Erik's Documentary Films

by huubvanderput | created - 03 Mar 2012 | updated - 03 Mar 2012 | Public
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1. Grey Gardens (1975)

PG | 95 min | Documentary, Comedy, Drama

83 Metascore

Meet a mother and daughter, high-society dropouts, reclusive cousins of Jackie O., managing to thrive together amid the decay and disorder of their East Hampton, NY, mansion, making for an eerily ramshackle echo of the American Camelot.

Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer | Stars: Edith Bouvier Beale, Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Brooks Hyers

Votes: 15,266 | Gross: $0.03M

2. Gimme Shelter (1970)

GP | 91 min | Documentary, Music, Thriller

85 Metascore

When three hundred thousand members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway, the bloody slash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment was immortalized on this film.

Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts

Votes: 12,878 | Gross: $0.25M

3. Salesman (1969)

G | 91 min | Documentary, Drama

80 Metascore

Four dogged door-to-door Bible salesmen travel from Boston to Florida on a seemingly futile quest to sell luxury editions of the Good Book to working-class Catholics.

Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin | Stars: Paul Brennan, Charles McDevitt, James Baker, Raymond Martos

Votes: 5,709

4. The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)

Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary

Utilizing hours of unseen archival footage, The Beales is a new take on the women of Grey Gardens.

Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles | Stars: Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Edith Bouvier Beale, Albert Maysles, David Maysles

Votes: 1,338

5. Gates of Heaven (1978)

Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary

A documentary about a pet cemetery in California, and the people who have pets buried there.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Lucille Billingsley, Zella Graham, Cal Harberts, Dan Harberts

Votes: 6,288

6. Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)

PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Biography

78 Metascore

A cinematic portrait of the life and career of the infamous American execution device designer and holocaust denier.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Fred A. Leuchter Jr., Robert Jan Van Pelt, David Irving, Caroline Leuchter

Votes: 5,779 | Gross: $0.50M

7. Standard Operating Procedure (2008)

R | 116 min | Documentary, Crime, War

70 Metascore

Errol Morris examines the incidents of abuse and torture of suspected terrorists at the hands of U.S. forces at the Abu Ghraib prison.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Megan Ambuhl Graner, Javal Davis, Ken Davis, Anthony Diaz

Votes: 4,112 | Gross: $0.23M

8. Tabloid (2010)

R | 87 min | Documentary, Crime

74 Metascore

A documentary on a former Miss Wyoming who is charged with abducting and imprisoning a young Mormon Missionary.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Joyce McKinney, Peter Tory, Troy Williams, Jackson Shaw

Votes: 7,280 | Gross: $0.68M

9. The Fog of War (2003)

PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History

87 Metascore

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: 25,042 | Gross: $4.20M

10. The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime

79 Metascore

A film that successfully argued that a man was wrongly convicted for murder by a corrupt justice system in Dallas County, Texas.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson

Votes: 25,899 | Gross: $1.21M

11. State Legislature (2007)

217 min | Documentary

The day-to-day activities of the Idaho Legislature during an entire session.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 141

12. Meat (1976)

112 min | Documentary

mid 70's documentary that shows how livestock are raised, sold, and processed in the United States.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 216

14. Missile (1988)

115 min | Documentary

Follows the 4315th Training Squadron of the Strategic Air Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where Air Force officers are trained to man the Launch Control Centers for the ... See full summary »

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 165

15. Blind (1987)

132 min | Documentary

Shows the educational programs and daily life of students in kindergarten through the 12th grade at the Alabama School for the Blind. The School is organized around the effort to educate ... See full summary »

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 144

16. Essene (1972)

86 min | Documentary

Daily life in a Benedictine monastery.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 203

17. Juvenile Court (1973)

144 min | Documentary

An unobtrusive and naturalistic examination of the goings-on of a children's court, Memphis Juvenile Court 616.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 301

18. Law and Order (1969 TV Movie)

81 min | Documentary

Also known as The Greater Good, this series of vignettes focuses on the day-to-day work of Kansas City, Missouri police covers the range of circumstances they encounter and the variety of ... See full synopsis »

Director: Frederick Wiseman | Star: Richard Nixon

Votes: 389

19. Primate (1974)

105 min | Documentary

This film casts a forensic observational eye over researchers working with primates. After a time watching it is possible to wonder which ones of these two sets of primates is the more strange.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 262

20. Public Housing (1997)

200 min | Documentary

Renowned documentarian Frederick Wiseman takes an intimate and nuanced look at the Ida B. Wells housing project in the south side of Chicago, Illinois.

