docs to watch
by chizel | created - 26 Mar 2016 | updated - 26 Mar 2020 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Indie Game: The Movie (2012)
Not Rated | 103 min | Documentary, Drama
A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.
Directors: Lisanne Pajot, James Swirsky | Stars: Jonathan Blow, Brandon Boyer, Renaud Bédard, Anthony Carboni
Votes: 21,441
2. DSKNECTD (2013)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary
A groundbreaking exploration into how mobile devices, virtual worlds, social media and the Internet are reshaping face-to face human interactions - for the good and the bad.
Director: Dominic H. White | Stars: Daniel Chouinard, Christopher Cacciacarne, Adam Gazzaley, Jonathan Gratch
Votes: 113
3. Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013)
Not Rated | 79 min | Documentary, News
A documentary that exposes what corporations and governments learn about people through Internet and cell phone usage, and what can be done about it ... if anything.
Director: Cullen Hoback | Stars: Max Schrems, Moby, Mark Zuckerberg, Orson Scott Card
Votes: 6,542 | Gross: $0.06M
4. Code 2600 (2011)
PG | 82 min | Documentary
CODE 2600 documents the Info-Tech Age, told by the events and people who helped build and manipulate it. It explores the impact this new connectivity has on our ability to remain human while maintaining our personal privacy and security.
Director: Jeremy Zerechak | Stars: Julia Concolino, Lorrie Cranor, Jennifer Granick, Phil Lapsley
Votes: 218
5. The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014)
Not Rated | 105 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz, who took his own life at the age of 26.
Director: Brian Knappenberger | Stars: Aaron Swartz, Tim Berners-Lee, Cindy Cohn, Gabriella Coleman
Votes: 18,037 | Gross: $0.05M
6. We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists (2012)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary
A documentary on the workings and beliefs of the self-described "hacktivist" collective, Anonymous.
Director: Brian Knappenberger | Stars: Anon2World, Anonyops, Julian Assange, Aaron Barr
Votes: 10,419
7. Prehistoric Park (2006)
60 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama
Nigel Marven travels back in time to rescue exotic creatures on the brink of extinction. CGI is used to create animals no longer seen on earth, from woolly mammoths, and T Rex, to dinosaur-eating crocodiles.
Stars: Rod Arthur, Suzanne McNabb, Nigel Marven, David Jason
Votes: 1,774
8. The Story of Science (2010– )
Documentary
Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
Stars: Michael Mosley, Simon Chaplin, Floor Lagerwey, Margaret Esiri
Votes: 652
9. Earth (2007)
G | 90 min | Documentary
Feature-length version of the documentary TV series Planet Earth (2006), following the migration paths of four animal families.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield | Stars: James Earl Jones, Patrick Stewart, Anggun, Ulrich Tukur
Votes: 14,737 | Gross: $38.05M
10. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure (2007)
Unrated | 40 min | Documentary, Animation, Short
Brings to life some of the most bizarre, ferocious and fascinating creatures to ever inhabit the ocean. Combines animation with recreations in a prehistoric adventure. A journey to the ... See full summary »
Director: Sean MacLeod Phillips | Stars: Liev Schreiber, Jennifer Aguilar, Michael Ashcraft, Paul W. Burmaster
Votes: 1,067 | Gross: $23.55M
11. The African Lion (1955)
G | 75 min | Family, Documentary
Experience the thrill of the hunt and the heartwarming fun of a mother lion caring for her playful cubs as wildlife experts Elma Milotte and Alfred Milotte spend three years on the plains of Africa studying the king of beasts.
Director: James Algar | Star: Winston Hibler
Votes: 590
12. Through the Wormhole (2010–2017)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
Hosted by Morgan Freeman, Through the Wormhole will explore the deepest mysteries of existence - the questions that have puzzled mankind for eternity. What are we made of? What was there ... See full summary »
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Sean Carroll, Michio Kaku, Kip Thorne
Votes: 18,426
13. OceanWorld 3D (2009)
G | 81 min | Documentary
A 3-D documentary chronicling a sea turtle's journey across the oceans.
Director: Jean-Jacques Mantello | Star: Marion Cotillard
Votes: 555
14. The Great Loss (2013)
49 min | Documentary, Drama
"The Great Loss" is about the director and producer Mikael Lemon. His goals with the movie is to find out what economic forces underlying the prevention of scientific discoveries about how ... See full summary »
Director: Mikael Lemon | Stars: Mats Amundin, Douglas Båld, Julia Carlström, Gerald Dick
Votes: 21
15. Big Cat Diary (1996– )
TV-G | 25 min | Documentary
Come along on an adventure with Jonathan Scott, Simon King, and other professionals and camera crews as they journey through the Masai Mara game park in Kenya, Africa. In their travels they... See full summary »
Stars: Simon King, Jonathan Scott, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Toto the Cheetah
Votes: 671
16. The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)
G | 78 min | Documentary
The mysterious lives of flamingos are captured on film with a birds-eye view of the animals living in Africa.
