“The American Revolution” Is a Perfect Masterpiece on PBS Streaming Platforms That Is Beating ‘Landman’

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He’s accustomed to being the most popular, but on Amazon and Apple TV’s digital charts, a war documentary considered by many to be the greatest ever made is significantly outperforming him.

The American Revolution is a six-part miniseries that premiered on PBS on November 16, 2025, and has been very well-received. It quickly became more popular than Taylor Sheridan’s series, Landman, on Amazon, and even outperformed other top shows on Apple TV, thanks to strong viewership on the PBS app. Overall, the series is proving to be a hit with audiences.

You might think everything possible has already been written about the origins of America after so many years. However, this new series has really impressed reviewers – in fact, until recently, it had a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s what the series is about:

The founding of America was a revolutionary event. Thirteen British colonies along the Atlantic coast fought for and won their independence, then created a completely new government that dramatically changed the course of the continent.

Creating the series was a huge effort, requiring six months of filming in over 150 locations across the United States. The filmmakers aimed for historical accuracy, even recreating events like the 2024 solar eclipse to depict events from nearly 300 years ago. This dedication appears to have been successful, as the series has attracted a large audience and received excellent reviews, making its longer episodes well worth watching.

‘The American Revolution’ Is a Must-Watch for History Fans

The director, known for the acclaimed 2015 documentary Ken Burns: The Civil War (still boasting near-perfect scores from both critics and audiences), delivers another masterful and sweeping account – this time focusing on a pivotal moment in world history.

In a review for the Boston Globe, Chris Vognar describes the series as a detailed and thorough, yet ultimately satisfying, look at early American history. He notes it avoids broad generalizations and clichés, much like how colonists treated those suspected of loyalty to Britain. If you prefer a simplified or glamorous historical story, this might not be for you. However, if you’re seeking a realistic historical epic – one that Ridley Scott wouldn’t produce – The American Revolution offers a grounded portrayal of the period, stripping away romanticism and myth. Simply put, this series presents the authentic American Revolution, not a Hollywood version.

Okay, so the audience score is currently at 77%, but honestly, that doesn’t really capture how good this series is. I’ve dug into the negative reviews – and they’re… interesting. One person was upset the series didn’t focus on the Dutch perspective, another didn’t like it calling out issues with the past using modern standards, and one just shrugged it off. But generally, people seem to be loving it just as much as the critics, and it’s clearly become a big hit since it came out.

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2025-11-28 17:07