Favorite Documentaries
by ajnewport | created - 24 Jun 2017 | updated - 9 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Long Strange Trip (2017)
R | 238 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A look at the 30-year career of The Grateful Dead.
Director: Amir Bar-Lev | Stars: John Perry Barlow, Tom Constanten, Sam Cutler, Jerry Garcia
Votes: 1,891
2. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Unrated | 113 min | Documentary
Follows the life of artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical dynasty who was greatly responsible for the opioid epidemic's unfathomable death toll.
Director: Laura Poitras | Stars: Nan Goldin, David Velasco, Megan Kapler, Marina Berio
Votes: 7,756
3. Festival Express (2003)
R | 90 min | Documentary, History, Music
The filmed account of a large Canadian rock festival train tour boasting major acts like Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and The Band.
Directors: Bob Smeaton, Frank Cvitanovich | Stars: Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, The Band, Rick Danko
Votes: 2,414 | Gross: $1.17M
4. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
R | 119 min | Documentary
A documentary about Anthony Bourdain and his career as a chef, writer and host, revered and renowned for his authentic approach to food, culture and travel.
Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Asia Argento, Anthony Bourdain, Ariane Bourdain, Christopher Bourdain
Votes: 10,090
5. Woodstock (1970)
R | 184 min | Documentary, History, Music
Oscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.
Director: Michael Wadleigh | Stars: Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Joe Cocker
Votes: 18,448 | Gross: $50.00M
6. 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: 77,221 | Gross: $17.54M
7. Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)
TV-MA | 142 min | Documentary, Biography, History
In an alchemic mix of fact and fantasy, Martin Scorsese looks back at Bob Dylan's 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour and a country ripe for reinvention.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, Patti Smith, Martin von Haselberg
Votes: 7,693
8. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
TV-G | 85 min | Documentary, Drama
A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.
Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed | Stars: Craig Foster, Tom Foster
Votes: 63,674
9. Once Were Brothers (2019)
R | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robbie Robertson's young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band.
Director: Daniel Roher | Stars: The Band, Robbie Robertson, Bruce Springsteen, Rick Danko
Votes: 2,127
10. They Shall Not Grow Old (II) (2018)
R | 99 min | Documentary, History, War
A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Thomas Adlam, William Argent, John Ashby, Attwood
Votes: 38,428 | Gross: $17.96M
11. Honeyland (2019)
Unrated | 89 min | Documentary, Drama
The last female bee-hunter in Europe must save the bees and return the natural balance in Honeyland, when a family of nomadic beekeepers invade her land and threaten her livelihood.
Directors: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov | Stars: Hatidze Muratova, Nazife Muratova, Hussein Sam, Ljutvie Sam
Votes: 19,389 | Gross: $0.82M
12. Pretend It's a City (2021)
TV-14 | 29 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
Wander the New York City streets and fascinating mind of wry writer, humorist and raconteur Fran Lebowitz as she sits down with Martin Scorsese.
Stars: Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese, Michael Alexis Palmer, Spike Lee
Votes: 8,563
13. RBG (2018)
PG | 98 min | Documentary, Biography
The exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.
Directors: Julie Cohen, Betsy West | Stars: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ann Kittner, Harryette Helsel, Nina Totenberg
Votes: 15,054 | Gross: $14.02M
14. Becoming (II) (2020)
PG | 89 min | Documentary, Biography
Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others during her 2019 book tour for 'Becoming.'
Director: Nadia Hallgren | Stars: Elizabeth Alexander, Adrian K. Collins, Valerie Jarrett, Gayle King
Votes: 6,692
15. Navalny (2022)
R | 99 min | Documentary, Biography
Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. During his months-long recovery he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home.
Director: Daniel Roher | Stars: Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, Christo Grozev, Dasha Navalnaya
Votes: 29,809
16. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)
TV-MA | 94 min | Documentary
A behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon (1999).
Director: Chris Smith | Stars: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Milos Forman, Peter Bonerz
Votes: 27,967
17. When You're Strange (2009)
R | 86 min | Documentary, Music
A look at the late '60s and early '70s rock band The Doors, including rare exclusive footage.
