The essential episodes of Frontline
Watch these 25 in order and you've got Frontline — each pick states its reason.
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From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians
This FRONTLINE series is an intellectual and visual guide to the new and controversial historical evidence which challenges familiar assumptions about the life of Jesus and the epic rise of Christianity.From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians tells the epic story of the rise of Christianity. The four hours explore the life and death of Jesus, and the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created the religion we now know as Christianity.Drawing upon historical evidence, the series challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions about Christian origins. Archaeological finds have yielded new understandings of Jesus' class and social status; fresh interpretations have transformed earlier ideas about the identity of the early Christians and their communities.Through engaging on-camera interviews with twelve scholars--New Testament theologians, archaeologists, and historians--the series presents their contributions to this intellectual revolution. For example, they talk about thequest for the historical Jesus - what can we really know? And how do we know it?The scholars together represent a range of viewpoints and diversity of faiths and a shared commitment to bring new ways of thinking about Christianity to a public audience. They discuss the value in a historical approach to Jesus and the Bible and whether Christian faith can be reconciled with such an approach.
- 03
The inside story of Russian President Vladimir Putin's conflict with the U.S., including his grievances and efforts to exact revenge.
- 04
FRONTLINE and NPR investigate the humanitarian and economic crisis in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, examining how the federal response, Wall Street and years of neglect have left the island struggling to survive.
- 05
Inside the no-holds-barred war for control of the Supreme Court. From Brett Kavanaugh to Robert Bork, an investigation of how a 30-year-old grievance transformed the court and turned confirmations into bitter, partisan conflicts.
- 06
The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden
Amid the historic coronavirus pandemic, economic hardship, and a reckoning over racism, this November, Americans will decide who leads the nation for the next four years: President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden. Ahead of the 2020 election, FRONTLINE's critically acclaimed series "The Choice" returns with interwoven investigative biographies of both men, focusing on how they have responded in moments of crisis.In this 2-hour special from veteran FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team, hear from friends, family, colleagues, and adversaries about the challenges that shaped Trump and Biden's lives and could inform how they confront the crises facing the nation at this pivotal juncture.
- 07
When COVID-19 struck, the Federal Reserve stepped in to try to avert economic crisis. As the country's central bank continues to pump billions of dollars into the financial system daily, who is benefiting and at what cost?
- 08
Veteran FRONTLINE filmmaker and chronicler of U.S. politics Michael Kirk and his team examine the powerful and polarizing Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi's Power traces Pelosi's life and legacy, how she has gained and wielded power across three decades and faced grave challenges to her leadership and American democracy from Trump and his allies.
- 09
Why have some American families struggled to keep their homes during the COVID pandemic, despite a federal ban on evictions? With Retro Report, the documentary Facing Eviction offers an intimate look at the United States' affordable housing crisis through the eyes of tenants, landlords, judges and law enforcement.
- 10
Global Spyware Scandal: Exposing Pegasus, Part 2: Fallout
FRONTLINE and Forbidden Films, the documentary arm of Forbidden Stories, investigate the powerful spyware Pegasus, sold to governments around the world by the Israeli company NSO Group. This two-part series, part of the Pegasus Project, examines how the hacking tool was used on journalists, activists, the wife and fiancée of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and others.
- 11
The Astros Edge: Triumph and Scandal in Major League Baseball
FRONTLINE examines the Houston Astros cheating scandal and what it says about baseball today. With reporter Ben Reiter, the documentary traces the making of one of the best teams and worst scandals in modern Major League Baseball history, the limited accountability and how the Astros' approach to baseball changed the sport.
- 12
An investigation into how a young Air National Guardsman allegedly leaked classified documents on the Discord chat platform. With The Washington Post, FRONTLINE examines Jack Teixeira's alleged leak of national security secrets, why he wasn't stopped, and the role of platforms like Discord.To illustrate the extent of the leaked material, FRONTLINE and The Washington Post used images of classified documents in this film that had been previously released in news reports, on social media, and elsewhere on the internet.
