Essential documentaries to watch
by chabotage | created - 23 May 2016 | updated - 3 weeks ago | PublicDocumentaries reflects our society and boy that our society is messed up... But there is some positive at least!
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1. 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: 40,642 | Gross: $0.02M
2. The Bridge (I) (2006)
R | 94 min | Documentary, Drama
Filmmakers use hidden cameras to capture the various suicide attempts at the Golden Gate Bridge - the world's most popular suicide destination. Interviews with the victims' loved ones describe their lives and mental health.
Director: Eric Steel | Stars: Eric Geleynse, Chris Brown, Susan Ginwalla, Caroline Pressley
Votes: 12,201 | Gross: $0.18M
3. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
Not Rated | 150 min | Documentary, Crime
A horrific triple child murder leads to an indictment and trial of three nonconformist boys based on questionable evidence.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Tony Brooks, Diana Davis, Terry Wood, Dick Clay
Votes: 18,118
4. Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000 TV Movie)
Unrated | 130 min | Documentary, Crime
The case of the West Memphis Three, its questionable circumstances and the parties involved are followed up years later.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Damien Wayne Echols, Melissa Byers, Norris Deajon, Tim Sullivan
Votes: 9,633
5. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)
Not Rated | 121 min | Documentary, Crime
A further followup of the case of the West Memphis Three and the decades long fight to exonerate them that finally gained traction with new DNA evidence.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Gary Gitchell, Todd Moore, Dana Moore, Pam Hobbs
Votes: 10,853
6. West of Memphis (2012)
R | 147 min | Documentary, Crime
An examination of a failure of justice in the case against the West Memphis Three.
Director: Amy Berg | Stars: Jason Baldwin, Damien Wayne Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Michael Baden
Votes: 10,940 | Gross: $0.31M
7. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)
86 min | Documentary, History
Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Rebecca Moore, Janet Shular, Tim Carter, Stanley Clayton
Votes: 5,638
8. I Am Divine (2013)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
How Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, became John Waters' cinematic muse and an international drag icon.
Director: Jeffrey Schwarz | Stars: Divine, Michael Musto, Mark Payne, Greg Gorman
Votes: 3,124 | Gross: $0.06M
9. Bowling for Columbine (2002)
R | 120 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama
Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Charlton Heston, Marilyn Manson, Salvador Allende
Votes: 148,664 | Gross: $21.58M
10. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
R | 122 min | Documentary, Drama, War
Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11 and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, George W. Bush, Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder
Votes: 132,347 | Gross: $119.19M
11. Super Size Me (2004)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary
While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.
Director: Morgan Spurlock | Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker, Dania Abu-Rmaileh
Votes: 113,213 | Gross: $11.53M
12. Black Metal Veins (2012 Video)
92 min | Documentary
A graphic docu-drama detailing the hopeless lives of several young people addicted to heroin.
Director: Lucifer Valentine | Star: Autumn Misery
Votes: 827
I feel the ending of this one is staged...but still a horrying look at drug addiction. NOT FOR EVERYONE!
13. 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: 40,769 | Gross: $0.49M
14. The Look of Silence (2014)
PG-13 | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A family that survived the genocide in Indonesia confronts the men who killed one of their brothers.
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer | Stars: Adi Rukun, M.Y. Basrun, Volker Hanisch, Amir Hasan
Votes: 13,867 | Gross: $0.11M
15. Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)
R | 96 min | Documentary, Music
An examination of the heavy metal music subculture that tries to explain why, despite the longevity and popularity of the genre, fans are marginalized and ridiculed for their passion.
Directors: Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise | Stars: Tom Araya, Gavin Baddeley, Blasphemer, Randy Blythe
Votes: 12,473
16. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Music
The iconic metal band struggles for two years to create their album St. Anger, dealing with alcoholism, the loss of their bass player, and the challenge of working with a psychotherapist.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo
Votes: 20,334 | Gross: $1.22M
17. Hated: GG Allin & the Murder Junkies (1993)
Not Rated | 52 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Documentary about notorious punk rock performer GG Allin.
Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: GG Allin, Merle Allin, Brian Unk Hunter, Shireen Kadivar
Votes: 3,518
18. 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: 72,356 | Gross: $2.07M
19. Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)
TV-MA | 132 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
An authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana.
Director: Brett Morgen | Stars: Kurt Cobain, Wendy O'Connor, Don Cobain, Jenny Cobain
Votes: 32,114
20. March of the Penguins (2005)
G | 80 min | Documentary, Family
In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family.
