MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / FILM
Filmmaker John Wilson has moved from television to the big screen with The History of Concrete, his first feature-length documentary.
Akure —
Filmmaker John Wilson has moved from television to the big screen with The History of Concrete, his first feature-length documentary.
Wilson is best known for How To with John Wilson, his HBO documentary series that ran for three seasons. Now, his new film expands the style that made the series distinctive.
The History of Concrete uses concrete as its starting point. However, the film quickly becomes more than a study of a building material.
Instead, Wilson uses concrete to explore creativity, cities, work, change and the ways people search for meaning in ordinary life.
The film opened in selected cinemas earlier this month and has new screenings on September 25.
The American Film Institute lists the film as a documentary with a running time of about 100 minutes. Other cinemas are also showing it from September 25, giving audiences more opportunities to see Wilson’s feature debut.
At the centre of the story is Wilson himself. After the end of his HBO series, he struggles with what to do next. He later attends a workshop about writing and selling Hallmark movies.
That experience gives him an unusual idea. He decides to apply the formula of commercial storytelling to a subject that seems far less glamorous: concrete.
The result follows Wilson as he investigates concrete and its place in modern life. He travels, meets different people and follows unexpected connections.
Wilson’s approach remains closely connected to his television work. He observes everyday scenes and turns small encounters into larger stories.
His narration also guides viewers through the film, while the documentary moves between humour, personal reflection and broader questions.
Importantly, the film does not follow a conventional documentary structure. Instead, Wilson allows one subject to lead to another.
A discussion about construction can become a reflection on creativity. A personal problem can lead to an encounter with a stranger.
That approach has already attracted attention from film critics. The Washington Post published a review on September 25 describing the documentary as Wilson’s feature debut and highlighting the way he connects everyday observations with larger ideas.
The Los Angeles Times also reviewed the film on September 25, focusing on Wilson’s ability to build a larger story from ordinary material.
KUNC’s review, also published September 25, described the film as a journey through Wilson’s world. The review noted that the documentary is only partly about concrete.
Instead, it follows Wilson’s personal experiences and the unexpected paths that develop from them.
The film also has a personal connection to Wilson’s life. According to the Associated Press, the project grew from an interest in concrete and a problem involving his home.
That simple starting point eventually developed into a feature about construction, permanence and the creative process.
Wilson’s filmmaking process also separates the project from conventional Hollywood productions.
Rather than beginning with a tightly fixed story, he follows ideas and encounters as they develop. This allows unexpected people and moments to shape the final film.
His independent approach has also extended beyond filmmaking. Wilson co-owns Low Cinema, a small movie theatre in Queens that shows an eclectic selection of films.
The History of Concrete also features collaborators from Wilson’s filmmaking circle. Josh Safdie serves as an executive producer.
Safdie and Wilson have known each other for years, and their shared interest in unconventional storytelling has influenced the project.
Although concrete remains central to the film, Wilson does not treat it simply as an engineering subject. Instead, he considers what the material represents.
Concrete can suggest strength and permanence, yet it can also crack, deteriorate and require constant repair. Those ideas become useful metaphors for personal and creative uncertainty.
The documentary also touches on the environmental impact of concrete. Because concrete is used on such a massive scale, its production has important environmental consequences.
Wilson brings that issue into the film without abandoning his observational and humorous style.
Meanwhile, the documentary continues to attract audiences beyond Wilson’s existing television following.
Its theatrical release gives viewers who know his HBO work a chance to experience his storytelling on a larger scale. It also introduces his style to people who may not have watched the series.
The September 25 release activity is therefore an important moment for the project. The American Film Institute lists multiple screenings on Friday, while other independent cinemas have also scheduled showings.
The release also arrives as audiences show interest in documentaries built around unexpected subjects.
Wilson’s film combines everyday observation with storytelling. It shows how a filmmaker can move from television to features without abandoning his creative voice that built an audience.
For the industry, the project highlights a route into feature filmmaking. Wilson developed an idea and allowed it to grow through research, filming and encounters.
The film’s reception also shows interest in documentaries that take unconventional routes. Rather than relying on a traditional historical timeline, Wilson uses personal experiences and unexpected observations to build his narrative.
As a result, the documentary sits between personal filmmaking, comedy and observational cinema.
For Wilson, the move into feature filmmaking marks a new stage after How To with John Wilson.
The HBO series established his distinctive voice, while The History of Concrete gives him more room to explore it.
Ultimately, the film uses an ordinary material to examine much larger questions.
It considers how people build homes, cities and careers, but also how those structures can change or break down. Through humour and personal storytelling, Wilson turns concrete into a way of thinking about modern life.
As The History of Concrete continues its theatrical run, the film represents a notable transition for Wilson.
He has moved from a successful television documentary series into feature filmmaking while keeping the observational style that audiences associate with him.
For viewers interested in films that combine documentary, humour and personal storytelling, the new release offers a fresh entry in the current film landscape.
