Documentaries
by kaydeemcshane | created - 08 Dec 2016 | updated - 5 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Nikolay Drozdov, Thomas Anguti Johnston
Votes: 220,462
2. Planet Earth II (2016)
TV-G | 50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns with a new wildlife documentary that shows life in a variety of habitats.
Stars: David Attenborough, Chadden Hunter, Gordon Buchanan, Fredi Devas
Votes: 158,434
3. Life (2009)
TV-G | 43 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, Roger Munns
Votes: 42,830
4. The Blue Planet (2001)
TV-G | 49 min | Documentary
Mammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world's oceans.
Stars: David Attenborough, Pierce Brosnan, Peter Scoones
Votes: 42,731
5. Frozen Planet (2011–2012)
TV-PG | 33 min | Documentary
Focuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
Stars: David Attenborough, Alec Baldwin, Chadden Hunter, Michael Kelem
Votes: 33,010
6. Human Planet (2011)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
A cinematic experience bringing you the most amazing human stories in the world. Humans and wildlife surviving in the most extreme environments on Earth
Stars: John Hurt, Roger Munns
Votes: 27,806
7. Africa (2013)
TV-PG | 51 min | Documentary
Africa, the world's wildest continent. David Attenborough takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most diverse places in the world. We visit deserts, savannas, and jungles and meet up with some of Africa's amazing wildlife.
Stars: David Attenborough, Simon Blakeney, Bill Rudolph, Justine Evans
Votes: 17,136
8. 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: 128,842
9. Nature's Great Events (2009)
49 min | Documentary, Family
This exploration of the planet's most breathtaking natural events follows vast migrations, huge ocean convergences, powerful weather systems and mighty floods.
Stars: David Attenborough, Joe Stevens, Shane Moore, Owen Newman
Votes: 3,374
10. The Life of Mammals (2002–2003)
50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's comprehensive study of how a remarkable group of animals evolved - a group that includes ourselves.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 4,242
11. Madagascar (2011)
240 min | Documentary
Over 80% of Madagascar's animals and plants are found nowhere else on Earth. Discover what made Madagascar so different from the rest of the world, and how evolution ran wild there.
Stars: David Attenborough, Gavin Thurston, Tim Fogg, Emma Napper
Votes: 2,322
12. Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough (2015–2016)
Documentary
David Attenborough revisits the Great Barrier Reef after nearly 60 years. His visit takes him from the most exposed part of the reef as well as down to 300m below the surface discovering corals never seen before.
Stars: David Attenborough, Barack Obama
Votes: 1,532
13. Galapagos 3D (2013)
Documentary
Filmed in one of the most extreme and hard-to-reach locations in the world, 'Galapagos' explores the unique environments and species of the Galapagos. It will take viewers on a voyage to ... See full summary »
Stars: David Attenborough, Anthony Geffen, Martin Williams, Robert Hollingworth
Votes: 1,195
14. 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: 59,966 | Gross: $77.44M
15. Under the Sea 3D (2009)
G | 41 min | Documentary, Short
An underwater look at the diverse coastal regions of Southern Australia, New Guinea and the Indo-Pacific areas and the impact of global warming on the oceans.
Director: Howard Hall | Stars: Jim Carrey, Zozo Kahramana
Votes: 1,932 | Gross: $36.15M
16. Deep Sea (2006)
G | 41 min | Documentary, Short
A 3-D digital exploration of the ocean's depths and its creatures.
Director: Howard Hall | Stars: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet
Votes: 1,842 | Gross: $46.56M
17. To the Arctic 3D (2012)
G | 40 min | Documentary, Short
A journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her two seven-month-old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home.
Director: Greg MacGillivray | Stars: Meryl Streep, Leanne Allison, Karsten Heuer, Bjorne Kvernmo
Votes: 1,137 | Gross: $14.55M
18. Chimpanzee (2011)
G | 78 min | Documentary, Family
Meet adorable young chimp Oscar and his fellow mayhem-creating buddies, who see the world as their playground. Full of curiosity, joy and a love for mimicking others, these are some of the most extraordinary personalities in the jungle.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield | Star: Tim Allen
Votes: 6,369 | Gross: $28.97M
19. Bears (I) (2014)
G | 78 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary that follows an Alaskan bear family as its young cubs are taught life's most important lessons.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey, Adam Chapman | Star: John C. Reilly
Votes: 7,102 | Gross: $17.77M
20. Monkey Kingdom (2015)
G | 81 min | Documentary
Life is an adventure for a young monkey and her son, living among ancient ruins in the jungle. But when her family is forced from their home, she must lead them to safety amidst strange new creatures and surroundings.
