Sort by IMDb Rating - Highest Rated Movies and TV Shows With Steve James
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1. 30 for 30 (2009– )
TV-G | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A collection of documentary films focused on sports.
Stars: Brent Musburger, Chuck D, Larry Bird, William C. Rhoden
Votes: 5,554
2. A Lion in the House (2006)
Not Rated | 225 min | Documentary
Five families struggle with the ups and downs of cancer treatment over the course of six years.
Directors: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert | Stars: Justin Ashcraft, Adam Ashcraft, Dale Ashcraft, Debbie Ashcraft
Votes: 397
3. Frontline (1983– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, News
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world and American television's top long-form news and current affairs series since 1983
Stars: Will Lyman, Sarah Childress, Priyanka Boghani, Arun Rath
Votes: 2,298
4. Hard Earned (2015– )
Documentary
Hard Earned, a six-part documentary series for Al Jazeera America, follows five families around the country to find out what it takes to get by on 8, 10, or even 17 dollars an hour.
Votes: 16
5.
Independent Lens (1999– )
Episode:
The New Americans
(2004)
TV-14 | 408 min | Documentary
The New Americans follows four years in the lives of a diverse group of contemporary immigrants and refugees as they journey to start new lives in America. The detailed portraits--woven ... See full summary »
Directors: Laura Angelica Simon, Susana Aikin, Carlos Aparicio, Jerry Blumenthal, Steve James, Indu Krishnan, Gordon Quinn, Renee Tajima-Pena | Stars: Ismail Bashey, Don Cheadle, America Ferrera
Votes: 35
6. Higher Goals (1993)
Not Rated | 30 min | Documentary, Short
Higher Goals encourages young athletes to put their dreams of professional sports in perspective and focus on getting an education. The real life stories of two high school athletes ... See full summary »
Directors: Steve James, Frederick Marx | Stars: Tim Meadows, Isiah Thomas
Votes: 14
7. Hoop Dreams Reunion (1995 TV Special)
Sport
Stars: James Brown, Arthur Agee, William Gates, Peter Gilbert
Votes: 23
8. Hoop Dreams (1994)
PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport
A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.
Director: Steve James | Stars: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates
Votes: 28,043 | Gross: $7.83M
9. Grassroots Chicago (1991)
Not Rated | 30 min | Documentary, Short
A documentary about neighborhood people creating change. Produced for the MacArthur Foundation by Kartemquin Films, this piece features six vignettes on community organizing in different ... See full summary »
Director: Steve James
Votes: 10
10. Independent Lens (1999– )
TV-14 | Documentary
Independent Lens is an award-winning PBS documentary series that streams on the PBS App and airs on public television. Independent Lens documentaries focus on stories of underrepresented ... See full summary »
Stars: America Ferrera, Terrence Howard, Stanley Tucci, Mary-Louise Parker
Votes: 635
11. The Luckiest Guy in the World (2023– )
231 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Follows the life of Bill Walton, from his earliest days as a high school basketball phenom to some of his wildly successful years at UCLA.
Stars: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, World B. Free
Votes: 97
12.
Frontline (1983– )
Episode:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
(2017)
TV-PG | Documentary, News
The story of the only U.S. bank prosecuted after the financial crisis, and a Chinese immigrant family's fight to clear their names.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Priyanka Boghani, Sarah Childress, Margaret Colin, Justin Deas
Votes: 32
13. Minding the Gap (2018)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Sport
Filmmaker Bing Liu searches for correlations between his skateboarder friends' turbulent upbringings and the complexities of modern masculinity.
Director: Bing Liu | Stars: Kent Abernathy, Mengyue Bolen, Nina Bowgren, Keire Johnson
Votes: 10,481 | Gross: $0.01M
14. P.O.V. (1988– )
60 min | Documentary
POV, a cinema term for "point of view," is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. Since 1988, POV has presented more than 300 of the best, boldest, and ... See full summary »
Stars: Stacey Abrams, Rashida Tlaib, Lucy McBath, Veronica Escobar
Votes: 245
15. America to Me (2018)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary
Follows students, teachers and administrators in suburban Chicago's Oak Park and River Forest High School over the course of a year.
Stars: Ke'Shawn Kumsa, Charles Donalson Jr., Kendale McCoy, Grant Lee
Votes: 415
16.
City So Real (2020)
Episode:
If You Want to Break the Machine
(2020)
TV-14 | Documentary
No clear front-runner emerges in the mayoral race; over a dozen candidates jockey for votes.
