Documentaries worth watching
by billieslay | created - 17 Aug 2014 | updated - 3 weeks ago | PublicDocumentaries worth watching, yo.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Stranded (2007)
Unrated | 130 min | Documentary
For the first time ever, survivors of the famous 1972 Andes plane crash tell in their own words their harrowing story of survival.
Director: Gonzalo Arijon | Stars: Jose Algorta, Roberto Canessa, Alfredo Delgado, Daniel Fernandez
Votes: 1,478 | Gross: $0.09M
2. The Punk Singer (2013)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A look at the life of activist, musician, and cultural icon Kathleen Hanna, who formed the punk band Bikini Kill and pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s.
Director: Sini Anderson | Stars: Kathleen Hanna, Carrie Brownstein, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett
Votes: 3,085 | Gross: $0.12M
3. The Last Days of Left Eye (2007 TV Movie)
86 min | Documentary
Lauren Lazin's documentary on Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the troubled, enigmatic rapper from the group TLC, who died in an automobile accident in 2002 at the age of 30.
Director: Lauren Lazin | Stars: Ian Burke, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, Reigndrop Lopes, Ronald Lopes
Votes: 380
4. The Imposter (2012)
R | 99 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A documentary centered on a young man in Spain who claims to a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who has been missing for 3 years.
Director: Bart Layton | Stars: Adam O'Brian, Nicholas Barclay, Carey Gibson, Bryan Gibson
Votes: 50,471 | Gross: $0.89M
5. West of Memphis (2012)
R | 147 min | Documentary, Crime
An examination of a failure of justice in the case against the West Memphis Three.
Director: Amy Berg | Stars: Jason Baldwin, Damien Wayne Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Michael Baden
Votes: 10,958 | Gross: $0.31M
6. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
PG-13 | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock n roller, Rodriguez.
Director: Malik Bendjelloul | Stars: Rodriguez, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman, Dennis Coffey, Mike Theodore
Votes: 72,922 | Gross: $3.97M
7. 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: 148,764 | Gross: $21.58M
8. Jesus Camp (2006)
PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary
A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham.
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady | Stars: Mike Papantonio, Lou Engle, Becky Fischer, Ted Haggard
Votes: 28,779 | Gross: $0.90M
9. The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014)
Not Rated | 105 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
The story of programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz, who took his own life at the age of 26.
Director: Brian Knappenberger | Stars: Aaron Swartz, Tim Berners-Lee, Cindy Cohn, Gabriella Coleman
Votes: 18,040 | Gross: $0.05M
10. 9/11 (2002 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 112 min | Documentary
A real life documentary following the events of September 11 from an insider's view, through the lens of James Hanlon and two French filmmakers who were in Manhattan that one day.
Directors: James Hanlon, Gédéon Naudet, Jules Naudet | Stars: Tony Benatatos, Yusuf Baran Bilgic, Jamal Braithwaite, Steve Buscemi
Votes: 8,645
Authentic footage from inside the twin towers during the attack.
11. The Invisible War (2012)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Crime
An investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.
Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick, Kori Cioca, Jessica Hinves
Votes: 7,084 | Gross: $0.07M
Such an important documentary. Everyone should see it.
12. Blackfish (2013)
PG-13 | 83 min | Documentary
A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite | Stars: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg, Dean Gomersall
Votes: 72,468 | Gross: $2.07M
13. Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
R | 120 min | Documentary, Music
Documentary following singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990.
Director: Alek Keshishian | Stars: Madonna, Donna DeLory, Niki Haris, Luis Camacho
Votes: 10,037 | Gross: $15.01M
At the time when Madonna still was funny and groundbreaking.
14. Roger & Me (1989)
R | 91 min | Documentary
After General Motors closes its factory in Flint, Michigan, eliminating 35,000 jobs, filmmaker Michael Moore undertakes a quixotic quest to interview General Motors' chairman, Roger B. Smith.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Roger B. Smith, Rhonda Britton, Fred Ross
Votes: 27,516 | Gross: $6.71M
A young Michael Moores breakthrough.
15. TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away from Keyboard (2013)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary
An intellectual freedoms documentary based around the interpersonal triumphs, and defeats of the three main characters against the largest industry in the known universe. The media industry.