Director: Frederick Wiseman | Star: Helen Finner

Votes: 280

21. The Store (1983)

118 min | Documentary

A look at the employees and shoppers at the Neiman-Marcus department in Dallas, Texas during the holiday season.

Director: Frederick Wiseman | Stars: Art Buchwald, Lady Bird Johnson

Votes: 325

22. Hospital (1970 TV Movie)

84 min | Documentary

An intimate look at the daily activities of medical staff and patients in New York's Metropolitan Hospital.

Director: Frederick Wiseman | Stars: Eugene Friedman, Stanley Friedman, Robert Schwartz

Votes: 547

23. High School (1968)

Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary

Documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman takes us inside Northeast High School as a fly on the wall to observe the teachers and how they interact with the students.

Director: Frederick Wiseman

Votes: 2,236

24. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

G | 90 min | Documentary, History

86 Metascore

Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France and captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humanity.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Jean Clottes, Julien Monney, Jean-Michel Geneste

Votes: 17,779 | Gross: $5.23M

25. Echoes From a Somber Empire (1990)

91 min | Documentary

Documentary examining Bokassa's rule in the Central African Republic using the testimony of witnesses and visits to key sites.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Michael Goldsmith, Werner Herzog, Augustine Assemat, David Dacko

Votes: 726

26. Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

G | 99 min | Documentary

80 Metascore

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan Pashov, Doug MacAyeal

Votes: 19,245 | Gross: $0.94M

27. Grizzly Man (2005)

R | 103 min | Documentary, Biography

87 Metascore

A devastating and heart-rending take on grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, who were killed in October of 2003 while living among grizzly bears in Alaska.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Timothy Treadwell, Amie Huguenard, Werner Herzog, Carol Dexter

Votes: 61,849 | Gross: $3.17M

28. 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: 6,739

29. Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997)

Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

German-American Dieter Dengler discusses his service as a U.S. naval pilot in the Vietnam War. Dengler also revisits the sites of his capture and eventual escape from the hands of the Viet Cong, recreating many events for the camera.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Dieter Dengler, Werner Herzog, Eugene Deatrick

Votes: 6,826

30. Aliens of the Deep (2005)

G | 100 min | Documentary, Family

71 Metascore

James Cameron teams up with NASA scientists to explore the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the Earth and are home to some of the planet's most unique life forms.

Directors: James Cameron, Steven Quale | Stars: James Cameron, Anatoly M. Sagalevitch, Genya Chernaiev, Victor Nischeta

Votes: 3,420 | Gross: $8.97M

31. American Hardcore (2006)

R | 100 min | Documentary, History, Music

69 Metascore

The History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986

Director: Paul Rachman | Stars: Greg Ginn, Ian MacKaye, James Drescher, Lucky Lehrer

Votes: 3,599 | Gross: $0.28M

32. Amsterdam Global Village (1996)

245 min | Documentary

This four hour documentary looks for the exotic in the everyday life observed in just one city, the filmmaker's own Amsterdam.

Director: Johan van der Keuken | Star: Julika Marijn

Votes: 157

33. ...and the Pursuit of Happiness (1986 TV Movie)

80 min | Documentary

After acknowledging his own immigrant background, Malle, tries to present the range of immigrant experiences in the US during the 1980's. In an attempt to be comprehensive, the film ... See full summary »

Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Franklin Chang-Diaz, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Lenwood Johnson, Boris Lyoskin

Votes: 523

34. 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

35. Ashes and Snow (2005)

62 min | Documentary, Drama

Exploring the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals.

Director: Gregory Colbert | Stars: Patrick Disanto, Laurence Fishburne, Jeanne Moreau, Enrique Rocha

Votes: 4,393

36. Life (2009)

TV-G | 43 min | Documentary, Family

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: 42,704

37. Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds (2010)

94 min | Documentary

This documentary features state-of-the-art camera technology used to focus on what humans cannot see with the naked eye.

Stars: Richard Hammond, Edgar D. Mitchell, Jürg Schweizer, Dany Kistler

Votes: 736

38. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)

R | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, News

78 Metascore

Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district.

