Documentaries you should watch
by phizzle21 | created - 22 Jan 2020 | updated - 05 Jul 2021 | PublicNoteworthy non-fictional films that I have seen.
In no particular order.
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1. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary, History
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: 23,487 | Gross: $7.12M
2. 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: 50,383 | Gross: $0.89M
3. Grizzly Man (2005)
R | 103 min | Documentary, Biography
A devastating and heart-rending take on grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, who were killed in October of 2003 while living among grizzly bears in Alaska.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Timothy Treadwell, Amie Huguenard, Werner Herzog, Carol Dexter
Votes: 61,803 | Gross: $3.17M
4. Shut Up & Sing (2006)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A documentary on the The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) in the wake of singer Natalie Maines' anti-George W. Bush statement at a 2003 concert.
Directors: Barbara Kopple, Cecilia Peck | Stars: Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire, Clayton Allen
Votes: 4,987 | Gross: $1.22M
5. Jesus Christus Erlöser (2008)
84 min | Documentary
Klaus KInski's interpretation of the new testament as reformer in a solo theater-happening in Berlin,1971.
Director: Peter Geyer | Star: Klaus Kinski
Votes: 531
6. Hoop Dreams (1994)
PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport
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: 27,997 | Gross: $7.83M
7. 9 to 5: Days in Porn (2008)
Not Rated | 113 min | Documentary
9to5 - Days in Porn focuses on the people behind a controversial and multi-billion dollar industry "The Adult Entertainment industry". It depicts their stories, each one different, ... See full summary »
Director: Jens Hoffmann | Stars: Otto Bauer, Audrey Hollander, Belladonna, Jim Powers
Votes: 2,213
8. Die Anwälte - Eine deutsche Geschichte (2009)
92 min | Documentary
Depicts a section of Germany's history from the 1968 movement beginning with the year 2009 on the basis of a portrait of lawyers Otto Schily , Hans-Christian Ströbele and Horst Mahler .
Director: Birgit Schulz | Stars: Horst Mahler, Otto Schily, Hans-Christian Ströbele
Votes: 212
9. Todesspiel (1997 TV Movie)
177 min | Documentary, Drama, Thriller
Docudrama in two parts, based on the abduction of the president of the employer's association of Germany, Hanns Martin Schleyer, by the Baader-Meinhof gang in the Autumn of '77.
Director: Heinrich Breloer | Stars: Hans Brenner, Robert Viktor Minich, Birol Ünel, Sebastian Koch
Votes: 558
10. 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: 68,786 | Gross: $3.29M
11. 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: 72,850 | Gross: $3.97M
12. Pina (2011)
PG | 103 min | Documentary, Music
A tribute to the late German choreographer Pina Bausch, as her dancers perform her most famous creations.
Director: Wim Wenders | Stars: Pina Bausch, Regina Advento, Malou Airaudo, Ruth Amarante
Votes: 15,931 | Gross: $3.52M
13. 20,000 Days on Earth (2014)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary, Drama, Music
Writer and musician Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on the planet Earth.
Directors: Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard | Stars: Nick Cave, Susie Bick, Warren Ellis, Darian Leader
Votes: 11,966 | Gross: $0.28M
14. Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015)
TV-MA | 132 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
An authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana.
Director: Brett Morgen | Stars: Kurt Cobain, Wendy O'Connor, Don Cobain, Jenny Cobain
Votes: 32,114
15. 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: 26,113
16. Into the Inferno (2016)
104 min | Documentary
An exploration of active volcanoes around the world.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Clive Oppenheimer
Votes: 9,949
17. Get Me Roger Stone (2017)
TV-14 | 92 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary exploring the life and career of notorious Republican dirty trickster and longtime Trump adviser, Roger Stone, who helped create the real estate mogul's political career.
Directors: Dylan Bank, Daniel DiMauro, Morgan Pehme | Stars: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Jane Mayer, Jeffrey Toobin
Votes: 7,732
18. My Best Fiend (1999)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
The love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, Eva Mattes
Votes: 12,185 | Gross: $0.10M
19. The Redeemed and the Dominant: Fittest on Earth (2018)
TV-PG | 119 min | Documentary
Elite athletes take on a series of grueling tests to vie for the title of "Fittest on Earth." Follow the drama as they endure the unknown and unknowable during four of the most intense days of competition in CrossFit Games history.
