Thee Best Documentary

by hitherto92 | created - 30 May 2018 | updated - 2 days ago | Public

The best documentaries i have seen.

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1. The Civil War (1990)

TV-14 | 76 min | Documentary, History, War

A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.

Stars: David McCullough, Sam Waterston, Julie Harris, Jason Robards

Votes: 18,566

Ken Burns. Won 2 Emmys.

2. Hoop Dreams (1994)

PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport

98 Metascore

A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.

Director: Steve James | Stars: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates

Votes: 28,022 | Gross: $7.83M

Roger Ebert gave it 4/4⭐️

3. The War (2007)

TV-14 | 124 min | Documentary, History, War

A seven-part series focusing on the many ways in which the Second World War impacted the lives of American families.

Stars: Keith David, Katharine Phillips, Tom Hanks, Paul Fussell

Votes: 5,669

Won 3 Emmys.

4. Man on Wire (2008)

PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

89 Metascore

A look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974, what some consider, "the artistic crime of the century".

Director: James Marsh | Stars: Philippe Petit, Jean François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Annie Allix

Votes: 58,684 | Gross: $2.96M

Oscar [Winner] (2009) Best Documentary.

5. Baseball (1994–2010)

TV-PG | 104 min | Documentary, History, Sport

A documentary on the history of the sport with major topics including Afro-American players, player/team owner relations and the resilience of the game.

Stars: Daniel Okrent, George F. Will, John Chancellor, Doris Kearns Goodwin

Votes: 4,740

Emmy [Winner] (1995) Outstanding Informational Series

6. 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: 152,279

Primetime Emmy [Winner] (2020) Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

7. The Vietnam War (2017)

TV-MA | 99 min | Documentary, History, War

A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.

Stars: Peter Coyote, Huy Duc, James Willbanks, Duong Van Mai Elliott

Votes: 27,992

Ken Burns

8. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006–2007)

TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary

89 Metascore

An examination of the U.S. government's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Stars: Darleen Asevedo, Jay Asevedo, Shelton Shakespear Alexander, Lee Arnold

Votes: 4,825

Won 3 Emmys.

9. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)

PG | 103 min | Documentary

80 Metascore

A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

Director: Barbara Kopple | Stars: John L. Lewis, Carl Horn, Norman Yarborough, Logan Patterson

Votes: 6,633

Oscar [Winner] (1977) Best Documentary.

10. When We Were Kings (1996)

PG | 88 min | Documentary, Sport

83 Metascore

Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.

Director: Leon Gast | Stars: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, James Brown

Votes: 19,136 | Gross: $2.79M

Oscar [Winner] (1997) Best Documentary.

11. Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief (2015)

Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary

80 Metascore

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: 40,914

Won 3 Emmys.

12. The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime

79 Metascore

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: 25,966 | Gross: $1.21M

Eroll Morris created a whole genre with this film. There is a TV channel that plays shows all day long in Morris' style (Crime Reenactment) that my Dad watches.

13. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (2012)

TV-14 | 106 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

Alex Gibney explores the charged issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, following a trail from the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the United States and all the way to the Vatican.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Alex Gibney, Terry Kohut, Gary Smith, Pat Kuehn

Votes: 4,086

Won 3 Emmys.

14. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015–2024)

TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.

Stars: Andrew Jarecki, Robert Durst, J. Patrick Burns, Dick DeGuerin

Votes: 51,694

Won 2 Emmys.

15. O.J.: Made in America (2016)

TV-MA | 467 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.

Director: Ezra Edelman | Stars: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mike Albanese, Muhammad Ali, Marcus Allen

Votes: 21,902

Oscar [Winner] (2017) Best Documentary.

16. The Central Park Five (2012)

Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary, Crime, History

79 Metascore

A documentary that examines the 1989 case of five black and Latino teenagers who were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park. After having spent between 6 and 13 years each in prison, a serial rapist confessed to the crime.

Directors: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon | Stars: Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Kharey Wise, Raymond Santana

Votes: 7,937 | Gross: $0.27M

Ken Burns

17. The Beatles: Get Back (2021)

PG-13 | 156 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

In January 1969, The Beatles set out to write and record new songs for their first live show in more than two years, culminating in an impromptu concert atop their Savile Row studio.

