(Eye-Opening Documentaries)
by peculiar-1 | created - 13 May 2013 | updated - 1 week ago | PublicDocos that could well change how you see yourself and the world around you.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Darwin's Nightmare (2004)
107 min | Documentary
A documentary on the effect of fishing the Nile perch in Tanzania's Lake Victoria. The predatory fish, which has wiped out the native species, is sold in European supermarkets, while starving Tanzanian families have to make do with the leftovers.
Director: Hubert Sauper | Stars: Elizabeth 'Eliza' Maganga Nsese, Raphael Tukiko Wagara, Dimond Remtulia, Marcus Nyoni
Votes: 5,662 | Gross: $0.20M
2. Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)
PG | 92 min | Documentary
A documentary that investigates the birth and death of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in the future.
Director: Chris Paine | Stars: Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Reverend Gadget
Votes: 12,756 | Gross: $1.68M
3. The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom (2007)
180 min | Documentary
The many ways in which Western notions of personal and political freedom are changing in the 21st Century are explored in this three-part documentary from writer and filmmaker Adam Curtis.
Stars: John Nash, Robert Spitzer, Jerome Wakefield, Paul McHugh
Votes: 2,018
4. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)
R | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, News
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: 18,003 | Gross: $3.41M
5. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime
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: 25,929 | Gross: $1.21M
6. I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition (2011 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
In the documentary special (I AM JAZZ: A Family in Transition) follows the life of an extraordinary family and their transgendered daughter.
Director: Jen Stocks | Stars: Jazz Jennings, Jeanette Jennings, Greg Jennings, Sander Jennings
Votes: 172
7. The Love of Liberty... A Liberian Civil War Documentary (2005)
Documentary
On assignment in Ghana, a filmmaker confronts not only his past and is introduced to a former killer who has become a born-again preacher.
Director: Gerald Barclay | Stars: Gerald Barclay, Joshua Blahyi
8. The Fog of War (2003)
PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History
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: 25,046 | Gross: $4.20M
9. Trophy Kids (2013)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary
From the director of Bigger Stronger Faster comes an intense look at overbearing parents in sports. The film asks the question "Do we want what's best for our children? Or do we just want ... See full summary »
Director: Chris Bell | Star: Amari Avery
Votes: 1,648
10. Freakonomics (2010)
PG-13 | 85 min | Documentary
A collection of documentaries that explores the hidden side of human nature through the use of the science of economics.
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock | Stars: James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock, Melvin Van Peebles
Votes: 7,735 | Gross: $0.10M
11. American Drug War: The Last White Hope (2006)
Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary, Crime
With commentary from soldiers on both sides of the conflict, filmmaker Kevin Booth's incisive documentary wades into the murky waters of the American war on drugs, the longest and costliest war in U.S. history.
Director: Kevin Booth | Stars: Joe Arpaio, Jello Biafra, Osama bin Laden, Jeff Blackburn
Votes: 1,643
12. Soldiers of Fortune (2007 TV Movie)
Documentary
The story of New Zealand security consultants and the work they do on the war torn streets of Baghdad.
Director: Matthew Metcalfe
13. Lucky (I) (2010)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
A documentary about the American lottery and some of the industry's biggest winners (and losers).
Director: Jeffrey Blitz | Star: Steve Ledoux
Votes: 372
14. The House I Live In (2012)
Not Rated | 108 min | Documentary
From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.
Director: Eugene Jarecki | Stars: Eugene Jarecki, David Simon, Shanequa Benitez, William Julius Wilson
Votes: 5,395 | Gross: $0.21M
15. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)
R | 106 min | Documentary, Crime, History
Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Alex Gibney, Brian Keith Allen, Moazzam Begg, Christopher Beiring
Votes: 16,802 | Gross: $0.27M
16. Project Nim (2011)
PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary
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
17.
My Wild Affair (2014– )
Episode:
The Ape Who Went to College
(2014)
TV-PG | 53 min | Documentary
From PBS - This is the incredible story of Chantek, the orangutan raised as a human child on an American university campus during the 70s and 80s. Taught to speak in sign language, he is ... See full summary »
Director: Matthew Cole | Stars: Chantek, Allan Corduner, Lyn Miles
Votes: 14
18. Humanzee: The Human Chimp (2003 TV Movie)
TV-G | 60 min | Documentary
Oliver is a chimpanzee who not only can walk upright, but does of his own accord. For years there have been debate's over Oliver's identity. All those who know Oliver swear that he is at ... See full summary »
Director: Graeme Thomson | Stars: Bhagavan Antle, Frank Burger, Janet Burger, Patrick Dixon
Votes: 18
19. The Killing of America (1981)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Crime
A documentary of the decline of America. It features footage (most exclusive to this film) from race riots to serial killers and much, much more.
