The History of Concrete

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for
near
in

Videos & Photos

Movie Info & Cast

Release Date:

Sep 18, 2026

Runtime:

1hr 41m

Synopsis

A filmmaker applies lessons from a Hallmark movie writing workshop to pitch a documentary about concrete.
Moviegoers are saying
John Wilson's 'History of Concrete' divides audiences with its signature blend of humanist documentary and observational comedy, as viewers either embrace its curious exploration of New York's oddities or reject what some see as exploitative voyeurism. The film transforms a simple premise about concrete into a sprawling meditation on impermanence, gentrification, and human connection, featuring surprise celebrity cameos and Wilson's trademark ability to find profound moments in mundane situations.
Top Mentions
All-The-Feels
Award-Buzz
Mind-Bending
Humanist-Journey
Urban-Poetry
Surprise-Cameos
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.0
37.1K
10.5K
16.6K
RATINGS 118 FANS
4.0
  • Sep 25, 2026

    Loved the guys that pronounced cement like semen, among hundreds of other things

    1.9K Likes
    Karsten
    Karsten
    Sep 26, 2026

    If I had picked 10 TV shows for that NYT best of the century poll, How To with John Wilson certainly would’ve made the list. History of Concrete is no different, except I couldn’t help but feel like the length really showed how much this format works best as a series more…

    1.5K Likes
    demi adejuyigbe
    demi adejuyigbe
    Jan 24, 2026

    There’s a reveal in this, where John Wilson, at a party being thrown for Kim Kardashian, whip pans to show a surprise attendee. It’s one of the best scenes of the year.

    2.2K Likes
    Robert Daniels
    Robert Daniels
  •
    Jan 30, 2026

    "Why 25 and a half hours?" "Yes"

    1.5K Likes
    Jeff
    Jeff
    Sep 25, 2026

    John Wilson has cracked the code to revealing the often hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking intricacies of human life. That secret is approaching each and every situation/person with a deep sense of curiosity, a faith even, that they have something important to show you…

    777 Likes
    Joel Haver
    Joel Haver
    Sep 28, 2026

    A really good time at the movies. Concrete is a great central metaphor - for the folly of thinking that anything is permanent, and also for the limits of gentrification on a city like New York, which is always pouring cheap cement over its cracks and crevices, which just…

    570 Likes
    Will Sloan
    Will Sloan
  •
    Oct 2, 2026

    Life affirming, dramatic, horny, surprisingly gory. Smiled till my jaw ached and cracked. We’re all just trying to survive and say we were here. Everyone’s tired and Kim Kardashian is to blame. I am impermanent but I’ll find my mix.

    527 Likes
    Framesofnick
    Framesofnick
    Sep 28, 2026

    I take no pleasure in being a wet blanket but I really despise John Wilson’s entire schtick. This is someone who’s taken Ross McElwee’s Sherman’s March, Errol Morris, and Werner Herzog (to name a few influences) and flattened their sensibilities through the lens of a…

    408 Likes
    C.J.
    C.J.
    Apr 21, 2026

    Right as this characteristically sprawling, digressive and endlessly curious thing is finally bearing narrative and thematic fruit, intercutting monks ritually smearing a Buddhist mandala with a ceremony celebrating the passage of a NYC affordable housing program, we also…

    1K Likes
    matt lynch
    matt lynch

Queue Community Reviews

94%
Community 165
❤️ LOVE
44%
👍 LIKE
50%
😐 MEH
6%
👎 DISLIKE
0%
Top Reviews
  • alexa
    alexa liked
    The History of Concrete

    i’ve only seen few episodes of how to & decided to go to his new movie & i was so excited. i absolutely loved it and i love his unique style. after the movie, 2 construction workers came up to us to ask if we knew the movie was gonna be like that. really made the whole experience

    4D
    RaptorDocumentaries
    RaptorDocumentaries loved
    The History of Concrete

    Absolutely hilarious. I was snort laughing in a theatre. Barely about concrete though. Kinda sad about that, but I’m very ok with that in the end.

    1D
    jam jammy jambam
    jam jammy jambam liked
    The History of Concrete

    Genuinely baffled by this film. Even more baffled by the fact that i enjoyed it.

    9D
  • Cree
    Cree loved
    The History of Concrete

    yea it's pretty well written, funny, and interconnected

    3D
    miki ross
    miki ross liked
    The History of Concrete

    There's so much i didn't know about concrete!

    5D
    Marty
    Marty loved
    The History of Concrete

    Funnyyttty

    16D

Atom Users Reviews

5.0
1
0
0
0
0

Reviews

  • CH
    Christina Hang
    #allthefeels
    #inspiring
    #clever

    a work of art 🪨

Metacritic

81
metacritic
Based on 20 Critics
tbd

USER SCORE (0)

There are no user reviews yet
80
Jan 24, 2026

With The History of Concrete, John Wilson takes the least interesting subject imaginable — the dull gray composite used for sidewalks, overpasses and that great big church in “The Brutalist” — and crafts what’s likely to be the most entertaining documentary of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Metacritic review by Peter Debruge
Peter Debruge
Variety
80
Jan 24, 2026

If The History of Concrete proves anything, it’s that Wilson can make a movie about anything and make it absolutely brilliant.

Ross Bonaime
Collider

Frequently Asked Questions

When does The History of Concrete come out in theaters?
September 18, 2026 is the release date.
How long is The History of Concrete (2026)?
The movie is 1hr 41min long.
What's The History of Concrete (2026) about?
A filmmaker applies lessons from a Hallmark movie writing workshop to pitch a documentary about concrete.
Back to Showtimes