August 29 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast—flooding New Orleans, displacing hundreds of thousands, and exposing just how deeply our systems could fail the people they’re meant to protect. Two decades later, the questions still linger: what’s really changed?
This anniversary isn’t just about remembering the storm. It’s about centering the voices of those who lived it, lost it all, and fought to rebuild. From National Geographic to Netflix, filmmakers and journalists are marking the moment with documentaries that revisit the disaster, confront the failures, and spotlight the strength of a community that refuses to be defined by tragedy.
Here are five documentaries to watch.
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time
Premiere: Streaming now on Nat Geo, Hulu, Disney+
From Oscar®-nominated director Traci A. Curry and Proximity Media’s Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, this five-part docuseries reframes Katrina as a human story rather than a disaster one. Told through firsthand accounts, it explores systemic failures, resilience, and the fight to rebuild.
Above the Tide – 20 Years After Katrina
Premiere: August 11 on ESPN, streaming on ESPN+
The special is produced and directed by Julian Gooden and Hosted by New Orleans native Ryan Clark, this special blends personal reflection with interviews from athletes, community leaders, and residents still grappling with the storm’s aftermath. Expect emotional moments with Leonard Fournette, Drew Brees, Sean Payton, and Steve Gleason.
Hope in High Water: A People’s Recovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina
Premiere: August 22 on Peacock
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Trymaine Lee returns to the Gulf Coast to spotlight residents who never left—and who are rebuilding broken systems from the ground up. Directed by Haimy Assefa, this documentary centers on health, education, food access, and environmental survival.
Katrina 20
Premiere: August 24 on The Weather Channel
Hosted by Justin Michaels, this special uses immersive mixed reality to show how a similar storm would impact the Gulf Coast today. Alongside survivor stories, it examines 20 years of advancements in hurricane preparedness and features the companion social campaign #VoicesofKatrina.
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water
Premiere: August 27 on Netflix
Executive-produced by Spike Lee, this three-part series amplifies survivor voices while investigating how New Orleans has changed since the disaster. It builds on the legacy of Lee’s 2006 landmark documentary When the Levees Broke, offering new perspectives for both those who lived through Katrina and those learning about it for the first time. It’s also the third documentary behind If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise on Hurricane Katrina
20 Summers: Rebuilding the Rhythm of New Orleans
Premiere: August on BET.com, BET’s YouTube, and BET social platforms
A 15-minute digital special blending music, poetry, and personal testimony, this intimate portrait of post-Katrina resilience comes from executive producer and director Yesha Callahan. Featuring Grammy winners Tarriona “Tank” Ball and PJ Morton, poet Sunni Patterson, bounce artist Ha Sizzle, and rapper Pell, the film honors New Orleans’ artists who turned tragedy into art. Produced by Blair and Brandon Dottin-Haley (The Blairisms) with cinematography by Khalif Breaux, 20 Summers is both a love letter to the city’s culture and a celebration of the beat that still survives 20 years later.