Stanley Rother documentary scheduled for nationwide release

The documentary ‘American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story’ is scheduled for a nationwide theatrical release on August 25–27, 2026. Directed by Derek Watson and narrated by Martin Sheen, the film chronicles the life and death of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified.

Rother, an Oklahoma farm boy who served in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, was murdered in 1981 while ministering to the poor in Guatemala. The film explores his devotion to his parishioners and his legacy as a martyr, presented by Fathom Entertainment in both English and Spanish.

The release serves as both a tribute to Rother’s character and a push for his continued cause for canonization. Supporters and religious figures, including Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, note the profound impact of his witness in the face of persecution.