Directors: Matthew Aeberhard, Leander Ward | Stars: Mariella Frostrup, Zabou Breitman, Karoline Herfurth
Votes: 1,418
17. The Meerkats (2008)
G | 83 min | Documentary
An inspiring exploration of one family's resilience and fortitude shot using innovative and groundbreaking filming techniques.
Director: James Honeyborne | Stars: Paul Newman, Rufus Beck
Votes: 1,670
18. Oceans (2008)
G | 84 min | Documentary
An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud | Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Jacques Perrin, Rie Miyazawa
Votes: 10,072 | Gross: $19.42M
19. Bears (2004)
Not Rated | 39 min | Short, Documentary
From black bears in Montana to polar bears in the arctic, Bears features a fresh view of these powerful, majestic and often misunderstood animals in the full glory of their natural habitat,... See full summary »
Director: David Lickley | Star: Tyrone Benskin
Votes: 215
20. Nature's Great Events (2009)
49 min | Documentary, Family
This exploration of the planet's most breathtaking natural events follows vast migrations, huge ocean convergences, powerful weather systems and mighty floods.
Stars: David Attenborough, Joe Stevens, Shane Moore, Owen Newman
Votes: 3,372
21. Life in Cold Blood (2008)
290 min | Documentary
A nature documentary series written and presented by David Attenborough, that looks at the evolution and habits of amphibians and reptiles.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 2,953
22. Life in the Undergrowth (2005)
50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's ground-breaking exploration of a group of organisms that are vast in number, yet often too small to be noticed: the invertebrates.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 3,844
23. Africa (2013)
TV-PG | 51 min | Documentary
Africa, the world's wildest continent. David Attenborough takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most diverse places in the world. We visit deserts, savannas, and jungles and meet up with some of Africa's amazing wildlife.
Stars: David Attenborough, Simon Blakeney, Bill Rudolph, Justine Evans
Votes: 17,112
24. This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
Unrated | 98 min | Documentary
Kirby Dick's exposé about the American movie ratings board.
Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Kirby Dick, Kimberly Peirce, Darren Aronofsky, Atom Egoyan
Votes: 28,620 | Gross: $0.30M
25. The Men Who Built America (2012)
TV-14 | 37 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan. Their names are part of history and synonymous with the American dream. These men transformed every industry they touched: oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobiles, and finance.
Stars: Campbell Scott, H.W. Brands, Mark Cuban, Donny Deutsch
Votes: 4,574
26. Sherpa (2015)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary
In 2014, director Jennifer Peedom was working on a documentary about the Sherpas of Mount Everest when the largest avalanche in recent history occurred on the mountain, killing 16 Sherpas.
Director: Jennifer Peedom | Stars: Russell Brice, Tim Medvetz, Pasang Tenzing Sherpa, Phurba Tashi Sherpa
Votes: 5,411
27. Making a Murderer (2015–2018)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Crime
Filmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.
Stars: Steven Avery, Dolores Avery, Laura Nirider, Allan Avery
Votes: 102,780
28. The Life of Mammals (2002–2003)
50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's comprehensive study of how a remarkable group of animals evolved - a group that includes ourselves.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 4,239
29. The Fog of War (2003)
PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense under President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert McNamara.
Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Robert McNamara, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon
Votes: 25,042 | Gross: $4.20M
30. Blue Planet II (2017)
TV-G | 52 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns to the world's oceans in this sequel to the acclaimed documentary filming rare and unusual creatures of the deep, as well as documenting the problems our oceans face.
Stars: David Attenborough, Peter Drost, Roger Munns, Roger Horrocks
Votes: 46,308
31. The Civil War (1990)
TV-14 | 76 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.
Stars: David McCullough, Sam Waterston, Julie Harris, Jason Robards
Votes: 18,450
32. The Untold History of the United States (2012–2013)
TV-MA | 58 min | Documentary, History, War
Oliver Stone 's re-examination of under-reported events in American history.
Stars: Oliver Stone, Alan Shearman, Jim Ward, André Sogliuzzo
Votes: 9,699
33. The Pacific (2010)
TV-MA | 53 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The Pacific Theatre of World War II, as seen through the eyes of several young Marines.
