The Ken Burns American Revolution documentary has quickly become one of the most anticipated historical projects in years. The six-part, twelve-hour PBS series titled The American Revolution is set to premiere on Sunday, November 16, 2025, just in time for America’s 250th anniversary of independence. With his trademark storytelling style, Ken Burns—alongside longtime collaborators Sarah Botstein and David P. Schmidt—delivers a sweeping exploration of the people, conflicts, and ideas that shaped the birth of the United States.
A New Vision of the American Revolution
Ken Burns has spent decades redefining how Americans view their past through acclaimed documentaries such as The Civil War, Baseball, and The Vietnam War. With The American Revolution, he turns his attention to the nation’s founding struggle—but with a broader, more inclusive lens.
The series aims to go far beyond the well-known heroes and battles, spotlighting the experiences of ordinary citizens, enslaved and free African Americans, Native nations, Loyalists, and women whose stories are often left untold. Burns and his team filmed at nearly 100 historical sites across the United States and even traveled to London to capture a global view of the conflict.
The director describes the revolution as both a civil war and a world war, connecting local resistance in the colonies to global politics and alliances. His approach is immersive, blending cinematic visuals with a vast collection of archival paintings, letters, and period documents.
Premiere Schedule and Viewing Details
The release of the Ken Burns American Revolution series will mark a major television event.
- Premiere Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Broadcast Run: Six consecutive nights, November 16–21
- Time: 8:00–10:00 PM (ET) nightly on PBS
- Streaming: Available on PBS.org and the PBS App starting opening night
Each of the six episodes will focus on a different chapter of the Revolution, from the early protests against British rule to the global alliances that ultimately secured independence. The finale explores the lasting impact of the Revolution on American identity and democracy.
The Team Behind the Film
Ken Burns has assembled an extraordinary creative team for The American Revolution. The film is written by Geoffrey C. Ward, a frequent collaborator whose work has shaped several of Burns’s most acclaimed projects. Co-directors Sarah Botstein and David P. Schmidt bring extensive documentary experience to the production, ensuring the film captures both historical accuracy and emotional depth.
The documentary also features an impressive lineup of voice actors and narrators, including celebrated figures from film and stage. Their voices bring life to historical figures such as George Washington, Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and many lesser-known participants whose diaries and letters reveal the human side of revolution.
An Eight-Year Journey in the Making
Production on The American Revolution began more than eight years ago, reflecting Burns’s meticulous commitment to detail. The team conducted extensive research, interviewed leading historians, and traveled across multiple countries to capture the full scope of the Revolutionary era.
The filmmakers used state-of-the-art digital restoration to enhance period artwork and artifacts. Combined with modern cinematography, these elements give the series a cinematic feel rarely seen in historical television. Each episode balances large-scale political developments with deeply personal stories of struggle, sacrifice, and conviction.
Themes and Storylines
The Ken Burns American Revolution documentary will explore key themes that define the nation’s founding period:
- Conflict and Unity: How thirteen colonies, divided by class, region, and belief, came together for a common cause.
- Freedom and Inequality: The tension between the ideals of liberty and the realities of slavery and exclusion.
- Global Dimensions: How the Revolution drew in France, Spain, Native nations, and Britain’s other colonies.
- The Power of Ideas: The enduring influence of revolutionary principles on democracy, rights, and citizenship.
Burns’s approach highlights that the Revolution was not inevitable. It was a hard-fought struggle shaped by uncertainty, personal sacrifice, and competing visions of what America should become.
Educational and Cultural Impact
PBS and its partners have announced a nationwide educational campaign alongside the documentary’s release. Screenings and community discussions are being hosted in cities such as Williamsburg, Philadelphia, and Boston—sites deeply tied to the events of 1776.
Educators will also gain access to free classroom materials, allowing schools to use the series to teach students about the Revolution in new, engaging ways. This initiative coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence, giving the documentary both historical and contemporary relevance.
A Fresh Perspective on America’s Founding Story
One of the hallmarks of Ken Burns’s work is his ability to humanize history. In The American Revolution, he seeks to move beyond myth and explore the real people behind the movement—those who fought, debated, suffered, and dreamed of a better future.
Burns has noted that the Revolution’s story is not simply about triumph; it’s also about contradiction. The ideals of equality and liberty were born in a world that still accepted slavery, and the promise of freedom was not evenly shared. Yet it was this tension that fueled centuries of reform and progress.
By revisiting the Revolution through a modern lens, the documentary invites viewers to reflect on the meaning of democracy and citizenship today.
Companion Projects and Special Features
To complement the PBS series, Ken Burns and Geoffrey C. Ward have prepared a companion book that will be released in mid-November 2025, just before the documentary airs. The book offers expanded historical context, unseen images, and deeper insight into the individuals and ideas featured in the film.
In addition, a behind-the-scenes feature—Making The American Revolution—will air on PBS following the main broadcast. It will showcase how the team brought the 18th century to life using modern filmmaking techniques.
Why This Series Matters
Few filmmakers have had as profound an impact on how Americans view their past as Ken Burns. With The American Revolution, he delivers what many are calling his most ambitious project yet.
The series arrives at a time when Americans are once again examining their national story—its triumphs, contradictions, and continuing evolution. By revisiting the Revolution with honesty and nuance, Burns gives audiences a richer understanding of where the nation came from and where it may be headed.
Whether you’re a student of history, a casual viewer, or a fan of Ken Burns’s past work, The American Revolution promises to be a defining moment in historical storytelling.
The Ken Burns American Revolution documentary stands as both a reflection of the nation’s past and a conversation with its present. With its premiere approaching, anticipation is growing for what will likely become one of PBS’s most watched and discussed series in years.
What are you most looking forward to learning from Ken Burns’s take on the Revolution? Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for more updates as the November 16 premiere approaches.