Documentaries worth watching
by deloudelouvain | created - 10 May 2018 | updated - 25 Feb 2023 | PublicAll kind of interesting documentaries
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1. Racing Extinction (2015)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Adventure, News
A documentary that follows undercover activists trying to stave off a man-made mass extinction.
Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: Elon Musk, Joel Sartore, Louie Psihoyos, Charles Hambleton
Votes: 8,191
2. Religulous (2008)
R | 101 min | Documentary, Comedy, War
Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.
Director: Larry Charles | Stars: Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden, Steven Burg
Votes: 60,238 | Gross: $13.00M
3. Marley (2012)
PG-13 | 144 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley.
Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, Jimmy Cliff
Votes: 14,489 | Gross: $1.41M
4. 13th (2016)
TV-MA | 100 min | Documentary, Crime, History
An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality.
Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, Cory Booker, Dolores Canales
Votes: 37,670
5. Kenny (2017)
86 min | Documentary, Sport
An intimate and revealing portrait of Kenny Dalglish - the player, the man, the truth.
Director: Stewart Sugg | Stars: Margaret Aspinall, John Barnes, Kelly Cates, Jodie Christmas
Votes: 949
6. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
PG-13 | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The life and work of photographer Sebastião Salgado, who has spent forty years documenting societies in hidden corners of the world.
Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders | Stars: Sebastião Salgado, Wim Wenders, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Votes: 23,446 | Gross: $1.34M
7. Merchants of Doubt (2014)
PG-13 | 96 min | Documentary
A documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change.
Director: Robert Kenner | Stars: Frederick Singer, Naomi Oreskes, Jamy Ian Swiss, Sam Roe
Votes: 3,932 | Gross: $0.19M
8. Fed Up (2014)
PG | 92 min | Documentary
An examination of America's obesity epidemic and the food industry's role in aggravating it.
Director: Stephanie Soechtig | Stars: Michele Simon, Katie Couric, Bill Clinton, Michael Pollan
Votes: 12,354 | Gross: $1.54M
9. Icarus (2017)
TV-MA | 120 min | Documentary, Sport
When Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller.
Director: Bryan Fogel | Stars: Bryan Fogel, Dave Zabriskie, Don Catlin, Grigory Rodchenkov
Votes: 54,690
10. Blood Road (2017)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary, History, Sport
The mysteries surrounding her father's death in the Vietnam war lead ultra-endurance mountain biker Rebecca Rusch on an emotional journey as she pedals 1200 miles of the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Director: Nicholas Schrunk | Stars: Rebecca Rusch, Huyen Nguyen, Ian Adamson, Sharon Bannister
Votes: 392
11. Distance Between Dreams (2016)
Not Rated | 63 min | Documentary, Action, Adventure
In Distance Between Dreams, the most historic year in big wave surfing comes to life through the eyes of iconic surfer Ian Walsh, as he sets mind and body in motion to redefine the upper limits of what's considered rideable.
Director: Rob Bruce | Stars: Grant Baker, Chris Christenson, Shane Dorian, John John Florence
Votes: 289
12. Kedi (2016)
Not Rated | 79 min | Documentary
A profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.
Director: Ceyda Torun | Stars: Yaman Barlas, Sari, Arzu Göl, Kemal Suncu
Votes: 15,871 | Gross: $2.83M
13. Mountain (I) (2017)
PG | 74 min | Documentary
An experience about the highest peaks around the world.
Director: Jennifer Peedom | Star: Willem Dafoe
Votes: 4,251 | Gross: $0.24M
14. Amy (III) (2015)
R | 128 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.
Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Russell Brand
Votes: 55,026 | Gross: $8.41M
15. The Great Invisible (2014)
PG-13 | 92 min | Documentary
A documentary on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion as seen through the eyes of oil executives, survivors and Gulf Coast residents who experienced it first-hand and then were left to pick up the pieces while the world moved on.
