History Documentaries
by nosseir-67055 | created - 10 Aug 2016 | updated - 4 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Andrew Marr's History of the World (2012)
Documentary, History
Andrew Marr's History of the World is a 2012 BBC documentary television series presented by Andrew Marr that covers 70,000 years of world history from the beginning of human civilisation, ... See full summary »
Stars: Andrew Marr, Pierre Marais, Joe Vaz, Aubrey Shelton
Votes: 1,402
2. History of the World in 2 Hours (2011 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, History
A rapid-fire history of our world, from the beginning of time as we know it to present day. This two-hour CGI-driven special delves into the key turning points: the formation of earth, ... See full summary »
Director: Douglas Cohen | Stars: Corey Burton, Alex Filippenko, Peter Ward, Clifford V. Johnson
Votes: 1,043
3. Science Britannica (2013)
60 min | Documentary
Brian Cox discusses British scientists and their contributions to our modern world.
Stars: Brian Cox, Paul Nurse, Simon Baron-Cohen, Tipu Aziz
Votes: 229
4. 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: 29,603
5. 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: 18,570
6. The West (1996)
537 min | Documentary, History, War
Stephen Ives' "The West" is a PBS 4-Video Series co-produced by Ken Burns: - "Death Runs Riot" 85 min. - "Fight No More Forever" 85 min. - "Ghost Dance" 58 min. - "The People" 82 min.
Stars: Peter Coyote, N. Scott Momaday, Murphy Guyer, John Trudell
Votes: 2,147
7. Thomas Jefferson (1997– )
180 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A biographical film about The United States' influential and profoundly enigmatic Founding Father.
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Waterston, Michael Potts, Ossie Davis
Votes: 815
8. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
TV-14 | 114 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.
Stars: Peter Coyote, George F. Will, Geoffrey C. Ward, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Votes: 2,652
9. 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: 4,582
10. Third Reich: The Rise & Fall (2010)
180 min | Documentary, History, War
THIRD REICH: THE RISE & FALL tells the story of Hitler's Germany through rarely seen films of the people who were there. Immersive and evocative, it takes viewers inside the Germany of the ... See full summary »
Stars: Tony Call, Dan Bittner, Geoffrey Cantor, Eliza Foss
Votes: 1,197
11. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009)
TV-MA | 60 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: 14,298
12. The First World War (2003)
500 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive survey of the history of World War I.
Stars: Jonathan Lewis, Voja Tankosic, Andrée Bernard, Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Votes: 1,452
13. Cold War (1998)
47 min | Documentary, History
A 24-part series which deals with the relations between the United States, the Soviet Union and their respective allies between the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Anatoli Dobrynin, Robert McNamara, Vladimir Yerofeyev
Votes: 1,039
14. Apocalypse: Stalin (2015)
157 min | Documentary, History, War
The rise of Stalin, from his early beginning as a bankrobber to the cold-blooded leader of the Soviet Union.
Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, Doug Rand
Votes: 1,119
15. Apocalypse la 1ère Guerre mondiale (2014)
260 min | Documentary, History, War
Colorized historical footage in ascending order of World War 1. Not only the relatively known Flanders and France battles, but also the generally unknown Italian-Austrian, ... See full summary »
Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, François Arnaud, Vladimir Lenin, Ferdinand Foch
Votes: 3,083
16. APOCALYPSE the Battle of Verdun (2016)
90 min | Documentary, History, War
A gripping and shocking documentary composed of numerous colorized archive footage. Apocalypse: Verdun takes us to the infamous and bloody battle of Verdun that occurred in February 1916, when World War I had been raging for two years.
Votes: 568
17. World War I in Colour (2003)
372 min | Documentary, History, War
Documentary using computer colorized footage from World War I to give the audience the feel of how it really looked back during the war.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Harry Patch, Hubert Williams, Arthur Barraclough
Votes: 915
18. Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler (2011)
108 min | Documentary, History, War
Chronicles Hitler's life as a failed painter and far-right activist up to his election as Chancellor of Germany, leading to his relentless rise to power, culminating in the beginning of World War II.
Stars: Richard Lintern, Mathieu Kassovitz, Doug Rand
Votes: 2,039
19. World War II in Colour (2009)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
Recounts the events of world War II in color.
Stars: Robert Powell, Swaylee Loughnane
Votes: 7,484
20. Vietnam in HD (2011)
262 min | Documentary, History, War
Original Vietnam War footage presented in high definition along with narrations by war veterans and the voices of Hollywood stars.
