Frontline 1983
What is Frontline?
Frontline is a television series that has been airing since 1983. The series is an investigative documentary program distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1983
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 854
- Runtime
- 55 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 17, 1983
- Last aired
- Jun 30, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- PBS
- Genres
- Documentary, News
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
PBS America Amazon Channel
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 854 episodes and an average 55-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Frontline is a television series that has been airing since 1983. The series is an investigative documentary program distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. Episodes are produced at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts. Frontline's goal is to extend the impact of the documentary beyond its initial broadcast by serving as a catalyst for change. The series has covered a variety of domestic and international issues. Frontline is considered American television's top long-form news and current affairs series. The series is available to watch on the PBS website, where full episodes can be streamed. Frontline has received ratings of 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb and 6.6 out of 10 on The Movie Database. The series is known for its investigative journalism that questions, explains, and changes our world.
Should you watch it?
“Frontline is a long-running documentary series providing in-depth investigative journalism on complex domestic and international issues.”
- provides deep dives into current affairs
- offers extensive historical coverage
- subject matter can be dense
- focuses on serious news topics
Watch it if you are interested in investigative reporting on global and American current events.
The series covers serious, real-world topics that may be intense for some viewers.
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Ask anything about Frontline — answers are spoiler-safe.
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 An Unauthorized History of the NFL Mytharc Jan 17, 1983
- E2 88 Seconds in Greensboro Core Jan 24, 1983
- E3 In the Shadow of the Capitol Core Jan 31, 1983
- E4 A Chinese Affair Core Feb 7, 1983
- E5 God's Banker Core Feb 14, 1983
- E6 Pentagon, Inc. Core Feb 21, 1983
- E7 Gunfight USA Core Feb 28, 1983
- E8 Children of Pride Core Mar 7, 1983
- E9 A Journey to Russia Core Mar 21, 1983
- E10 Daisy - Story of a Facelift Core Mar 28, 1983
- E11 Space - The Race for High Ground Core Apr 11, 1983
- E12 Abortion Clinic Core Apr 18, 1983
- E13 Crisis in Zimbabwe Core Apr 25, 1983
- E14 Air Crash Core May 2, 1983
- E15 Looking for Mao Core May 9, 1983
- E16 Israel: Between the River and the Sea Core May 16, 1983
- E17 In Our Water Core May 23, 1983
- E18 Vietnam Memorial Core May 30, 1983
- E19 For the Good of All Core Jun 6, 1983
- E20 The Russians are Here Core Jun 13, 1983
- E21 Who Decides Disability? Core Jun 20, 1983
- E22 Crossfire in El Salvador Core Jun 27, 1983
- E23 Sanctuary Core Jul 4, 1983
- E24 Moneylenders Mytharc Jul 11, 1983
- E25 Klaus Barbie: the American Connection Mytharc Jul 18, 1983
Season 2 · 24 episodes
- E1 Crisis at General Hospital Mytharc Jan 16, 1984
- E2 We Are Driven Core Jan 23, 1984
- E3 The Old Man and the Gun Core Feb 6, 1984
- E4 Give Me That Big Time Religion Core Feb 13, 1984
- E5 The Campaign for Page One Filler Feb 27, 1984
- E6 The Mind of a Murderer (1) Core Mar 19, 1984
- E7 The Mind of a Murderer (2) Core Mar 26, 1984
- E8 The Struggle for Birmingham Core Apr 2, 1984
- E9 Captive in El Salvador Core Apr 16, 1984
- E10 Chasing the Basketball Dream Core Apr 23, 1984
- E11 The Other Side of the Track Core May 7, 1984
- E12 Return of the Great White Fleet Core May 14, 1984
- E13 Warning from Gangland Core May 21, 1984
- E14 Bread, Butter and Politics Core Jun 4, 1984
- E15 Man's Best Friends Core Jun 18, 1984
- E16 So You Want to Be President Core Oct 9, 1984
- E17 Welcome to America Core Oct 16, 1984
- E18 Not One of the Boys Core Oct 23, 1984