Director: Tom DiCillo | Stars: Johnny Depp, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek
Votes: 10,266 | Gross: $0.24M
18. The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009)
TV-MA | 86 min | Documentary
A year in the life of the White family, well known for Jesco White, the star of the "Dancing Outlaw" documentary.
Director: Julien Nitzberg | Stars: J. Parker Bazzle II, Big & Rich, Ponty's Camper, Derek Wayne Castle
Votes: 5,189
19. Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation (2019)
Not Rated | 106 min | Documentary, History
In August 1969, 500,000 people gathered at a farm in upstate New York. What happened there was far more than just a concert. Woodstock tells the story of a legendary event that defined a ... See full summary »
Directors: Barak Goodman, Jamila Ephron | Stars: John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Joel Makower, Bob Spitz
Votes: 1,960 | Gross: $0.08M
20. Circus of Books (2019)
Not Rated | 92 min | Documentary, Biography, History
In 1976, Karen and Barry Mason had fallen on hard times and were looking for a way to support their young family when they answered an ad in the Los Angeles Times. Larry Flynt was seeking ... See full summary »
Director: Rachel Mason | Stars: Karen Mason, Barry Mason, Micah Mason, Rachel Mason
Votes: 5,004
21. ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads (2019 TV Movie)
48 min | Documentary, Biography
A look at the short, mysterious life of blues legend, Robert Johnson, who was said to have made a deal with the Devil at a crossroads in rural Mississippi.
Director: Brian Oakes | Stars: Terry Harmonica Bean, Rory Block, Yvonne Chireau, Eric Clapton
Votes: 3,113
22. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2016)
Not Rated | 106 min | Documentary, History, Music
A compilation of found footage featuring music, interviews, and stories of The Beatles' 250 concerts from 1963 to 1966.
Director: Ron Howard | Stars: The Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney
Votes: 13,814 | Gross: $2.93M
23. The Edge of Democracy (2019)
TV-14 | 121 min | Documentary, History
Political documentary and personal memoir collide in this exploration into the complex truth behind the unraveling of two Brazilian presidencies.
Director: Petra Costa | Stars: Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva, Sergio Moro
Votes: 15,715
24. Pearl Jam Twenty (2011)
Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary, History, Music
A documentary on the band Pearl Jam that marks their 20th anniversary in the year 2011.
Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Cameron Crowe
Votes: 8,179 | Gross: $0.45M
25. McQueen (2018)
R | 111 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and career of fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen: from his start as a tailor, to launching and overseeing his eponymous line and his untimely death.
Directors: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui | Stars: Alexander McQueen, Joyce McQueen, John Hitchcock, Danny Hall
Votes: 8,407 | Gross: $1.26M
26. Shine a Light (2008)
PG-13 | 122 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A career-spanning documentary on The Rolling Stones, with concert footage from their "A Bigger Bang" tour.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Votes: 12,291 | Gross: $5.36M
27. Fire of Love (2022)
PG | 98 min | Documentary, Biography
Intrepid scientists and lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcanic explosion doing the very thing that brought them together: unraveling the mysteries of volcanoes by capturing the most explosive imagery ever recorded.
Director: Sara Dosa | Stars: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Miranda July, Alka Balbir
Votes: 14,349
28. Amy (III) (2015)
R | 128 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.
Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Russell Brand
Votes: 54,924 | Gross: $8.41M
29. The Clash: Westway to the World (2000 Video)
60 min | Documentary, Music
A career retrospective of British punk band The Clash, featuring exclusive interviews with the entire band.
Director: Don Letts | Stars: Terry Chimes, Terence Dackombe, Topper Headon, Mick Jones
Votes: 1,139
30. The Cave (I) (2019)
PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, War
Amidst air strikes and bombings, a group of female doctors in Ghouta, Syria struggle with systemic sexism while trying to care for the injured using limited resources.