Directors: Mark Linfield, Alastair Fothergill | Star: Tina Fey
Votes: 4,175 | Gross: $16.43M
21. Earth (2007)
G | 90 min | Documentary
Feature-length version of the documentary TV series Planet Earth (2006), following the migration paths of four animal families.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield | Stars: James Earl Jones, Patrick Stewart, Anggun, Ulrich Tukur
Votes: 14,744 | Gross: $38.05M
22. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)
Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime
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: 10,832 | Gross: $30.58M
23. 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: 76,843 | Gross: $24.54M
24. 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: 28,781 | Gross: $0.90M
25. Super Size Me (2004)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary
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: 113,321 | Gross: $11.53M
26. 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: 72,497 | Gross: $2.07M
27. 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: 148,783 | Gross: $21.58M
28. The Cove (2009)
PG-13 | 92 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones, Michael Illiff
Votes: 51,462 | Gross: $0.87M
29. Oceans (2008)
G | 84 min | Documentary
An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud | Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Jacques Perrin, Rie Miyazawa
Votes: 10,075 | Gross: $19.42M
30. Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (2014)
G | 39 min | Documentary, Short, Adventure
A documentary that follows Dr. Patricia C. Wright's mission to help lemurs, the highly evolved creatures who arrived on Madagascar millions of years ago as castaways but are now highly endangered.
Director: David Douglas | Stars: Patricia Wright, Morgan Freeman, Hantanirina Rasamimanana
Votes: 1,017 | Gross: $11.26M
32. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son.
Director: Kurt Kuenne | Stars: Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby
Votes: 40,752 | Gross: $0.02M
33. Soaked in Bleach (2015)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Crime
Tom Grant, a private investigator once hired by Courtney Love, reveals his take on the death of Kurt Cobain.
Director: Benjamin Statler | Stars: Daniel Roebuck, Sarah Scott, August Emerson, Tyler Bryan
Votes: 11,599
34. 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: 10,959 | Gross: $0.31M
35. The Central Park Five (2012)
Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary, Crime, History
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
36. I Am Chris Farley (2015)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary on the life of comedian, Chris Farley.
Directors: Brent Hodge, Derik Murray | Stars: Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Lorri Bagley
Votes: 3,643
37. Bully (I) (2011)
PG-13 | 98 min | Documentary
A documentary on peer-to-peer bullying in schools across America.
Director: Lee Hirsch | Stars: Alex Libby, Lona Johnson, Kelby Johnson, Bob Johnson
Votes: 10,543 | Gross: $4.04M
38. Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine (2014)
Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Friends and family reflect on the life and death of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in a targeted homophobic attack in Wyoming in 1998.
Director: Michele Josue | Stars: Michele Josue, Judy Shepard, Zeina Barkawi, Dennis Shepard
Votes: 1,589
39. Newtown (2016)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary, History
A look at how the community of Newtown, Connecticut came together in the aftermath of the largest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history.
Director: Kim A. Snyder | Stars: Gene Rosen, Syeda Suriya Ahmed, Abbey Clements, Sally Cox
Votes: 1,734 | Gross: $0.01M
40. Yellowstone (2009– )
50 min | Documentary
Filmed over the course of a year in Yellowstone, this documentary tracks the area's wildlife as they grapple with life and death within one of America's last remaining wilderness regions.
Stars: Peter Firth, Mary Beth Schwartz, Jeff Henry, Dick Powell
Votes: 1,884
41. Baby Animals in Our World (2015–2016)
Documentary
In this second series we take a broad range of baby animals and showcase them in our homes, our zoos, our farms, our stations - in our world.
Star: Luisa Prosser
Votes: 9
42. Snow Babies (2012 TV Movie)
Documentary
Caroline Quentin narrates this heart-warming tale of a special group of baby animals born in some of the coldest and harshest places on Earth. We follow the ups and downs of impossibly cute... See full summary »
Stars: Nancy Giles, Caroline Quentin
Votes: 87
43. Great Barrier Reef (2012)
Not Rated | Documentary
Monty Halls explores Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world and the largest living structure on our planet. Monty explores its full 2000-kilometre length, ... See full summary »
Stars: Monty Halls, Dan Nachtrab, Karl Stefanovic
Votes: 781
44. Wild Pacific (2009– )
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
A documentary series on life in and adapted to the conditions of the Southern part of the Pacific Ocean, a vast aquatic region with an unequaled number of islands. Both wildlife and human ... See full summary »
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Mike Rowe, Richard Wollocombe, Mark Brownlow
Votes: 2,517
45. Brad Williams: Fun Size (2015 TV Special)
TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, Comedy
Comedian Brad Williams' standup topics include his experiences as a little person and how to please your woman in bed.
Director: Scott L. Montoya | Star: Brad Williams
Votes: 478
46. Blue Planet II (2017)
TV-G | 52 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns to the world's oceans in this sequel to the acclaimed documentary filming rare and unusual creatures of the deep, as well as documenting the problems our oceans face.
Stars: David Attenborough, Peter Drost, Roger Munns, Roger Horrocks
Votes: 46,720
47. 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: 51,324
48. Life in Colour (2021)
TV-PG | 48 min | Documentary
Exploring the many ways animals use colour throughout their lives.
Stars: David Attenborough, Joerg Wiedenmann
Votes: 4,047
49. Wild Isles (2023)
TV-G | 290 min | Documentary
Sir David Attenborough narrates a documentary about the natural animals in the British Isles and Ireland.
Stars: David Attenborough, Chris Howard, Doug Anderson, Jesse Wilkinson
Votes: 977
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