Spotlight: PBS Distribution’s The American Revolution

Thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence and establish a new form of government that would inspire democratic movements at home and around the globe. What begins as a political clash between colonists and the British government grows into a bloody struggle that will engage more than two dozen nations and forever change the world.

Duration: 6×60 min./6×120 min.
Genre: History
Producer: Florentine Films
Distributor: PBS Distribution
Voice Cast: Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Damian Lewis (Homeland), Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Ethan Hawke (Before Sunrise), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction), Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games), Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), Jonathan Groff (Frozen), Amanda Gorman (Sesame Street)
Directors: Ken Burns (The Civil War, Jazz, The Vietnam War), Sarah Botstein (The U.S. and the Holocaust, Hemingway, The Vietnam War), David Schmidt (Benjamin Franklin, The Vietnam War)
Writer: Geoffrey C. Ward (The Civil War, Jazz, Baseball, The Vietnam War)
Narrator: Peter Coyote (The West, The Roosevelts, The Vietnam War)
Executive Producer: Ken Burns
Trailer: Watch a clip in PBS Distribution’s Screening Room here.

Unique Selling Points

With over 4 billion minutes viewed as of February 2026, The American Revolution is one of the most-watched documentary events in PBS history.

The series debuted with 565 million minutes viewed in its first week across PBS platforms and Prime Video, earning PBS its first-ever entry in Nielsen’s streaming top 10 for acquired titles—and has continued to build momentum internationally.

As audiences approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the series delivers a cinematic event of rare scope and relevance.

Directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, the series combines meticulous scholarship, immersive storytelling and extraordinary performances from Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Samuel L. Jackson, Joe Keery and Ethan Hawke, who bring firsthand historical accounts vividly to life.

Now available as a 6×60-minute series, The American Revolution offers scheduling flexibility for international broadcasters and streamers while preserving the cinematic scope of Ken Burns’ storytelling.

Performance Meter

• 4 billion minutes viewed as of February 2026
• 565 million minutes viewed in its debut week across PBS platforms and Prime Video
• PBS’s first-ever entry in Nielsen’s streaming top 10 for acquired titles
• Sold in multiple international territories, including France, Germany, Australia, Finland and the Middle East

Pitch Perfect

“This brand-new epic from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt arrives at a uniquely meaningful moment, as audiences around the world prepare to reflect on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4,” says Germaine Deagan Sweet, head of acquisitions and sales. “Told as a truly global story, the series reveals how the conflict extended far beyond North America, drawing in European powers and shaping events across the Atlantic world, while helping to spark revolutionary movements around the globe.

“With more than 4 billion minutes viewed, The American Revolution has already demonstrated extraordinary audience engagement and sustained performance across platforms. The 6×60-minute format makes this landmark film accessible and adaptable for international partners while preserving the depth, scope and cinematic storytelling that define the project.”

Sales Contacts

Germaine Deagan Sweet, Head, Acquisitions & Sales, & Sales Contact for Canada, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, MENA, Australia, New Zealand, Inflight
Anna Alvord, Director, Sales, Asia, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Israel
Betsy LeBlanc, Director, Sales, U.S., U.K., Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Africa