Votes: 28,115

18. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)

PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Sport

76 Metascore

Documentary about the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skating team.

Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Sean Penn, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Jeff Ament

Votes: 13,361 | Gross: $1.29M

Even if you don't care about skateboarding, this is a thoroughly engrossing documentary. And maybe the best soundtrack ever. Also Sean Penn narrates

19. Citizenfour (2014)

R | 114 min | Documentary, Biography

88 Metascore

A documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden.

Director: Laura Poitras | Stars: Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, William Binney, Jacob Appelbaum

Votes: 57,989 | Gross: $2.80M

Oscar [Winner] (2015) Best Documentary

20. Bowling for Columbine (2002)

R | 120 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama

72 Metascore

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: 148,761 | Gross: $21.58M

Oscar [Winner] (2003) Best Documentary.

21. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

PG-13 | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

79 Metascore

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: 72,915 | Gross: $3.97M

Oscar [Winner] (2013) Best Documentary.

22. Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

PG-13 | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, History

85 Metascore

An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.

Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Fred Rogers, Margaret Whitmer, Tom Junod, Joanne Rogers

Votes: 27,122 | Gross: $22.84M

23. Apollo 11 (I) (2019)

G | 93 min | Documentary, History

88 Metascore

A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.

Director: Todd Douglas Miller | Stars: Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Deke Slayton

Votes: 27,222 | Gross: $9.04M

24. Inside Job (2010)

PG-13 | 109 min | Documentary, Crime

88 Metascore

Takes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.

Director: Charles Ferguson | Stars: Matt Damon, Gylfi Zoega, Andri Snær Magnason, Sigridur Benediktsdottir

Votes: 78,986 | Gross: $4.31M

Oscar [Winner] (2011) Best Documentary.

25. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)

Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime

86 Metascore

Documentary about Father Oliver O'Grady, a Catholic priest who was relocated to various parishes around the United States during the 1970s in an attempt by the Catholic Church to cover up his rape of dozens of children.

Director: Amy Berg | Stars: Oliver O'Grady, Thomas Doyle, Adam, Jeff Anderson

Votes: 10,827 | Gross: $30.58M

Oscar [Nominee] (2007) Best Documentary

26. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

Not Rated | 150 min | Documentary, Crime

A horrific triple child murder leads to an indictment and trial of three nonconformist boys based on questionable evidence.

Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Tony Brooks, Diana Davis, Terry Wood, Dick Clay

Votes: 18,152

Primetime Emmy [Winner] (1997) Outstanding Informational Programming

27. The Two Escobars (2010)

104 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

A look at how the lives of Colombian footballer Andres Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar were intertwined, alongside the mysterious events that led to Andres' murder in 1994.

Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist | Stars: María Ester Escobar, Francisco Maturana, Alexis García V., Jaime Gaviria Gómez

Votes: 2,203

28. Crumb (1994)

R | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy

93 Metascore

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: 21,596 | Gross: $3.17M

Roger Ebert gave it 4/4⭐️

29. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime

85 Metascore

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: 68,833 | Gross: $3.29M

Oscar [Nominee] (2011) Best Documentary

30. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

R | 122 min | Documentary, Drama, War

67 Metascore

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: 132,399 | Gross: $119.19M

31. Woodstock (1970)

R | 184 min | Documentary, History, Music

95 Metascore

Oscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.

Director: Michael Wadleigh | Stars: Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Joe Cocker

Votes: 18,468 | Gross: $50.00M

32. Jazz (2001)

108 min | Documentary, History, Music

A survey of the musical form's history and major talents.

Stars: Keith David, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Giddins, Delroy Lindo

Votes: 2,499

Ken Burns

33. Undefeated (2011)

PG-13 | 113 min | Documentary, Sport

71 Metascore

Chronicles three underprivileged students from inner-city Memphis and their volunteer coach who tries to help them beat the odds on and off the field.

