great documentaries
by polyesterjohnson | created - 10 Sep 2012 | updated - 10 Sep 2012 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Ai Weiwei: Without Fear or Favour (2010)
60 min | Documentary
Director: Matthew Springford | Star: Ai Weiwei
Votes: 46
2. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005)
PG-13 | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
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: 10,522 | Gross: $0.33M
3. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
William S. Burroughs: featuring never before seen footage as well as exclusive interviews with his closest friends and colleagues. Born the heir of the Burroughs' adding machine estate, he ... See full summary »
Director: Yony Leyser | Stars: Fred Aldrich, Laurie Anderson, Amiri Baraka, Jello Biafra
Votes: 1,240 | Gross: $0.05M
4. Gonzo (2008)
R | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A portrait of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Joe Cairo, David Carlo
Votes: 8,499 | Gross: $1.25M
5. Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film (2006)
73 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary on the life and death of Hunter S. Thompson.
Director: Tom Thurman | Stars: Ed Bradley, Bob Braudis, Douglas Brinkley, William F. Buckley
Votes: 1,157
6. Bukowski: Born into This (2003)
R | 130 min | Documentary, Biography
Documentary on Charles Bukowski, author of 'Notes of a Dirty Old Man', 'Love Is a Dog from Hell', and the autobiographical novels, 'Women', 'Hollywood', and 'Post Office'.
Director: John Dullaghan | Stars: Charles Bukowski, Bono, John Bryan, Linda Lee Bukowski
Votes: 3,641 | Gross: $0.30M
7. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
PG | 81 min | Documentary
A documentary on 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, his renowned Tokyo restaurant, and his relationship with his son and eventual heir, Yoshikazu.
Director: David Gelb | Stars: Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono, Masuhiro Yamamoto, Daisuke Nakazama
Votes: 37,980 | Gross: $2.55M
8. In the Realms of the Unreal (2004)
Unrated | 81 min | Documentary, Biography
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
9. The Weather Underground (2002)
Unrated | 92 min | Documentary, History, War
The remarkable story of The Weather Underground, radical activists of the 1970s, and of radical politics at its best and most disastrous.
Directors: Sam Green, Bill Siegel | Stars: Lili Taylor, Pamela Z, Jim Lange, Evan White
Votes: 3,767 | Gross: $0.56M
10. Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)
R | 103 min | Documentary, History
The story of the Australian exploitation genre cinema of 1970s and 80s.
Director: Mark Hartley | Stars: Phillip Adams, Glory Annen, Christine Amor, Victoria Anoux
Votes: 4,680 | Gross: $0.02M
11. Crumb (1994)
R | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
An intimate portrait of controversial cartoonist Robert Crumb and his traumatized family.
Director: Terry Zwigoff | Stars: Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb
Votes: 21,578 | Gross: $3.17M
12. Cocaine Cowboys (2006)
R | 118 min | Documentary, Crime, History
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: 14,088 | Gross: $0.15M
13. Blood Into Wine (2010)
100 min | Documentary
Take a look inside the life of one of Rock music's most mysterious and interesting figures. With winemaking in his blood, multiplatinum recording artist Maynard James Keenan sets out to bring notariety to Arizona's burgeoning wine regions.
Directors: Ryan Page, Christopher Pomerenke | Stars: Glenn Alexander, Tim Alexander, Fairuza Balk, Tom Beaujour
Votes: 1,227
14. American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009)
Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
Photo-animated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew Bill best.
Directors: Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas | Stars: Bill Hicks, Dwight Slade, Mary Hicks, Steve Hicks
Votes: 5,005 | Gross: $0.09M
15. Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006 Video)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Horror
A retrospective documentary about the Halloween films.
