Natural disasters have always been a compelling angle for movies, shows, and documentaries to explore. These productions explore threats that seemingly come out of nowhere, devastate whole communities, and leave behind wreckage that the survivors can spend decades reckoning with. In some tragic cases, these communities never fully recover.
Hollywood has released productions that explore tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and other devastating threats. At times, these are fictional events or historical disasters that are so disconnected from the modern world that they are difficult to connect with. Some documentaries, however, focus on real-world events from recent history, which makes for a far more painful viewing experience.
These recent disasters include fires in Hawaii in Maui's Deadly Firestorm, storms in East Kentucky Flood, and hurricanes in Business of Disaster. When critics look at these productions, they expect them to inform audiences about these threats, while exploring previously unrecognized elements of the aftermath. With its own depiction, Netflix's recent natural disaster documentary has certainly impressed critics.
Netflix's Katrina Documentary Has An Excellent RT Score
Released on August 27, Netflix's Katrina: Come Hell and High Water has received universal praise from its critics. The three-part documentary focuses on New Orleans and its inhabitants, as they faced the devastation that Hurricane Katrina brought in August 2005. It features interviews with numerous survivors, focusing on both the events of August 2025 and its ongoing impact.
The documentary was released to honor the 20th anniversary of the storm's landfall. After two decades, directors Spike Lee, Geeta Gandbhir, and Samantha Knowles hoped to see the long-term effect that Katrina had on the city. Survivors consider the city-wide gentrification, coastal flooding prevention efforts, and other impacts that continue to be felt today.
Spike Lee has been speaking out for New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina first struck in 2005.
In attempting to consider an under-explored side of the history of Hurricane Katrina, Netflix's documentary impressed its critics. Katrina: Come Hell and High Water has a rare 100% Tomatometer score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. This could change, however, as there are only five reviews from critics currently.
What This Means For Katrina: Come Hell And High Water
This is excellent news for Netflix's newest documentary, even if it is still working to draw notice from a wider audience. The show is listed as a top 10 new release for the streaming giant, and the critical response should convince some hesitant viewers to tune in. Critics especially praised the emotional interviews, the editing, and the little-known historical footage.
If this documentary does become a success through positive word-of-mouth, it could have a real-world impact. Viewers could choose to offer more support to current residents of New Orleans, especially after this documentary highlighted that the city still needs resources. Thanks to these results, Katrina: Come Hell and High Water could truly help people.
