Best Documentaries on KLM Flights (May 2026): Critic-Ranked

Best Documentaries on KLM Flights — May 2026

The documentary catalog is smaller this month than April: the Dear Ms. documentary has been removed, leaving three confirmed titles. Smaller is not weaker. The three films that remain represent distinct styles — biographical portrait, music documentary, and historical documentary — and the two highest-scoring entries (Super/Man and Springsteen) are both among the strongest documentaries that have appeared in KLM's catalog to date. For passengers who use long-haul flights as the time to finally watch serious non-fiction film, May's selection is well-targeted.

→ Browse all KLM May 2026 documentaries — inflight.guide

The Three Confirmed Documentaries

1. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025) — 88% RT

Runtime: TBC | RT: ~88% | Metacritic: Not widely available — RT score used (note for Nina: verify Metacritic availability)

Jeremy Garelick's documentary about the making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album (1982) — recorded alone in Springsteen's bedroom on a four-track cassette recorder — is the most musically significant documentary in the May catalog. Nebraska is widely regarded as one of the most important American albums of the 1980s; the story of its creation, against the backdrop of the E Street Band's commercial peak, is one of popular music's more compelling creative paradoxes. New to the May catalog.

The 88% RT score reflects critical enthusiasm for both the subject and the execution. Metacritic availability is limited for this title — the RT score is the primary reference. For passengers interested in American music, Americana, or the craft of recording, this is the documentary of the month.

2. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) — 87%

Runtime: 1h 44m | RT: 93% | Metacritic: 81/100

Ian Bonhôte and Peter ettedgui's documentary about Christopher Reeve — actor, equestrian accident survivor, disability rights activist — is the highest combined-score documentary in the May catalog and one of the most substantive biographical documentaries on any IFE system currently. The film does not attempt to separate the Superman mythology from the man's actual life — it uses both as genuine narrative material, and the result is more honest than most celebrity biographical documentaries.

At 104 minutes, it fits into any available slot on a transatlantic crossing. The 93% RT score and 81 Metacritic reflect a genuine consensus: this is a well-made, emotionally rigorous film. For passengers who remember Christopher Reeve's cultural presence in the 1970s and 80s, and for those who don't, it functions equally well.

3. De bezette stad (2024) — 74%

Runtime: 1h 58m | Language: Dutch | RT: 74% | Metacritic: 74/100 (score approximate — verify)

The third confirmed documentary is the Dutch-language historical documentary about a city under occupation. Discussed in fuller detail in the international cinema article. Classified under both the documentary and international categories; the Dutch-language audience on KLM routes makes it contextually appropriate to flag here regardless of the combined score position.

Documentary Rankings — May 2026

Rank	Title	Year	Runtime	RT	Metacritic	Combined
1	Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere	2025	TBC	~88%	N/A	RT only
2	Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story	2024	1h 44m	93%	81	~87%
3	De bezette stad	2024	1h 58m	74%	74	~74%*

Springsteen Metacritic not widely available — RT score used. De bezette stad score approximate — verify.

The Music Documentary Pairing

Super/Man and Springsteen are both, in different ways, music documentaries — or at least documentary films where music is the primary lens through which character and biography are examined. The Christopher Reeve film uses his Superman role and the cultural weight of the soundtrack as part of its narrative; the Springsteen film is directly about the creation of an album and what it reveals about its maker.

Both films together: approximately 3 hours (depending on Springsteen runtime confirmation). A genuine double-bill for any passenger interested in American cultural history from the late 20th century, and a more thematically coherent pairing than it might appear at first glance.

A Note on Catalog Size

The May 2026 documentary catalog is smaller than April's. This is a normal pattern in IFE content licensing — documentary rights cycles are often shorter than narrative feature cycles, and fewer documentaries receive wide IFE distribution in the first instance. The three titles that remain are the strongest documentary selection KLM has had at any point in the first half of 2026 in terms of per-title quality. Volume is lower; quality is high.

If documentary content is a priority on a specific flight, check inflight.guide before departure — catalog changes between monthly updates, and titles may be added mid-cycle.

→ Check the current KLM documentary catalog — inflight.guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How many documentaries does KLM have in May 2026? KLM's May 2026 inflight entertainment catalog contains three confirmed documentaries: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025), Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024), and De bezette stad (2024, Dutch). The Dear Ms. documentary available in April has been removed.

Is the Springsteen documentary on KLM in May 2026? Yes — Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025), about the making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album, is confirmed in KLM's May 2026 catalog. It scores ~88% on Rotten Tomatoes; a Metacritic score is not widely available.

What happened to the Dear Ms. documentary on KLM? The Dear Ms. documentary was confirmed in KLM's April 2026 catalog but has been removed in May. This is consistent with short-cycle documentary licensing patterns. Check inflight.guide for updates on whether it returns in future months.

Is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story available on KLM? Yes — Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024, ~87% combined) is confirmed in KLM's May 2026 catalog, carrying over from April.