My Favorite True Stories: Documentaries, Docu-Dramas, and Biographical films
by cthulu48 | created - 05 Jun 2013 | updated - 18 Oct 2021 | PublicThis is an ever-expanding list of my favorite films about real life. Many of these movies listed here will be documentaries or biographical films. However, I've decided to go ahead and include my favorite "Based On a True Story" films, which I like to refer to as "docu-dramas". If you're reading this, don't forget that by including "docu-dramas" on my list, I've listed some films that probably don't stick 100% to the facts (for example - - "JFK" - Historically inaccurate, but "based on a true story".) So, the best films here on this list are the documentaries, but I like more than just straight up documentaries sometimes, so here's my list of "true story movies". Enjoy.
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1. 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: 18,154
2. 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: 9,658
3. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)
Not Rated | 121 min | Documentary, Crime
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
4. Devil's Knot (2013)
Not Rated | 114 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The savage murders of three young children sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a Satanic ritual.
Director: Atom Egoyan | Stars: Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Alessandro Nivola, James Hamrick
Votes: 23,861
5. 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: 10,957 | Gross: $0.31M
6. 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: 10,827 | Gross: $30.58M
7. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (2012)
TV-14 | 106 min | Documentary
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
8. Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief (2015)
Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary
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
9. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)
86 min | Documentary, History
Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Rebecca Moore, Janet Shular, Tim Carter, Stanley Clayton
Votes: 5,642
10. Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)
Not Rated | 165 min | Documentary, History
A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead.
Director: William Gazecki | Stars: Dan Gifford, Jim Cavanaugh, Dick DeGuerin, Clive Doyle
Votes: 3,734
11. Raw Deal: A Question of Consent (2001)
90 min | Documentary, Crime
Documentary about a University of Florida fraternity party that led to what may or may not have been a rape, with footage from the night of the incident, including sexual acts.
Director: Billy Corben | Stars: Craig C. DeThomasis, Alice Hendon, Disa Holly, Lisa King
Votes: 320
12. Brother's Keeper (1992)
R | 104 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
This compelling documentary details the strange-but-true murder trial of Delbert Ward, accused of the mercy killing of his brother in rural upstate NY. This real-life murder mystery won the Audience Award at Sundance.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: Delbert Ward, Roscoe Ward, Lyman Ward, Walt Geisler
Votes: 4,283 | Gross: $1.31M
13. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime
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: 25,969 | Gross: $1.21M
14. The Trials of Darryl Hunt (2006)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Crime
"The Trials of Darryl Hunt" is a feature documentary about a brutal rape/murder case and a wrongly convicted man, Darryl Hunt, who spent nearly twenty years in prison for a crime he did not... See full summary »
Directors: Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg | Stars: Evelyn Jefferson, Fred Flagler, John Reeves, Mary Anne Sheboy
Votes: 1,081 | Gross: $0.00M
15. Murder on a Sunday Morning (2001)
Not Rated | 111 min | Documentary, Crime
Oscar-winning documentary that documents a murder trial in which a 15-year-old African-American is wrongfully accused of a 2000 murder in Jacksonville, Florida.
Director: Jean-Xavier de Lestrade | Stars: Ann Finnell, Patrick McGuinness, James Williams, Michael Glover
Votes: 4,518
16. The Staircase (2004–2018)
TV-MA | 629 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama
The high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife Kathleen Peterson in 2001.
Stars: Michael Peterson, David Rudolf, Ron Guerette, Martha Ratliff
Votes: 27,229
17. In the Name of the Father (1993)
R | 133 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
An Irish man's coerced confession to an I.R.A. bombing he did not commit results in the imprisonment of his father as well. Meanwhile, a British lawyer fights to clear their names and free them.
Director: Jim Sheridan | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Alison Crosbie, Philip King
Votes: 187,172 | Gross: $25.01M
18. The Interrogation of Michael Crowe (2002 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 100 min | Drama, Thriller
The lives of Escondido, California residents Cheryl and Stephen Crowe change one morning when they find their twelve year old daughter Stephanie Crowe stabbed to death in her bedroom. As ... See full summary »
Director: Don McBrearty | Stars: Ally Sheedy, Mark Rendall, John Bourgeois, Hannah Lochner
Votes: 1,172
19. Witch Hunt (2008)
Unrated | 91 min | Documentary, Crime
The story of several families who have their lives destroyed when their hometown is whipped into a frenzy by allegations of child molestation.