Stars: James Badge Dale, Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda, Ashton Holmes
Votes: 129,888
34. Life Story (2014–2015)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
David Attenbourough narrates on the greatest of all adventures - the journey through life.
Stars: David Attenborough, Rolf Steinmann, Emma Napper, Sophie Lanfear
Votes: 2,336
35. Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough (2015–2016)
Documentary
David Attenborough revisits the Great Barrier Reef after nearly 60 years. His visit takes him from the most exposed part of the reef as well as down to 300m below the surface discovering corals never seen before.
Stars: David Attenborough, Barack Obama
Votes: 1,530
36. The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)
TV-PG | 98 min | Documentary, History
Documentary about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles.
Director: Wendy Apple | Stars: Kathy Bates, Zach Staenberg, Jodie Foster, Michael Tronick
Votes: 3,195
37. Before the Flood (2016)
PG | 96 min | Documentary, News
A look at how climate change affects our environment and what society can do to prevent the demise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities across the planet.
Director: Fisher Stevens | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ban Ki-moon, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mike Brune
Votes: 28,858
38. How We Built Britain (2007)
Documentary, History
A journey through some of Britain's greatest historic buildings to examine their impact and influence on the country's architectural and social history.
Star: David Dimbleby
Votes: 69
39. Dynasties (2018–2022)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
A nature documentary series on five vulnerable or endangered species known to form enduring populations: chimpanzee, emperor penguin, lion, tiger and African wild dog.
Stars: David Attenborough, John Brown, Sophie Darlington, Justine Evans
Votes: 5,120
40. Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (2009 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary, Family
David Attenborough explores Charles Darwin's controversial theory of evolution by natural selection.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 2,227
41. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009)
TV-MA | 312 min | Documentary, History, War
This six-part series traces the Second World War, from the rise of the Nazis to the surrender of the Japanese, with detailed portraits of key figures.
Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, Martin Sheen, Rudolf Hess
Votes: 14,275
42. Apollo 11 (I) (2019)
G | 93 min | Documentary, History
A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.
Director: Todd Douglas Miller | Stars: Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Deke Slayton
Votes: 27,201 | Gross: $9.04M
43. 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: 77,284 | Gross: $17.54M
44. Dark Tourist (2018)
TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Adventure
From a nuclear lake to a haunted forest, New Zealand filmmaker and journalist David Farrier ('Tickled') visits unusual -- and often macabre -- tourism spots around the world.
Stars: David Farrier, Christian Wolf, Jhon Jairo Velásquez, Scott Michaels
Votes: 8,160
45. Explained (2018–2021)
TV-MA | 18 min | Documentary
A documentary series that looks to explore the big questions of today.
Stars: Estelle Caswell, Samira Wiley, Maria Bello, Kyle MacLachlan
Votes: 9,939
46. War Horse: The Real Story (2012 TV Movie)
46 min | Documentary
Documentary about the roughly one million horses that were used by the British army during the first world war.
Director: George Pagliero | Stars: Russell Boulter, Mark Evans
Votes: 49
47. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son.
Director: Kurt Kuenne | Stars: Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby
Votes: 40,668 | Gross: $0.02M
48. November 13: Attack on Paris (2018)
55 min | Documentary, Crime
Documentary chronicling the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015.
Stars: François Hollande, Line, Jimmy, Anne Hidalgo
Votes: 3,739
49. Fantastic Fungi (2019)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary
Fantastic Fungi is a descriptive time-lapse journey about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth that began 3.5 billion years ago.
Director: Louie Schwartzberg | Stars: Brie Larson, Andrew Weil, Giuliana Furci, Paul Stamets
Votes: 11,526
50. Painted with Words (2010 TV Movie)
80 min | Documentary, Biography
The story of Vincent Van Gogh, with dialogue sourced from his own words.
Director: Andrew Hutton | Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jamie Parker, Aidan McArdle, Christopher Good
Votes: 2,708
51. Dirty Money (2018–2020)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Crime
A Netflix Original Series documenting various stories about exposing the greed, corruption, and crime spreading through the global economy.
Stars: Matt Taibbi, Fisher Stevens, Alex Gibney, Fahmi Quadir
Votes: 10,182
52. Night on Earth (2020)
TV-PG | 41 min | Documentary
This nature series' new technology lifts night's veil to reveal the hidden lives of the world's creatures, from lions on the hunt to bats on wings.
Stars: Samira Wiley, Alessandra Mastronardi, Beren Saat
Votes: 4,902
53. Tiger King (2020–2021)
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.
Stars: Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, John Reinke, Jeff Lowe
Votes: 86,901
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