Director: Luc Jacquet | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Romane Bohringer, Charles Berling, Jules Sitruk
Votes: 59,924 | Gross: $77.44M
21. 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: 14,476 | Gross: $1.41M
22. Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)
R | 106 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The history of the independent film company, The Cannon Film Group, Inc..
Director: Mark Hartley | Stars: Sam Firstenberg, David Paulsen, Luigi Cozzi, Menahem Golan
Votes: 5,990
23. 9/11 (2002 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 112 min | Documentary
A real life documentary following the events of September 11 from an insider's view, through the lens of James Hanlon and two French filmmakers who were in Manhattan that one day.
Directors: James Hanlon, Gédéon Naudet, Jules Naudet | Stars: Tony Benatatos, Yusuf Baran Bilgic, Jamal Braithwaite, Steve Buscemi
Votes: 8,637
24. Fyre (2019)
TV-MA | 97 min | Documentary, Crime, Music
An exclusive behind the scenes look at the infamous unraveling of the Fyre music festival.
Director: Chris Smith | Stars: Billy McFarland, Jason Bell, Gabrielle Bluestone, Shiyuan Deng
Votes: 52,002
25. LA 92 (2017)
R | 114 min | Documentary, Crime, History
Twenty-five years after the verdict in the Rodney King trial sparked several days of protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles, filmmakers examine that tumultuous period through rarely seen archival footage.
Directors: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin | Stars: Henry Alfaro, Danny Bakewell, John D. Barnett, Bart Bartholomew
Votes: 6,897
26. 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: 62,097
27. 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: 86,829
28. Surviving R. Kelly (2019–2023)
TV-MA | 306 min | Documentary, Crime, Music
A six-part series about the controversial R&B star R. Kelly which features several women making allegations of abuse by him.
Stars: Andrea Kelly, Stephanie 'Sparkle' Edwards, Touré, Tarana Burke
Votes: 5,734
29. The Social Dilemma (2020)
PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Drama
Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking; tech experts sound the alarm on their own creations.
Director: Jeff Orlowski-Yang | Stars: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson, Joe Toscano
Votes: 89,364
30. This Is Paris (2020)
110 min | Documentary
The untold story of Paris Hilton.
Director: Alexandra Dean | Stars: Paris Hilton, Kyle Richards, Kathy Hilton, Nicky Rothschild
Votes: 2,079
31. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
This limited docu-series tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice.
Stars: Paul Skolnick, Gil Carrillo, Frank Salerno, Pearl Carrillo
Votes: 30,232
32. 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: 7,175 | Gross: $0.43M
33. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
TV-MA | 83 min | Documentary, Crime
In 2018, 34-year-old Shanann Watts and her two young daughters disappear in Colorado. With the heartbreaking details emerging, the family's story made headlines around the world.
Director: Jenny Popplewell | Stars: Nickole Atkinson, Jim Benemann, Luke Epple, Mark Jamieson
Votes: 32,646
34. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
TV-MA | 57 min | Documentary, Crime
Survivors reveal the manipulation, abuse and emotional scars suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Their stories expose a sex trafficking ring of powerful enablers leading up to his 2019 arrest.
Stars: Michael Reiter, Annie Farmer, Shawna Rivera, Alan Dershowitz
Votes: 29,116
35. Kittie: Origins/Evolutions (2018)
Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary
Finding heavy metal stardom as teenagers, Kittie has been thrashing for the past 20 years. With 6 albums and over 2 million in sales, they have defied industry norms, fought against rock stereotypes, and inspired generations.
Director: Robert McCallum | Stars: Jennifer Arroyo, Talena Atfield, Fallon Bowman, Tanya Candler
Votes: 113
36. Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021)
TV-MA | 89 min | Documentary, Crime, History
In the early 1980s, the crack epidemic tore through America’s inner cities like a tsunami, ravaging all in its wake.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Elizabeth Hinton, Nelson George, Alan Charles, Felipe Luciano
Votes: 3,863
37. The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, Crime, History
The Son of Sam case grew into a lifelong obsession for journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced that the murders were linked to a satanic cult.
Stars: Paul Giamatti, Charlie Ott, Phil Amicone, Michael Zuckerman
Votes: 10,242
38. Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau (2014)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary, Adventure
A behind the scenes chronicle of how clash of vision, bad creative decisions, lack of interest and really bad weather plagued the disastrous production of the infamous The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996).