Directors: Don Hardy, Dana Nachman | Stars: Jack Cummings, Jackie Cummings, Allen Grafton, Ed Jagels
Votes: 1,070
20. Crime After Crime (2011)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
The story of the battle to free Debbie Peagler, an incarcerated survivor of brutal domestic violence. Over 20 years in prison cannot crush the spirit of this determined African-American ... See full summary »
Director: Yoav Potash | Stars: Deborah Peagler, Joshua Safran, Nadia Costa, Yoav Potash
Votes: 558 | Gross: $0.06M
21. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Documentary on the Friedmans, a seemingly typical, upper-middle-class Jewish family whose world is instantly transformed when the father and his youngest son are arrested and charged with shocking and horrible crimes.
Director: Andrew Jarecki | Stars: Arnold Friedman, Jesse Friedman, David Friedman, Elaine Friedman
Votes: 27,138 | Gross: $3.12M
22. Into the Abyss (2011)
PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama
Conversations with death row inmate Michael Perry and those affected by his crime serve as an examination of why people - and the state - kill.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Richard Lopez, Michael Perry, Damon Hall
Votes: 17,356 | Gross: $0.22M
23. Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer (2013)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Follows the court case of three members of the Russian feminist punk protest group Pussy Riot after their performance in a Russian Orthodox cathedral.
Directors: Mike Lerner, Maxim Pozdorovkin | Stars: Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Mariya Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Andrey Tolokonnikov
Votes: 2,030
24. 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: 50,471 | Gross: $0.89M
25. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
PG-13 | 141 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Barely 17 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. FBI agent Carl becomes obsessed with tracking down the con man, who only revels in the pursuit.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen
Votes: 1,096,320 | Gross: $164.62M
26. American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009)
Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
Photo-animated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew Bill best.
Directors: Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas | Stars: Bill Hicks, Dwight Slade, Mary Hicks, Steve Hicks
Votes: 5,006 | Gross: $0.09M
27. Gonzo (2008)
R | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A portrait of the late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp, Joe Cairo, David Carlo
Votes: 8,503 | Gross: $1.25M
28. Ed Wood (1994)
R | 127 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.
Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette
Votes: 184,010 | Gross: $5.89M
29. 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: 60,252 | Gross: $13.00M
30.
Masters of Darkness (2002– )
Episode:
Aleister Crowley: The Wickedest Man in the World
(2002)
50 min | Documentary
Famous for his occult writings, founder of the religion of Thelema, which became adopted by the Ordo Templis Orientis (O.T.O.) as well as the magical order Argenteum Astrum, the Order of the Silver Star.
Director: Neil Rawles | Stars: Brian Cox, Aleister Crowley, Gavin Baddeley, Colin Wilson
Votes: 178
31. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
Unrated | 99 min | Documentary, Crime
Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.
Director: Marina Zenovich | Stars: Andrew Braunsberg, Richard Brenneman, Douglas Dalton, Marilyn Beck
Votes: 5,207 | Gross: $0.06M
32. Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2011)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary about Roman Polanski, the man and filmmaker. Roman Polanski speaks about his eventful life story and career in conversation with Andrew Braunsberg, his former business partner, producer, and friend of many years.
Director: Laurent Bouzereau | Stars: Roman Polanski, Andrew Braunsberg, Pedro Almodóvar, Catherine Deneuve
Votes: 1,273
33. When You're Strange (2009)
R | 86 min | Documentary, Music
A look at the late '60s and early '70s rock band The Doors, including rare exclusive footage.
Director: Tom DiCillo | Stars: Johnny Depp, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek
Votes: 10,275 | Gross: $0.24M
34. The Doors (1991)
R | 140 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band The Doors and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison, from his days as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles, to his untimely death in Paris, France at age 27 in 1971.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley
Votes: 99,099 | Gross: $35.18M
35. Behind the Candelabra (2013)
TV-MA | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar singer Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson.
