The First Wave is a gripping 2021 American documentary directed by Matthew Heineman, chronicling the harrowing battle against COVID-19 inside Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York City from March to June 2020. The crew, wearing the same protective gear as hospital staff, captured the immense pressure on frontline workers, with Alex Gibney serving as executive producer. Premiering at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 7, 2021, and released in U.S. theaters by Neon on November 19, 2021, the film explores not just the immediate medical crisis but also the deeper systemic failures in American healthcare revealed by the pandemic. The documentary received critical acclaim, earning a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 85 out of 100 on Metacritic, denoting universal praise. Reviewers lauded it as a stark, immersive snapshot of a crisis that showcases the profound physical and emotional toll on the people who fought it.