Directors: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin | Stars: Bill Courtney, O.C. Brown, Montrail 'Money' Brown, Chavis Daniels

Votes: 7,341 | Gross: $0.56M

Oscar [Winner] (2012) Best Documentary.

34. Weiner (2016)

R | 96 min | Documentary

84 Metascore

An examination of disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's mayoral campaign and today's political landscape.

Directors: Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg | Stars: Anthony Weiner, Huma Abedin, Jordan Zain Weiner, Barbara Morgan

Votes: 10,534 | Gross: $1.61M

35. Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)

TV-14 | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, History

76 Metascore

'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

36. Gates of Heaven (1978)

Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary

A documentary about a pet cemetery in California, and the people who have pets buried there.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Lucille Billingsley, Zella Graham, Cal Harberts, Dan Harberts

Votes: 6,295

37. Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000 TV Movie)

Unrated | 130 min | Documentary, Crime

The case of the West Memphis Three, its questionable circumstances and the parties involved are followed up years later.

Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Damien Wayne Echols, Melissa Byers, Norris Deajon, Tim Sullivan

Votes: 9,656

38. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)

Not Rated | 121 min | Documentary, Crime

85 Metascore

A further followup of the case of the West Memphis Three and the decades long fight to exonerate them that finally gained traction with new DNA evidence.

Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Gary Gitchell, Todd Moore, Dana Moore, Pam Hobbs

Votes: 10,870

39. Prohibition (2011)

60 min | Documentary, History

The story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.

Stars: Peter Coyote, Pete Hamill, Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Michael Lerner

Votes: 3,424

Ken Burns

40. No End in Sight (2007)

Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary, War

89 Metascore

A comprehensive look at the Bush Administration's conduct of the Iraq war and its occupation of the country.

Director: Charles Ferguson | Stars: Campbell Scott, Gerald Burke, Ali Fadhil, Omar Fekeiki

Votes: 8,631 | Gross: $1.43M

41. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

R | 110 min | Documentary, Biography, History

A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: John Beard, Tim Belden, Barbara Boxer, George W. Bush

Votes: 20,116

42. Murderball (2005)

R | 88 min | Documentary, Sport

87 Metascore

Quadriplegics, who play full-contact rugby in wheelchairs, overcome unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Directors: Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro | Stars: Joe Soares, Keith Cavill, Mark Zupan, Robert Soares

Votes: 10,458 | Gross: $1.52M

43. The Fog of War (2003)

PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History

87 Metascore

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: 25,052 | Gross: $4.20M

44. March of the Penguins (2005)

G | 80 min | Documentary, Family

79 Metascore

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: 59,958 | Gross: $77.44M

45. Marley (2012)

PG-13 | 144 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

82 Metascore

A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, Jimmy Cliff

Votes: 14,496 | Gross: $1.41M

46. Super Size Me (2004)

PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.

Director: Morgan Spurlock | Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker, Dania Abu-Rmaileh

Votes: 113,298 | Gross: $11.53M

47. The Dust Bowl (2012)

TV-PG | 229 min | Documentary, History

A documentary about the 1930s drought of North American prairie farm land, and its consequences during the great depression.

Stars: Dorothy Williamson, Donald Worster, Timothy Egan, Pamela Riney-Kehrberg

Votes: 2,110

48. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

PG | 96 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

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: 85,221 | Gross: $23.81M

49. The Endurance (2000)

G | 97 min | Documentary, History

85 Metascore

A retelling of Sir Ernest Shackleton 's ill-fated expedition to Antarctica in 1914-1916, featuring new footage of the actual locations and interviews with surviving relatives of key ... See full summary »

Director: George Butler | Stars: Liam Neeson, Julian Ayer, John Blackborow, David Cale

Votes: 2,195 | Gross: $2.45M

50. The Crime of the Century (2021)

TV-MA | 116 min | Documentary, Crime

A searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.

Stars: Patrick Radden Keefe, Edward Byrne, Kadrolsha Ona Carole, Anna Lembke

Votes: 4,365

51. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019– )

TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Sport

Docuseries following the FIA Formula One World Championship across multiple seasons.