Director: Simon Klose | Stars: Gottfrid Svartholm, Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij, Peter Althin
Votes: 13,929
16. March of the Penguins (2005)
G | 80 min | Documentary, Family
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: 59,957 | Gross: $77.44M
Pseudo-documentary. But still.
17. Catfish (2010)
PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary, Drama, Mystery
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: 43,744 | Gross: $3.23M
Also very questionable if scripted or not - but way classier than the TV-show.
18.
Storyville (1997– )
Episode:
India's Daughter
(2015)
63 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and death of Jyoti Singh, an Indian medical student whose violation and murder by gang rapists exposed the violent misogyny of Indian society.
Director: Leslee Udwin | Stars: Asha Devi, Badri Singh, Satendra, Mukesh Singh
Votes: 2,224
19. He Named Me Malala (2015)
PG-13 | 88 min | Documentary, Biography
A look at the events leading up to the Taliban's attack on Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai for speaking out on girls' education, followed by the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Malala Yousafzai, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Toor Pekai Yousafzai, Khushal Yousafzai
Votes: 4,796 | Gross: $2.64M
20. Palme (2012–2013)
103 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and times of Olof Palme, the prime minister of Sweden until his assassination in 1986.
Stars: Lisbeth Palme, Joakim Palme, Mårten Palme, Mattias Palme
Votes: 1,514
21. Amanda Knox (2016)
TV-MA | 92 min | Documentary, Crime
American exchange student Amanda Knox is charged with the 2007 death of another student in Italy.
Directors: Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn | Stars: Amanda Knox, Meredith Kercher, Raffaele Sollecito, Giuliano Mignini
Votes: 26,135
22. Avicii: True Stories (2017)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Focuses on the incredible rise, fall and rebirth of one of the worlds most successful electronic music artists of all time, Avicii.
Director: Levan Tsikurishvili | Stars: Salem Al Fakir, Avicii, Johan Bjerkelund, Aloe Blacc
Votes: 6,980
23. Silvana - Väck mig när ni vaknat (2017)
95 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Film about Swedish artist and feminist Silvana Imam.
Directors: Mika Gustafson, Olivia Kastebring, Christina Tsiobanelis | Stars: Beatrice Eli, Silvana Imam
Votes: 563
24. Lorena (2019)
TV-MA | 64 min | Documentary, Crime
From Executive Producer Jordan Peele, this four-part docuseries re-investigates the events of 1993, where Lorena Bobbitt sliced off her husband's penis after years of abuse.
Stars: Lorena Bobbitt, John Wayne Bobbitt, Paul Ebert, Kim Gandy
Votes: 2,465
25. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
TV-MA | 105 min | Documentary, Biography
Victoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Johnson's family, friends and fellow activists.
Director: David France | Stars: Kurt Wolfe, Sue Yacka, Catherine Shugrue Dos Santos, Victoria Cruz
Votes: 3,202
26. 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: 7,182 | Gross: $0.43M
27. Little Girl (2020)
88 min | Documentary
The touching portrait of eight-year-old Sasha, who questions her gender and in doing so, evokes the sometimes disturbing reactions of a society that is still invested in a biological boy-girl way of thinking.
Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
Votes: 1,447
28. Adrienne (2021)
98 min | Documentary, Biography
As the muse of Hal Hartley's indie classics and as writer/director of the critically acclaimed Waitress, Adrienne Shelly was a shining star in the indie film firmament.
Director: Andy Ostroy | Stars: Sara Bareilles, Robert John Burke, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith
Votes: 887
29. 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: 40,819 | Gross: $0.49M
30. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, Crime
Examines the rise of Warren Jeffs in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and his shocking criminal case.
Stars: Mike Watkiss, Elissa Wall, Rebecca Musser, Ruby Jessop
Votes: 16,106
31. 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
TV-PG | 95 min | Documentary, War
As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.
Director: Mstyslav Chernov | Stars: Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Liudmyla Amelkina, Roman Golovanov
Votes: 20,223
32. The Gullspång Miracle (2023)
108 min | Documentary, Mystery
Two pious sisters buy an apartment after having witnessed a divine sign - only to realize that the seller of the apartment looks identical to their other sister, who committed suicide some thirty years before.
Director: Maria Fredriksson | Stars: Olaug Bakkevoll, Kari Klo, May-Elin Storsletten
Votes: 934
Tell Your Friends