American Experience poster
★ 8.6
American Experience poster

Overall Rating

★ 8.6
S33 E3
#1
★ 8.1

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard

In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in WWII, was pulled from a bus for arguing with the driver. The local chief of police savagely beat him, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind.

S33 E1
#2
★ 8.0

The Codebreaker

Based on the book The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, The Codebreaker reveals the fascinating story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the groundbreaking cryptanalyst whose painstaking work to decode thousands of messages for the U.S. government.

S33 E8
#3
★ 8.0

Citizen Hearst (2)

William Randolph Hearst continued his rise to power and expansion into Hollywood. The model for Citizen Kane, he had a decades-long affair with actress Marion Davies, built an enormous castle at San Simeon, and forever transformed modern media.

S33 E2
#4
★ 7.9

Voice of Freedom

Explore the fascinating life of celebrated singer Marian Anderson. In 1939, after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because she was Black, she triumphed at the Lincoln Memorial in what became a landmark moment in American history.

S33 E7
#5
★ 7.9

Citizen Hearst (1)

William Randolph Hearst builds the nation’s largest media empire by the 1930s. Born into one of America’s wealthiest families, he used his outlets to achieve unprecedented political power, then ran for office himself.

S33 E4
#6
★ 7.5

American Oz

The life of author L. Frank Baum, creator of the classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which has inspired films, books and musicals.

S33 E6
#7
★ 7.5

Sandra Day O'Connor: The First

Discover the story of the Supreme Court’s first female justice. A pioneer who both reflected and shaped an era, she was the deciding vote in cases on some of the 20th century’s most controversial issues—including race, gender and reproductive rights.

S33 E5
#8
★ 6.6

Billy Graham

Explore the life of one of the best-known and most influential religious leaders of the 20th century. An international celebrity by age 30, he built a media empire, preached to millions worldwide, and had the ear of tycoons, presidents and royalty.

S33 E5
#1
★ 6.6

Billy Graham

Explore the life of one of the best-known and most influential religious leaders of the 20th century. An international celebrity by age 30, he built a media empire, preached to millions worldwide, and had the ear of tycoons, presidents and royalty.

S33 E4
#2
★ 7.5

American Oz

The life of author L. Frank Baum, creator of the classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which has inspired films, books and musicals.

S33 E6
#3
★ 7.5

Sandra Day O'Connor: The First

Discover the story of the Supreme Court’s first female justice. A pioneer who both reflected and shaped an era, she was the deciding vote in cases on some of the 20th century’s most controversial issues—including race, gender and reproductive rights.

S33 E2
#4
★ 7.9

Voice of Freedom

Explore the fascinating life of celebrated singer Marian Anderson. In 1939, after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because she was Black, she triumphed at the Lincoln Memorial in what became a landmark moment in American history.

S33 E7
#5
★ 7.9

Citizen Hearst (1)

William Randolph Hearst builds the nation’s largest media empire by the 1930s. Born into one of America’s wealthiest families, he used his outlets to achieve unprecedented political power, then ran for office himself.

S33 E1
#6
★ 8.0

The Codebreaker

Based on the book The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, The Codebreaker reveals the fascinating story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the groundbreaking cryptanalyst whose painstaking work to decode thousands of messages for the U.S. government.

S33 E8
#7
★ 8.0

Citizen Hearst (2)

William Randolph Hearst continued his rise to power and expansion into Hollywood. The model for Citizen Kane, he had a decades-long affair with actress Marion Davies, built an enormous castle at San Simeon, and forever transformed modern media.

S33 E3
#8
★ 8.1

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard

In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in WWII, was pulled from a bus for arguing with the driver. The local chief of police savagely beat him, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind.

S33 E1
★ 8.0

The Codebreaker

Based on the book The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies, The Codebreaker reveals the fascinating story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the groundbreaking cryptanalyst whose painstaking work to decode thousands of messages for the U.S. government.