Director: Sheldon Renan | Stars: Chuck Riley, Ed Dorris, Thomas Noguchi, Sirhan Sirhan
Votes: 2,369
20. The War on Democracy (2007)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary
Venezuela, Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, Salvador, Bolivia: people's struggle for democracy versus US imperialism in Latin America since the 1950s, backing coups and supporting dictatorships.
Directors: Chris Martin, John Pilger, Sean Crotty | Stars: John Pilger, Philip Agee, Salvador Allende, George Bush
Votes: 2,526
21. Bhutto (2010)
Unrated | 111 min | Documentary, Biography
A riveting documentary of the recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, a polarizing figure in the Muslim world. Following in her father's footsteps as a pillar for democracy, Bhutto was ... See full summary »
Directors: Duane Baughman, Johnny O'Hara | Stars: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari
Votes: 721 | Gross: $0.10M
22. Food, Inc. (2008)
PG | 94 min | Documentary, News
An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.
Director: Robert Kenner | Stars: Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, Richard Lobb, Vince Edwards
Votes: 52,213 | Gross: $4.42M
23. Last Call at the Oasis (2011)
PG-13 | 105 min | Documentary
A documentary on the world's water crisis.
Director: Jessica Yu | Stars: Erin Brockovich-Ellis, Jay Famiglietti, Peter H. Gleick, Tim Barnett
Votes: 476 | Gross: $0.04M
24. Fed Up (2014)
PG | 92 min | Documentary
An examination of America's obesity epidemic and the food industry's role in aggravating it.
Director: Stephanie Soechtig | Stars: Michele Simon, Katie Couric, Bill Clinton, Michael Pollan
Votes: 12,354 | Gross: $1.54M
25. That Sugar Film (2014)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
Damon Gameau embarks on an experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body.
Director: Damon Gameau | Stars: Damon Gameau, Hugh Jackman, Milla Bakaitis, Richard Davies
Votes: 10,859
26. Racing Extinction (2015)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Adventure, News
A documentary that follows undercover activists trying to stave off a man-made mass extinction.
Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: Elon Musk, Joel Sartore, Louie Psihoyos, Charles Hambleton
Votes: 8,192
27. Let's Make Money (2008)
110 min | Documentary
Most of us don't know where their money is. However, one thing is for certain, it's is not in the bank to which we entrusted it. The bank and our money is already a part of the cycle of the global money market.
Director: Erwin Wagenhofer | Stars: Mark Mobius, Mirko Kovats, K. Sujatha Raaju, Gerhard Schwarz
Votes: 1,753
28. War on Health: The FDA's Cult of Tyranny (2012)
98 min | Documentary, News
The film War on Health, explores the position of the FDA and it's role in the current medical paradigm, the current health crisis, and looks at possibilities for a healthier, more holistic ... See full summary »
Director: Gary Null | Stars: Mike Adams, Nancy Banks, Neal Barnard, Ronnie Cummins
Votes: 42
29. Farmageddon (2011)
Unrated | 86 min | Documentary, News
Farmageddon is the story of a mom whose son healed from all allergies and asthma after consuming raw milk, and real food from farms. It depicts people all over the country who formed food ... See full summary »
Director: Kristin Canty | Stars: Linda Faillace, Adam Helfer, Mark McAfee, Joel Salatin
Votes: 583 | Gross: $0.06M
30. 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: 132,388 | Gross: $119.19M
31. The Corporation (2003)
Not Rated | 145 min | Documentary, History
Documentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.
Directors: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott | Stars: Mikela Jay, Rob Beckwermert, Christopher Gora, Nina Jones
Votes: 21,784 | Gross: $1.88M
32. Le monde selon Monsanto (2008 TV Movie)
108 min | Documentary
You do not have to believe that God exists, but you will after this movie know that the devil poster! Monsanto is the largest global company that produces agricultural products: pesticides,... See full summary »
Director: Marie-Monique Robin | Stars: David Baker, Ken Cook, David Carpenter, Robert Bellé
Votes: 1,847
33. The Light Bulb Conspiracy (2010)
75 min | Documentary
This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.
Director: Cosima Dannoritzer | Stars: Richard Jones, Molly Malcolm, Steve Bunn, Markus Krajewski
Votes: 2,316
34. Life of Crime 2 (1998 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 119 min | Documentary
The chance to show redemption, even if that chance was slim, was enough to send Alpert back to the streets of Newark for "Life of Crime 2".
