Documentaries
by Rennenkampf | created - 04 Sep 2012 | updated - 06 Jun 2013 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Olympia (1930)
80 min | Drama, Romance
One of three foreign language versions of the MGM romance, His Glorious Night: a princess in the court of the old Austro-Hungarian empire rejects her arranged marriage and loves, instead, a dashing cavalry captain.
Director: Jacques Feyder | Stars: Nora Gregor, Theo Shall, Julia Serda, Karl Etlinger
Votes: 32
2. The World at War (1973–1974)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, History, War
A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, Anthony Eden, Albert Speer
Votes: 28,867
3. The Great War (1959)
Approved | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, War
The Italian Army fought against the Austrians during World War I.
Director: Mario Monicelli | Stars: Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, Bernard Blier, Folco Lulli
Votes: 4,602
4. Triumph of the Will (1935)
Not Rated | 110 min | Documentary, History
The infamous propaganda film of the 1934 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, Germany.
Director: Leni Riefenstahl | Stars: Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, Max Amann, Martin Bormann
Votes: 18,315
5. All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (2011)
60 min | Documentary
A series of films about how humans have been colonized by the machines we have built. Although we don't realize it, the way we see everything in the world today is through the eyes of the computers.
Stars: Adam Curtis, Stewart Brand, Al Gore, Alvin Toffler
Votes: 2,135
6. The Fog of War (2003)
PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History
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: 25,042 | Gross: $4.20M
7. Civilisation (1969–1970)
TV-G | 698 min | Documentary, History, Music
Sir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.
Stars: Kenneth Clark, Ian Richardson, Ronald Lacey, Patrick Stewart
Votes: 1,064
8. The Ascent of Man (1973)
50 min | Documentary, History
An account of man's development through his scientific and technological achievements.
Stars: Jacob Bronowski, Joss Ackland, Roy Dotrice, Stefan Bor-Grajewicz
Votes: 898
9. The Light Bulb Conspiracy (2010)
75 min | Documentary
This is the story of companies who engineered their products to fail.
Director: Cosima Dannoritzer | Stars: Richard Jones, Molly Malcolm, Steve Bunn, Markus Krajewski
Votes: 2,315
10. Life (III) (2010)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
LIFE follows a group of young African women in the streets of Douala - Cameroon. On the screen, they are videoclips dancing stars, but in real life, they struggle to survive. Between the ... See full summary »
Director: Patrick Epape
Votes: 6
11. Der ewige Jude (1940)
62 min | Documentary, History
Under the guise of a brutally honest documentary, this malevolent propaganda film aims to be an "indispensable tool in the hands of the Aryan race", designed to depict the "true" Jew when the masks of western civilisation fall off.
Director: Fritz Hippler | Stars: Curt Bois, Charles Chaplin, Albert Einstein, Adolf Hitler
Votes: 3,927
12. The Ascent of Money (2008– )
120 min | Documentary
Niall Ferguson takes us on a historical adventure through the ascent of money, applying fact and opinion throughout.
Stars: Niall Ferguson, Gareth Armstrong, Richard Lintern
Votes: 831
13. The Atomic Cafe (1982)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, History
Disturbing collection of 1940s and 1950s United States government-issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.
Directors: Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty, Pierce Rafferty | Stars: Paul Tibbets, Harry S. Truman, W.H.P. Blandy, Brien McMahon
Votes: 4,534 | Gross: $0.02M
14. Cosmos (1980)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
Astronomer Carl Sagan leads us on an engaging guided tour of the various elements and cosmological theories of the universe.
Stars: Carl Sagan, Jaromír Hanzlík, Jonathan Fahn, Jean Charney
Votes: 43,910
15. Cold War (1998)
47 min | Documentary, History
A 24-part series which deals with the relations between the United States, the Soviet Union and their respective allies between the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Anatoli Dobrynin, Robert McNamara, Vladimir Yerofeyev
Votes: 1,038
16. 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: 18,449
17. The Trials of Henry Kissinger (2002)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A film about the war crimes of the American diplomat, Henry Kissinger.
Director: Eugene Jarecki | Stars: Brian Cox, Henry Kissinger, Anna Chennault, Daniel Davidson
Votes: 2,094 | Gross: $0.52M
18. Discussions with Richard Dawkins, Episode 1: The Four Horsemen (2008 Video)
120 min | Documentary
Richard Dawkins is joined by Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens to discuss science, god, religion and much more.
Director: Josh Timonen | Stars: Richard Dawkins, Daniel C. Dennett, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens
Votes: 458
19. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
PG | 103 min | Documentary
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: 6,623
Workers of the World Unite.
20. Restrepo (2010)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A year with one platoon in the deadliest valley in Afghanistan.
Directors: Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger | Stars: The Men of Battle Company 2nd of the 503rd Infantry Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Juan 'Doc Restrepo, Dan Kearney, LaMonta Caldwell
Votes: 24,422 | Gross: $1.33M
21. Armadillo (2010)
Not Rated | 105 min | Documentary, War
Danish soldiers are sent to Afghanistan in 2009 for 6 months, to help stabilize the country against the Taliban. They're stationed on Armadillo military base in Helman province. Unlike other war movies, this is the real deal - no actors.
