Best documentaries
by blim_blim4 | created - 07 Jan 2015 | updated - 2 weeks ago | Publicreality beats fiction
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1. 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: 148,748 | Gross: $21.58M
2. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011)
PG-13 | 90 min | Documentary, Comedy
A documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by brands, advertising and product placement.
Director: Morgan Spurlock | Stars: J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg, Paul Brennan, Noam Chomsky
Votes: 15,192 | Gross: $0.64M
3. 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: 32,133
4. Zeitgeist: Moving Forward (2011)
Not Rated | 161 min | Documentary
A feature length documentary work which presents a case for a needed transition out of the current socioeconomic monetary paradigm which governs the entire world society.
Director: Peter Joseph | Stars: Peter Joseph, Robert Sapolsky, Gabor Maté, Richard Wilkinson
Votes: 18,743
5. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
PG-13 | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The life and work of photographer Sebastião Salgado, who has spent forty years documenting societies in hidden corners of the world.
Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders | Stars: Sebastião Salgado, Wim Wenders, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Votes: 23,460 | Gross: $1.34M
6. David Blaine: Real or Magic (2013 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 90 min | Documentary, Mystery
Magician David Blaine ventures across America from New York to Los Angeles, performing to various celebrities and the general public.
Director: Matthew Akers | Stars: David Blaine, Hadji Ali, Woody Allen, Will Arnett
Votes: 1,559
7. Tricked: The Documentary (2013)
Not Rated | 73 min | Documentary, Crime
This character-driven film considers the evolving sex trafficking landscape as seen by the main players: the exploited, the pimps, the johns that fuel the business, and the cops who fight to stop it.
Directors: John Keith Wasson, Jane Wells | Stars: Danielle Douglas, Slim, Rain, T.R.
Votes: 1,528
8. David Blaine: What Is Magic? (2010 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 43 min | Documentary, Mystery
Blaine enters the Hurricane stricken Ninth Ward in New Orleans and changes some people's luck. When he returns home to New York City, viewers see him doing magic for some of his friends, ... See full summary »
Director: David Blaine | Stars: David Blaine, Orlando Bloom, Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson, Bill Kalush
Votes: 441
9. Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
TV-MA | 84 min | Documentary
A documentary about young women who have been drawn into the sex trade - and how easy it is for a web-savvy generation to end up making porn.
Directors: Jill Bauer, Ronna Gradus | Stars: Tressa Silguero, Riley Reynolds, Rachel Bernard, John Anthony
Votes: 18,487
10. After Porn Ends 3 (2018)
TV-MA | 86 min | Documentary
After Porn Ends 3 continues to explore whether a career as an adult performer is inherently damaging to the balance of a performer's life once retired.
Director: Brittany Andrews | Stars: Christy Canyon, Jenteal, Tera Patrick, Priya Rai
Votes: 1,758
11. Colombia: Wild Magic (2015)
94 min | Documentary
A wonderful country full of amazing creatures in America called Colombia , seen as never before, accompanied by incredible shots , make it a must-see place for adventurers and wildlife lovers this natural paradise.
Director: Mike Slee | Star: Julio Sanchéz Cristo
Votes: 1,359
12. 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: 23,878
13. 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: 19,411 | Gross: $0.82M
14. 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: 63,827
15. Collective (2019)
Not Rated | 109 min | Documentary, Crime
Director Alexander Nanau follows a crack team of investigators at the Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor as they try to uncover a vast health-care fraud that enriched moguls and politicians and led to the deaths of innocent citizens.
Director: Alexander Nanau | Stars: Dan Alexandru Condrea, Liviu Iolu, Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag
Votes: 13,439
16. Night on Earth (2020)
TV-PG | 41 min | Documentary
This nature series' new technology lifts night's veil to reveal the hidden lives of the world's creatures, from lions on the hunt to bats on wings.
Stars: Samira Wiley, Alessandra Mastronardi, Beren Saat
Votes: 4,912
17. 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, Isaac Meyer, Stephen Turnbull
Votes: 5,157
18. Alien Worlds (2020)
TV-PG | 42 min | Documentary, Animation, Sci-Fi
Applying the laws of life on Earth to rest of the galaxy, this series blends science facts and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets.
Stars: Sophie Okonedo, Leigh Joel Scott, Douglas Vakoch, Natalie Batalha
Votes: 4,191
19. The Last Dance (2020)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Led by Michael Jordan, the 1990s Chicago Bulls establish themselves as one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
Stars: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, David Aldridge
Votes: 152,189
20. Greatest Events of WWII in Colour (2019)
50 min | Documentary, History, War
A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II.