Director: Margaret Brown | Stars: Meccah Boynton-Brown, Doug Brown, Bob Cavnar, Brent Coon
Votes: 597 | Gross: $0.01M
16. Hired Gun (2016)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary film about session and touring musicians that are hired by well established and famous bands and artists like Metallica, KISS, and Billy Joel. These hired guns may not be household names, but are still masters of their craft.
Director: Fran Strine | Stars: John 5, Kenny Aronoff, Corey Britz, Kara Britz
Votes: 2,210
17. Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale (2016)
90 min | Documentary
The incredible, true-life story of a baby elephant born into a rescue camp in the wilderness of Botswana. When she's suddenly orphaned at one month of age, it's up to the men who look after her herd to save her life.
Directors: Ben Bowie, Geoffrey Luck
Votes: 407
18. Ethos (I) (2011)
Not Rated | 78 min | Documentary
Hosted by twice Oscar nominated actor Woody Harrelson, Ethos explores the mechanisms in our systems that work against democracy, the environment and our own personal liberty.
Director: Pete McGrain | Stars: Woody Harrelson, Justin Lewis, Bill Hogan, Noam Chomsky
Votes: 1,253
19. Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee (2016)
TV-MA | 97 min | Documentary, Crime
Tech tycoon John McAfee made millions from his antivirus software. Now, he may be best known his bizarre and scandalous lifestyle.
Director: Nanette Burstein | Stars: Allison Adonizio, Nanette Burstein, Mark Coker, John McAfee
Votes: 3,605
20. The Dawn Wall (2017)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
In an unbelievable story of perseverance, free climber Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson attempt to scale the impossible 3000ft Dawn Wall of El Capitan.
Directors: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer | Stars: John Branch, Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
Votes: 21,232 | Gross: $1.08M
21. Attenborough's Life That Glows (2016 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary, Family
Sir David Attenborough explores the world of bio-luminescence, the often spectacular natural light produced by some creatures. Specially designed cameras reveal nature's leading lights.
Director: Joe Loncraine | Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 715
22. The Godfathers of Hardcore (2017)
TV-MA | 95 min | Documentary, Music
Follows the two of the most respected men in underground music, Roger Miret and Vinnie Stigma of the band Agnostic Front.
Director: Ian McFarland | Stars: Roger Miret, Vinnie Stigma, Agnostic Front, Mike Gallo
Votes: 590
23. A Year in Space (2016 TV Movie)
58 min | Documentary
Astronaut Scott Kelly's record-breaking year in space from launch to landing.
Directors: Jonathan Halperin, Shaul Schwarz | Stars: Mark Kelly, Scott Kelly, Barack Obama
Votes: 240
24. A Plastic Ocean (2016)
102 min | Documentary
Journalist Craig Leeson teams up with diver Tanya Streeter and an international team of scientists and researchers, and they travel to twenty locations around the world over the next four years to explore the fragile state of our oceans.
Director: Craig Leeson | Stars: David Attenborough, Sylvia Earle, Ben Fogle, Craig Leeson
Votes: 3,232
25. Human Flow (2017)
PG-13 | 140 min | Documentary
Human Flow is director and artist Ai Weiwei's detailed and heartbreaking exploration into the global refugee crisis.
Director: Ai Weiwei | Stars: Israa Abboud, Hiba Abed, Rami Abu Sondos, Fadi Abou Akleh
Votes: 2,795 | Gross: $0.53M
26. The Farthest (2017)
PG | 121 min | Documentary, History
It is one of humankind's greatest achievements. More than 12 billion miles away a tiny spaceship is leaving our Solar System and entering the void of deep space - the first human-made object ever to do so.
Director: Emer Reynolds | Stars: Frank Drake, Carolyn Porco, John Casani, Lawrence Krauss
Votes: 4,581 | Gross: $0.01M
27. Welcome to Leith (2015)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary
When a noted white supremacist moves into their town, the residents of Leith, North Dakota do what they can to prevent him from taking control of the municipality.
Directors: Michael Beach Nichols, Christopher K. Walker | Stars: Ryan Schock, Heather Cook, Lee Cook, Bobby Harper
Votes: 4,457 | Gross: $0.04M
28. Free Solo (2018)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport
Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone.
