Favourite Documentaries
by donaldsgordon | created - 3 months ago | updated - 3 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
TV-PG | 43 min | Documentary
An exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
Stars: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Christopher Emerson, Keythe Farley, Piotr Michael
Votes: 128,688
2. The Canadian Experience: Talking Canadian (2004)
43 min | Documentary
Talking Canadian is a light-hearted exploration of the way we spoke in the past, how we speak today, and how we will likely talk in the future.
Director: Margaret Slaght | Stars: Damien Atkins, Paul Constable, Cheri Maracle, Scott Beaudin
3. The Adventure of English (2002– )
65 min | Documentary
The history of the English language.
Stars: Melvyn Bragg, Michael Cronin, David Gwillim, Mark Saban
Votes: 238
4. Totally Under Control (2020)
TV-14 | 123 min | Documentary
An in-depth look at how the United States government handled the response to the COVID-19 outbreak during the early months of the pandemic.
Directors: Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger | Stars: Alex Azar, Charlie Baker, Scott Becker, Taison Bell
Votes: 3,366
5. J.R.R.T.: A Film Portrait of J.R.R. Tolkien (1996 Video)
110 min | Documentary, Fantasy
A portrait of an enduring author illustrated by his own drawings plus family photographs, with reminiscences from his children, commentary by Tom Shippey and Verlyn Flieger, and excerpts from his works read by Dame Judi Dench.
Director: Derek Bailey | Stars: Judi Dench, Christopher Tolkien, Tom Shippey, John Tolkien
Votes: 95
6. Celebrating Marvel's Stan Lee (2019 TV Special)
TV-PG | 42 min | Documentary, Biography, News
Stars of the Marvel Universe -- including Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Mark Hamill -- assemble to celebrate the life and luminous legacy of the legendary comic creator.
Director: Liliana Olszewski | Stars: Sana Amanat, Saquon Barkley, Paul Bettany, Chadwick Boseman
Votes: 42
7. Universal Techno (1996)
Music
It's a documentary about the birth of techno music in Detroit,Mi. (Home of Techno).
Director: Dominique Deluze | Stars: Aphex Twin, Juan Atkins, Mike Banks, Steve Beckett
Votes: 23
8. Genesis: A History (1991 Video)
90 min | Documentary
A document on the music band Genesis, including rare live material and tv footage.
Stars: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett
Votes: 17
9. 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: 148,743 | Gross: $21.58M
10. Sicko (2007)
PG-13 | 123 min | Documentary, Drama
A documentary comparing the highly profitable American health care industry to other nations, and HMO horror stories including shotgun deaths.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Tucker Albrizzi, Tony Benn, George W. Bush
Votes: 76,829 | Gross: $24.54M
11. Friends: The Reunion (2021 TV Special)
TV-14 | 104 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
"Friends (1994)" reunion special hosted by James Corden in which the main cast revisit the sets of the original show, meet with celebrity guests, do table reads and re-enactments of episodes, and share behind-the-scenes footage.
Directors: Russell Norman, Ben Winston | Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc
Votes: 64,837
12. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
Director: Banksy | Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Votes: 68,825 | Gross: $3.29M
13. Batman & Bill (2017)
TV-14 | 93 min | Documentary, Animation, Mystery
Documentary about the uncredited co-creator of Batman, Bill Finger.
Directors: Don Argott, Sheena M. Joyce | Stars: Thomas Andrae, Jerry Bails, Otto Binder, Benjamin Zaido Cruz
Votes: 2,271
14. Heart of Batman (2018)
98 min | Documentary
When animators Paul Dini and Bruce Timm were tasked with creating an animated #Batman cartoon, no one knew whether the team would be able to reinvent the character away from his campy ... See full summary »
Director: Alexander Gray | Stars: Kevin Altieri, Stan Berkowitz, Alan Burnett, Mike Carlin
Votes: 154
15. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
R | 77 min | Documentary, Comedy, Musical
The Monty Python troupe perform a combination of classic sketches and new material at the Hollywood Bowl.
Directors: Terry Hughes, Ian MacNaughton | Stars: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman
Votes: 15,772 | Gross: $0.33M
16. What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1970)
X | 85 min | Documentary, Comedy
From Candid Cameraman Allen Funt comes a hysterical feature films that tells and shows all. Witness America's response to one of the most titillating stunts of all time in this hilarious expose of sex and society.
Director: Allen Funt | Stars: Joie Addison, Laura Huston, Martin Meyers, Karil Daniels
Votes: 575 | Gross: $0.16M
17. Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman (2006 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 115 min | Documentary, History
The history of the comic book superhero, Superman in his various media incarnations.
Director: Kevin Burns | Stars: Kevin Spacey, Gerard Jones, Forrest J. Ackerman, Elliot S. Maggin
Votes: 1,398
18.
