The Man Will Burn
| The Man Will Burn | |
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| Genre | Documentary |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
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| Running time | 57-59 minutes |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | July 9 – July 30, 2026 |
The Man Will Burn is a 2026 American documentary series directed and produced by Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi, exploring the history of Burning Man. With access to the Burning Man Project leadership and archives, the series examines the culture of social experimentation as well as consecutive years of unprecedented crises.[1]
Following a world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June, HBO broadcast the series from July 9 to July 30, 2026.
Episodes
| No. | Title [2] | Directed by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Great Unknown" | Jehane Noujaim Vikram Gandhi | July 9, 2026 | N/A | |
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Originating with Larry Harvey in the 1980s, the Burning Man movement steadily matured into a broad community of creative collaboration. Dilemmas plague the 2021 organizers facing the COVID pandemic. | |||||
| 2 | "Welcome to the Shit Show" | Jehane Noujaim Vikram Gandhi | July 16, 2026 | N/A | |
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The neighboring community of Gerlach, Nevada has evolved with the annual Burning Man festival. The dangerous events of 1996 contrast with the renegade Free Burn in 2021. | |||||
| 3 | "Waking Dreams" | Jehane Noujaim Vikram Gandhi | July 23, 2026 | N/A | |
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Events of the 2022 Burn unfold, with perspectives from organizers, veteran Burners, new artists, and sound car crews. Amidst the gentrification of Black Rock City, new attendees face personal concerns ranging from reclusiveness to PTSD. | |||||
| 4 | "Mud Burn" | Jehane Noujaim Vikram Gandhi | July 30, 2026 | N/A | |
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Significant rains in 2023 transform the playa into a muddy mess, closing down Black Rock City for days and delaying the Man being burned. The annual Temple installation offers shared space for contemplation and personal remembrances, with messages and objects burned on the final night of the event. | |||||
Production
Directors and executive producers Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi announced their documentary series revolving around Burning Man in September 2023, with principal photography having commenced in 2021. Double Agent financed the series, with no network attached yet.[3] HBO later boarded the series.[4]
Release
The series had its world premiere June 9, 2026 at Tribeca Festival;[4][5][6] episodes also screened June 14 at Sheffield DocFest.[7][8] HBO launched the series broadcast on July 9, 2026.[9]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 67%, based on 6 reviews.[10]
John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal wrote: "Noujaim and Gandhi are not out to critique Burning Man, or to celebrate it either. The lushness of the cinematography, with its beautiful people, landscapes, improbable sculptures, impractical machines and galaxy of light and dust, is as voluptuous as the festival itself".[11] Joel Keller of Decider suggested viewing the series writing: "An effective overview of Burning Man, a festival that’s misunderstood by many, while examining how its spirit of creativity and community struggles against the reality of the 2020s."[12]
Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter was critical of the series writing: "There’s an edit of The Man Will Burn that would be shorter, tighter and perhaps more sensationalistic, and one that would be longer, richer and more complex, but instead we get an in-between series that’s fun, shallow and, finally, bland in a way Burning Man has always tried to avoid becoming."[13]
References
- ↑ "The Man Will Burn". Tribeca Festival. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "HBO Original Documentary Series THE MAN WILL BURN Debuts July 9". Warner Bros. Discovery. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ White, Peter (September 8, 2023). "Burning Man Docuseries In The Works; Project Includes Crazy Scenes Of Rain Chaos & 30 Years Of Archive". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- 1 2 Jacob, Arushi (April 21, 2026). "Tribeca Festival Announces 2026 TV and Podcast Lineup, Spotlighting 'Survivor 50' Panel". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (April 11, 2026). "Tribeca TV and Podcast Lineups: 'Survivor 50' Showcase, 'Adults' Season 2, Ronan Farrow, and More". Indie Wire. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "The Man Will Burn". tribecafilm.com. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "The Man Will Burn". Sheffield DocFest. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
- ↑ Carey, Matthew (April 29, 2026). "Sheffield DocFest Unveils 2026 Public Program: Over 100 World, International, European Premieres, Oscar-Stature Filmmakers, 100th-Birthday Tribute To David Attenborough". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
- ↑ "HBO Original Documentary Series "The Man Will Burn" Debuts July 9". The Futon Critic. June 23, 2026. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
- ↑ "The Man Will Burn". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
- ↑ Anderson, John (July 7, 2026). "'The Man Will Burn' Review: Decadence and Discord on HBO". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ Keller, Joel (July 9, 2026). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Man Will Burn' On HBO, A Docuseries About Burning Man And How It Tries To Resist The Lure Of Influencers And Tech Millions". Decider.com. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (July 7, 2026). "'The Man Will Burn' Review: HBO's Burning Man Docuseries Boasts Impressive Access, but Sticks Too Close to the Photogenic Surface". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 24, 2026.