Netflix has released *The American Experiment*, a five-part documentary series co-produced by Tom Hanks, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Rather than offering a straightforward celebration of the nation's founding, the series examines the American Revolutionary War and the drafting of the Constitution as a starting point for a broader discussion about democracy, compromise and division, encouraging viewers to reflect on the meaning of the anniversary rather than simply commemorate it.

Directed by Brian Knappenberger, the series emphasises how fragile and uncertain the founding process was, portraying figures such as Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Hamilton as talented but flawed people rather than legends, and confronting contradictions such as slavery and unequal representation. It features Martin Sheen reading George Washington's letters, cinematic reenactments of battles and debates, and interviews with a politically broad range of contributors, including former vice presidents Mike Pence, Kamala Harris and Al Gore, as well as Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Rand Paul, Jamie Raskin and Stephen Breyer, alongside historians, legal scholars and tribal representatives. The article argues the series frames democracy as an ongoing process still being tested, making it feel directly relevant to 2026.