Directors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman | Stars: Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das, Manik

Votes: 18,002 | Gross: $3.41M

39. Brother's Keeper (1992)

R | 104 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery

93 Metascore

This compelling documentary details the strange-but-true murder trial of Delbert Ward, accused of the mercy killing of his brother in rural upstate NY. This real-life murder mystery won the Audience Award at Sundance.

Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Delbert Ward, Roscoe Ward, Lyman Ward, Walt Geisler

Votes: 4,279 | Gross: $1.31M

40. Buck (2011)

PG | 88 min | Documentary

76 Metascore

An examination of the life of acclaimed 'horse whisperer' Buck Brannaman, who recovered from years of child abuse to become a well-known expert in the interactions between horses and people.

Director: Cindy Meehl | Stars: Buck Brannaman, Gary Myers, Bibb Frazier, Betty Staley

Votes: 3,431 | Gross: $4.02M

41. Burden of Dreams (1982)

Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary

A documentary following German auteur Werner Herzog as he deals with difficult actors, bad weather and getting a boat over a mountain, all in an effort to make his film Fitzcarraldo (1982).

Director: Les Blank | Stars: Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards

Votes: 8,126

42. Bus 174 (2002)

R | 122 min | Documentary, Crime

83 Metascore

On June 12, 2000, a young man with a gun took the passengers aboard Bus 174 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hostage. This documentary examines the event itself, the resulting media frenzy, the police response, and the perpetrator's background.

Directors: José Padilha, Felipe Lacerda | Stars: Sandro do Nascimento, Rodrigo Pimentel, Luiz Eduardo Soares, Anonymous

Votes: 8,611 | Gross: $0.22M

43. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)

Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

90 Metascore

Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middle-class Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.

Director: Andrew Jarecki | Stars: Arnold Friedman, Jesse Friedman, David Friedman, Elaine Friedman

Votes: 27,093 | Gross: $3.12M

44. Catfish (2010)

PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary, Drama, Mystery

65 Metascore

Young filmmakers document their colleague's budding online friendship with a young woman and her family which leads to an unexpected series of discoveries.

Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman | Stars: Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost, Angela Wesselman-Pierce

Votes: 43,739 | Gross: $3.23M

45. Chelsea on the Rocks (2008)

R | 89 min | Documentary

57 Metascore

Chelsea on the Rocks celebrates the personalities and artistic voices that have emerged from the legendary residence, the Chelsea Hotel, in the heart of New York. Once considered an ... See full summary »

Director: Abel Ferrara | Stars: Ira Cohen, Gerald Busby, Stanley Bard, Quentin Crisp

Votes: 495 | Gross: $0.01M

46. Cocaine Cowboys (2006)

R | 118 min | Documentary, Crime, History

59 Metascore

The story of how Miami became the cocaine capital of the United States in the early 1980's and the police officers who turned the tide on crime.

Director: Billy Corben | Stars: Jon Roberts, Al Sunshine, Sam Burstyn, Mickey Munday

Votes: 14,089 | Gross: $0.15M

47. David Frost Interviews Richard Nixon (1977 TV Movie)

Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary, History

Originally broadcast in May of 1977, this series of interviews between Sir David Frost and U.S. President Richard Nixon, delves into the various controversies of Nixon's presidency, ... See full summary »

Director: Jorn H. Winther | Stars: David Frost, Richard Nixon

Votes: 452

48. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

82 Metascore

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: 40,668 | Gross: $0.02M

49. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)

Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime

86 Metascore

Documentary about Father Oliver O'Grady, a Catholic priest who was relocated to various parishes around the United States during the 1970s in an attempt by the Catholic Church to cover up his rape of dozens of children.

Director: Amy Berg | Stars: Oliver O'Grady, Thomas Doyle, Adam, Jeff Anderson

Votes: 10,825 | Gross: $30.58M

50. Relics: Einstein's Brain (1994)

65 min | Documentary

A Japanese Professor goes to the USA to uncover the mystery surrounding Einstein's Brain after his death.

Director: Kevin Hull | Stars: William S. Burroughs, Kenji Sugimoto

Votes: 188

51. F for Fake (1973)

PG | 89 min | Documentary

87 Metascore

A documentary about fraud and fakery.

