NBC will debut its new nine-part documentary series Survival Mode on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 10 PM ET/PT. Produced by NBC News Studios, the series brings together survivor testimony and frontline accounts from first responders who lived through some of the most destructive disasters in recent memory.
Each episode focuses on a different high-impact event. From the Maui wildfires and Hurricane Ian to the AMTRAK 501 derailment and the Joplin tornado, Survival Mode builds a comprehensive look at the chaos, decisions, and outcomes that defined these moments. The series avoids re-enactments and instead uses direct testimony, broadcast footage, and raw documentation to tell each story.
The premiere will set the tone with back-to-back episodes. On July 14, viewers will hear accounts from Fort Myers Beach residents who endured Hurricane Ian, followed by the story of those forced into the ocean by fast-moving flames during the Maui fires.
Episodes later in the season include the deadly Joplin tornado on July 21, and the Montecito mudslide on August 4, which followed devastating wildfires in California. On August 25, the focus shifts to Superstorm Sandy, one of the most disruptive storms to hit the East Coast in recent decades. The series wraps up on September 1 with the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the luxury cruise liner that ran aground off Italy in 2012.
Executive producers are Chris Cassel, Liz Cole, Elizabeth Fischer, Andy Berg, and Molly O’Brien.
NBC is positioning Survival Mode as a Monday night tentpole through the end of summer, with weekly episodes running through September 1. The project extends the network’s nonfiction slate while leveraging its news division’s production resources and archival access.