Director: Stefan Hutchinson | Stars: P.J. Soles, Irwin Yablans, Moustapha Akkad, John Carpenter
Votes: 1,963
16. Blind Melon's Letters from a Porcupine (1996 Video)
72 min | Music
Director: Steve MacCorkle | Stars: Glen Graham, Shannon Hoon, Brad Smith, Rogers Stevens
Votes: 99
17. 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: 23,195 | Gross: $1.32M
18. Scratch (2001)
R | 92 min | Documentary, Music
The story of the hip-hop DJ from the birth of hip-hop to the invention of scratching and "beat-juggling" vinyl, to the more recent "turntablism" movement. Underdogs and virtuosos who have radically changed the way we hear and create music.
Director: Doug Pray | Stars: The Allies, A-Trak, Craze, DJ Infamous
Votes: 2,905
19. End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2003)
TV-14 | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
The story of the punk rock band The Ramones.
Directors: Jim Fields, Michael Gramaglia | Stars: Rick Rubin, Tommy Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone
Votes: 3,887 | Gross: $0.39M
20. 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
21. Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
R | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A biography of the rock music star.
Director: Andrew Solt | Stars: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, George Harrison
Votes: 5,179 | Gross: $3.75M
22. Joy Division (2007)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Music
A chronological account of the influential late 1970s English rock band.
Director: Grant Gee | Stars: Richard Boon, Anton Corbijn, Kevin Cummins, Bob Dickinson
Votes: 3,861
23. Fuck (2005)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary
A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.
Director: Steve Anderson | Stars: Drew Carey, Billy Connolly, Bill Maher, Reinhold Aman
Votes: 4,354 | Gross: $0.02M
24. Plaster Caster (2001)
90 min | Documentary, Comedy
An intimate documentary portrait of the legendary artist and groupie Cynthia Plaster Caster, famous for plaster casting the erect penises of rock stars.
Director: Jessica Everleth | Stars: Cynthia Plaster Caster, Camille Paglia, Danny Doll Rod, Paul Barker
Votes: 137
25. It Came from Hollywood (1982)
PG | 80 min | Documentary, Comedy
Popular comedians watch and give comments about the worst and silliest films from Hollywood.
Directors: Malcolm Leo, Andrew Solt | Stars: Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong
Votes: 1,025 | Gross: $2.57M
26. D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist (2002)
Not Rated | 55 min | Documentary
This documentary features interviews with Ian MacKaye (Fugazi), J Mascis (Dinosaur jr.), John John Jesse (Demonic Erotic painter), Jim Rose (Jim Rose Sideshow), Jim Thirwell (Foetus), Lydia... See full summary »
Director: Michael W. Dean | Stars: Ron Asheton, Mike Boner, Lynn Breedlove, Dave Brockie
Votes: 153
27. American Grindhouse (2010)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A documentary about the history of exploitation movies, from the silent-film era to the 1970s.
Director: Elijah Drenner | Stars: Robert Forster, Eric Schaefer, Eddie Muller, John Landis
Votes: 2,613 | Gross: $0.01M
28.
American Masters (1985– )
Episode:
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
(2006)
TV-14 | Documentary, Biography, History
Annie Leibovitz enrolled in the San Francisco Art Institute intent on studying painting. It was not until she traveled to Japan with her mother after her sophomore year that she discovered her interest in taking photographs.
Director: Barbara Leibovitz | Stars: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Graydon Carter, Hillary Clinton, George Clooney
Votes: 565
29. Life in a Day (2011)
PG-13 | 95 min | Documentary, Drama
A documentary shot by film-makers all over the world that serves as a time capsule to show future generations what it was like to be alive on the twenty-fourth of July, 2010.
Directors: Tegan Bukowski, Loressa Clisby, Kevin Macdonald, Hiroaki Aikawa, Natalia Andreadis, Jack Attridge, Cristina Bocchialini, Zillah Bowes, Andrea Dalla Costa, Lisa Cottrell-Bentley, Alejo Crisóstomo, Sócrates Cuadri, Ayman El Gazwy, Shawn Gadberry, Seth Grant, Jane Haubrich, Soma Helmi, Jennifer M. Howd, Clementine Isaac, Aditya Kolli, Gabor Kukucska, Francesco La Regina, Frederic Lumiere, Marek Mackovic, Zuqy Cruz Marquez, Linda Matarasso, Kevin McMahon, Joseph Michael, Joaquin Montalvan, Lilit Movsisyan, Emmanuelle Pickett, Christopher Redmond, Alejandro Romeo, Alaa Sheikh Hassan, Marcus Tedenryd | Stars: Hiroaki Aikawa, Cindy Baer, Teagan Bentley, Ester Brym
Votes: 15,561 | Gross: $0.25M
30. Starz Inside: Fantastic Flesh (2008 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, History
This documentary delves into the art of make-up effects with the best industry legends.