Directors: Orson Welles, Gary Graver, Oja Kodar, François Reichenbach | Stars: Orson Welles, Oja Kodar, François Reichenbach, Elmyr de Hory

Votes: 18,283

52. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010)

Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary

45 Metascore

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead is an American documentary that chronicles Australian Joe Cross's 60-day journey across the United States, where he embarks on a juice-only fast in a quest to reclaim his health.

Directors: Joe Cross, Kurt Engfehr | Stars: Joe Cross, Amy Badberg, Merv Cross, Virginia Cross

Votes: 8,916

53. General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait (1974)

Not Rated | 92 min | Documentary

A documentary on the military dictator of Africa's Uganda.

Director: Barbet Schroeder | Stars: Idi Amin, Fidel Castro, Golda Meir

Votes: 2,018

54. Gonzo (2008)

R | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

73 Metascore

A portrait of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Joe Cairo, David Carlo

Votes: 8,500 | Gross: $1.25M

55. 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

56. Hearts and Minds (1974)

R | 112 min | Documentary, History, War

68 Metascore

A startling and courageous landmark documentary that unflinchingly confronted the United States' involvement in Vietnam at the height of the controversy that surrounded it.

Director: Peter Davis | Stars: Tin Chan, Chau Diem, Ngo Dinh Diem, John Foster Dulles

Votes: 6,103 | Gross: $0.03M

57. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)

R | 96 min | Documentary

Documentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems--nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director.

Directors: Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, Eleanor Coppola | Stars: Dennis Hopper, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, George Lucas

Votes: 23,216 | Gross: $1.32M

58. Hells Angels Forever (1983)

R | 93 min | Documentary, Drama, Music

What starts off as a squadron of American daredevil bombers in World War II, branded by society as renegades, turns into a revealing ride into the world of honor, violence, and undying passion for motorcycles on the road.

Directors: Richard Chase, Leon Gast, Kevin Keating, Don Kelly | Stars: Sandy Alexander, Ray Archuleta, Sonny Barger, Scott Barnes

Votes: 233

59. Helvetica (2007)

Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary

A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture.

Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Manfred Schulz, Massimo Vignelli, Rick Poynor, Wim Crouwel

Votes: 8,169 | Gross: $0.20M

60. Home (I) (2009)

Not Rated | 118 min | Documentary, Family

47 Metascore

With aerial footage from fifty-four countries, 'Home' is a depiction of how Earth's problems are all interlinked.

Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand | Stars: Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Glenn Close, Jacques Gamblin

Votes: 23,046

61. Hoop Dreams (1994)

PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport

98 Metascore

A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.

Director: Steve James | Stars: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates

Votes: 28,009 | Gross: $7.83M

62. How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009 TV Movie)

Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary

How Bruce Lee Changed the World explores the amazing multitude of ways that Bruce Lee - the first international Asian superstar - has influenced pop culture.

Director: Steve Webb | Stars: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jackie Chan, Margaret Cho, Raymond Chow

Votes: 615

63. I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2009)

Not Rated | 39 min | Documentary, Short, Biography

A portrait of the acting craft of John Cazale and a tour through the movies that defined a generation.

Director: Richard Shepard | Stars: John Cazale, Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, Al Pacino

Votes: 1,959

64. I'm Still Here (I) (2010)

R | 108 min | Comedy, Drama, Music

48 Metascore

Documents Joaquin Phoenix's transition from the acting world to a career as an aspiring rapper.

Director: Casey Affleck | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Antony Langdon, Carey Perloff, Larry McHale

Votes: 23,888 | Gross: $0.41M

65. In the Realms of the Unreal (2004)

Unrated | 81 min | Documentary, Biography

74 Metascore

A documentary on Henry Darger, visionary artist, janitor, and novelist.

Director: Jessica Yu | Stars: Henry Darger, Dakota Fanning, Larry Pine, Frier McCollister

Votes: 2,244 | Gross: $0.41M

66. Johnny Cash: The Last Great American (2004 TV Movie)

59 min | Biography

Documentary profiling the life of the legendary country music star Johnny Cash, who died in 2003, featuring contributions from his family and fellow musicians.

Director: Chris Rodley | Stars: June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Jack Clement, Elvis Costello

Votes: 108

67. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Music

72 Metascore

A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on the relationship between nature, humanity, and technology.

