Documentaries
by dsensNWN00 | created - 09 Jul 2013 | updated - 12 Feb 2020 | Public"If this species is to survive indefinitely, we need to become a multi-planet species" - Charles F. Bolden, NASA
"If we die we want people to accept it. We are in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life." - Gus Grissom
"When I am getting ready to cross a street, I look both ways before crossing." - Buzz Aldrin
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves." - Edward R. Murrow
"I believe in humanity. We are an incredible species. We're still just a child creature, we're still being nasty to each other. And all children go through those phases. We're growing up, we're moving into adolescence now. When we grow up – man, we're going to be something!" - Gene Roddenberry
Lifetime achievement goes to Michael Moore.
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1. Cosmos (1980)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
Astronomer Carl Sagan leads us on an engaging guided tour of the various elements and cosmological theories of the universe.
Stars: Carl Sagan, Jaromír Hanzlík, Jonathan Fahn, Jean Charney
Votes: 44,028
2. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
TV-PG | 43 min | Documentary
An exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
Stars: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Christopher Emerson, Keythe Farley, Piotr Michael
Votes: 128,545
3. The World at War (1973–1974)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, History, War
A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, Anthony Eden, Albert Speer
Votes: 29,125
4. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Nikolay Drozdov, Thomas Anguti Johnston
Votes: 220,113
5. Countdown to Zero (2010)
PG | 91 min | Documentary
A documentary about how the likelihood of nuclear weapons (or fissile materials) usage has increased due to the rise of terrorism and lack of safeguards and verification.
Director: Lucy Walker | Stars: Graham Allison, James Baker III, Bruce Blair, Tony Blair
Votes: 2,314 | Gross: $0.27M
6. The Act of Killing (2012)
Not Rated | 117 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A documentary which challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers.
Directors: Joshua Oppenheimer, Anonymous, Christine Cynn | Stars: Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik
Votes: 40,801 | Gross: $0.49M
7. 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
- filmed on location.
8. For All Mankind (1989)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary, History
An in-depth look at various NASA moon landing missions, starting with Apollo 8.
Director: Al Reinert | Stars: Jim Lovell, Ken Mattingly, Russell Schweickart, Eugene Cernan
Votes: 6,524 | Gross: $0.77M
9. From the Earth to the Moon (1998)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Drama, History
Dramatized portrayal of the Apollo manned space program.
Stars: Tom Hanks, Nick Searcy, Lane Smith, David Andrews
Votes: 13,216
* docu-drama.
10. Failure Is Not an Option (2003 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 90 min | Documentary, History
A history of the U.S. manned space program from Mercury to Apollo 17, as seen by the men of Mission Control.
Directors: Rushmore DeNooyer, Kirk Wolfinger | Stars: Gene Kranz, James Doolittle, Christopher Kraft, Robert Seamans
Votes: 139
11. The Wonder of it All (2007)
82 min | Documentary
"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth." These words spoken by... See full summary »
Director: Jeffrey Roth | Stars: Eugene Cernan, Yuri Gagarin, John F. Kennedy, Alan Bean
Votes: 221 | Gross: $0.78M
12. Moonwalk One (1972)
G | 96 min | Documentary
This documentary from 1970 explores all aspects of the Apollo 11 Moon mission.
Director: Theo Kamecke | Stars: Laurence Luckinbill, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins
Votes: 314
13. Space Shuttle (2011)
81 min | Documentary
Director: Guy Noffsinger | Stars: Peter Merlin, T.R. Rogers, William Shatner
Votes: 33
14. 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: 27,209 | Gross: $9.04M
* haven't seen yet.
15. First Man (2018)
PG-13 | 141 min | Biography, Drama, History
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Director: Damien Chazelle | Stars: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler
Votes: 202,192 | Gross: $44.94M
* haven't seen yet.
16. Mars (2016–2018)
TV-PG | 60 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
The first manned mission from Earth to Mars in 2033 attempts to colonize the red planet.
Stars: Jihae, Alberto Ammann, Sammi Rotibi, Clémentine Poidatz
Votes: 15,201
17. 102 Minutes That Changed America (2008 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 102 min | Documentary, History
The morning of September 11, 2001 is shown through multiple video cameras in New York City, from the moment the first WTC tower is hit until after both towers collapse.
Directors: Nicole Rittenmeyer, Seth Skundrick | Stars: George W. Bush, Joe Napolitano, Kelly Edwards
Votes: 2,907
- the ultimate in found footage horror, documentary, mockumentary, desaster movie, blockbuster and action movie in general (sorry to say, but that's a fact).
18. The House I Live In (2012)
Not Rated | 108 min | Documentary
From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.
Director: Eugene Jarecki | Stars: Eugene Jarecki, David Simon, Shanequa Benitez, William Julius Wilson
Votes: 5,395 | Gross: $0.21M
19. Lessons of Darkness (1992 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 54 min | Documentary, War
This film surveys the disaster of the Kuwaiti oil fields in flames, with little narration and scarcely any interviews. Hell on Earth is presented in such transcendent visions and music that one can only be fascinated by it.
Director: Werner Herzog | Star: Werner Herzog
Votes: 6,742
- there's no way this is even possible.
20. My Best Fiend (1999)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
The love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, Eva Mattes
Votes: 12,192 | Gross: $0.10M
* As bad evil unfair smear campaigns go, it's delicious.
21. Restrepo (2010)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A year with one platoon in the deadliest valley in Afghanistan.