- 13
Netanyahu, America and the Road to War in Gaza (2023) / Failure at the Fence
This episode includes two segments: "Netanyahu, America and the Road to War in Gaza" and "Failure at the Fence."Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza: As the war in Gaza continues with devastating consequences, this 90-minute documentary offers a sweeping examination of the critical moments leading up to this crisis over the past three decades and the pivotal role of a central player: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Starting with the Oslo Peace Accords and continuing through the October 7 Hamas attack and the ongoing war in Gaza, the documentary draws on years of reporting. It is an incisive look at the long history of failed peace efforts and violent conflict in the region — and the increasing tensions between Israel and its ally, the U.S., over the war's catastrophic toll and what comes next.Failure at the Fence: A groundbreaking visual investigation in collaboration with The Washington Post features a detailed examination of how Hamas breached Israel's vaunted security barrier on October 7 and carried out its attack. This special collaboration stems from a Post reconstruction, now deepened with additional on-the-ground reporting and riveting interviews that present a remarkable picture of how, as the Post reporters show, Hamas was planning the attack in plain sight, and Israel was blinded to its own vulnerabilities.
- 14
Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza (2024)
As the war in Gaza continues with devastating consequences, watch our update of the December 19, 2023 version of this 90-minute documentary that offers a sweeping examination of the critical moments leading up to this crisis over the course of the past three decades. The escalating tension continues between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. and the Palestinians after months of war in Gaza.
- 15
Behind President Joe Biden's fateful decision are decades of challenges and controversies, triumphs and tragedies. FRONTLINE tells the inside story of Biden's rise to the presidency, and the personal and political forces that shaped him and led to his dramatic decision to step aside.
- 16
China, the U.S. & the Rise of Xi Jinping
FRONTLINE examines the rise of Xi Jinping, his vision for China and the global implications. Correspondent Martin Smith traces the defining moments for President Xi, how he's exercising power and his impact on China, and relations with the U.S. and the world.
- 17
FRONTLINE investigates China's rule over Tibet. With footage from inside the region, the documentary examines how the Communist regime controls Tibet's Buddhist population and the battle over the succession of its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
- 18
Hurricane Helene's Deadly Warning
How Hurricane Helene became an ominous warning about America's lack of preparedness. FRONTLINE and NPR draw on a decade of reporting on disasters and their aftermath to examine how and why the U.S. is more vulnerable than ever to climate change-related storms.
- 19
FRONTLINE investigates the Assad regime's arrest, torture, and execution of detainees during the Syrian war. Former prisoners, guards, soldiers, and intelligence officials shed new light on atrocities carried out during Bashar al-Assad's reign.
- 20
Trump's Power & The Rule of Law
FRONTLINE goes inside the high-stakes showdown between President Donald Trump and the courts over presidential power. Trump allies, opponents and experts talk about how he is testing the extent of his power; the legal pushback; and the impact on the rule of law.
- 21
Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran
FRONTLINE examines how Israel ended up fighting wars in Gaza and Iran — and the role of the United States. From filmmakers James Jacoby and Anya Bourg, the documentary traces Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long campaign to defeat Iran, the conflict with the Palestinians, and Netanyahu's difficult relations with the U.S. over peace and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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Contaminated: The Carpet Industry's Toxic Legacy
How did PFAS chemicals once used in popular stain-resistant carpets end up in the water and environment in parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina? FRONTLINE, The Associated Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Post and Courier and AL.com investigate what happened with these forever chemicals and the ongoing health impacts.The joint investigation draws on thousands of pages of documents and court depositions and interviews with former regulators and industry insiders, as well as doctors, scientists and people who have the kinds of illnesses that researchers have linked to PFAS contamination.
- 25
Remaking the Middle East: The U.S., Israel and Iran
FRONTLINE traces the road to war with Iran, the U.S. and Israeli roles, and the stakes for the region. From filmmakers James Jacoby and Anya Bourg, the documentary examines Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long campaign to defeat Iran, his relations with the U.S. over peace and the regime's nuclear ambitions.This updated version of the documentary previously aired on July 29, 2025.
