

When a Witness Recants
A reckoning 36 years in the making
0.0(0)20261h 52m1
In 1983, author Ta-Nehisi Coates learned that a 14-year-old boy was murdered in his Baltimore middle school. Upon revisiting the case, he uncovers the truth: Three innocent teenagers were wrongfully convicted and spent 36 years in prison — creating a lasting impact on the accused, the witnesses, and their community.
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- English
- middle school
- wrongful conviction
- 1980s
- innocent in jail
- middle schoolers
Behind the camera
Where to watch
Availability for Australia. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Stream
Gallery

Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereSundance Film Festival27 Jan 2026
- PremiereMartha's Vineyard Film Festival27 Mar 2026
- PremiereMinneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival11 Apr 2026
- PremiereMaryland Film Festival12 Apr 2026
- PremiereFull Frame Documentary Film Festival18 Apr 2026
- PremiereSan Luis Obispo International Film Festival24 Apr 2026
- PremiereChicago Critics Film Festival4 May 2026
- PremiereSeattle International Film Festival11 May 2026
- PremiereProvincetown International Film Festival10 Jun 2026
- PremiereDC/DOX - Documentary Film Festival12 Jun 2026
- PremiereBentonville Film Festival18 Jun 2026
- PremiereDialogues Documentary Film Festival 26 Sept 2026
- PremiereMill Valley Film Festival 5 Oct 2026
- PremierePhiladelphia Film Festival16 Oct 2026
- PremiereVirginia Film Festival 24 Oct 2026
- PremiereDenver Film Festival 26 Oct 2026
- Theatrical (limited)NRCinema Village (New York City, New York)30 Oct 2026
- PremiereIndie Memphis Film Festival 7 Nov 2026
- Digital / OTTHBO Max17 Nov 2026
- TVHBO17 Nov 2026
CanadaCA
- PremiereHot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival29 Apr 2026
Frequently asked questions
When a Witness Recants was released on 30 October 2026.
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