Director: David Gregory | Stars: Richard Stanley, Kier-La Janisse, Michael Gingold, Graham Humphreys
Votes: 4,411
39. Britney vs Spears (2021)
TV-MA | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Journalist Jenny Eliscu and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr investigate Britney Spears' fight for freedom by way of exclusive interviews and confidential evidence.
Director: Erin Lee Carr | Stars: Britney Spears, Erin Lee Carr, Jenny Eliscu, Felicia Culotta
Votes: 8,095
40.
Music Box (2021– )
Episode:
Woodstock 99: Peace Love and Rage
(2021)
TV-MA | 110 min | Documentary, Music
Woodstock 99, a three-day music festival promoted to echo unity and counterculture idealism of the original 1969 concert but instead devolved into riots, looting and sexual assaults.
Director: Garret Price | Stars: Maureen Callahan, Carson Daly, Jonathan Davis, Mike Elling
Votes: 8,235
42. Worst Roommate Ever (2022)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary, Crime, Thriller
When Alex Miller let Jed Creek rent her room via Craigslist, she had no idea that he was a notorious serial squatter, and that he would use his knowledge of tenancy laws to slowly kick her out of her own home.
Stars: Alex Miller, Susan Miller, Arleen Hairbaedian, Peter Cernauskas
Votes: 10,112
43. Lorena (2019)
TV-MA | 254 min | Documentary, Crime
From Executive Producer Jordan Peele, this four-part docuseries re-investigates the events of 1993, where Lorena Bobbitt sliced off her husband's penis after years of abuse.
Stars: Lorena Bobbitt, John Wayne Bobbitt, Paul Ebert, Kim Gandy
Votes: 2,453
44. Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
TV-MA | 48 min | Documentary, Crime
The extraordinary story of the "pizza bomber heist" and the FBI's investigation into a bizarre collection of suspects.
Stars: Trey Borzillieri, Jerry Clark, Jason Wick, Lamont King
Votes: 30,974
45. Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (2022)
TV-MA | 61 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Never-before-heard audio from the interrogation of serial killer John Wayne Gacy threads through this chilling look at his 1970s murder spree.
Stars: Sam Amirante, Greg Bedoe, Rafael Tovar, Mike Albrecht
Votes: 12,851
46. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021– )
TV-MA | 44 min | Documentary, Action, Adventure
An exploration of the warring kingdoms of feudal Japan when several powerful warlords fought to become absolute ruler.
Stars: Hiro Kanagawa, Hayate Masao, Nathan Ledbetter, Akiem Ra-Zhì
Votes: 5,125
47. The Most Hated Man on the Internet (2022)
TV-MA | 54 min | Documentary, Crime
Follows the story of a woman who stood up to Hunter Moore, a self-proclaimed "professional life ruiner," after photos of her daughter being naked were posted online.
Stars: Charlotte Laws, Charles Parselle, Kayla Laws, Kirra Hughes
Votes: 7,980
48. Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99 (2022)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary, History, Music
Woodstock 1969 promised peace and music, but its '99 revival delivered days of rage, riots and real harm. Why did it go so horribly wrong?
Stars: Ananda Lewis, Heather Eason Liposky, Colin Speir, John Scher
Votes: 21,420
49. Sins of Our Mother (2022)
TV-14 | 47 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
When Lori Vallow's kids vanished, the search for them unearthed a trail of suspicious deaths, a new husband who shared her doomsday views - and murder.
Stars: Colby Ryan, Janis Cox, Kelsee Ryan, Justin Lum
Votes: 7,417
50. Killer Sally (2022)
TV-MA | 50 min | Documentary, Crime
Interviews with friends, family and Sally McNeil herself chart a bodybuilding couple's rocky marriage and its shocking end in a Valentine's Day murder.
Stars: Sally McNeil, John Lowden, Shantina Lowden, Shannon Brown
Votes: 6,266
51. Holy Hell (2016)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary, Drama
An inside look at Buddhafield, a West Hollywood cult formed by a charismatic teacher in the 1980s that eventually imploded.
Director: Will Allen | Stars: Will Allen, Dimitrius Pulido, Phillipe Coquet, David Christopher
Votes: 6,057 | Gross: $0.02M
52. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)
TV-14 | 42 min | Documentary, Crime
A docu-series that uncovers the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children's shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Stars: Drake Bell, Giovonnie Samuels, Kate Taylor, Scaachi Koul
Votes: 8,055
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