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Stars: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe
Votes: 77,327 | Gross: $17.54M
29. In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)
PG | 100 min | Documentary, History
The crew members of NASA's Apollo missions tell their story in their own words.
Director: David Sington | Stars: Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Mike Collins
Votes: 6,926 | Gross: $1.13M
30. The Art of Flight (2011)
PG-13 | 80 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport
Two years in the making, this film gives snowboarder Travis Rice and friends the opportunity to redefine what is possible in the mountains.
Director: Curt Morgan | Stars: Travis Rice, Mark Landvik, John Jackson, Nicolas Müller
Votes: 8,024
31. Humanity from Space (2015 TV Movie)
PG | 116 min | Documentary
Trace humankind's long journey from hunter-gatherer to dominant global species. From the perspective of space, this two-hour special uses mind-boggling data and CGI to disclose the ... See full summary »
Director: Duncan Copp | Star: Kasper Michaels
Votes: 98
32. Roger Waters - Us + Them (2019)
Not Rated | 135 min | Documentary, Music
A look at Roger Waters' 2017-2018 concert tour.
Directors: Sean Evans, Roger Waters | Stars: Rufat Aliyev, Farshid Azizi, Nikoo Bafti, Azzurra Caccetta
Votes: 1,346
33. I Am Human (II) (2019)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
Meet the world's first 'cyborgs' - a quadriplegic, a blind man, an amputee, a bio-hacker, and a woman with Parkinson's - the scientists who help them, and one entrepreneur who will stop at nothing on his quest to unlock the brain.
Directors: Elena Gaby, Taryn Southern | Stars: Bill Kochevar, Anne Shabason, Stephen Shrubshall, Bryan Johnson
Votes: 199
34. Wall Writers (2016)
Not Rated | 77 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Narrated by John Waters, Wall Writers is a documentary about graffiti in its innocence. Through unprecedented access to TAKI183, CORNBREAD, and other legendary writers, Wall Writers ... See full summary »
Director: Roger Gastman | Stars: Bama, Cornbread, Wicked Gary, La-zar
Votes: 66
35. Life off grid (2016)
86 min | Documentary, News
Off-grid is not a state of mind. It is not about being out of touch, living in a remote place, or turning off your mobile phone. Off-grid simply means living without a connection to the ... See full summary »
Director: Jonathan Taggart
Votes: 305
36. Being Evel (2015)
TV-MA | 99 min | Documentary, Action, Biography
The real story behind the myth of American icon Robert 'Evel' Knievel and his legacy.
Director: Daniel Junge | Stars: Ken Berg, Seth Enslow, Ray Gunn, George Hamilton
Votes: 1,216
37. The Guardians (I) (2018)
104 min | Documentary
An investigative documentary that examines the systemic abuse of elderly people in Las Vegas, Nevada exposing a cautionary tale where some of our society's most vulnerable citizens are robbed of their life savings and freedom.
Director: Billie Mintz | Star: Dee Drenta
Votes: 120
38. In Search of Balance (2016)
TV-PG | 74 min | Documentary
An exploration of a new paradigm of health, science, and medicine, based on the interconnections between us and nature.
Director: Adam Pfleghaar | Stars: Miguel Altieri, Eshel Ben-Jacob, Jamie Boyd, John Calverly
Votes: 226
39. Unlikely Heroes (2003)
Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary, History
For most, the idea of Jewish resistance or defiance during the Holocaust is limited to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and a few isolated acts throughout WWII. "Unlikely Heroes", narrated by Sir... See full summary »
Director: Richard Trank | Stars: Ben Kingsley, Lore Perl, William Perl, Theodor Schneider
Votes: 104
40. Boteti: The Returning River (2011)
49 min | Documentary
For the first time in 30 years, rain has fallen in sufficient quantities hundreds of miles to the north in the Angolan highlands, sending a stream of water through the river bed. Filmed in ... See full summary »
Director: Graeme Duane | Star: Jess Reiss
Votes: 17
41. The Science of Interstellar (2015)
51 min | Documentary
The Science of Christopher Nolan's Sci-Fi, Interstellar.