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Stars: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Eric Zuckerman
Votes: 45,409
36. Che: Part One (2008)
Not Rated | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
In 1956, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara and a band of Castro-led Cuban exiles mobilize an army to topple the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Stars: Julia Ormond, Benicio Del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Pablo Guevara
Votes: 47,963 | Gross: $1.80M
37. Che: Part Two (2008)
Not Rated | 135 min | Biography, Drama, History
In 1967, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara leads a small partisan army to fight an ill-fated revolutionary guerrilla war in Bolivia, South America.
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Stars: Demián Bichir, Rodrigo Santoro, Benicio Del Toro, Catalina Sandino Moreno
Votes: 35,057
38. Tyson (2008)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
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
39. The Fighter (I) (2010)
R | 116 min | Action, Biography, Drama
Based on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.
Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo
Votes: 389,004 | Gross: $93.62M
40. High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell (1995 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary
Documents 18 months in the lives of three crack addicts in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Directors: Maryann DeLeo, Richard Farrell | Star: Dicky Eklund
Votes: 751
41. Raging Bull (1980)
R | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent
Votes: 380,383 | Gross: $23.38M
42. Goodfellas (1990)
R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Votes: 1,257,930 | Gross: $46.84M
43. Zodiac (2007)
R | 157 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Between 1968 and 1983, a San Francisco cartoonist becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer, an unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.
Director: David Fincher | Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards
Votes: 598,652 | Gross: $33.08M
44. Cocaine Cowboys (2006)
R | 118 min | Documentary, Crime, History
The story of how Miami became the cocaine capital of the United States in the early 1980's and the police officers who turned the tide on crime.
Director: Billy Corben | Stars: Jon Roberts, Al Sunshine, Sam Burstyn, Mickey Munday
Votes: 14,095 | Gross: $0.15M
45. Cocaine Cowboys 2 (2008)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary, Crime, History
The sequel follows cocaine dealer Charles Crosby beginning in 1991 on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California. The story of Griselda Blanco is presented in greater depth.
Director: Billy Corben | Stars: Nelson Andreu, Jorge Ayala, Griselda Blanco, Sam Burstyn
Votes: 3,127
46. Square Grouper (2011)
R | 100 min | Documentary
A colorful portrait of Miami's pot smuggling scene of the 1970s, populated with redneck pirates, a ganja-smoking church, and the longest serving marijuana prisoner in American history.
Director: Billy Corben | Star: Robert Platshorn
Votes: 514
47. Limelight (2011)
Not Rated | 103 min | Documentary
A documentary on former New York City club owner Peter Gatien.
Director: Billy Corben | Stars: 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Moby, Lisa Michelle Axelrod
Votes: 536 | Gross: $0.06M
48. Party Monster (1998)
57 min | Documentary, Biography
Documentary film exploring the rise of Club Kid legend Michael Alig and his fall in 1996 when he murdered his drug dealer/roommate Angel Melendez.
Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato | Stars: Michael Alig, Gitsie, James St. James, Keoki
Votes: 1,772
49. American Drug War: The Last White Hope (2006)
Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary, Crime
With commentary from soldiers on both sides of the conflict, filmmaker Kevin Booth's incisive documentary wades into the murky waters of the American war on drugs, the longest and costliest war in U.S. history.
Director: Kevin Booth | Stars: Joe Arpaio, Jello Biafra, Osama bin Laden, Jeff Blackburn
Votes: 1,643
50. The Corner (2000)
TV-MA | 63 min | Crime, Drama
Chronicles a West Baltimore family living in poverty on the front lines of America's drug war.
Stars: T.K. Carter, Khandi Alexander, Sean Nelson, Clarke Peters
Votes: 5,508
51. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006–2007)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary
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
52. Crude (2009)
Unrated | 105 min | Documentary
The story of lawsuit by tens of thousands of Ecuadorans against Chevron over contamination of the Ecuadorean Amazon.
Director: Joe Berlinger | Stars: Dan Ashley, Pablo Fajardo, Kent Robertson, German Yanez
Votes: 868 | Gross: $0.17M
53. Fetishes (1996)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary
Masochism, rubber, corporal punishment, wrestling, and infantilism are all examined into detail as a documentary crew visits a bondage house and its mistresses in upstate New York.