Director: Feras Fayyad | Stars: Amani Ballour, Salim Namour, Alaa, Samaher
Votes: 2,945
31. 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: 27,192 | Gross: $9.04M
32. ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black (2018 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary, Biography
Concerned by a rising rock-n-roll influence on a growing liberal fanbase, President Nixon invited Johnny Cash to the White House to solidify his base in the traditionally more conservative ... See full summary »
Directors: Sara Dosa, Barbara Kopple | Stars: Johnny Cash, Richard Nixon, Aram Bakshian, Pat Buchanan
Votes: 1,696
33. American Factory (2019)
TV-14 | 110 min | Documentary
In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.
Directors: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert | Stars: Junming 'Jimmy' Wang, Robert Allen, Sherrod Brown, Dave Burrows
Votes: 23,854
34.
American Masters (1985– )
Episode:
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
(2019)
Not Rated | 114 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Musicians, scholars, family and friends reflect on the life of jazzer Miles Davis to reveal the man behind the legend. Full access to Davis' estate provides rare footage and photos, outtakes from recording sessions and new interviews.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Carl Lumbly, Miles Davis, Reginald Petty, Quincy Troupe
Votes: 3,283 | Gross: $0.19M
35. Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief (2015)
Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary
A documentary looking at the inner-workings of the Church of Scientology.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Paul Haggis, Jason Beghe, Spanky Taylor, David Miscavige
Votes: 40,886
36. Clarence Clemons: Who Do I Think I Am? (2019)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
Highlights the life of the E Street band member while also showing another side not many saw when he was away from stage lights. It's an intimate portrait of a man who searched for enlightenment at the unknowingly final years of his life.
Director: Nick Mead | Stars: Clarence Clemons, Jake Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Joe Walsh
Votes: 113
37. 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: 40,773 | Gross: $0.49M
38. Oasis: Supersonic (2016)
R | 122 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Oasis's breakthrough years documented into a detailed depiction of the infamous brothers from Manchester forming the band in the early 90's leading up to the legendary performance at Knebworth.
Director: Mat Whitecross | Stars: Paul Arthurs, Christine Biller, Mark Coyle, Debbie Turner
Votes: 12,377 | Gross: $0.24M
39. All That Breathes (2022)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary
Amidst the darkening backdrop of Delhi's apocalyptic air and escalating violence, two brothers devote their lives to protect one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the Black Kite.
Director: Shaunak Sen | Stars: Salik Rehman, Mohammad Saud, Nadeem Shehzad
Votes: 4,778
40. 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: 148,674 | Gross: $21.58M
41. Echo in the Canyon (2018)
PG-13 | 82 min | Documentary, Music
A look at the roots of the historic music scene in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon featuring the music of iconic groups such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas.
Director: Andrew Slater | Stars: Lou Adler, Fiona Apple, The Beach Boys, Beck
Votes: 3,994 | Gross: $3.33M
42. Roman Empire (2016–2019)
TV-MA | 48 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Chronicles some of the most famous leaders of the Roman Civilization.
Stars: Aaron Irvin, Corey Brennan, Jerry Toner, Steve West
Votes: 9,356
43. Charles Manson Superstar (1989 Video)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
For forty years, Charles Manson has survived most of his life in what he calls 'the hallways of the all ways,' the reform schools, jails and prisons that have been his home and tomb. His ... See full summary »
Director: Nikolas Schreck | Stars: Charles Manson, Nikolas Schreck, Zeena Schreck, James N. Mason
Votes: 464
44. For Sama (2019)
TV-PG | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, War
FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.
Directors: Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts | Stars: Waad Al-Kateab, Sama Al-Khateab, Hamza Al-Khateab, Afra
Votes: 12,808 | Gross: $0.04M
45. 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: 132,348 | Gross: $119.19M
46. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (II) (2023)
R | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
Follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Michael J. Fox, Davis Guggenheim, Tracy Pollan, Sam Fox
Votes: 15,123
47. 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: 113,221 | Gross: $11.53M
48. Hillbilly (II) (2018)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
"hillbilly" is a documentary film that examines the iconic hillbilly image in media and culture. The film explores more than a hundred years of media representation of mountain and rural ... See full summary »
Directors: Sally Rubin, Ashley York | Stars: Michael Apted, Ronny Cox, Sam Gleaves, Crystal Good
Votes: 515
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