best docmentaries
by bazoniafrog | created - 26 Jan 2014 | updated - 24 Jul 2022 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Blackfish (2013)
PG-13 | 83 min | Documentary
A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite | Stars: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg, Dean Gomersall
Votes: 72,456 | Gross: $2.07M
2. The Cove (2009)
PG-13 | 92 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones, Michael Illiff
Votes: 51,451 | Gross: $0.87M
3. Senna (2010)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
A documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34.
Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Ayrton Senna, Reginaldo Leme, John Bisignano, Neyde Senna
Votes: 75,798 | Gross: $1.61M
4. MythBusters (2003–2018)
TV-PG | 44 min | Documentary, Mystery, Reality-TV
A weekly documentary in which two Hollywood special effects experts attempt to debunk urban legends by directly testing them.
Stars: Robert Lee, Jamie Hyneman, Adam Savage, Kari Byron
Votes: 54,804
5. Horizon (I) (1964– )
50 min | Documentary
British documentary series that covers a variety of subjects in science and philosophy.
Stars: Paul Vaughan, Jack Fortune, Dilly Barlow, Colin Riach
Votes: 1,148
6. Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)
TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary, Animation, History
Documentary-style series about the era of the dinosaurs, mixing real locations and CGI.
Stars: Nikolay Drozdov, Kenneth Branagh, Avery Brooks, Craig Sechler
Votes: 6,884
7. Walking with Prehistoric Beasts (2001)
Not Rated | 30 min | Animation, Documentary
Using the latest digital technology, the era between the dinosaurs and man is superbly recreated by the BBC and Discovery Channel in another winning production from the coalition.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Stockard Channing, Larry Agenbroad, Frank Fish
Votes: 3,279
8. Walking with Monsters (2005)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
The final installment in the "Walking with" series is a 90-minute documentary about the evolution of life before the dinosaurs.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Edward Gero
Votes: 2,413
9. 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: 220,297
10. Frozen Planet (2011–2012)
TV-PG | 33 min | Documentary
Focuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
Stars: David Attenborough, Alec Baldwin, Chadden Hunter, Michael Kelem
Votes: 32,994
11. The Blue Planet (2001)
TV-G | 49 min | Documentary
Mammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world's oceans.
Stars: David Attenborough, Pierce Brosnan, Peter Scoones
Votes: 42,710
12. Life (2009)
TV-G | 43 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, Roger Munns
Votes: 42,814
13. 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: 17,120
14. Secrets of the Deep (2006 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary, Animation, Drama
Science documentary looking at the ocean abyss and its bizarre creatures, also traces the 80 year story of the largest predator ever to have evolved, the sperm whale.
Director: David Allen | Stars: Bernard Hill, Scott MacCallum
Votes: 179
15. Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking (2010)
88 min | Documentary
In this comprehensive cosmology series Stephen Hawking looks at the entire universe, from the Big Bang to the end of time.
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Hawking, Melissa Ricci, Christopher Goh
Votes: 5,550
16. 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: 40,815 | Gross: $0.49M
17. 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: 2,338
18. Planet Earth II (2016)
TV-G | 50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns with a new wildlife documentary that shows life in a variety of habitats.
Stars: David Attenborough, Chadden Hunter, Gordon Buchanan, Elizabeth White
Votes: 158,256
19. 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: 46,563
20. The Future Is Wild (2003– )
25 min | Documentary, Animation, Sci-Fi
A group of scientists predict what Earth and Life will look like in the future
Stars: Christian Rodska, Jeremy Rayner, Bruce H. Tiffney, Stephen Harris
Votes: 882
21. Prehistoric Planet (2022–2023)
TV-PG | 203 min | Documentary, Animation, History
Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 10,675
22. Sea Monsters: A Walking with Dinosaurs Trilogy (2003)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary, Animation, Adventure
Adventurous zoologist Nigel Marven embarks on an underwater expedition through time to explore the seven deadliest seas in Earth's history, coming face to face with strange and dangerous prehistoric sea monsters.
Stars: Nigel Marven, Christopher Cook, Karen Hayley, Michael Davis
Votes: 1,359
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