Director: Nick Broomfield | Stars: Mistress Beatrice, Nick Broomfield, Mistress Catherine, Mistress Delilah
Votes: 851
54. The Beatles Anthology (1995–1996)
TV-14 | 67 min | Documentary, Music
An autobiographical documentary of the greatest of the rock bands.
Stars: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, George Martin
Votes: 9,430
55. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)
R | 96 min | Documentary
Documentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems--nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director.
Directors: Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, Eleanor Coppola | Stars: Dennis Hopper, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, George Lucas
Votes: 23,236 | Gross: $1.32M
56. Cinema Verite (2011 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 86 min | Drama
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the first American family to be the subjects of a reality TV show.
Directors: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini | Stars: Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, James Gandolfini, Thomas Dekker
Votes: 4,006
57. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010 Video)
Not Rated | 239 min | Documentary, Horror
Explore the origins of "dream demon" Freddy Krueger in this award-winning documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the most frightening and imaginative horror franchise in motion picture history!
Directors: Daniel Farrands, Andrew Kasch | Stars: Heather Langenkamp, Stacey Alden, Erika Anderson, Marshall Bell
Votes: 5,193
58. 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: 23,118 | Gross: $0.26M
59. Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Crime
With a first-person look at the notorious Crips and Bloods, this film examines the conditions that have lead to decades of devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.
Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Jim Brown, Tony Muhammad, Kershaun Scott, Forest Whitaker
Votes: 2,913 | Gross: $0.07M
60. 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: 21,913
61. Screamers (2006)
R | 91 min | Documentary, Music
Internationally known director Carla Garapedian follows the rock band System of a Down as they tour Europe and the US pointing out the horrors of modern genocide that began in Armenia in 1915 up though Darfur today.
Director: Carla Garapedian | Stars: Taner Akçam, Hrant Dink, John Dolmayan, Sibel Edmonds
Votes: 1,567 | Gross: $0.05M
62. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Music
The iconic metal band struggles for two years to create their album St. Anger, dealing with alcoholism, the loss of their bass player, and the challenge of working with a psychotherapist.
Directors: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky | Stars: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo
Votes: 20,354 | Gross: $1.22M
63. 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: 28,627 | Gross: $0.30M
64. After Innocence (2005)
Unrated | 95 min | Documentary
A gripping, emotionally charged film that follows wrongfully convicted men freed by DNA evidence after decades in prison as they struggle to transition back into society.
Director: Jessica Sanders
Votes: 885 | Gross: $0.11M
65. Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)
PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Biography
A cinematic portrait of the life and career of the infamous American execution device designer and holocaust denier.
Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Fred A. Leuchter Jr., Robert Jan Van Pelt, David Irving, Caroline Leuchter
Votes: 5,780 | Gross: $0.50M
66. Man on Wire (2008)
PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
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
67.
Reputations (1994–2002)
Episode:
Liberace: Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful
(2000)
50 min | Documentary
Director: Hamish Mykura | Stars: Liberace, Brigette Barr, Ray Carillo, Robert Connor
Votes: 28
68. Gandhi (1982)
PG | 191 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.
Director: Richard Attenborough | Stars: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth
Votes: 240,233 | Gross: $52.77M
69. Lincoln (2012)
PG-13 | 150 min | Biography, Drama, History
As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Votes: 272,719 | Gross: $182.21M
70. J. Edgar (2011)
R | 137 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly fifty years, looks back on his professional and personal life.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Hamilton
Votes: 133,650 | Gross: $37.31M
71. How to Make Money Selling Drugs (2012)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary, Crime
Ten easy steps show you how to make money from drugs, featuring a series of interviews with drug dealers, prison employees, and lobbyists arguing for tougher drug laws.
Director: Matthew Cooke | Stars: 'Freeway' Ricky Ross, Susan Sarandon, David Simon, 50 Cent
Votes: 6,823 | Gross: $1.50M
72. Downloaded (2013)
Not Rated | 106 min | Documentary
A documentary that explores the downloading revolution; the kids that created it, the bands and the businesses that were affected by it, and its impact on the world at large.
Director: Alex Winter | Stars: Mike D, Henry Rollins, Noel Gallagher, Cindy Margolis
Votes: 2,823 | Gross: $0.01M
73. The House I Live In (2012)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary
From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.
