Twenty years ago, one of the U.S.’s most devastating and destructive natural disasters Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana, and changed the city’s story forever. The gut-wrenching series of events resulted in mass destruction and endless pain, but has spawned countless stories of immense courage, resilience, and bravery.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the historic event, filmmakers have continued their never-ending mission to make sure those stories live on. Some documentaries were filmed just a few months after the devastation, capturing the raw emotion as shock still settled in. Other projects were produced nearly two decades afterward, equipped with a widened lens of the storm’s aftermath. The productions give insight into how residents have tried to rebuild their lives since the unforgettable storm, with more context surfacing about the role that government neglect, race, class, and other factors have played in the city’s recovery.
Iris Zelay, on the porch of her flooded house after Hurricane Katrina. Zelay was looking after 17 dogs in her house and all the abandoned pets on her flooded street. (Photo by David Howells/Corbis via Getty Images)
David Howells/Corbis via Getty Images
Although the docs about Katrina are emotionally difficult to watch for many viewers, they serve as important reminders to not turn a blind eye to the harsh realities that many New Orleans residents had no choice but to endure since. Through documentation, education, and compassion, the people impacted by the hurricane are receiving the respect and resilience needed to keep moving forward.
See a list of five impactful documentaries about Hurricane Katrina down below, including options for free streaming.
‘When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts’ (2006)
When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts is a film directed by Spike Lee that captured the devestation of Hurricane Katrina shortly after the tropical cyclone ripped through NOLA. It was filmed in late August into early September 2005, and premiered at the New Orleans Arena on Aug. 16, 2006. It was then aired on HBO the following week. When The Levees Broke consists of news footage, still photos, and interviews from over 100 people gathered over the course of eight trips by Spike and his team.
The legendary director was determined to tell the real and vital stories of the people who lived in the city. He said of the project at the time, “The one thing that was surprising me going in [is] I didn’t think there would be as much humor as there ended up being. But we just successfully captured the spirit of people. It was one of those things that I have to laugh to keep from crying. Some said they were still crying despite the laughing.”
The four-part documentary is available on HBO Max. Sign up for a free trial HERE.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLBIEXlOXLo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=375]
‘Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time’ (2025)
Image Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time explores the storm from the perspective of those who lived through it. It begins from the phase of scrambling to prepare for Katrina, to the chaotic atmosphere, and stretches to the aftermath 20 years later as resident still struggle to rebuild. Race Against Time also delves into how evacuees faced immense discrimination, which caused tensions to rise and violence to increase.
The cinematic doc premiered on July 27, 2025, on National Geographic. It was directed by Traci A. Curry while Ryan Coogler served as an executive producer, alongside Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Peter Nicks for Proximity Media.
The docuseries is split into five episodes and is available on Hulu. Sign up for a free trial HERE.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO-tEo1j8FU?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
‘Trouble The Water’ (2008)
Image Credit: Jerry Grayson/Helifilms Australia PTY Ltd/Getty Images Trouble The Water offers a unique perspective on Hurricane Katrina as it is a close-up of one couple and their journey. The 2008 documentary follows a 24-year-old aspiring rap artist Kimberly Rivers Roberts and her husband Scott at a Red Cross shelter in Central Louisiana. It includes flashback footage from Roberts’ video camera as she and her neighbors try to navigate to safety as the storm rages on.
Produced and directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, the film includes clips from the couple’s camera, archival news segments, other home videos, and footage filmed over two years in between the storm and the film’s release. It explores the relationship between the government and citizens, heroism of strangers and survivors, and much more.
Trouble The Water is now available on Netflix. Watch it HERE.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq426VjZD1E?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
‘Katrina Babies’ (2022)
Image Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images As heartbreaking as the circumstances of Hurricane Katrina already were, arguably the most devastating thought is the reality of what the children and babies of New Orleans experienced. Directed by Edward Buckles, Jr., Katrina Babies is a documentary that focuses on the youth of NOLA during and after the storm. It debuted in 2022 and was also a Tribeca Film Festival selection that same year.
Director Buckles shared a message earlier this week about the documentary in honor of Katrina’s approaching 20th anniversary. “The babies who were neglected and forgotten in 2005 aren’t babies anymore, and this is our story! 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, an entire generation still grapples with the lasting impact of having our childhood redefined by tragedy,” he reflected. “I spent seven years documenting the stories of my peers and children who survived the storm.”
Katrina Babies is available to stream on HBO Max. Sign up for a free trial HERE.
It’s also available on Hulu. A free trial is available HERE.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjteP4qBqn4?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
‘Katrina: Come Hell And High Water’ (2025)
Image Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images As the most recent doc on the list, Katrina: Come Hell And High Water serves as Spike Lee‘s revisit of the storm’s aftermath — two decades later. It is co-directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Samantha Knowles and examines the life-altering results of the “hurricane that caused 1392 fatalities and more than $100 billion in damages in 2005.”
With stories told by the people of New Orleans in their own words, the series spotlights how government oversight and neglect can impact Americans during times when help is needed the most. Come Hell And High Water serves as “a testament to the resilience of New Orleanians and a stark call for vigilance and preparation as cataclysmic natural disasters continue to become more and more commonplace all over the world,” per Netflix.
Katrina: Come Hell And High Water is available on Netflix. Watch it HERE.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gyBK3UMT34?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
