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The History of Concrete

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for The History of Concrete Now Playing 1h 41m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50+ Verified Ratings
Following the finale of his acclaimed HBO series "How To with John Wilson", NYC documentarian John Wilson looks to the bedrock of his beloved New York City for inspiration and structure. Concrete, the world's most widely used building material, appears as an ever-present life force, and John sets out to make the definitive documentary on the matter. After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, he decides to use the industry-approved Hallmark formula to tell this seemingly drab story and increase his movie's appeal. But his foundation soon begins to crumble--literally and figuratively--as he struggles to balance artistic freedom with the realities of the modern film industry.
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The History of Concrete

The History of Concrete

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Critics Consensus

The History of Concrete transforms a seemingly banal subject into a funny, moving, and genuinely revelatory exploration of the overlooked worlds and universal connections hiding in plain sight.

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Critics Reviews

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Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald Oct 9, 2026
3.5/5
I would have cut an extended sequence involving a little-known musician whom Wilson films because of the popularity of musical biopics on the streaming services. But his gentle tongue-in-cheek humour and his self-deprecation both have their charms. Go to Full Review Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Oct 1, 2026
4/5
Wilson is mulling the big questions here. Eventually we arrive at the same corny but apt conclusion as those runners, doggedly rounding the block: It’s the journey, not the destination. Go to Full Review Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Sep 25, 2026
The gravitational joy of Wilson’s comic approach is watching how he follows his instincts and later applies his own sui generis mortar to the assembled vérité blocks. Go to Full Review Margot Harrison Seven Days (VT) 4 days ago
4.5/5
...The History of Concrete is a stream-of-consciousness ramble through seemingly disparate subjects, the opposite of a digestible formula. And it’s so entertaining that I couldn’t care less about the false advertising. Go to Full Review Jack Martin Film Feeder 6 days ago
3.5/5
The History of Concrete sees filmmaker John Wilson take the initially uninteresting titular subject matter and transform it into a funny, moving, occasionally meandering and surprisingly engaging commentary on the crumbling current state of America. Go to Full Review Morgan Rojas Cinemacy Oct 12, 2026
'The History of Concrete' encapsulates the beauty, skill, and ingenuity that John Wilson has built his brand around: turning the mundane into humorous and outright unforgettable moments Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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coolie Oct 9, 2026 Super weird, I might know less about concrete after the film them before. See more SoCalLife Oct 5, 2026 Really funny! Interesting, creative, and touching as well. If you liked his show, this movie will not disappoint. See more Sara Oct 4, 2026 It meandered all over, and while there were interesting moments, the four people who accompanied me and I wish we hadnt attended. See more Ssvenus Sep 30, 2026 It was silly and it was very Art Film. There were a lot of little funny moments. See more David I Sep 30, 2026 Funny, emotional, touching, and poignant. Can’t ask for more than that. See more Anton A Sep 30, 2026 Its a fun and entertaining ride with John Wilson on concrete! See more Read all reviews
The History of Concrete

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Cast & Crew

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John Wilson

Director

John Wilson

Producer

Clark Filio

Producer

Shirel Kozak

Producer

Allie Viti

Producer

Josh Safdie

Executive Producer
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The History of Concrete

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following the finale of his acclaimed HBO series "How To with John Wilson", NYC documentarian John Wilson looks to the bedrock of his beloved New York City for inspiration and structure. Concrete, the world's most widely used building material, appears as an ever-present life force, and John sets out to make the definitive documentary on the matter. After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, he decides to use the industry-approved Hallmark formula to tell this seemingly drab story and increase his movie's appeal. But his foundation soon begins to crumble--literally and figuratively--as he struggles to balance artistic freedom with the realities of the modern film industry.
Director
John Wilson
Producer
John Wilson, Clark Filio, Shirel Kozak, Allie Viti
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Central Pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 18, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$545.3K
Runtime
1h 41m
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