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 ChannelFree
PBSStreaming 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.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Frontline — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Frontline worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 An Unauthorized History of the NFL Jan 17, 1983
- E2 88 Seconds in Greensboro Jan 24, 1983
- E3 In the Shadow of the Capitol Jan 31, 1983
- E4 A Chinese Affair Feb 7, 1983
- E5 God's Banker Feb 14, 1983
- E6 Pentagon, Inc. Feb 21, 1983
- E7 Gunfight USA Feb 28, 1983
- E8 Children of Pride Mar 7, 1983
- E9 A Journey to Russia Mar 21, 1983
- E10 Daisy - Story of a Facelift Mar 28, 1983
- E11 Space - The Race for High Ground Apr 11, 1983
- E12 Abortion Clinic Apr 18, 1983
- E13 Crisis in Zimbabwe Apr 25, 1983
- E14 Air Crash May 2, 1983
- E15 Looking for Mao May 9, 1983
- E16 Israel: Between the River and the Sea May 16, 1983
- E17 In Our Water May 23, 1983
- E18 Vietnam Memorial May 30, 1983
- E19 For the Good of All Jun 6, 1983
- E20 The Russians are Here Jun 13, 1983
- E21 Who Decides Disability? Jun 20, 1983
- E22 Crossfire in El Salvador Jun 27, 1983
- E23 Sanctuary Jul 4, 1983
- E24 Moneylenders Jul 11, 1983
- E25 Klaus Barbie: the American Connection Jul 18, 1983
Season 2 · 24 episodes
- E1 Crisis at General Hospital Jan 16, 1984
- E2 We Are Driven Jan 23, 1984
- E3 The Old Man and the Gun Feb 6, 1984
- E4 Give Me That Big Time Religion Feb 13, 1984
- E5 The Campaign for Page One Feb 27, 1984
- E6 The Mind of a Murderer (1) Mar 19, 1984
- E7 The Mind of a Murderer (2) Mar 26, 1984
- E8 The Struggle for Birmingham Apr 2, 1984
- E9 Captive in El Salvador Apr 16, 1984
- E10 Chasing the Basketball Dream Apr 23, 1984
- E11 The Other Side of the Track May 7, 1984
- E12 Return of the Great White Fleet May 14, 1984
- E13 Warning from Gangland May 21, 1984
- E14 Bread, Butter and Politics Jun 4, 1984
- E15 Man's Best Friends Jun 18, 1984
- E16 So You Want to Be President Oct 9, 1984
- E17 Welcome to America Oct 16, 1984
- E18 Not One of the Boys Oct 23, 1984
- E19 Living Below the Line Oct 30, 1984
- E20 The Arab and the Israeli Nov 13, 1984
- E21 Better Off Dead? Nov 20, 1984
- E22 Cry, Ethiopia, Cry Nov 27, 1984
- E23 Red Star Over Khyber Dec 11, 1984
- E24 Marshall High Fights Back Dec 18, 1984
Season 3 · 21 episodes
- E1 Vietnam Under Communism Jan 15, 1985
- E2 Shootout on Imperial Highway (1) Jan 22, 1985
- E3 Shootout on Imperial Highway (2) Jan 29, 1985
- E4 The Lifer and the Lady Feb 5, 1985
- E5 The Child Savers Feb 12, 1985
- E6 Down for the Count Feb 19, 1985
- E7 Retreat from Beirut Feb 26, 1985
- E8 Buying the Bomb Mar 5, 1985
- E9 A Class Divided Mar 26, 1985
- E10 Potomac Fever Apr 2, 1985
- E11 Crisis in Central America 1: Yankee Years Apr 9, 1985
- E12 Crisis in Central America 2: Castro's Challenge Apr 10, 1985
- E13 Crisis in Central America 3: Revolution in Nicaragua Apr 11, 1985
- E14 Crisis in Central America 4: Battle for El Salvador Apr 12, 1985
- E15 Men Who Molest Apr 16, 1985
- E16 Catholics in America: Is Nothing Sacred? Apr 23, 1985
- E17 The American Way of War Apr 30, 1985
- E18 Memory of the Camps May 7, 1985
- E19 You Are in the Computer May 14, 1985
- E20 What About Mom and Dad? May 21, 1985
- E21 Breaking the Bank May 28, 1985
Season 4 · 31 episodes
- E1 Hostage in Iran Jan 21, 1986
- E2 Sue the Doctor? Jan 28, 1986
- E3 Growing Up Poor Feb 4, 1986
- E4 Russia-Love It or Leave It Feb 11, 1986
- E5 Tobacco on Trial Feb 18, 1986
- E6 Divorce Wars Feb 25, 1986
- E7 Who's Running this War? Mar 18, 1986
- E8 AIDS: a National Inquiry Mar 25, 1986
- E9 Standoff in Mexico Apr 1, 1986
- E10 Inside the Jury Room Apr 8, 1986
- E11 Taxes Behind Closed Doors Apr 15, 1986
- E12 The Disillusionment of David Stockman Apr 20, 1986
- E13 Visions of Star Wars Apr 22, 1986
- E14 Hollywood Dreams May 13, 1986
- E15 The Bloods of 'Nam May 20, 1986
- E16 A Matter of the Mind May 27, 1986
- E17 Holy War, Holy Terror Jun 3, 1986
- E18 Will There Always Be an England? Jun 10, 1986
- E19 Assault on Affirmative Action Jun 17, 1986
- E20 Comrades I: The Education of Rita Jul 1, 1986
- E21 Comrades II: Hunter and Son Jul 8, 1986
- E22 Comrades III: All that Jazz Jul 15, 1986
- E23 Comrades IV: The Trial of Tamara Russo Jul 22, 1986
- E24 Comrades V: Master of Samarkand Jul 29, 1986
- E25 Comrades VI: Pacific Outpost Aug 5, 1986
- E26 Comrades VII: Steel Mill Soccer Aug 12, 1986
- E27 Comrades VIII: Doctor in Moscow Aug 19, 1986
- E28 Comrades IX: Baltic Chic Aug 26, 1986
- E29 Comrades X: Soldier Boy Aug 26, 1986
- E30 Comrades XI: October Harvest Sep 2, 1986
- E31 Comrades XII: Leningrad Movie Sep 9, 1986
Season 5 · 15 episodes
- E1 The Real Stuff Jan 27, 1987
- E2 The Earthquake Is Coming Feb 3, 1987
- E3 Stopping Drugs (1) Feb 10, 1987
- E4 Stopping Drugs (2) Feb 17, 1987
- E5 The Nazi Connection Feb 24, 1987
- E6 Desperately Seeking Baby Mar 3, 1987
- E7 Street Cop Mar 31, 1987
- E8 The Secret File Apr 14, 1987
- E9 War on Nicaragua Apr 21, 1987
- E10 The Bombing of West Philly May 5, 1987
- E11 In Search of the Marcos Millions May 26, 1987
- E12 Israel: the Price of Victory Jun 2, 1987
- E13 Death of a Porn Queen Jun 9, 1987
- E14 Keeping the Faith Jun 16, 1987
- E15 The Politics of Greed 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.