Stars: Tempestt Bledsoe, Edward Burns, Dean Cain, Kevin Connolly
Votes: 1,642
21. American Genius (2015– )
Documentary, History
Documentaries about great American thinkers, and how their ideas have changed the world.
Stars: Jeff Wilburn, Benjamin Loeh, John S. Howell Sr., Nicholas Augusta
Votes: 616
22. The World Wars (2014)
TV-14 | 270 min | Documentary, History, War
A look at both World Wars and what the biggest names in history did during each war and the time in between.
Stars: Maximilian Klas, Ian Beyts, Jacopo Rampini, Jonathan Hartman
Votes: 2,422
23. The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents (2013)
Documentary, History
A detailed, and unbiased, look at the 43 men who have been the presidents of the United States of America.
Stars: Bruce McGill, H.W. Brands, Richard Norton Smith, Donald Ritchie
Votes: 212
24. Mankind Decoded (2013)
30 min | Documentary, History
Through 12 surprising influences, H2 holds the key to unlock our secret history. As every tool, innovation and thought unfolds from the wheel to the Internet, the Vikings to Amelia Earhart ... See full summary »
Stars: Eric Meyers, James Meigs, George Wunderlich, Mike Loades
Votes: 105
25. Mankind the Story of All of Us (2012)
720 min | Documentary, History
From the power of science to how physics and biology combined to shape our shared journey, experience the human story like it's never been told before.
Stars: Josh Brolin, Richard Machowicz, James Meigs, George Wunderlich
Votes: 1,842
26. Engineering an Empire (2005–2007)
TV-PG | 44 min | Documentary, History
A series of documentaries that go over the world's history and it's many accomplishments.
Stars: Michael Carroll, Peter Weller, J.J. Huckin, Sam Kalidi
Votes: 700
27. Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire (2008)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, History, War
The historical drama details the Roman military campaigns against the barbarians. It shows how continuous wars depleted resources, a key factor in the fall of the Empire.
Stars: Leif Anders, Sam Mercurio, Karl Otter, Andre de Nesnera
Votes: 859
28. Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (2006)
Not Rated | 59 min | Documentary, Drama, History
A docu-drama covering the rise and the fall of the Roman world, including the establishment of strong individual rule by Julius Caesar and the rebuilding of Rome under Nero.
Stars: Lyall B. Watson, Michael Sheen, James D'Arcy, Pip Torrens
Votes: 1,972
29. Empires: The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization (2000)
150 min | Documentary, History
A documentary, narrated by actor Liam Neeson, that chronicles the rise and fall of the civilization of ancient Greece.
Stars: Liam Neeson, Nigel Spivey, Victor Davis Hanson, Josiah Ober
Votes: 390
30. Empires: Egypt's Golden Empire (2001)
50 min | Documentary, History
EGYPT'S GOLDEN EMPIRE comes to life through letters and records evoking the passion and riches of a time when Egypt was the center of the known world, its Pharaohs called gods, and great cities, temples and tombs built.
Stars: Keith David, Peter Egan, John Shrapnel, Paula Wilcox
Votes: 177
31. Egypt (2005)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary, Drama, History
Dramatization of the great discoveries of ancient Egypt, from the exploration of tombs in the early 1800s, to the unraveling of the Rosetta Stone to translate the ancient language on the tombs, to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Stars: Andrew Sachs, Neji Nejah, Elliot Cowan, Stuart Graham
Votes: 836
32. Planet Egypt (2011– )
Documentary, History
Planet Egypt recounts the epic history of Ancient Egypt and its Pharaohs, from the pre-dynastic period through to the late dynasties. Each episode addresses one aspect of Egypt's enormous ... See full summary »
Stars: Tom Zahner, Kent Weeks, Salima Ikram, Günter Dreyer
Votes: 105
33. America: The Story of the US (2010)
Documentary, History
Why did the United States become a global superpower? America The Story of Us is an epic 12-hour television event that explores the country's remarkable journey.
Stars: Daniel Webb, Liev Schreiber, Tom Brokaw, James Meigs
Votes: 1,968
34. Empires: The Roman Empire in the First Century (2001– )
Documentary, History
Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law. The Empire was a multi-cultural melting pot that still has relevance.
