American Cinema (1994): cast, story & where to watch
1994 · Series · ★ 8.3
Released in 1994, American Cinema is a documentary series.
What it’s about. 13 episode series created by PBS to commemorate 100 years of movie-going. The history of Hollywood and filmmaking comes alive in this spectacular celebration of movie magic. It's a mesmerizing, epic analysis that combines rare archival film, key scenes from immortal movies, interviews with leading filmmakers and commentary from noted film scholars and critics. As seen on PBS, this series is the definitive chronicle of the American cinema, from its beginning to today. Includes interviews with Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Spike Lee, George Lucas, Sidney Lumet, Julia Roberts, Martin Scorsese, Gene Siskel, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and many more.
Who’s in it. American Cinema stars John Lithgow as Self - Host, Sydney Pollack as Self, Peter Bart as Self and Richard Brandt as Self, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.3/10, American Cinema sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch American Cinema page.
If you liked it. Fans of American Cinema tend to enjoy Cosmos, Planet Earth, Planet Earth II and Vikings.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch American Cinema (1994)?
- In US, American Cinema is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is American Cinema worth watching?
- American Cinema holds an audience score of 8.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in American Cinema?
- American Cinema stars John Lithgow, Sydney Pollack, Peter Bart, Richard Brandt and Kathleen Turner.
- When was American Cinema released?
- American Cinema was released in 1994.