- E19 Living Below the Line Core Oct 30, 1984
- E20 The Arab and the Israeli Core Nov 13, 1984
- E21 Better Off Dead? Core Nov 20, 1984
- E22 Cry, Ethiopia, Cry Core Nov 27, 1984
- E23 Red Star Over Khyber Mytharc Dec 11, 1984
- E24 Marshall High Fights Back Mytharc Dec 18, 1984
Season 3 · 21 episodes
- E1 Vietnam Under Communism Mytharc Jan 15, 1985
- E2 Shootout on Imperial Highway (1) Core Jan 22, 1985
- E3 Shootout on Imperial Highway (2) Mytharc Jan 29, 1985
- E4 The Lifer and the Lady Core Feb 5, 1985
- E5 The Child Savers Core Feb 12, 1985
- E6 Down for the Count Core Feb 19, 1985
- E7 Retreat from Beirut Core Feb 26, 1985
- E8 Buying the Bomb Core Mar 5, 1985
- E9 A Class Divided Core Mar 26, 1985
- E10 Potomac Fever Core Apr 2, 1985
- E11 Crisis in Central America 1: Yankee Years Core Apr 9, 1985
- E12 Crisis in Central America 2: Castro's Challenge Core Apr 10, 1985
- E13 Crisis in Central America 3: Revolution in Nicaragua Core Apr 11, 1985
- E14 Crisis in Central America 4: Battle for El Salvador Core Apr 12, 1985
- E15 Men Who Molest Core Apr 16, 1985
- E16 Catholics in America: Is Nothing Sacred? Core Apr 23, 1985
- E17 The American Way of War Core Apr 30, 1985
- E18 Memory of the Camps Core May 7, 1985
- E19 You Are in the Computer Core May 14, 1985
- E20 What About Mom and Dad? Mytharc May 21, 1985
- E21 Breaking the Bank Mytharc May 28, 1985
Season 4 · 31 episodes
- E1 Hostage in Iran Mytharc Jan 21, 1986
- E2 Sue the Doctor? Core Jan 28, 1986
- E3 Growing Up Poor Core Feb 4, 1986
- E4 Russia-Love It or Leave It Core Feb 11, 1986
- E5 Tobacco on Trial Core Feb 18, 1986
- E6 Divorce Wars Core Feb 25, 1986
- E7 Who's Running this War? Core Mar 18, 1986
- E8 AIDS: a National Inquiry Core Mar 25, 1986
- E9 Standoff in Mexico Core Apr 1, 1986
- E10 Inside the Jury Room Core Apr 8, 1986
- E11 Taxes Behind Closed Doors Filler Apr 15, 1986
- E12 The Disillusionment of David Stockman Core Apr 20, 1986
- E13 Visions of Star Wars Core Apr 22, 1986
- E14 Hollywood Dreams Core May 13, 1986
- E15 The Bloods of 'Nam Core May 20, 1986
- E16 A Matter of the Mind Core May 27, 1986
- E17 Holy War, Holy Terror Mytharc Jun 3, 1986
- E18 Will There Always Be an England? Core Jun 10, 1986
- E19 Assault on Affirmative Action Mytharc Jun 17, 1986
- E20 Comrades I: The Education of Rita Core Jul 1, 1986
- E21 Comrades II: Hunter and Son Core Jul 8, 1986
- E22 Comrades III: All that Jazz Core Jul 15, 1986
- E23 Comrades IV: The Trial of Tamara Russo Core Jul 22, 1986
- E24 Comrades V: Master of Samarkand Core Jul 29, 1986
- E25 Comrades VI: Pacific Outpost Core Aug 5, 1986
- E26 Comrades VII: Steel Mill Soccer Core Aug 12, 1986
- E27 Comrades VIII: Doctor in Moscow Mytharc Aug 19, 1986
- E28 Comrades IX: Baltic Chic Core Aug 26, 1986
- E29 Comrades X: Soldier Boy Core Aug 26, 1986
- E30 Comrades XI: October Harvest Mytharc Sep 2, 1986
- E31 Comrades XII: Leningrad Movie Mytharc Sep 9, 1986
Season 5 · 15 episodes
- E1 The Real Stuff Mytharc Jan 27, 1987
- E2 The Earthquake Is Coming Core Feb 3, 1987
- E3 Stopping Drugs (1) Core Feb 10, 1987
- E4 Stopping Drugs (2) Core Feb 17, 1987
- E5 The Nazi Connection Core Feb 24, 1987
- E6 Desperately Seeking Baby Core Mar 3, 1987
- E7 Street Cop Core Mar 31, 1987
- E8 The Secret File Core Apr 14, 1987
- E9 War on Nicaragua Core Apr 21, 1987
- E10 The Bombing of West Philly Core May 5, 1987
- E11 In Search of the Marcos Millions Core May 26, 1987
- E12 Israel: the Price of Victory Mytharc Jun 2, 1987
- E13 Death of a Porn Queen Core Jun 9, 1987
- E14 Keeping the Faith Mytharc Jun 16, 1987
- E15 The Politics of Greed Mytharc Jun 23, 1987
Frequently asked questions
What is Frontline?
Frontline is a long-running public-affairs documentary series that explores complex human experiences and news investigations.
When did the series begin?
The series began airing in 1983.
Who produces the series?
Episodes are produced at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts.
Where is the series distributed?
It is distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.
What topics does the show cover?
The program covers a wide variety of domestic and international issues, including terrorism and elections.