As Yom HaShoah approaches, we reflect not only on the staggering loss of six million Jewish lives but also on the stories of courage, resistance, survival, and unfathomable tragedy that continue to shape our collective memory. In recent years, a powerful wave of new Holocaust films and TV shows has emerged, offering fresh perspectives and untold narratives that resonate with both longtime students of history and a new generation seeking to understand.
Whether you’re looking to honor the day with a deeply moving drama, a comedy that still understands the gravity of the Holocaust, or a series that brings the past hauntingly close to the present, these recent releases provide more than just viewing material — they offer a vital act of remembrance.
Movies
“The Brutalist” (2024)
If you’re into films that are as emotionally intense as they are visually stunning, “The Brutalist” is a must-watch. Jewish actor Adrien Brody gives a powerhouse performance as Tibor, a Holocaust survivor turned architect whose cold, concrete creations are anything but emotionless. Vicky Krieps (of “Phantom Thread” fame) plays his equally complex wife, bringing quiet fire to every scene she’s in.
The film made serious waves this awards season — Brody snagged the Oscar for Best Actor, and the movie was up for Best Picture too. With moody visuals, slow-burn storytelling, and themes that hit hard, The Brutalist isn’t just a history lesson — it’s a cinematic gut punch. Watch it when you want something that lingers long after the credits roll.
See viewing options here for “The Brutalist.”
“A Real Pain” (2024)
Part comedy, part emotional landmine, “A Real Pain” is the kind of film that sneaks up on you. Jewish actor Jesse Eisenberg directs and stars alongside Kieran Culkin (“Succession”), playing two American cousins on a deeply awkward heritage tour of Poland after their Holocaust survivor grandmother dies. What starts as a passive-aggressive vacation quickly unravels into a raw, revealing look at generational trauma, grief, and the weird ways we process history.
It’s sharp, darkly funny, and unexpectedly gutting. The film won Best Screenplay at Sundance and scored an Oscar nomination for Culkin, who perfected the role of emotionally constipated guy with a heart of gold. If you’re into road trip movies with a historical twist and way too much baggage (emotional and literal), “A Real Pain” delivers.
See viewing options here for “A Real Pain.”
“Bardejov” (2024)
Some stories hit hardest because they feel so specific. “Bardejov” is one of those. This powerful documentary uncovers the erased Jewish history of Bardejov, a small Slovakian town where over 3,000 Jews once lived before the Holocaust wiped nearly all of them out.
Led by a group of descendants — now scattered across the world — the film follows their journey to reclaim the memory of their families and revive a once-vibrant community. Through personal letters, old photos, and emotional visits to crumbling synagogues and hidden cemeteries, “Bardejov” becomes less about the past and more about how we carry it forward.
It’s part detective story, part family saga, and all heart. For anyone who’s ever wondered what was lost — and what can be remembered — “Bardejov” is a quiet, stunning must-watch.
See viewing options here for “Bardejov.”
“The Zone of Interest” (2023)
“The Zone of Interest” is chilling precisely because it’s so quiet. This isn’t your typical Holocaust film. There are no gas chambers on screen, no dramatic escapes. Instead, Jewish director Jonathan Glazer (“Under the Skin”) zooms in on the banality of evil — specifically, the real-life family of Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, who lived in a picturesque home with a garden right next to the camp.
The performances — especially from Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”) — are eerily restrained, making the horror all the more suffocating. The sound design alone is nightmare fuel: you’ll hear birds chirping one second and distant screams the next. It’s no wonder the film won Best International Feature and cleaned up at Cannes. “The Zone of Interest” doesn’t just tell you a story — it dares you to sit with the discomfort of it.
See viewing options here for “The Zone of Interest.”
“June Zero” (2022)
Set in 1962, this gripping drama tells the story of Adolf Eichmann’s execution — not from the courtroom, but through the eyes of three very different Israelis: a Holocaust survivor, a Moroccan prison guard, and a teenage boy who works at the prison. Each of them is carrying their own trauma, their own ghosts — and through them, we see how the Holocaust’s aftershocks rippled through a young, fractured Israel.
Shot entirely on 16mm film for a retro, raw vibe, the movie has a kind of haunting intimacy. It’s history, but deeply personal. Directed by Jake Paltrow, it doesn’t feel like your average Holocaust movie. It’s about justice, identity, and what it means to live in the shadow of something too big to forget.
See viewing options here for “June Zero.”
TV shows
“We Were the Lucky Ones” (2024)
Based on Georgia Hunter’s bestselling novel (which was based on her own family’s story), “We Were the Lucky Ones” is a sweeping limited series that follows a Polish Jewish family torn apart by the Holocaust — and their near-miraculous fight to survive and reunite.
Starring Jewish actress Joey King (“The Act”) in a more serious role, the series doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors of war but also leans hard into resilience, love, and the sheer grit it took to stay alive. With stunning visuals, heartfelt performances, and more than a few tearjerker moments, it’s the kind of show that’ll have you hugging your relatives a little tighter. Bring tissues.
See viewing options here for “We Were the Lucky Ones.”
The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2024)
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz” is a love story set in the unthinkable. Based on the bestselling novel by Heather Morris, this new limited series follows Lali Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who’s forced to tattoo identification numbers on fellow prisoners in Auschwitz. Amid the horror, he meets Gita—a fellow prisoner—and their forbidden romance becomes a rare spark of humanity in a place designed to erase it.
With Jewish actor Jonah Hauer-King (“The Little Mermaid”) as Lali and Anna Próchniak as Gita, the series blends heartbreak, hope, and survival into something both gut-wrenching and strangely beautiful. Harvey Keitel also appears as the older Lali, telling his story decades later, making the show feel like a bridge between generations.
See viewing options here for “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”
“A Small Light” (2023)
You’ve heard of Anne Frank, but “A Small Light” tells the story of the woman who risked everything to keep her family hidden. This powerful limited series centers on Miep Gies, the young Dutch secretary who helped shelter the Franks during the Nazi occupation. Played by Bel Powley (“The Diary of a Teenage Girl”), Miep is bold, messy, and very human, making the show feel less like a history lesson and more like a deeply personal portrait of quiet heroism.
With gorgeous 1940s aesthetics, emotional depth, and a pulse-pounding sense of urgency, “A Small Light” has been called one of the best Holocaust dramas in recent years.
The show’s title comes from something Miep once said: “Even an ordinary secretary… or a teenager… can turn on a small light in a dark room.” It’s moving, raw, and full of heart — perfect for anyone looking to understand history through the lens of real, imperfect people who chose to do the right thing.
