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Public Access

Play trailer Public Access 2026 1h 47m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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58% Tomatometer 12 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Public Access is the untold story of the most subversive media experiment ever to take over our television sets. ​​​​​​​Public Access takes viewers through the archives of Manhattan's access TV channels and its revolutionary impact on how we create and consume media. Using rare primary-sources and interviews with creators who brought the marginalized, the underground, and sometimes downright illegal into New Yorkers' apartments in the 1970's-90's, this feature-length documentary explores a ground-breaking space for self-expression which pushed First Amendment boundaries and conjured a world where anyone could have their own TV show.

Critics Reviews

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David Fear Rolling Stone 20h
David Shadrack Smith’s doc gets into the good, the bad, and the Midnight Blue of it all, filling in a lost chapter of media history that’s crazier than you could imagine. Go to Full Review Liz Shannon Miller Consequence 2d
B
Though the project-focused structure keeps the movie from having much pure momentum, Public Access is ultimately a lovely tribute to underground media and its importance to so many marginalized groups. Go to Full Review Daniel Fienberg The Hollywood Reporter Jan 25
There are good and righteous thoughts in Public Access and I think the points it wants to make get through if you work at it, but man the journey to get there is chaotic. Go to Full Review Daniel Howat Next Best Picture 18h
5/10
It’s informative, but not entertaining, which may suffice for documentaries that are revealing the news, but feels lackluster when documenting a taboo-breaking subject. Go to Full Review Christopher Llewellyn Reed Hammer to Nail 1d
The beauty of the movie is in the archival, which consists of contextualizing footage of New York City of that time plus copious amounts of rough-and-tumble broadcasts of all varieties. Go to Full Review Pat Mullen POV Magazine 2d
Public Access could easily explore beyond the obvious. That’s an inadvertent pitfall of getting stuck in the archives. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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David Shadrack Smith

Director

Sara Crow

Producer

Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano

Producer

Wren Arthur

Executive Producer

Steve Buscemi

Executive Producer

Benny Safdie

Executive Producer

Movie Info

Synopsis Public Access is the untold story of the most subversive media experiment ever to take over our television sets. ​​​​​​​Public Access takes viewers through the archives of Manhattan's access TV channels and its revolutionary impact on how we create and consume media. Using rare primary-sources and interviews with creators who brought the marginalized, the underground, and sometimes downright illegal into New Yorkers' apartments in the 1970's-90's, this feature-length documentary explores a ground-breaking space for self-expression which pushed First Amendment boundaries and conjured a world where anyone could have their own TV show.
Director
David Shadrack Smith
Producer
Sara Crow, Anne-Marcelle Ngabirano
Production Co
part2 pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 47m