S33 E2
★ 7.9

Voice of Freedom

Explore the fascinating life of celebrated singer Marian Anderson. In 1939, after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because she was Black, she triumphed at the Lincoln Memorial in what became a landmark moment in American history.

S33 E3
★ 8.1

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard

In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in WWII, was pulled from a bus for arguing with the driver. The local chief of police savagely beat him, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind.

S33 E4
★ 7.5

American Oz

The life of author L. Frank Baum, creator of the classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which has inspired films, books and musicals.

S33 E5
★ 6.6

Billy Graham

Explore the life of one of the best-known and most influential religious leaders of the 20th century. An international celebrity by age 30, he built a media empire, preached to millions worldwide, and had the ear of tycoons, presidents and royalty.

S33 E6
★ 7.5

Sandra Day O'Connor: The First

Discover the story of the Supreme Court’s first female justice. A pioneer who both reflected and shaped an era, she was the deciding vote in cases on some of the 20th century’s most controversial issues—including race, gender and reproductive rights.

S33 E7
★ 7.9

Citizen Hearst (1)

William Randolph Hearst builds the nation’s largest media empire by the 1930s. Born into one of America’s wealthiest families, he used his outlets to achieve unprecedented political power, then ran for office himself.

S33 E8
★ 8.0

Citizen Hearst (2)

William Randolph Hearst continued his rise to power and expansion into Hollywood. The model for Citizen Kane, he had a decades-long affair with actress Marion Davies, built an enormous castle at San Simeon, and forever transformed modern media.

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode
31 ★ 7.9 7
★ 8.6 Chasing the Moon - Earthrise
★ 7.1 The Feud
36 ★ 7.9 2
★ 8.0 American Coup: Wilmington 1898
★ 7.8 Nazi Town, USA
25 ★ 7.8 6
★ 8.2 JFK (Part 1)
★ 7.2 War of the Worlds
13 ★ 7.8 1
★ 7.8 Fatal Flood
★ 7.8 Fatal Flood
32 ★ 7.8 8
★ 8.3 The Poison Squad
★ 7.3 George W. Bush (Part 2)
28 ★ 7.7 3
★ 8.0 Murder of a President
★ 7.3 Bonnie & Clyde
29 ★ 7.7 5
★ 8.1 Oklahoma City
★ 7.2 The Race Underground
24 ★ 7.7 8
★ 8.1 Death and the Civil War
★ 7.3 Billy the Kid
33 ★ 7.7 8
★ 8.1 The Blinding of Isaac Woodard
★ 6.6 Billy Graham
14 ★ 7.6 1
★ 7.6 A Brilliant Madness
★ 7.6 A Brilliant Madness
6 ★ 7.5 1
★ 7.5 America and the Holocaust: Deceit and Indifference
★ 7.5 America and the Holocaust: Deceit and Indifference
19 ★ 7.5 1
★ 7.5 Alexander Hamilton
★ 7.5 Alexander Hamilton
23 ★ 7.5 5
★ 8.2 Freedom Riders
★ 7.1 God in America (Parts 5-6)
10 ★ 7.4 1
★ 7.4 Surviving the Dust Bowl
★ 7.4 Surviving the Dust Bowl
30 ★ 7.4 1
★ 7.4 The Secret of Tuxedo Park
★ 7.4 The Secret of Tuxedo Park
26 ★ 7.3 3
★ 7.5 The Poisoner's Handbook
★ 7.1 The Amish: Shunned
35 ★ 7.2 2
★ 7.3 Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History
★ 7.2 The Lie Detector
1 ★ 7.0 16
★ 7.9 The Great San Francisco Earthquake
★ 5.9 Eudora Welty: One Writer's Beginnings
2 ★ 6.6 13
★ 7.4 Demon Rum
★ 5.3 Battle for Wilderness
5 ★ 6.5 1
★ 6.5 George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn't Be King
★ 6.5 George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn't Be King