Katrina: Come Hell and High Water is a gripping, three-part Netflix docuseries that revisits the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through the eyes of those who lived it. Set nearly 20 years after the storm, the series weaves firsthand survivor accounts, archival footage, and sharp social commentary to reveal how systemic failures—collapsed levees, delayed federal response, and racial disparities—turned a natural disaster into a manmade tragedy.
Each episode unpacks a different layer of the catastrophe: from the initial chaos and displacement to the long-term emotional and physical rebuilding of lives. Directed by Spike Lee, Geeta Gandbhir, and Samantha M. Knowles, and produced by Alisa Payne, the series is not just about what went wrong—it’s about the courage and strength it took to survive and rebuild.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water is a powerful three-part documentary series from Netflix, premiering on August 27, 2025, that revisits one of the most catastrophic disasters in U.S. history—Hurricane Katrina. Created by Alisa Payne and featuring direction from Spike Lee, Geeta Gandbhir, and Samantha M. Knowles, the series tells the deeply personal stories of survivors from New Orleans, twenty years after the storm changed their lives forever.
Through emotional testimonies, rare archival footage, and a raw exploration of governmental failure, the series exposes the systemic racism and social injustice that magnified the storm’s toll on marginalized communities. More than a history lesson, Katrina: Come Hell and High Water is a reflection on resilience, accountability, and the human cost of neglect.
Release Date
Official Release Date: August 27, 2025
Platform: Netflix
The docuseries premieres just days before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, offering a timely and powerful reflection on one of America’s most devastating and defining disasters.
KATRINA COME HELL AND HIGH WATER OFFICIAL TRAILER NETFLIX
Featuring: Survivor & Interviewee Testimonies
This three‑part Netflix docuseries does not include a traditional cast; instead, it brings together first-hand survivor accounts and emotional archival footage. Viewers hear directly from New Orleans residents who lived through Hurricane Katrina, offering deeply personal testimonies that shape the narrative
Creative Contributors & Interviews
- While specific names of interviewees haven’t been officially disclosed, the series includes ordinary individuals—residents, activists, frontline crisis managers—whose experiences reflect the full spectrum of the storm’s impact
- It is produced by a team including Alisa Payne (creator/showrunner), Spike Lee, Sam Pollard, and Geeta Gandbhir—contributors to the Emmy-winning When the Levees Broke
Production Details
Platform & Format
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Genre: Documentary Series / Historical / Social Justice
- Format: 3 episodes (limited series)
- Episode Length: Approx. 50–60 minutes each
- Release Date: August 27, 2025 (commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina)
Creative Team
- Creator / Showrunner: Alisa Payne
- Executive Producers:
- Spike Lee
- Sam Pollard
- Alisa Payne
- Geeta Gandbhir
Directors by Episode
- Episode 1 – Directed by Geeta Gandbhir
- Episode 2 – Directed by Samantha M. Knowles
- Episode 3 – Directed by Spike Lee
Narrative Approach
- Combines first-person survivor interviews, rare archival footage, and investigative journalism.
- Focuses on the human impact of systemic failure: government neglect, racial inequality, and climate injustice.
- Offers new stories not featured in previous Katrina documentaries like When the Levees Broke.
Style & Tone
- Raw and emotionally immersive
- Visual use of damaged infrastructure, levee breaches, storm footage
- Powerful sound design to evoke trauma, chaos, and memory
- Shot on-location in New Orleans and surrounding Gulf Coast communities
Production Values
- Produced with high-definition remastering of original 2005 footage
- Edited by teams experienced in social justice and documentary storytelling
- Subtitled in multiple languages for international accessibility
Director Details
This three-part Netflix docuseries is helmed by a team of accomplished directors, each bringing a unique lens to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy through survivor stories, systemic critique, and emotional truth.
Episode 1 Director: Geeta Gandbhir
Background: Emmy and Peabody Award-winning director and editor
- Notable Works:
- Why We Hate (Discovery)
- I Am Evidence (HBO)
- The Sentence (HBO)
- Style: Known for deeply human, intersectional storytelling around race, justice, and trauma
- Contribution: Establishes the foundation of the Katrina disaster using emotionally driven narratives from those who lived it
Episode 2 Director: Samantha M. Knowles
- Background: Emerging voice in socially conscious documentaries
- Notable Works:
- Tangled Roots
- The Blue Wall (featured on BET)
- Style: Focuses on systemic racism, police accountability, and Black American experiences
- Contribution: Explores racial disparities in evacuation, rescue, and federal response, elevating underrepresented voices
Episode 3 Director: Spike Lee
- Background: Iconic filmmaker and cultural critic known for bold, confrontational cinema
- Notable Works:
- When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
- Do the Right Thing
- Da 5 Bloods
- Style: Combines archival narrative, political commentary, and stylized visual metaphors
- Contribution: Revisits Katrina with a 20-year retrospective, tying past failures to modern social justice movements
Executive Producer Overlap
All three directors also contribute to the series’ executive production, shaping the overarching message and editorial integrity of the show.
Overview
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water is a three-part documentary series, executive-produced by Spike Lee and created by Alisa Payne, set to premiere on Netflix in August 2025. It revisits Hurricane Katrina’s devastation through the personal stories of New Orleans residents, spotlighting the human cost of government failure