Star: Sigourney Weaver
Votes: 181
35. 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: 6,929 | Gross: $1.13M
36. The Last Man on the Moon (2014)
TV-MA | 95 min | Documentary, Adventure, Biography
When Apollo astronaut Gene Cernan stepped off the moon in December 1972 he left his footprints and his daughter's initials in the lunar dust. Only now is he ready to share his epic but deeply personal story of fulfillment, love, and loss.
Director: Mark Craig | Stars: Eugene Cernan, Fred 'Baldy' Baldwin, Alan Bean, Barbara Butler
Votes: 3,572 | Gross: $0.05M
37. When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (2008)
TV-G | 48 min | Documentary, History
Narrated by award-winning actor Gary Sinise, WHEN WE LEFT EARTH is the incredible story of humankind's greatest adventure, as it happened, told by the people who were there. From the early ... See full summary »
Stars: Gene Kranz, Gary Sinise, Jim Lovell, Eugene Cernan
Votes: 2,044
38. 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: 2,908
39. National Geographic: Inside 9/11 (2004– )
240 min | Documentary
Inside 9/11 provides insight into the events that led up to 9/11 by tracing the timeline from al Qaeda's earliest origins through the aftermath of 9/11 and the ongoing investigation.
Stars: Rohan Gunaratna, Terry McDermott, Patrick Fitzgerald, Yosri Fouda
Votes: 537
40. The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (2016–2019)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Adventure, History
Morgan Freeman presents his quest in order to find how most religions perceive life after death, what different civilizations thought about the act of creation and other big questions that mankind has continuously asked.
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Robert Thurman, Amir Hussain, Jodi Magness
Votes: 5,336
41. 500 Nations (1995)
374 min | History
An exploration of the various Native American nations and their fall to the European conquerors.
Stars: Kevin Costner, Gregory Harrison, Eric Schweig, Gordon Tootoosis
Votes: 547
42. Five Came Back (2017)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The wartime contributions of five prominent Hollywood film directors during World War II are profiled.
Stars: Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Guillermo del Toro
Votes: 5,280
43. Origins: The Journey of Humankind (2017– )
60 min | Documentary, History
Our primal curiosity has sparked new inventions and revealed the mysteries of the universe. This eight part mini series strives to trace the pivotal innovations that make us modern.
Stars: Jason Silva, Mark Monroe, Greg Kriek, Chris Fisher
Votes: 666
44. The Vietnam War (2017)
TV-MA | 99 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.
Stars: Peter Coyote, Huy Duc, James Willbanks, Duong Van Mai Elliott
Votes: 28,020
45. What's My Name: Muhammad Ali (2019)
TV-14 | 165 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
One of the most iconic figures in athletic history, Muhammad Ali's incredible story from world champion boxer to inspiring social activist is explored through his own voice and never-before-seen archival material.
Director: Antoine Fuqua | Stars: Bill Cosby, Jim Brown, Ossie Davis, Diana Ross
Votes: 2,440
46. The Lavender Scare (2017)
77 min | Documentary
With the United States gripped in the panic of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower deems homosexuals to be "security risks" and orders the immediate firing of any government ... See full summary »
Director: Josh Howard | Stars: Glenn Close, David Hyde Pierce, Cynthia Nixon, Zachary Quinto
Votes: 174
47. 8 Bit Generation: The Commodore Wars (2016)
100 min | Documentary
When Jack Tramiel invented Commodore in the 1970's, he envisioned computing for the masses and not just the upper classes. Spearheading the personal technology revolution and combatting ... See full summary »
Director: Tomaso Walliser | Stars: Chuck Peddle, Jack Tramiel, Steve Wozniak, Bil Herd
Votes: 217
48. Censored Voices (2015)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, History
CENSORED VOICES combines raw original recordings of Israeli soldiers recounting their fears and doubts following Israel's 1967 Six-Day War, using archival newsreel footage as a stark reminder of how far the region remains from peace.
Director: Mor Loushy | Star: Amos Oz
Votes: 321 | Gross: $0.03M
49. Ancient Powers (2023)
Documentary, History
Presented by world-leading historical specialists, each episode uses the very latest scientific and archaeological discoveries to reveal the tools, technologies, strategies and systems that decided the fate of the Ancient World.
Stars: Terence Maynard, Salima Ikram, Alexander Mariotti, Tom Mueller
Votes: 24
50. Ancient Empires (2023– )
Documentary
Showcases the three titans of the ages (Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Cleopatra) in a new light, debating whether their attributes were strengths rather than weaknesses.
Stars: Patrick Wyman, Aaron Irvin, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Shelley Haley
Votes: 225
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