Director: Kevin VanHook | Stars: Howard Berger, Rob Bottin, Josh Brolin, John Carpenter
Votes: 295
31. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
PG-13 | 79 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
Die-hard gamers compete to break world records on classic arcade games.
Director: Seth Gordon | Stars: Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Mark Alpiger, Adam Wood
Votes: 37,562 | Gross: $0.68M
32. Meeting People Is Easy (1998)
Not Rated | 99 min | Documentary, Music
An entertaining "rockumentary" about Radiohead that shows some of the tedium of being a rock star, as well as some of the fun stuff.
Director: Grant Gee | Stars: Radiohead, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien
Votes: 3,292 | Gross: $0.05M
33. The Woodmans (2010)
Unrated | 82 min | Documentary, Biography
The story of a family that suffers a tragedy, but perseveres and finds redemption through each other and their work - making art.
Director: Scott Willis | Stars: Francesca Woodman, George Woodman, Betty Woodman, Charles Woodman
Votes: 681 | Gross: $0.04M
34. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010 Video)
Not Rated | 239 min | Documentary, Horror
Explore the origins of "dream demon" Freddy Krueger in this award-winning documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the most frightening and imaginative horror franchise in motion picture history!
Directors: Daniel Farrands, Andrew Kasch | Stars: Heather Langenkamp, Stacey Alden, Erika Anderson, Marshall Bell
Votes: 5,186
35. 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
36. His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Horror
A documentary exploring 30 years of the "Friday The 13th" film series featuring all new interviews with cast and crew from all 12 films and various horror fans and filmmakers.
Director: Daniel Farrands | Stars: Natalie Adams, Diane Almeida, Erich Anderson, Judie Aronson
Votes: 3,178
37. 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: 219,830
38. Marwencol (2010)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Biography, Fantasy
Documentary about Mark Hogancamp. After a vicious attack leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard. Inspired the movie Welcome to Marwen (2018)
Director: Jeff Malmberg | Stars: Mark Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Edda Hogancamp, Tom Neubauer
Votes: 3,704 | Gross: $0.11M
39.
Frontline (1983– )
Episode:
Who's Afraid of Ai Weiwei
(2011)
TV-MA | Documentary, News
The Silence and Flying Cheaper
Stars: Alison Klayman, Arun Rath
Votes: 12
40. Fix: The Ministry Movie (I) (2011)
110 min | Documentary, Biography
Provides an insider's view of the groundbreaking, outrageous, creative juggernaut that was the band Ministry - during their world tour - as front man Al Jourgensen slips into drug addiction... See full summary »
Director: Doug Freel | Stars: Al Jourgensen, Paul Barker, Trent Reznor, Maynard James Keenan
Votes: 283
41. Rock n Roll Nerd (2008)
89 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
Documentary that charts the rise of Tim Minchin - comedian, actor, composer, songwriter, pianist, musical director and rock 'n' roll mega-star.
Director: Rhian Skirving | Star: Tim Minchin
Votes: 366
42. Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan (2007)
90 min | Documentary, Music
In the summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the burroughs of New York City and took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanned over a decade, garnering fans worldwide and ... See full summary »
Director: Gerald Barclay | Stars: Ralph McDaniels, Remedy Roll, Gano Grills, Popa Wu
Votes: 427
43. Lost in La Mancha (2002)
R | 89 min | Documentary
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: 11,995 | Gross: $0.73M
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