Picture Credit: HISTORY Channel
As we covered last month, Netflix has struck a new licensing arrangement with A+E Networks, bringing a curated collection of premium HISTORY Channel documentaries to the streaming service. Following April’s massive drop—which included the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced Sitting Bull and the Michael Imperioli-narrated American Godfathers: The Five Families—Netflix is keeping the momentum going with a second wave of acclaimed historical content arriving this May.
If you look closely at the incoming lineup, a very clear strategy is emerging: Netflix is brilliantly timing these pickups to align with the upcoming America 250 celebrations. As the United States gears up for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 2026, Netflix is beefing up its library with HISTORY’s most acclaimed docu-dramas, giving subscribers a front-row seat to the nation’s defining chapters.
We can confirm that three major titles are slated to hit Netflix US on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Here is a closer look at each title joining your Netflix library mid-month, including their original premiere dates and who brings these historical figures to life:
Washington: Oath (2020)
Original Air Date: February 16–18, 2020
Arguably one of HISTORY’s most defining presidential docu-dramas, this three-part event shatters the marble monument to reveal the complex man behind the myth. The miniseries originally debuted over Presidents’ Day weekend to mark the network’s 25th anniversary. Narrated by Emmy-winner Jeff Daniels, the series features brilliant scripted sequences starring Nicholas Rowe (The Crown, Young Sherlock Holmes) as America’s first president. The live-action segments trace his journey from a young, ambitious soldier to the reluctant leader of a brand-new nation.
Theodore Roosevelt (2022)
Original Air Date: May 30–31, 2022
Executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio (who also produced April’s recent Netflix additions Frontiersmen and Sitting Bull), this fascinating two-part event explores the relentless, bull-moose energy of America’s 26th President.
Originally airing as a major Memorial Day television event, the miniseries heavily bases its narrative on the work of renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. British actor Rufus Jones (W1A, Stan & Ollie) transforms into TR for the dramatic reenactments, chronicling his life from a sickly child to a champion of conservation and a global powerhouse. The scripted sequences also feature Aubrey Shelton starring as President William McKinley.
The Great War (2024)
Original Air Date: May 27–28, 2024
Shifting away from presidential biographies, this gripping four-hour documentary event dives deep into America’s entry into World War I. Executive produced by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, this series originally served as HISTORY’s Memorial Day event in 2024.
Through narrative sequences and expert commentary, the series intertwines the stories of General John J. Pershing, Michael B. Ellis, and the legendary Harlem Hellfighters (including heroes Henry Johnson and Horace Pippin). Rather than focusing entirely on a central actor like the presidential miniseries, this docu-drama leans heavily on a stellar lineup of expert interviewees to guide the historical narrative, including retired General David Petraeus and bestselling author Max Brooks.
Keep an eye on our comprehensive What’s Coming to Netflix in May 2026 guide for all the latest release dates and breaking news.
