1990·Documentary·9 episodes
8.0
★
A documentary on the American Civil War narrated by Ken Burns, covering the secession of the Confederacy to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Created by Ken Burns
civil war
slavery
miniseries
american civil war
19th century
american historical foundation
american history
war documentary
historical documentary
historical events
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Seasons
Cast
David McCullough
Narrator (voice)
Sam Waterston
Abraham Lincoln (voice)
Julie Harris
Mary Chestnut (voice)
Jason Robards
Ulysses S. Grant (voice)
Morgan Freeman
Frederick Douglass / John Boston (voice)
Paul Roebling
Joshua Chamberlain (voice)
Garrison Keillor
Walt Whitman (voice)
Arthur Miller
William Tecumseh Sherman (voice)
Christopher Murney
Elisha Hunt Rhodes (voice)
Horton Foote
Jefferson Davis (voice)
George Plimpton
George Templeton Strong (voice)
Philip Bosco
Horace Greeley (voice)
Crew
Jay Ungar
Original Music Composer
Ken Burns
Director of Photography
Stephen Ives
Producer
Ric Burns
Producer
Ken Burns
Executive Producer
Popular Reviews
19 reviews
Carl Carter
9.0★ · 03/12/25
My man Shelby Foote is definitely a confederate.
My man Shelby Foote is definitely a confederate.
Jonathan Snee
Kind of crazy that Ty Cobb gets a harder time in Baseball than fucking Robert E. Lee gets in this.
Kind of crazy that Ty Cobb gets a harder time in Baseball than fucking Robert E. Lee gets in this.
muppet
watched episode 1 in class
watched episode 1 in class
Ethan Colburn
8.0★ · 10/24/23
Well I have to say, this was a lot to get through, but I think it was worth it.
Between the photos, firsthand accounts, and stories from Shelby Foote, it paints a vivid and very alive portrait of the civil war. Looking at old photos can make the war feel so distant, but the way in which Burns incorporates them with voiceover and his famous zooms makes the war feel very alive.
All this being said, it feels like an assignment. It is not easy to get through, nor particularly gripping. You have to give it your attention, and work to remember character names and locations. I think in the end, it is quite worth it, but I wouldn't consider it a sensationalized accounts. One of its greatest strengths is its lack of embellishment, but it also makes it like reading a history textbook. The story isn't boring by any means, just dense.
It is a great way to digest more info and learn more about one of the most important chapters in American history.
Between the photos, firsthand accounts, and stories from Shelby Foote, it paints a vivid and very alive portrait of the civil war. Looking at old photos can make the war feel so distant, but the way in which Burns incorporates them with voiceover and his famous zooms makes the war feel very alive.
All this being said, it feels like an assignment. It is not easy to get through, nor particularly gripping. You have to give it your attention, and work to remember character names and locations. I think in the end, it is quite worth it, but I wouldn't consider it a sensationalized accounts. One of its greatest strengths is its lack of embellishment, but it also makes it like reading a history textbook. The story isn't boring by any means, just dense.
It is a great way to digest more info and learn more about one of the most important chapters in American history.
Well I have to say, this was a lot to get through, but I think it was worth it.
Between the photos, firsthand accounts, and stories from Shelby Foote, it paints a vivid and very alive portrait of the civil war. Looking at old photos can make the war feel so distant, but the way in which Burns incorporates them with voiceover and his famous zooms makes the war feel very alive.
All this being said, it feels like an assignment. It is not easy to get through, nor particularly gripping. You have to give it your attention, and work to remember character names and locations. I think in the end, it is quite worth it, but I wouldn't consider it a sensationalized accounts. One of its greatest strengths is its lack of embellishment, but it also makes it like reading a history textbook. The story isn't boring by any means, just dense.
It is a great way to digest more info and learn more about one of the most important chapters in American history.
Between the photos, firsthand accounts, and stories from Shelby Foote, it paints a vivid and very alive portrait of the civil war. Looking at old photos can make the war feel so distant, but the way in which Burns incorporates them with voiceover and his famous zooms makes the war feel very alive.
All this being said, it feels like an assignment. It is not easy to get through, nor particularly gripping. You have to give it your attention, and work to remember character names and locations. I think in the end, it is quite worth it, but I wouldn't consider it a sensationalized accounts. One of its greatest strengths is its lack of embellishment, but it also makes it like reading a history textbook. The story isn't boring by any means, just dense.
It is a great way to digest more info and learn more about one of the most important chapters in American history.
Erik Olsson
9.0★ · 07/09/23
I've been watching this on and off for the past two months but I just finished it up today. While not my favorite Ken Burns documentary, it is the incredible piece that has proved quite iconic. The material is overwhelming and I doubt even I actually absorbed all the stories and history told, but no doubt I will with the occasional rewatch. Honestly, most people should at least give this a go at least once in their life.
I've been watching this on and off for the past two months but I just finished it up today. While not my favorite Ken Burns documentary, it is the incredible piece that has proved quite iconic. The material is overwhelming and I doubt even I actually absorbed all the stories and history told, but no doubt I will with the occasional rewatch. Honestly, most people should at least give this a go at least once in their life.