Stars: Will Buxton, Jack Nicholls, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton

Votes: 50,942

52. Roger & Me (1989)

R | 91 min | Documentary

70 Metascore

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

53. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)

R | 119 min | Documentary

A documentary about Anthony Bourdain and his career as a chef, writer and host, revered and renowned for his authentic approach to food, culture and travel.

Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Asia Argento, Anthony Bourdain, Ariane Bourdain, Christopher Bourdain

Votes: 10,118

54. Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)

TV-MA | 116 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy

74 Metascore

An intimate look into the life and work of the revered master comedian and actor, Robin Williams.

Director: Marina Zenovich | Stars: Robin Williams, Mark Rasmussen, Stan Wilson, John Houseman

Votes: 9,170

55. Icarus (2017)

TV-MA | 120 min | Documentary, Sport

68 Metascore

When Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller.

Director: Bryan Fogel | Stars: Bryan Fogel, Dave Zabriskie, Don Catlin, Grigory Rodchenkov

Votes: 54,721

56. Free Solo (2018)

PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport

83 Metascore

Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone.

Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Stars: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe

Votes: 77,446 | Gross: $17.54M

57. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary, History

95 Metascore

Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.

Director: Raoul Peck | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X

Votes: 23,511 | Gross: $7.12M

58. American Factory (2019)

TV-14 | 110 min | Documentary

86 Metascore

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: 23,880

59. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)

TV-14 | 114 min | Documentary, Biography, History

A documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.

Stars: Peter Coyote, George F. Will, Geoffrey C. Ward, Doris Kearns Goodwin

Votes: 2,652

60. Paris Is Burning (1990)

R | 78 min | Documentary

82 Metascore

A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

Director: Jennie Livingston | Stars: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey, Paris Duprée

Votes: 17,617 | Gross: $3.78M

61. Tyson (2008)

R | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

83 Metascore

A mixture of original interviews, archival footage, and photographs sheds light on the life experiences of Mike Tyson.

Director: James Toback | Stars: Mike Tyson, Mills Lane, Trevor Berbick, Cus D'Amato

Votes: 12,934 | Gross: $0.89M

62. Andre the Giant (2018 TV Movie)

TV-14 | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

A look at the life and career of professional wrestler André Roussimoff, who gained notoriety in the 1980s as Andre the Giant.

Director: Jason Hehir | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Rob Reiner

Votes: 6,866

63. They Shall Not Grow Old (II) (2018)

R | 99 min | Documentary, History, War

91 Metascore

A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.

Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Thomas Adlam, William Argent, John Ashby, Attwood

Votes: 38,473 | Gross: $17.96M

64. 13th (2016)

TV-MA | 100 min | Documentary, Crime, History

81 Metascore

An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality.

Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, Cory Booker, Dolores Canales

Votes: 37,684

65. The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)

Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, History

A documentary of the successful career and assassination of San Francisco's first elected gay city supervisor.

Director: Rob Epstein | Stars: Harvey Fierstein, Harvey Milk, Anne Kronenberg, Tory Hartmann

Votes: 6,579 | Gross: $0.01M

66. Making a Murderer (2015–2018)

TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Crime

Filmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.

Stars: Steven Avery, Dolores Avery, Laura Nirider, Allan Avery

Votes: 102,870

67. Touching the Void (2003)

R | 106 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama

82 Metascore

The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Simon Yates, Joe Simpson, Brendan Mackey, Nicholas Aaron

Votes: 38,110 | Gross: $4.59M

68. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011)

R | 97 min | Documentary, Music

76 Metascore

Michael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows this innovative and influential band to this day.

Director: Michael Rapaport | Stars: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White

Votes: 4,077 | Gross: $1.20M

69. Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013)

PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, History

83 Metascore

Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.

Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill

Votes: 13,955 | Gross: $4.95M

70. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)

TV-MA | 62 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery

A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens.

Stars: Deanna Thompson, John Green, Claudette Hamlin, Anna Yourkin

Votes: 62,270

71. Val (I) (2021)

R | 109 min | Documentary, Biography

73 Metascore

A documentary centering on the daily life of actor Val Kilmer, featuring never-before-seen footage spanning 40 years.