The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (2016–2023)
Episode:
Reigning Chaos
(2021)
TV-MA | 52 min | Documentary
In an extended season premiere, The Circus makes sense of a country reeling from the grave implications of a Capitol siege. Hosts examine unfolding news, explore the fallout of a turbulent week and energy surging of the Georgia run-off.
Stars: John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Alex Wagner, Jennifer Palmieri
Votes: 33
19. The Prince of Chess (2005)
50 min | Documentary
Follow the brilliant mind of 13 year old Chess Grand Master Magnus Carlsen
Director: Øyvind Von Doren Asbjørnsen | Stars: Magnus Carlsen, Jon Ludvig Hammer, Anatoli Karpov, Garry Kasparov
Votes: 87
20.
The Story of English (1986– )
Episode:
An English Speaking World
(1986)
Documentary
Details the origin and evolution of English, from Old English to Middle English.
Directors: William Cran, Peter Dale, Vivian Ducat, Howard Reid | Stars: Robert MacNeil, Randolph Quirk, Robert Burchfield, Braj Kachru
21. Day of Rage: How Trump Supporters Took the U.S. Capitol (2021)
40 min | Documentary, Short, Crime
As part of a six-month investigation, The Times synchronized and mapped thousands of videos and police audio of the U.S. Capitol riot to provide the most complete picture to date of what happened - and why.
Directors: David Botti, Malachy Browne | Stars: Malachy Browne, Haley Willis, Zachary Alam, Ashli Babbitt
Votes: 173
22. Religulous (2008)
R | 101 min | Documentary, Comedy, War
Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion.
Director: Larry Charles | Stars: Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden, Steven Burg
Votes: 60,244 | Gross: $13.00M
23. 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: 132,392 | Gross: $119.19M
24. 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: 27,512 | Gross: $6.71M
25. Where to Invade Next (2015)
R | 120 min | Documentary, Comedy
To learn what the USA can learn from other nations, Michael Moore playfully "invades" them to see what they have to offer.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Johnny Fancelli, Christina Fancelli, Lorena Lardini
Votes: 25,704 | Gross: $3.82M
26. Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)
TV-14 | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, History
'Bobby Fischer Against the World' is a documentary feature exploring the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer. The drama of Bobby Fischer's career was undeniable, ... See full summary »
Director: Liz Garbus | Stars: Bobby Fischer, David Edmonds, Anthony Saidy, Susan Polgar
Votes: 7,402
27. Guns, Germs, and Steel (2005)
165 min | Documentary, History
A PBS documentary concerning Jared Diamond's theory on why there is such disparity between those who have advanced technology and those who still live primitively. He argues it is due to ... See full summary »
Stars: Peter Coyote, Jared Diamond
Votes: 1,292
28. Magnus (2016)
78 min | Documentary
Magnus Carlsen, Norwegian chess prodigy, becomes a grandmaster at age 13 and world champion in 2013.
Director: Benjamin Ree | Stars: Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand
Votes: 2,648 | Gross: $0.01M
29. Genesis: Together and Apart (2014 TV Movie)
Unrated | 90 min | Documentary, Music
Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reunite to do a documentary spanning most of the career of Genesis and their solo careers.
Director: John Edginton | Stars: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett
Votes: 427
30. High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music (2006 Video)
64 min | Documentary, Music
HIGH TECH SOUL is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of Detroit, its birthplace. From the race riots of 1967 to the underground ... See full summary »
Director: Gary Bredow | Stars: Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie Fowlkes
Votes: 336
31. Jouer sa vie (1982)
80 min | Documentary
Directors: Gilles Carle, Camille Coudari | Stars: Anatoli Karpov, Viktor Korchnoi, Bobby Fischer, Ljubomir Ljubojevic
Votes: 42
32. Game Over (2003)
PG | 90 min | Documentary
In 1997, chess champion Garry Kasparov goes head-to-head against IBM's computer, Deep Blue, and accuses IBM of cheating its way to victory. Interviews with Kasparov, his manager and members of the Deep Blue team illuminate the controversy.
Director: Vikram Jayanti | Stars: Marc Ghannoum, Joel Benjamin, Michael Greengard, Anatoli Karpov
Votes: 1,395
33. Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Superheroes of Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006 Video)
5 min | Documentary, Short, Crime
Go behind the scenes of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. You'll find in depth insights from the branding teams of both Activision and Marvel, the art department, animators, writer and other key ... See full summary »
Director: Glenn Amonitti | Stars: C.B. Cebulski, Dan Edwards, Keith Fuller, Dan Hay
Votes: 94
34. Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe (2014 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 43 min | Documentary, History
A look at the story behind Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from all of the Marvel films, the Marvel One-Shots and "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Stars: Axel Alonso, Victoria Alonso, Hayley Atwell, Jeffrey Bell
Votes: 1,768
35. Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020)
130 min | Documentary, History
The definitive documentary on the history of nudity in feature films, from the early silent days to the present, studying the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films, ... See full summary »
Director: Danny Wolf | Stars: Warren Beatty, Elizabeth Berkley, Martine Beswick, Linda Blair
Votes: 1,300
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