Director: Godfrey Reggio | Stars: Edward Asner, Pat Benatar, Jerry Brown, Johnny Carson

Votes: 41,448 | Gross: $1.72M

68. Last Train Home (2009)

Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary, Drama

86 Metascore

A couple embarks on a journey home for Chinese new year along with 130 million other migrant workers, to reunite with their children and struggle for a future. Their unseen story plays out as China soars towards being a world superpower.

Director: Lixin Fan | Stars: Changhua Zhang, Yang Zhang, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang

Votes: 3,715 | Gross: $0.29M

69. Lost in La Mancha (2002)

R | 89 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

Terry Gilliam's doomed attempt to get his film, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018), off the ground.

Directors: Keith Fulton, Louis Pepe | Stars: Terry Gilliam, Johnny Depp, Jeff Bridges, Tony Grisoni

Votes: 11,998 | Gross: $0.73M

70. Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)

PG | 105 min | Documentary, Family, Music

71 Metascore

The students of several New York City elementary schools learn ballroom dancing and compete in a city wide dance competition.

Director: Marilyn Agrelo | Stars: Heather Berman, Emma Therese Biegacki, Eva Carrozza, Evangelina Carrozzo

Votes: 3,551 | Gross: $8.12M

71. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Not Rated | 68 min | Documentary

96 Metascore

A man travels around a city with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling invention.

Director: Dziga Vertov | Stars: Mikhail Kaufman, Elizaveta Svilova

Votes: 27,963

72. March of the Penguins (2005)

G | 80 min | Documentary, Family

79 Metascore

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: 59,937 | Gross: $77.44M

73. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)

Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Music

74 Metascore

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: 20,343 | Gross: $1.22M

74. Microcosmos (1996)

Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary

87 Metascore

A documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.

Directors: Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou | Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Jacques Perrin

Votes: 11,645 | Gross: $1.57M

75. Monster Camp (2007)

TV-14 | 81 min | Documentary, Fantasy

Welcome to Monster Camp, the true story about a world where people transform into creatures, heroes, and monsters to escape their daily lives. In the vein of Lord of the Rings, World of ... See full summary »

Director: Cullen Hoback | Star: Maisy Kay

Votes: 645

76. Nanking (2007)

R | 88 min | Biography, History, War

76 Metascore

Through readings of historical account by actors and the testimony of survivors, the events of the Nanjing Massacre are recounted.

Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman | Stars: Hugo Armstrong, Rosalind Chao, Stephen Dorff, John Getz

Votes: 3,586 | Gross: $0.16M

77. Nanook of the North (1922)

Passed | 78 min | Documentary

In this silent predecessor to the modern documentary, film-maker Robert J. Flaherty spends one year following the lives of Nanook and his family, Inuits living in the Arctic Circle.

Director: Robert J. Flaherty | Stars: Allakariallak, Alice Nevalinga, Cunayou, Allegoo

Votes: 13,445

78. No End in Sight (2007)

Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary, War

89 Metascore

A comprehensive look at the Bush Administration's conduct of the Iraq war and its occupation of the country.

Director: Charles Ferguson | Stars: Campbell Scott, Gerald Burke, Ali Fadhil, Omar Fekeiki

Votes: 8,629 | Gross: $1.43M

79. Overnight (2003)

R | 82 min | Documentary

60 Metascore

A documentary on the rise and stumble of Troy Duffy, the bartender-cum-filmmaker who was swept up by Miramax's Harvey Weinstein to turn his script for The Boondock Saints into a feature film.

Directors: Tony Montana, Mark Brian Smith | Stars: Troy Duffy, Jeffrey Baxter, Chris Brinker, Jake Busey

Votes: 4,661

80. 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: 18,134

81. 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: 9,640

82. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)

Not Rated | 121 min | Documentary, Crime

85 Metascore

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: 10,858

83. Paris Is Burning (1990)

R | 78 min | Documentary

82 Metascore

A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

Director: Jennie Livingston | Stars: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey, Paris Duprée

Votes: 17,590 | Gross: $3.78M

84. Presunto culpable (2008)

87 min | Documentary

Two young Mexican attorneys attempt to exonerate a wrongly convicted man by making a documentary. In the process, they expose the contradictions of a judicial system that presumes suspects guilty until proven innocent.

Directors: Roberto Hernández, Geoffrey Smith

Votes: 1,419

85. Project Nim (2011)

PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary

83 Metascore

Tells the story of a chimpanzee taken from its mother at birth and raised like a human child by a family in a brownstone on the upper West Side in the 1970s.