Directors: Heber Cannon, Mariah Moore, Marston Sawyers | Stars: Justin Bergh, Dave Castro, Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir, Brent Fikowski
Votes: 1,407
20. Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness (2017)
TV-PG | 116 min | Documentary
Forty of the world's top athletes battle through 15 events and five grueling days of competition for the title of Fittest on Earth. Who will rise to the top and prove the fittest?
Directors: Heber Cannon, Mariah Moore, Marston Sawyers, Ian Wittenber | Stars: Justin Bergh, Josh Bridges, Samantha Briggs, Dave Castro
Votes: 1,583
21. Froning: The Fittest Man in History (2015)
PG | 99 min | Documentary
Rich Froning Jr. is a legend in CrossFit and the Sport of Fitness. In this biopic, take a look at his childhood, follow his quest for a fourth CrossFit Games title, and see him as a son, a husband and a new father.
Director: Heber Cannon | Stars: Rich Froning, Dan Bailey, Dave Castro, Matt Fraser
Votes: 1,294
22. 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: 72,364 | Gross: $2.07M
23. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)
TV-MA | 94 min | Documentary
A behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon (1999).
Director: Chris Smith | Stars: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Milos Forman, Peter Bonerz
Votes: 27,967
24. Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
TV-14 | 91 min | Documentary, Crime
The twisting, turning, stranger-than-fiction true story of the Brobergs, a naive, church-going Idaho family that fell under the spell of a sociopathic neighbor with designs on their twelve-year-old daughter.
Director: Skye Borgman | Stars: Jan Broberg, Bob Broberg, Mary Ann Broberg, Susan Broberg
Votes: 22,201
25. The Dawn Wall (2017)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
In an unbelievable story of perseverance, free climber Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson attempt to scale the impossible 3000ft Dawn Wall of El Capitan.
Directors: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer | Stars: John Branch, Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
Votes: 21,218 | Gross: $1.08M
26. Ronnie Coleman: The King (2018)
93 min | Documentary
Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman has underwent six surgeries after his pro career and he needs crutches to walk, but his dedication and motivation for training isn't gone.
Director: Vlad Yudin | Stars: Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Rich Gaspari, Kai Greene
Votes: 4,261
27. The Game Changers (2018)
86 min | Documentary, Sport
A UFC fighter's world is turned upside down when he discovers an elite group of world-renowned athletes and scientists who prove that everything he had been taught about protein was a lie.
Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: James Wilks, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrik Baboumian, Dotsie Bausch
Votes: 21,822 | Gross: $0.74M
28. 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: 26,560
29. Generation Iron (2013)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport
A documentary that follows top bodybuilders as they train to compete in the Mr. Olympia competition.
Director: Vlad Yudin | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Michael Jai White, Lou Ferrigno
Votes: 8,032 | Gross: $0.85M
30. Pumping Iron (1977)
PG | 86 min | Documentary, Sport
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno face off in a no-holds-barred competition for the title of Mr. Olympia in this critically-acclaimed film that made Schwarzenegger a household name.
Directors: George Butler, Robert Fiore | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Matty Ferrigno, Victoria Ferrigno
Votes: 24,870
31. Bauhaus Spirit: 100 Years of Bauhaus (2018)
95 min | Documentary
The Bauhaus art and architecture school was founded 100 years ago. Through its history, we tackle the question of how architecture can ensure that people live better together and participate in everyday life.
Directors: Niels Bolbrinker, Thomas Tielsch | Stars: Annie Albers, Josef Albers, Torsten Blume, Rosan Bosch
Votes: 193
32. 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: 85,177 | Gross: $23.81M
33. Shine a Light (2008)
PG-13 | 122 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A career-spanning documentary on The Rolling Stones, with concert footage from their "A Bigger Bang" tour.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Votes: 12,291 | Gross: $5.36M
34. Born Strong (2017)
TV-MA | 85 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport
The four strongest men on the planet compete for the crown. We meet each 400-pound giant in his home country, then on to The Arnold Strongman Classic. Starring Eddie Hall, Hafthor Bjornsson, Brian Shaw and Zydrunas Savickas.
Directors: Gary Cohen, Ross Hockrow | Stars: Eddie Hall, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Brian Shaw, Zydrunas Savickas
Votes: 1,507
35. Generation Iron 2 (2017)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary
Filmmaker Vlad Yudin follows several body builders as they struggle to find success in a competitive industry.
