Sherman's March Is Back in Theaters in 4K

By The Backlot

@backlotfriends

A scene from Sherman's March (1986), the landmark personal documentary by Ross McElwee now restored in 4K

Sherman's March opens July 3 in a 4K restoration. Ross McElwee took a camera south in 1986 to document the aftermath of General Sherman's Civil War march. He never quite got there. He kept meeting women instead.

The result is a film that runs 158 minutes, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and ended up in the Library of Congress. It invented the autobiographical documentary.

For anyone who loved Stories We Tell or Tarnation and wants to know where the form came from. For anyone who has ever started a project and gotten completely, honestly sidetracked.

Watch Stories We Tell first. Then this. Then try explaining why you spent five hours watching personal documentaries.

The funniest movie ever made about failing to make the movie you meant to make.

Quick Facts

Sherman's March Is Back in Theaters in 4K

DirectorRoss McElwee

CastRoss McElwee, Charleen Swansea, Dede McElwee, Patricia Rendleman

GenreDocumentary

Release2026-07-03

Runtime158 min

Rated6.7/10

Instagram caption

Sherman's March is back in theaters in 4K. Ross McElwee went South to document the Civil War and kept falling in love instead. One of the great American documentaries. #ShermansMarch #Backlot

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Sherman's March is back in theaters in 4K. Ross McElwee set out to film the Civil War and made something else entirely. The most personal documentary ever made. Opening July 3.

The result is a film that runs 158 minutes, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and ended up in the Library of Congress. It invented the autobiographical documentary.

For anyone who loved Stories We Tell or Tarnation and wants to know where the form came from. For anyone who has ever started a project and gotten completely, honestly sidetracked.

Watch Stories We Tell first. Then this. Then try explaining why you spent five hours watching personal documentaries.

The funniest movie ever made about failing to make the movie you meant to make.