Directors: Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger | Stars: The Men of Battle Company 2nd of the 503rd Infantry Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Juan 'Doc Restrepo, Dan Kearney, LaMonta Caldwell
Votes: 24,424 | Gross: $1.33M
22. The Battle for Marjah (2010)
88 min | Documentary
On February 13, 2010, American-led coalition forces launched the biggest military operation since the beginning of the Afghanistan War. Their target was the town of Marjah, a Taliban ... See full summary »
Director: Anthony Wonke | Stars: Robert Gates, Stanley McChrystal, Mike Mullen, Barack Obama
Votes: 742
23. Taking Fire (2016)
206 min | Documentary, War
Soldiers recount their experiences in one of the worst places of Afghanistan through helmet cameras and testimony years after their tour.
Stars: Kevin Conroy, J.J. McCool, Kyle Boucher, Ken Shriver
Votes: 318
24. 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: 38,089 | Gross: $4.59M
- see also: The Beckoning Silence (2007).
Think about mountain climbing what you will (or 'Man on Wire' for that matter), but it makes for nice photography.
25. 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: 77,321 | Gross: $17.54M
26. The Square (2013)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Drama, History
A group of Egyptian revolutionaries battle leaders and regimes, risking their lives to build a new society of conscience.
Director: Jehane Noujaim | Stars: Ahmed Hassan, Khalid Abdalla, Magdy Ashour, Ramy Essam
Votes: 9,402 | Gross: $0.12M
27. 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: 7,083 | Gross: $0.07M
28.
America Undercover (1983– )
Episode:
The Iceman Tapes: Conversations with a Killer
(1992)
Not Rated | 47 min | Documentary
Richard Kuklinski was a devoted husband, loving father--and ruthless killer of over 100 people. You'll meet him in this powerful documentary that features one of the most vivid and ... See full summary »
Directors: Arthur Ginsberg, Tom Spain | Stars: Richard Kuklinski, Michael Baden, Robert J. Carroll, Lee Grant
Votes: 1,110
29. The Atomic Cafe (1982)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, History
Disturbing collection of 1940s and 1950s United States government-issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.
Directors: Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty, Pierce Rafferty | Stars: Paul Tibbets, Harry S. Truman, W.H.P. Blandy, Brien McMahon
Votes: 4,534 | Gross: $0.02M
30. 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: 25,045 | Gross: $4.20M
31. Collapse (II) (2009)
Unrated | 82 min | Documentary
A documentary on Michael Ruppert, a police officer turned independent reporter who predicted the current financial crisis in his self-published newsletter, From the Wilderness.
Director: Chris Smith | Star: Michael Ruppert
Votes: 6,843 | Gross: $0.05M
32. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
PG | 96 min | Documentary
Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit, as the former presidential candidate campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Al Gore, Billy West, George Bush, George W. Bush
Votes: 85,207 | Gross: $23.81M
33. Obedience (1962)
45 min | Documentary
Documents the famous Milgram experiment, which measured the willingness of test subjects to obey authority in ways contrary to their own judgment and conscience.
Director: Stanley Milgram | Stars: John T. Williams, James J. McDonough
Votes: 113
- shocking. Careful, you can never un-see this.
34. The Specialist (1999)
128 min | Documentary
The incredible trial of an appallingly ordinary man. Drawn entirely on the 350 hours of rare footage recorded during the trial of Adolf Eichmann, in 1961, in Jerusalem, this film about ... See full summary »
Director: Eyal Sivan | Stars: Adolf Eichmann, Gideon Hausner, Gabriel Bach, Avraham Lindwasser
Votes: 384 | Gross: $0.02M
35. Deepsea Challenge (2014)
PG | 91 min | Documentary
As a boy, filmmaker James Cameron dreamed of a journey to the deepest part of the ocean. This film is the dramatic fulfillment of that dream.
Directors: John Bruno, Ray Quint, Andrew Wight | Stars: James Cameron, Suzy Amis, Frank Lotito, Paul Henri
Votes: 2,318 | Gross: $0.15M
- excellent use of 3d, excellent as a documentary. Excellent as engineering, I guess.
36. Black Sky: The Race for Space (2004 TV Movie)
90 min | Documentary
The remarkable story of Burt Rutan and SpaceShipOne. Only three of the most powerful governments in the world have achieved what they set out to do from a garage in the Mojave desert: to put a man in space.
Directors: Scott B, Sandy Guthrie, Jill Shinefield, Gail Willumsen | Stars: Paul Allen, Tom Bales, Jim Benson, Brian Binnie
Votes: 55
- Congratulations are in order.
37. Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space (2009)
Not Rated | 43 min | Documentary, Short
When a war starts in space, can anyone really win?
Director: Denis Delestrac | Stars: George W. Bush, Helen Caldicott, Kevin Chilton, Noam Chomsky
Votes: 86
- 85 minutes runtime.
38. Borat (2006)
R | 84 min | Comedy
Kazakh TV talking head Borat is dispatched to the United States to report on the greatest country in the world.
Director: Larry Charles | Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Chester
Votes: 441,881 | Gross: $128.51M
- life-threatening. Satire is only when it hurts.
39. The Ambassador (2011)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary
Danish journalist Mads Brügger goes undercover as a Liberian Ambassador to embark on a dangerous yet hysterical journey to uncover the blood diamond trade in Africa.
Director: Mads Brügger | Stars: Mads Brügger, Heather Schmid
Votes: 4,245 | Gross: $0.03M
- I would have stayed in diamond trade, though' (if it wasn't so d-mned dangerous...)
40. Documentary Now! (2015– )
TV-14 | 23 min | Comedy
"Documentary Now!" parodies the current obsession with documentaries. Season one features six different stories and stylistic approaches paying tribute to the doc format.
Stars: Helen Mirren, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Deb Hiett
Votes: 7,980
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