Director: James Marsh | Stars: Nim Chimpsky, Stephanie LaFarge, Herbert Terrace, Wer LaFarge

Votes: 8,600 | Gross: $0.41M

86. Religulous (2008)

R | 101 min | Documentary, Comedy, War

56 Metascore

Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.

Director: Larry Charles | Stars: Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden, Steven Burg

Votes: 60,237 | Gross: $13.00M

87. Second Skin (2008)

Unrated | 94 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

An intimate, fascinating look at computer gamers whose lives have been transformed by the emerging, hugely popular genre of computer games.

Director: Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza | Stars: Dan Bustard, Ashley Esqueda, Andrew Monkelban, Nick Yee

Votes: 763

88. Senna (2010)

PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

79 Metascore

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: 75,742 | Gross: $1.61M

89. Shine a Light (2008)

PG-13 | 122 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

76 Metascore

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: 12,294 | Gross: $5.36M

90. Shut Up & Sing (2006)

R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

77 Metascore

A documentary on the The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) in the wake of singer Natalie Maines' anti-George W. Bush statement at a 2003 concert.

Directors: Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck | Stars: Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, Clayton Allen

Votes: 4,988 | Gross: $1.22M

91. Sick (1997)

Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary

82 Metascore

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis from a young age, performance artist Bob Flanagan shared his life and pain in his art, usually through sadomasochistic practices.

Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Bob Flanagan, Sheree Rose, Kathe Burkhart, Kirby Dick

Votes: 1,722 | Gross: $0.12M

92. Smash His Camera (2010)

PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary

68 Metascore

A film centering on the life and work of Ron Galella that examines the nature and effect of paparazzi.

Director: Leon Gast | Stars: Floyd Abrams, Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson, Joseph Basile, Harry Benson

Votes: 964 | Gross: $0.00M

93. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)

Not Rated | 142 min | Documentary, Biography

The career and life of Stanley Kubrick is explored through pictures, clips from his films, his old home movies, comments from his colleagues and a narration by Tom Cruise.

Director: Jan Harlan | Stars: Katharina Kubrick, Malcolm McDowell, Stanley Kubrick, Barbara Kroner

Votes: 12,203

94. Miesten vuoro (2010)

81 min | Documentary

Finnish men in sauna, speaking straight from the heart.

Directors: Joonas Berghäll, Mika Hotakainen | Stars: Timo Aalto, Pekka Ahonen, Aarne Aksila, Mauno Alasuutari

Votes: 2,686

95. Tarnation (2003)

Unrated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography

87 Metascore

Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8 film, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more - culled from nineteen years of his life.

Director: Jonathan Caouette | Stars: Jonathan Caouette, Renee Leblanc, Adolph Davis, Rosemary Davis

Votes: 6,709 | Gross: $0.59M

96. The Bridge (I) (2006)

R | 94 min | Documentary, Drama

58 Metascore

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: 12,211 | Gross: $0.18M

97. The Celluloid Closet (1995)

R | 102 min | Documentary, History

A documentary surveying the various Hollywood screen depictions of homosexuals and the attitudes behind them throughout the history of North American film.

Directors: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman | Stars: Lily Tomlin, Tony Curtis, Susie Bright, Arthur Laurents

Votes: 7,509 | Gross: $1.51M

98. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005)

PG-13 | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

77 Metascore

Daniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.

Director: Jeff Feuerzeig | Stars: Daniel Johnston, Mabel Johnston, Bill Johnston, Laurie Allen

Votes: 10,527 | Gross: $0.33M

99. The Dungeon Masters (2008)

Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary, Drama

An evil drow-elf is displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A sanitation worker lures friends into a Sphere of Annihilation. A failed supervillain starts a cable access show involving ninjas, ... See full summary »

Director: Keven McAlester | Stars: Aaron Beal, Emanuel Brooks

Votes: 605

100. The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987)

Not Rated | 122 min | Documentary

A documentary following Kenzo Okuzaki, a 62-year-old WW2 veteran notorious for his protests against Emperor Hirohito, as he tries to expose the needless executions of two Japanese soldiers during the war.

Director: Kazuo Hara | Stars: Kenzo Okuzaki, Riichi Aikawa, Masaichi Hamaguchi, Toshio Hara

Votes: 2,123



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