Director: Janus Metz
Votes: 10,330 | Gross: $0.01M
22. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009– )
TV-MA | 312 min | Documentary, History, War
This six-part series traces the Second World War, from the rise of the Nazis to the surrender of the Japanese, with detailed portraits of key figures.
Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, Martin Sheen, Rudolf Hess
Votes: 14,274
23. Shadow Company (2006)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary
A groundbreaking investigation into the secretive world of private security forces in Iraq.
Directors: Nick Bicanic, Jason Bourque | Stars: Alan Bell, Phil Lancaster, Madelaine Drohan, Robert Young Pelton
Votes: 809
24. Crusades: Crescent & the Cross (2005 TV Movie)
183 min | Documentary, History, War
A detailed documentary telling the complete story of the great Christian Crusades into the Holy Land.
Directors: Stuart Elliott, Mark Lewis | Stars: Keith David, Anas El Akil, Nayef Rashed
Votes: 268
25. Brother Can You Spare a Dime (1975)
PG | 103 min | Documentary
A nostalgic look back at the Great Depression with contemporary archival footage and film clips picturing James Cagney as an American Everyman.
Director: Philippe Mora | Stars: Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Patty Andrews, Fred Astaire
Votes: 416
26. I.O.U.S.A. (2008)
PG | 85 min | Documentary
Few are aware that America may be on the brink of a financial meltdown. I.O.U.S.A. explores the country's shocking current fiscal condition and ways to avoid a national economic disaster.
Director: Patrick Creadon | Stars: Robert Bixby, Humphrey Bogart, Warren Buffett, George Bush
Votes: 1,944 | Gross: $0.82M
27.
Horizon (1964– )
Episode:
No Ordinary Genius, Part One
(1993)
50 min | Documentary
The adventures of Richard Feynman, physicist, as told by his colleagues, family and friends - and himself.
Director: Christopher Sykes
Votes: 31
28.
Horizon (1964– )
Episode:
No Ordinary Genius, Part Two
(1993)
50 min | Documentary
The adventures of Richard Feynman, physicist, as told by his colleagues, family and friends - and himself.
Director: Christopher Sykes
Votes: 23
29. Dangerous Knowledge (2007 TV Movie)
89 min | Documentary
Documentary about four of the most brilliant mathematicians of all time, Georg Cantor, Ludwig Boltzmann, Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing, their genius, their tragic madness and their ultimate suicides.
Director: David Malone | Stars: David Malone, Roger Penrose
Votes: 231
30. 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: 4,735
31.
Les mercredis de l'histoire (1995– )
Episode:
1929, La crise
(2009)
53 min | Documentary
Thursday, October 24 : the Wall Street Stock Exchange crashes, the greatest economic crisis of the 20th century suddenly breaks out. Fueled by the idea that everyone can get rich without ... See full summary »
Director: William Karel | Star: Patrick Floersheim
Votes: 50
32. 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
33. Paul Merton's Weird and Wonderful World of Early Cinema (2010 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary
Director: Paul Merton | Stars: Paul Merton, Louis Lumière, Neil Brand, Serge Bromberg
Votes: 60
34. The Cannibal that Walked Free (2007 TV Movie)
46 min | Documentary
The Cannibal that Walked Free (also known as Cannibal Superstar ) is a British documentary produced by Visual Voodoo for Channel Five which explores - through direct access - the bizarre ... See full summary »
Director: Toby Dye | Stars: Issei Sagawa, Olivier Foll, Barak Kushner, Philippe Lemaire
Votes: 182
35. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
G | 90 min | Documentary, History
Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France and captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humanity.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Jean Clottes, Julien Monney, Jean-Michel Geneste
Votes: 17,778 | Gross: $5.23M
36. Until the Light Takes Us (2008)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Music
Interviews and news footage explore the rise of black metal music in Norway in the 1990s, including artists who were involved in suicide, murder and arson.
Directors: Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell | Stars: Fenriz, Varg Vikernes, Euronymous, Hellhammer
Votes: 6,683 | Gross: $0.12M
37. GasLand (2010)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary
An exploration of the fracking petroleum extraction industry and the serious environmental consequences involved.
Director: Josh Fox | Stars: Josh Fox, Dick Cheney, Pete Seeger, Richard Nixon
Votes: 11,104 | Gross: $0.03M
38. 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: 7,175 | Gross: $0.43M
39. This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
Unrated | 98 min | Documentary
Kirby Dick's exposé about the American movie ratings board.
Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Kirby Dick, Kimberly Peirce, Darren Aronofsky, Atom Egoyan
Votes: 28,620 | Gross: $0.30M
40. Louis Theroux: A Place for Paedophiles (2009 TV Movie)
45 min | Documentary
Louis visits Coalinga Mental Hospital in California, home to over 500 convicted paedophiles, and spends some time with those undergoing treatment.
Director: Emma Cooper | Star: Louis Theroux
Votes: 2,264
41. Louis Theroux: The Ultra Zionists (2011 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
Louis Theroux visits a small group of ultra-nationalist Jewish settlers.
Director: Andy Wells | Stars: Louis Theroux, Yair Lieberman, Daniel Luria
Votes: 1,213
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