Director: Steve James
Votes: 11
17. Life Itself (2014)
R | 121 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and career of the renowned film critic and social commentator, Roger Ebert.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese
Votes: 16,262 | Gross: $0.81M
18. Stevie (2002)
R | 140 min | Documentary
In 1995, director Steve James (of 'Hoop Dreams') returned to rural Southern Illinois to reconnect with Stevie Fielding, a troubled young boy to whom he had been an "Advocate Big Brother" ten years earlier.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Steve James, Stephen Fielding, Tonya Gregory, Bernice Hagler
Votes: 2,741 | Gross: $0.10M
19. SXSW Flashback 2010 (2010 TV Special)
TV-PG | 57 min | News
Stars: Angela Bettis, Jo Bird, Debra Brown, Chamillionaire
Votes: 12
20.
30 for 30 (2009– )
Episode:
The Luckiest Guy in the World
(2023)
TV-G | 58 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A four-part look into the life and times of the legendary and mercurial basketball player, Bill Walton.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, World B. Free
Votes: 72
21. City So Real (2020)
TV-14 | 341 min | Documentary
A modern, multifaceted look at the city of Chicago.
Votes: 296
22. The Rescue List (2020)
81 min | Documentary
Two boys escape from slavery, spend a year in a rehabilitation shelter, and eventually reunite with their families. Meanwhile, the man who rescued them launches another mission to liberate more children. For him, the work is personal.
Directors: Alyssa Fedele, Zachary Fink | Stars: Manny Addo, Mary Addo, Solomon Kewku Addo, Stephen Kwame Addo
Votes: 47
23.
City So Real (2020)
Episode:
Blood Sport
(2020)
TV-14 | Documentary
With Rahm Emanuel out of the race, 21 mayoral candidates submit petitions to replace him.
Director: Steve James
Votes: 11
24.
City So Real (2020)
Episode:
You Gotta Make It or You Gotta Take It
(2020)
TV-14 | Documentary
The mayor and Chicago residents grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread social upheaval.
Director: Steve James
Votes: 11
25.
America to Me (2018)
Episode:
What's the Big Deal About Oak Park?
(2018)
TV-MA | 58 min | Documentary
The school year begins at OPRF for Grant, Tiara, Charles, Terrence and Ke'Shawn. Controversy over a Black Lives Matter assembly still reverberates as the school confronts years of racial inequities.
Directors: Steve James, Bing Liu, Rebecca Parrish, Kevin Shaw | Stars: Charles Donalson Jr., Ke'Shawn Kumsa, Grant Lee, Kendale McCoy
Votes: 21
26. The Invisible War (2012)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Crime
An investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.
Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick, Kori Cioca, Jessica Hinves
Votes: 7,085 | Gross: $0.07M
27. These Amazing Shadows (2011)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
Tells the history and importance of The National Film Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of film, and indeed the American experience itself.
Directors: Paul Mariano, Kurt Norton | Stars: Jeff Adachi, James H. Billington, Robin Blaetz, Brooks Boliek
Votes: 1,758
28.
30 for 30 (2009– )
Episode:
The Luckiest Guy in the World: Part 2
(2023)
TV-G | 52 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Iconic basketball player, Bill Walton, is profiled, covering his stellar college career at UCLA, his injury plagued professional career, political and social activism, and outsized personality.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Julius Erving
Votes: 60
29. The Interrupters (2011)
Unrated | 125 min | Documentary, Crime
A year in the life of a city grappling with urban violence.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Tio Hardiman, Ameena Matthews, Toya Batey, Cobe Williams
Votes: 3,617 | Gross: $0.28M
30.
City So Real (2020)
Episode:
With All Due Respect to the Candidate
(2020)
TV-14 | Documentary
The petitions process results in a mayoral ballot with a record 14 candidates.
Director: Steve James
Votes: 11
31. The Hunting Ground (2015)
PG-13 | 103 min | Documentary
An exposé of rape crimes on U.S. college campuses, their institutional cover-ups, and the devastating toll they take on students and their families.
Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Andrea Pino, Annie Clark, Claire Potter, Melinda Manning
Votes: 6,488 | Gross: $0.41M
32. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso (II) (2016 Podcast Series)
Stars: Sam Fragoso, Ashish Jha, W. Kamau Bell, Jenny Slate
Votes: 12
33. The 50 Greatest Documentaries (2005 TV Movie)
150 min | Documentary
A countdown of the top 50 documentaries, based on a vote by documentary filmmakers.
Directors: Garry John Hughes, Elaine Shepherd | Stars: Zoë Wanamaker, David Aaronovitch, Barry Ackroyd, Randall Adams
Votes: 97
34. Head Games (2012)
PG-13 | 95 min | Documentary, Sport
A documentary that follows football player and pro-wrestler Chris Nowinski's quest to uncover the truth about the consequences of sports-related head injuries.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Chris Nowinski, Gene Atkins, Laura Balcer, Hunt Batjer
Votes: 366 | Gross: $0.01M
35. The Fabulous Picture Show (2006–2011)
History, Talk-Show
Stars: Amanda Palmer, Cherien Dabis, Scandar Copti, Mohamed Al Daradji
Votes: 43
36. The War Tapes (2006)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary, War
Called up for service in Iraq, several members of the National Guard were given digital video cameras. This film, edited from their footage, provides a perspective on a complex and troubled conflict.