Director: Jon Alpert | Stars: Deliris, Freddy, Robert
Votes: 256
35. Mental Notes (2012)
74 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Huge numbers were placed there for life. Some were deemed hopeless cases, never to be part of society again. These were the patients and residents of New Zealand's 'Bins', the huge ... See full summary »
Director: Jim Marbrook
36. Predict My Future - The Science of Us (2016– )
Not Rated | 46 min | Documentary
Predict My Future reveals the answers to one of life's most fundamental questions; What Makes Us Who We Are? 43 years ago a New Zealand Medical School embarked on a remarkable project - the... See full summary »
Votes: 67
37. Project X (2016)
10 min | Documentary, Short
A top-secret handbook takes viewers on an undercover journey to TITANPOINTE, the site of a hidden partnership. Narrated by Rami Malek and Michelle Williams, and based on classified NSA ... See full summary »
Directors: Henrik Moltke, Laura Poitras | Stars: Rami Malek, Michelle Williams
Votes: 139
38. Utopia (II) (2013)
112 min | Documentary, History, News
Exploring offenses practiced by popular media, big business, police forces and Governments helping the Australian 225 year campaign of genocide continue against Aboriginal Australians.
Directors: Alan Lowery, John Pilger | Stars: John Pilger, Jon Altman, Pat Anderson, Mal Brough
Votes: 445
39. Prescription Thugs (2015)
PG-13 | 86 min | Documentary
In this follow-up to his film BIGGER FASTER STRONGER, director Chris Bell turns his camera on the abuse of prescription drugs and, ultimately, himself. As Bell learns more about Big Pharma,... See full summary »
Directors: Chris Bell, Josh Alexander, Greg Young | Stars: Mark Bell, Mike Bell, Rosemary Bell, Greg Critser
Votes: 2,200
40. GasLand (2010)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary
An exploration of the fracking petroleum extraction industry and the serious environmental consequences involved.
Director: Josh Fox | Stars: Josh Fox, Dick Cheney, Pete Seeger, Richard Nixon
Votes: 11,105 | Gross: $0.03M
41. Tales from the Organ Trade (2013 TV Movie)
82 min | Documentary, Crime
A look into the underground world of trafficking human body parts.
Director: Ric Esther Bienstock | Stars: Chas Bruns, David Cronenberg
Votes: 283
42. 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: 40,904
43. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
PG | 96 min | Documentary
Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim follows Al Gore on the lecture circuit, as the former presidential candidate campaigns to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Al Gore, Billy West, George Bush, George W. Bush
Votes: 85,208 | Gross: $23.81M
44. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
Follow the shocking, yet humorous, journey of an aspiring environmentalist, as he daringly seeks to find the real solution to the most pressing environmental issues and true path to sustainability.
Directors: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn | Stars: Bruce Hamilton, Kip Andersen, Al Gore, Heather Cooley
Votes: 26,573
45. What the Health (2017)
97 min | Documentary
An intrepid filmmaker on a journey of discovery as he uncovers possibly the largest health secret of our time and the collusion between industry, government, pharmaceutical and health organizations keeping this information from us.
Directors: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn | Stars: Kip Andersen, Larry Baldwin, Neal Barnard, Tia Blanco
Votes: 30,561
46. The Look of Silence (2014)
PG-13 | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A family that survived the genocide in Indonesia confronts the men who killed one of their brothers.
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer | Stars: Adi Rukun, M.Y. Basrun, Volker Hanisch, Amir Hasan
Votes: 13,881 | Gross: $0.11M
47. Children Underground (2001)
Not Rated | 104 min | Documentary
A profile of homeless Romanian children who were born victims of the nation's reckless population growth policy during its communist era.
Director: Edet Belzberg | Stars: Cristina Ionescu, Mihai Alexandre Tudose, Violeta 'Macarena' Rosu, Ana Turturica
Votes: 2,452
48. The Borneo Case (2016)
78 min | Documentary
In the Swedish documentary, The Borneo Case documentary filmmakers Erik Pauser and Dylan Williams spend five years intimately following the trail of an unlikely group of activists whose aim... See full synopsis »
Directors: Erik Pauser, Dylan Williams
Votes: 35
49. Reflection: A Walk with Water (2021)
80 min | Documentary
Reckoning with the reality of a changing climate, filmmaker Emmett Brennan walks 200 miles next to the Los Angeles aqueduct in search of a vision for humanity worth living for - what he discovers has everything to do with water.
Director: Emmett Brennan | Stars: Kathy Bancroft, Gigi Coyle, Ariel Greenwood, Rhamis Kent
Votes: 41
50. I Am Greta (2020)
TV-14 | 97 min | Documentary, Biography
The documentary follows Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist from Sweden, on her international crusade to get people to listen to scientists about the world's environmental problems.
Director: Nathan Grossman | Stars: Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Niclas Svenningsen, António Guterres
Votes: 8,374
Tell Your Friends