Directors: Ting Poo, Leo Scott | Stars: Val Kilmer, Jack Kilmer, Mercedes Kilmer, Joanne Whalley

Votes: 14,363

72. MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

Unrated | 360 min | Documentary

The history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

Stars: Patrick Stewart, Samuel Marx, Joseph, Mickey Rooney

Votes: 719

73. The Pervert's Guide to Cinema (2006)

150 min | Documentary

Slavoj Zizek examines famous films in a philosophical and a psychoanalytic context.

Director: Sophie Fiennes | Star: Slavoj Zizek

Votes: 7,342

74. Studio 54 (2018)

TV-MA | 98 min | Documentary, History, Music

70 Metascore

The story of the notorious 1970s New York City nightclub.

Director: Matt Tyrnauer | Stars: Ian Schrager, Steve Rubell, Donald Rubell, Neil Schlesinger

Votes: 3,542 | Gross: $0.20M

75. Three Identical Strangers (2018)

PG-13 | 96 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

81 Metascore

In 1980 New York, three young men who were all adopted meet each other and find out they're triplets who were separated at birth. But their quest to find out why turns into a bizarre and sinister mystery.

Director: Tim Wardle | Stars: Robert Shafran, Michael Domnitz, Howard Schneider, Ellen Cervone

Votes: 39,799 | Gross: $12.32M

76. Food, Inc. (2008)

PG | 94 min | Documentary, News

80 Metascore

An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.

Director: Robert Kenner | Stars: Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, Richard Lobb, Vince Edwards

Votes: 52,225 | Gross: $4.42M

77. The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (2018 TV Movie)

TV-MA | 259 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy

Judd Apatow presents an emotional two-part in-depth look at the life, career and complex internal struggles of his loving mentor, the influential stand-up comedian and actor Garry Shandling, based on Shandling's personal diaries.

Director: Judd Apatow | Stars: Garry Shandling, Judd Apatow, Kevin Nealon, Mike Shandling

Votes: 2,178

78. Triangle: Remembering the Fire (2011)

Not Rated | 40 min | Documentary, Short

On March 25, 1911, a catastrophic fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City. Trapped inside the upper floors of a 10-story building, 146 workers--mostly young ... See full summary »

Director: Daphne Pinkerson | Stars: Suzanne Pred Bass, Leigh Benin, Dennis Clancey, Tovah Feldshuh

Votes: 187

79. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004)

TV-PG | 214 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

The story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.

Director: Ken Burns | Stars: Jack Johnson, Keith David, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Arkin

Votes: 1,691

80. Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery (1997 TV Movie)

TV-G | 240 min | Documentary, Adventure, Biography

The story of the most important American exploration expedition in American history and the participants in it.

Director: Ken Burns | Stars: Hal Holbrook, Adam Arkin, John Logan Allen, Stephen Ambrose

Votes: 1,417

81. Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017)

TV-MA | 135 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

62 Metascore

A look at the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton, told by those who have known him best, including BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison.

Director: Lili Fini Zanuck | Stars: Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Ginger Baker, Chuck Berry

Votes: 2,537

82. Zero Days (2016)

PG-13 | 116 min | Documentary

77 Metascore

A documentary focused on Stuxnet, a piece of self-replicating computer malware that the U.S. and Israel unleashed to destroy a key part of an Iranian nuclear facility, and which ultimately spread beyond its intended target.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: David Sanger, Emad Kiyaei, Eric Chien, Liam O'Murchu

Votes: 10,420 | Gross: $0.10M

83. Jackie Robinson (2016)

TV-PG | 240 min | Documentary, Biography

Documentary chronicles the personal and professional life of Jackie Robinson from his birth in 1919 to his death in 1972. Robinson's rise from humble beginnings to became an American hero and pivotal figure in American history are detailed.

Stars: Keith David, Jamie Foxx

Votes: 534

84. The Art of the Steal (2009)

Unrated | 101 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

Documentary that follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' 25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art.