Director: Deborah Scranton | Stars: Zack Bazzi, Duncan Domey, Ben Flanders, Mike Moriarty
Votes: 1,316 | Gross: $0.25M
37. At the Death House Door (2008)
98 min | Documentary
An investigation of the wrongful death of Carlos DeLuna, who was executed in Texas on December 7, 1989, after prosecutors ignored evidence inculpating a man, who bragged to friends about committing the crimes of which DeLuna was convicted.
Directors: Peter Gilbert, Steve James | Stars: Carroll Pickett, Steve Mills, Maurice Possley, Anne Ellis
Votes: 439
38. Let the Little Light Shine (2022)
86 min | Documentary
A high-achieving elementary school near downtown Chicago is a lifeline for Black children - until gentrification threatens its closure.
Director: Kevin Shaw
Votes: 29
39. Life After Hoop Dreams (2015 Video)
40 min | Documentary, Short
Directors: Steve James, Abbey Lustgarten | Stars: Arthur Agee, Sheila Agee, Catherine Gates, William Gates
Votes: 43
40.
Frontline (1983– )
Episode:
The Interrupters
(2012)
TV-PG | 114 min | Documentary, News
Follow a group of former gang leaders trying to "interrupt" shootings and protect their communities from the violence they once committed.
Director: Steve James | Star: Arun Rath
Votes: 21
41. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (2016)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
A small financial institution called Abacus becomes the only company criminally indicted in the wake of the United States' 2008 mortgage crisis.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Thomas Sung, Hwei Lin Sung, Cyrus Vance Jr., Matt Taibbi
Votes: 2,942 | Gross: $0.10M
42. The Ants & the Grasshopper (2021)
74 min | Documentary
Anita Chitaya has a gift; she can help bring abundant food from dead soil, she can make men fight for gender equality, and she can end child hunger in her village. Now, to save her home ... See full summary »
Directors: Raj Patel, Zak Piper
Votes: 49
43. Edith+Eddie (2017)
TV-14 | 29 min | Documentary, Short
Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, are America's oldest interracial newlyweds. Their love story is disrupted by a family feud that threatens to tear the couple apart.
Director: Laura Checkoway
Votes: 730
44.
The New Yorker Presents (2015–2016)
Episode:
Episode #1.2
(2016)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary
The Ride of Their Lives: Filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams) profiles two young people in the world's most dangerous sport - bull riding. Black Bodies in Motion and in Pain: Writer Edwidge ... See full summary »
Directors: Blair Foster, Steve James, Ryan Miller | Stars: Cody Bunn, Roz Chast, Edwidge Danticat, Liana Finck
Votes: 23
45. The New Yorker Presents (2015–2016)
M | 30 min | Documentary
From award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney's Jigsaw Productions, Amazon Prime Video presents a groundbreaking new series that brings America's most award-winning magazine, The New Yorker, to ... See full summary »
Stars: Farley Katz, Roz Chast, Liana Finck, Benjamin Schwartz
Votes: 461
46.
City So Real (2020)
Episode:
Welcome to Chicago
(2020)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary
Incumbent Rahm Emanuel must choose whether to run for re-election in Chicago's mayoral race.
Director: Steve James
Votes: 14
47.
30 for 30 (2009– )
Episode:
No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson
(2010)
TV-G | 80 min | Documentary, Biography, History
There has always been questions raised about Allen Iverson's conviction for a fight he was involved in as a young man. The film maker goes back to his home town to try and understand the ... See full summary »
Director: Steve James
Votes: 1,432
48. Prefontaine (1997)
PG-13 | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Based on the life of Olympic hopeful Steve Prefontaine, a long distance runner who lived in Oregon and died young.
Director: Steve James | Stars: Jared Leto, R. Lee Ermey, Ed O'Neill, Breckin Meyer
Votes: 7,675 | Gross: $0.53M
49. WGN Morning News (1994– )
News
Chicago news, traffic, weather and sports sprinkled with national news of interest, along with interviews, entertainment and technology reports, humorous segments and looks at pop culture.
Stars: Dean Richards, Mike Toomey, Robin Baumgarten, Larry Potash
Votes: 145
50. Orientations: Chris Doyle - Stirred But Not Shaken (2001)
Not Rated | 52 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and work of Chris Doyle, the acclaimed Australian cinematographer who found regular work as the collaborator of maverick Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-Wai.
Director: Rick Farquharson | Stars: Christopher Doyle, Matt Dillon, Paul Fonoroff, Curtis Hanson
Votes: 47