Stars: Derek Jacobi, Geoffrey Wawro, James Holland, Saul David
Votes: 10,717
21. Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified (2021– )
45 min | Documentary
Though claims of extraterrestrial encounters have long been dismissed, many believe the existence of UFOs is not just likely, but a certainty.
Stars: Richard Dolan, Stephen Bassett, Michael Salla, Michael Schratt
Votes: 1,876
22. Pelé (2021)
TV-14 | 108 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
Looks back at the extraordinary 12-year period in which Pelé, the only man to win three World Cup titles, went from young superstar in 1958 to national hero in 1970; a radical yet turbulent era in Brazil’s history.
Directors: Ben Nicholas, David Tryhorn | Stars: Pelé, Muhammad Ali, Amarildo, Jorge Arantes
Votes: 5,667
23. Schumacher (2021)
12 | 112 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
Through exclusive interviews and archival footage, this documentary traces an intimate portrait of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
Directors: Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, Vanessa Nöcker, Michael Wech | Stars: Ross Brawn, Flavio Briatore, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, David Coulthard
Votes: 25,375
24. Senna (2010)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
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: 75,787 | Gross: $1.61M
25. The Last Czars (2019)
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Drama, History
A Chronicled look at the fall of the Romanov dynasty in Russia.
Stars: Robert Jack, Susanna Herbert, Ben Cartwright, Oliver Dimsdale
Votes: 9,667
26. Dark Tourist (2018)
TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Adventure
From a nuclear lake to a haunted forest, New Zealand filmmaker and journalist David Farrier ('Tickled') visits unusual -- and often macabre -- tourism spots around the world.
Stars: David Farrier, Christian Wolf, Jhon Jairo Velásquez, Scott Michaels
Votes: 8,168
27. Street Food: Latin America (2020)
TV-PG | 30 min | Documentary
The newest installment will travel to six countries in Latin America and explore the vibrant street food culture of Oaxaca, Mexico; Salvador, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lima, Peru; Bogota, Colombia; and La Paz, Bolivia.
Stars: Adin Rudd, Linda Kerr, Susana Ballesteros, Marsia Taha
Votes: 1,624
28. 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: 9,376
29. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
PG-13 | 118 min | Documentary, History, Music
Documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.
Director: Questlove | Stars: Dorinda Drake, Barbara Bland-Acosta, Darryl Lewis, Ethel Beatty
Votes: 13,879
30. 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: 21,481
31. Sean eternos: Campeones de América (2022)
42 min | Documentary, Sport
Argentinian football team way to the Copa America final. It's about football but it's also about leadership, Argentinean culture and Messi
Stars: Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Luis Suárez, Xavi Hernández
Votes: 386
32. Human: The World Within (2021– )
TV-PG | Documentary
Diverse personal stories from around the world reveal how lives, passions and goals are facilitated by the human body's various complex systems; narrator Jad Abumrad.
Stars: Mandy Harvey, Jad Abumrad
Votes: 998
33. WWII in Color: Road to Victory (2021– )
50 min | Documentary, History, War
Gripping historical footage and expert commentary give detailed insights into the leading figures and decisive turning points of WWII.
Stars: Trish Bertram, James Holland, Roman Toeppel, Alexandra Richie
Votes: 2,719
34. Our Universe (2022– )
TV-PG | 45 min | Documentary
Follows different aspects of the natural world, from an expansive look into the origin of the Universe, to life on planet Earth and how its oceans function. Narrated by Morgan Freeman
Star: Morgan Freeman
Votes: 2,935
35. Our Planet (2019–2023)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
Explores and unravels the mystery of how and why animals migrate, showing some of the most dramatic and compelling stories in the natural world through spectacular and innovative cinematography.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 51,146
36. Life on Our Planet (2023– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
The incredible story of life's epic, four-billion-year journey on Earth comes alive in this series from Steven Spielberg and the team behind "Our Planet."
Star: Morgan Freeman
Votes: 5,414
37. Alexander: The Making of a God (2024– )
TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, Drama, History
Alexander was King of the ancient Greek city state Macedon and widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders. By the age of 30 he had created one of the largest empires in history.
Stars: Souad Faress, Buck Braithwaite, Will Stevens, Mido Hamada
Votes: 11,942
38. World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, History, War
Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this docuseries brings WWII to life like never before.
Star: John Boyega
Votes: 5,269
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