Entertainment · Film · 1 day ago
Ava DuVernay’s ‘14th’ explores the amendment’s role in American democracy
Ava DuVernay’s new documentary, “14th,” examines the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Adopted after the Civil War, it established citizenship for people born in the United States and guarantees equal protection under the law.
The film also looks at other parts of the amendment, including rules on due process and insurrection.
It follows DuVernay’s 2016 documentary “13th,” which explored slavery’s link to mass incarceration, but she describes this new film as a different work.
The 14th Amendment has shaped major legal protections, including birthright citizenship and the right of interracial couples to marry.
The documentary also examines efforts over time to weaken or remove those protections, with attention to current political events.
It is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 27, followed by its Netflix premiere on December 4.
Ava DuVernay’s documentary “14th” examines the 14th Amendment, its role in U.S. history and current efforts to weaken its protections.
The film premiered as the closing-night selection at the New York Film Festival, ten years after DuVernay’s documentary “13th” premiered there.
DuVernay initially planned to focus on birthright citizenship, but expanded the film to cover the amendment’s five sections and their links to current events.
The articles describe the amendment’s protections as including citizenship, equal protection and due process, as well as provisions concerning insurrection and public debt.
Netflix is scheduled to give the film a theatrical release on November 27, 2026, followed by a streaming release on December 4.
- Who
- Filmmaker Ava DuVernay
- What
- A documentary about the 14th Amendment and attempts to undermine its protections
- When
- Premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 9, 2026; scheduled releases on November 27 and December 4, 2026
- Where
- New York Film Festival; theatrical release and Netflix
- Why
- DuVernay said the film explores how the amendment’s provisions relate to current events.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I wouldn’t say it’s a sequel
I’ve likened it to building the plane while you’re flying.
It just shows how deliberate this is. How every single piece of every part of this is being undermined.
everything bagel
The 14th Amendment was ratified, according to Variety.
DuVernay released “13th,” her documentary about the 13th Amendment.
“14th” premiered as the closing-night film at the New York Film Festival.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release.
The film is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix.
- Director
- Ava DuVernay
- Runtime
- 1 hour 48 minutes
- Amendment focus
- The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868
- Festival premiere
- Closing night of the New York Film Festival
- Release schedule
- Theatrical: November 27, 2026; Netflix: December 4, 2026
Sources
14th review – Ava DuVernay’s galvanizing documentary is a remarkable achievement
‘14th’ Review: Ava DuVernay’s Powerful Sequel to ‘13th’ Turns a Constitutional Amendment into Living History
‘14th’ Review: Ava DuVernay Delivers Another Essential and Compelling Constitutional Deep Dive for Netflix
Ava Duvernay Didn’t Make a Sequel — She Made ‘14th’
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