Best Episodes
Since it began in 1983, Frontline has been airing public-affairs documentaries that explore a wide scope of the complex human experience. Frontline's goal is to extend the impact of the documentary beyond its initial broadcast by serving as a catalyst for change.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 06, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
A joint investigation with the New York Times of fantasy sports and online sports betting. Included: the growth of such businesses; and a look inside their operations.
The episode was rated 7.00 from 15 votes.
FRONTLINE investigates the U.S.-led efforts to degrade and destroy ISIS. Reporting from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkey, this two-hour film examines the successes, failures, and challenges of the fight, as ISIS loses ground in the region but strikes out abroad.
The episode was rated 7.17 from 12 votes.
In the first segment of FRONTLINE's two-part May 3 hour, journalist Feras Kilani reports from inside the war-torn city of Benghazi -- the birthplace of Libya’s uprising, now besieged by ISIS and warring militias. Also this hour, journalist Safa Al Ahmad makes a dangerous trip to report on the fighting in Yemen.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 11 votes.
FRONTLINE and ProPublica go inside Europe’s fight against Islamic terrorism. As Europe reels from a terror onslaught, top security officials describe their struggle to contain the unprecedented threat revealed by attacks in France and Belgium.
The episode was rated 7.50 from 30 votes.
A searing, two-hour investigation places America’s heroin crisis in a fresh and provocative light -- telling the stories of individual addicts, but also illuminating the epidemic's years-in-the-making social context, deeply examining shifts in U.S. drug policy, and exploring what happens when addiction is treated like a public health issue, not a crime.
The episode was rated 7.61 from 18 votes.
From veteran FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team comes the inside story of the creation of ISIS, and how the United States missed the many warning signs. The film uncovers the terror group’s earliest plans, the Islamic radicals who became its leaders, and the American failures to stop ISIS’s brutal rise.
The episode was rated 7.67 from 55 votes.
An investigation into the hidden dangers of vitamins and supplements, a multibillion-dollar industry with limited FDA oversight. FRONTLINE, The New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation examine the marketing and regulating of supplements, and cases of contamination and serious health problems.
The episode was rated 7.72 from 29 votes.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are two of the most polarizing presidential candidates in modern history. On Tues., Sept. 27, FRONTLINE’s acclaimed election-year series, “The Choice,” returns — going behind the headlines to investigate what has shaped these two candidates, where they came from, how they lead and why they want one of the most difficult jobs imaginable. From veteran FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk, “The Choice 2016” will investigate formative moments in Clinton and Trump’s lives through interviews with those who know them best, providing in-depth, trustworthy reporting and powerful new insights at a moment when voters are being bombarded with conflicting partisan stories about each candidate.
The episode was rated 7.75 from 36 votes.
When disaster strikes, who profits? FRONTLINE and NPR investigate the Business of Disaster, focusing on the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy: the thousands still not home, the agencies that were supposed to help and the companies that made millions.
The episode was rated 7.76 from 33 votes.
An examination of alleged predatory behavior and fraud in the for-profit college industry as well as the collapse of Corinthian Colleges. Then, the impact that a program to stem the high school drop-out crisis had on one young woman.
The episode was rated 7.82 from 11 votes.
Efforts to bring about change in Saudi Arabia are examined.
The episode was rated 7.89 from 38 votes.
An examination of the clash between Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama. Included: Netanyahu's rise to power; and his disagreement with the president over how to handle Iran and its nuclear program.
The episode was rated 7.94 from 16 votes.
Jelani Cobb examines the allegations of police abuses against the Newark Police Deparment.
The episode was rated 8.12 from 26 votes.
Filmed over three years, four children survive war-torn Aleppo, Syria, and escape to a new life in Germany.
The episode was rated 8.20 from 15 votes.
Refugees and migrants fleeing war and persecution document their journeys on camera phones as they leave their homes and seek safety and refuge in Europe.
The episode was rated 8.36 from 14 votes.