Director: Vlad Yudin | Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Martyn Ford, Kai Greene, Calum Von Moger
Votes: 2,556
36. Generation Iron 3 (2018)
95 min | Documentary
Traveling across the world including India, Brazil, Europe, Africa, Canada, and the USA - Generation Iron 3 will interview and follow bodybuilders, trainers, experts, and fans to determine ... See full summary »
Director: Vlad Yudin | Stars: Sheru Aangrish, Victor Baiden, Payam Bavili, Rafael Brandao
Votes: 2,532
37. Everest Unmasked (1979)
52 min | Documentary
Legendary high-altitude climber Reinhold Messner pushes himself to the limit in achieving the first successful summit without the use of supplemental oxygen.
Director: Leo Dickinson | Stars: Reinhold Messner, Peter Habeler, Eric Jones, Leo Dickinson
Votes: 95
38. 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: 52,184 | Gross: $4.42M
39. Room 237 (I) (2012)
Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary
An exploration of various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's horror film, The Shining (1980).
Director: Rodney Ascher | Stars: Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks, Juli Kearns, John Fell Ryan
Votes: 23,104 | Gross: $0.26M
40. Dolly Parton: Here I Am (2019 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
In this documentary, the life, career and music of Dolly Parton are reflected in interviews with friends and companions and the artist herself, interlaced with clips of Parton's performances.
Director: Francis Whately | Stars: Dabney Coleman, Mac Davis, David Dotson, Jerry Douglas
Votes: 1,762
41. Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016)
PG-13 | 98 min | Documentary
Werner Herzog's exploration of the Internet and the connected world.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Elon Musk, Lawrence Krauss, Lucianne Walkowicz, Kevin Mitnick
Votes: 13,399 | Gross: $0.59M
42. Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
TV-14 | 74 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The story behind Nas's groundbreaking debut album 'Illmatic, ' and the early life of one of the most talented rappers of all time. Featuring Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes.
Director: One9 | Stars: Nas, Cornel West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz
Votes: 3,334 | Gross: $0.11M
43. Free Solo (2018)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport
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: 77,215 | Gross: $17.54M
44. The Price of Protest the Colin Kapernick Story (2019)
52 min | Documentary
Tells the story of the football player Colin Kaepernick and how he became the icon of a protest movement.
Director: Annebeth Jacobsen | Star: Colin Kaepernick
Votes: 227
45. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
TV-MA | 57 min | Documentary, Crime
Survivors reveal the manipulation, abuse and emotional scars suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Their stories expose a sex trafficking ring of powerful enablers leading up to his 2019 arrest.
Stars: Michael Reiter, Annie Farmer, Shawna Rivera, Alan Dershowitz
Votes: 29,117
46. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
TV-G | 85 min | Documentary, Drama
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: 63,671
47. Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
PG-13 | 89 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
A daughter helps her father prepare for the end of his life.
Director: Kirsten Johnson | Stars: Michael Hilow, Ana Hoffman, Dick Johnson, Kirsten Johnson
Votes: 7,224
48. Seaspiracy (2021)
TV-14 | 89 min | Documentary, Adventure
Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species - and uncovers alarming global corruption.
Director: Ali Tabrizi | Stars: Ali Tabrizi, Richard O'Barry, Lucy Tabrizi, Lori Marino
Votes: 34,111
49. Berlin Bouncer (2019)
87 min | Documentary
An exciting piece of Berlin's cultural history from the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall to the vibrant present.
Director: David Dietl | Stars: Sven Marquardt, Frank Künster, Smiley Baldwin
Votes: 406
50. Schlingensief: A Voice That Shook the Silence (2020)
124 min | Documentary, Biography
Bettina Böhler creates a memorial to the director Christoph Schlingensief on the 10th anniversary of his death, a portrait of the filmmaker's work and influence.
Director: Bettina Böhler | Stars: Susanne Bredehöft, Margit Carstensen, Alfred Edel, Sergej Gleitmann
Votes: 236
51. Toni Kroos (2019)
113 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
There are only a few iconic football stars being constantly admired across the globe for their art of handling a ball and controlling a game, winning basically all the relevant titles. Toni Kroos is one of them.
Director: Manfred Oldenburg | Stars: Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Sascha Breese, Casemiro
Votes: 1,037
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