Director: Gail Willumsen | Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Kip Thorne, Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan
Votes: 620
42. My Scientology Movie (2015)
Not Rated | 99 min | Documentary
Louis Theroux documents his investigation into what goes on behind the scenes of the infamous Church of Scientology.
Director: John Dower | Stars: Louis Theroux, Tom Cruise, Marty Rathbun, Paz de la Huerta
Votes: 13,518 | Gross: $0.02M
43. Night Will Fall (2014)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary, History, War
Researchers discover film footage from World War II that turns out to be a lost documentary shot by Alfred Hitchcock and Sidney Bernstein in 1945 about German concentration camps.
Director: André Singer | Stars: Helena Bonham Carter, Jasper Britton, Leonard Berney, George Leonard
Votes: 3,447
44. Unacknowledged (2017)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary
"Unacknowledged" focuses on the historic files of the Disclosure Project and how UFO secrecy has been ruthlessly enforced-and why. The best evidence for extraterrestrial contact, dating ... See full summary »
Director: Michael Mazzola | Stars: Giancarlo Esposito, Steven M. Greer, Carl Sagan, Richard Doty
Votes: 8,726
45. Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe (2016)
91 min | Documentary
A documentary alleging that the CDC, the government agency charged with protecting the health of American citizens, destroyed data on their 2004 study that allegedly showed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Director: Andrew Wakefield | Stars: Del Bigtree, Mark F. Blaxill, Michaela Blaxill, Baxter Burrowes
Votes: 5,161 | Gross: $0.16M
46. The Way I See It (2020)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary
Former Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza's journey as a person with top secret clearance and total access to the President.
Director: Dawn Porter | Stars: Pete Souza, Barack Obama, Ben Rhodes, Patti Lease
Votes: 1,912 | Gross: $0.05M
47. The Antifascists (2017)
75 min | Documentary
A documentary about the antifascist movement in Sweden and Greece.
Directors: Patrik Öberg, Emil Ramos | Stars: Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Showan Shattak, Athena Farrokhzad, Joel Bjurströmer Almgren
Votes: 200
48. Dark Days (2000)
Not Rated | 82 min | Documentary
A cinematic portrait of the homeless population who live permanently in the underground tunnels of New York City.
Director: Marc Singer | Star: Marc Singer
Votes: 7,176 | Gross: $0.43M
49. Beastie Boys Story (2020)
TV-MA | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Here's a little story they're about to tell... Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of the band, Beastie Boys, and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend and collaborator, Spike Jonze.
Director: Spike Jonze | Stars: Beastie Boys, Mike D, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch
Votes: 7,898
50. Tread (2019)
89 min | Documentary
Pushed to his breaking point, a master welder in a small town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains quietly fortifies a bulldozer with 30 tons of concrete and steel and seeks to destroy those he believes have wronged him.
Director: Paul Solet | Stars: Marvin Heemeyer, Patrick Brower, Glenn Trainor Jr., Casey Farrell
Votes: 3,568
51. Scotch: A Golden Dream (2018)
Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary
An impressive bottle of fine Scotch is in your hand. From barley to barrel, who made it and how did they do it?
Director: Andrew Peat
Votes: 489
52. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020 TV Movie)
PG | 83 min | Documentary, Biography
One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. This unique feature documentary is his witness statement.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Jonathan Hughes, Keith Scholey | Stars: David Attenborough, Max Hughes
Votes: 34,549
53. Winged Migration (2001)
G | 89 min | Documentary
Documentary on the migratory patterns of birds, shot over the course of three years on all seven continents.
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats | Stars: Jacques Perrin, Philippe Labro
Votes: 12,367 | Gross: $10.76M
54. Touching the Void (2003)
R | 106 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama
The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Simon Yates, Joe Simpson, Brendan Mackey, Nicholas Aaron
Votes: 38,091 | Gross: $4.59M
55. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
TV-MA | 62 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens.
Stars: Deanna Thompson, John Green, Claudette Hamlin, Anna Yourkin
Votes: 62,195
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