Director: Don Argott | Stars: Julian Bond, David D'Arcy, Richard Feigen, Richard H. Glanton

Votes: 2,493 | Gross: $0.54M

85. Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010)

R | 118 min | Documentary

68 Metascore

A probing investigation into the lies, greed and corruption surrounding D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, William Branner, Melanie Sloan

Votes: 1,740 | Gross: $0.18M

86. Sinatra: All or Nothing at All (2015)

TV-14 | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

SINATRA: All or Nothing at All is an up-close and personal examination of the life, music and career of the legendary entertainer. Told in his own words from hours of archived interviews, ... See full summary »

Stars: Nancy Sinatra, Tina Sinatra, Nancy Barbato Sinatra, Nelson Riddle

Votes: 2,487

87. The Gatekeepers (2012)

PG-13 | 101 min | Documentary, History, War

91 Metascore

A documentary featuring interviews with all surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency whose activities and membership are closely held state secrets.

Director: Dror Moreh | Stars: Ami Ayalon, Avraham Shalom, Avi Dichter, Yaakov Peri

Votes: 5,890 | Gross: $2.42M

88. 5 Broken Cameras (2011)

Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary, War

78 Metascore

A documentary on a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army.

Directors: Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi | Stars: Emad Burnat, Soraya Burnat, Mohammed Burnat, Yasin Burnat

Votes: 6,647 | Gross: $0.11M

89. The Statue of Liberty (1985)

TV-G | 60 min | Documentary, History

Documentary showing the history of the world-famous Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, the impact it still has on people and the state of liberty as a personal and political concept in America in 1985.

Director: Ken Burns | Stars: David McCullough, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Paul Roebling

Votes: 712

90. Jesus Camp (2006)

PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary

62 Metascore

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

91. How to Survive a Plague (2012)

Not Rated | 110 min | Documentary, History, News

86 Metascore

The story of two coalitions -- ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) -- whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

Director: David France | Stars: Peter Staley, Larry Kramer, Iris Long, Bob Rafsky

Votes: 4,357 | Gross: $0.13M

92. Amy (III) (2015)

R | 128 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

85 Metascore

Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.

Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Russell Brand

Votes: 55,089 | Gross: $8.41M

93. Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022)

TV-MA | 135 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

75 Metascore

Follows famous skater Tony Hawk's personal life, career and relationship with skateboarding, including never-before-seen footage and unprecedented access to Hawk, along with interviews with figures from the skateboarding world.

Director: Sam Jones | Stars: Stacy Peralta, Tony Hawk, Rob Roy Fitzgerald, Riley Hawk

Votes: 4,688

94. Beastie Boys Story (2020)

TV-MA | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

74 Metascore

Here's a little story they're about to tell... Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of the band, Beastie Boys, and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend and collaborator, Spike Jonze.

Director: Spike Jonze | Stars: Beastie Boys, Mike D, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch

Votes: 7,910

95. My Octopus Teacher (2020)

TV-G | 85 min | Documentary, Drama

82 Metascore

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: 63,858

96. 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: 2,938

97. American Experience (1987– )
Episode: Triangle Fire (2011)

TV-PG | 54 min | Documentary, Biography, History

The 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York's Greenwich Village resulted in legislation ensuring the most comprehensive workplace safety laws in the U.S.

Director: Jamila Wignot | Stars: Michael Murphy, Annelise Orleck, Richard A. Greenwald, David Von Drehle

Votes: 160

98. The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)

TV-MA | 111 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

78 Metascore

An exploration of the history of the Bee Gees, featuring revealing interviews with oldest brother Barry Gibb, and archival interviews with the late twin brothers Robin and Maurice.

Director: Frank Marshall | Stars: Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Peter Brown

Votes: 5,624

99. The Armstrong Lie (2013)

R | 124 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

67 Metascore

A documentary chronicling sports legend Lance Armstrong's improbable rise and ultimate fall from grace.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Lance Armstrong, Reed Albergotti, Betsy Andreu, Frankie Andreu

Votes: 7,901 | Gross: $0.38M

100. Blackfish (2013)

PG-13 | 83 min | Documentary

83 Metascore

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: 72,459 | Gross: $2.07M



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