following doctors’ triage units in the wake of devastating attacks, the film offers a necessary reminder of the US role in the destruction of Gaza – and, according to the official description, “the way forward for such a difficult issue of humanitarian importance and collective action.”