Director: Eugene Jarecki | Stars: Eugene Jarecki, David Simon, Shanequa Benitez, William Julius Wilson
Votes: 5,394 | Gross: $0.21M
74. American Drug War 2: Cannabis Destiny (2013)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
Director Kevin Booth navigates through the cutting edge of Cannabis research while becoming a foster parent to a child court ordered to take powerful mind altering drugs.
Director: Kevin Booth | Stars: Donald Abrams, Miguel Avitia, Dustin J. Benichou, Kevin Booth
Votes: 209
75. Vice (2013–2021)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, News
Documentary series featuring startling, groundbreaking stories from around the world.
Stars: Shane Smith, Gianna Toboni, Thomas Morton, Ben Anderson
Votes: 4,381
76. Bill Hicks: Sane Man (1989 Video)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary, Comedy
Comedian Bill Hicks performs a live stand-up show in Austin, Texas.
Directors: Kevin Booth, David Johndrow | Star: Bill Hicks
Votes: 2,460
77. On Location: George Carlin at Phoenix (1978 TV Special)
81 min | Documentary, Comedy
Performing at the Celebrity Star Theater in Phoenix on July 23, 1978, Carlin mesmerizes his audience in the second of his 12 HBO specials. The show was originally planned as part of a ... See full summary »
Director: Marty Callner | Stars: George Carlin, Brenda Carlin
Votes: 1,484
78. On Location (1976– )
TV-MA | Documentary, Comedy
Uncensored performances by top comedians.
Stars: George Carlin, David Steinberg, Robert Klein, Frank Gorshin
Votes: 79
79. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
R | 111 min | Action, Biography, Crime
Bored waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.
Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman
Votes: 120,649
80. The Iceman (2012)
R | 106 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. When he was finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor his daughters had any clue about his real profession.
Director: Ariel Vromen | Stars: Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, James Franco, Winona Ryder
Votes: 79,440 | Gross: $1.94M
81. Valentine Road (2013)
TV-14 | 89 min | Documentary, Crime
On February 12, 2008 in Oxnard, California, eighth-grade student Brandon McInerney shot his classmate Larry King twice in the back of the head during first period. When Larry died two days ... See full summary »
Director: Marta Cunningham | Stars: James Bing, Jeremy Bing, Rosalie Black, Dawn Boldrin
Votes: 1,984
82. You Don't Know Jack (2010 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 134 min | Biography, Drama
A look at the life and work of doctor-assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.
Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Al Pacino, Brenda Vaccaro, John Goodman, Deirdre O'Connell
Votes: 30,356
83. We Steal Secrets (2013)
R | 130 min | Documentary
A documentary that details the creation of Julian Assange's controversial website, which facilitated the largest security breach in U.S. history.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Julian Assange, Adrian Lamo, John 'FuzzFace' McMahon, Alex Gibney
Votes: 8,178 | Gross: $0.16M
84. Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam (1995 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 106 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary crew from the BBC arrives in L.A. intent on interviewing Heidi Fleiss, a year after her arrest for running a brothel but before her trial. Several months elapse before the ... See full summary »
Director: Nick Broomfield | Stars: Nick Broomfield, Nina Xining Zuo, Madam Alex, Corinne Bohrer
Votes: 838
85. The Conjuring (2013)
R | 112 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.
Director: James Wan | Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor
Votes: 555,130 | Gross: $137.40M
86. The Basketball Diaries (1995)
R | 102 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
Director: Scott Kalvert | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, James Madio
Votes: 121,082 | Gross: $2.42M
87. Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (2013 TV Special)
TV-MA | 90 min | Comedy
Mike Tyson's one-man show is a fascinating journey into his storied life and career.
Director: Philip Marcus | Star: Mike Tyson
Votes: 3,214
88. Ghosts of Abu Ghraib (2007)
TV-MA | 78 min | Documentary, Crime, History
An examination of the prisoner abuse scandal involving U.S. soldiers and detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in the fall of 2003.
Director: Rory Kennedy | Stars: Israel Rivera, Megan Ambuhl Graner, Javal Davis, George W. Bush
Votes: 1,180
89. The Cheshire Murders (2013 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 118 min | Documentary, Crime
A documentary about a brutal home invasion in Cheshire, Connecticut in 2007.
Directors: Kate Davis, David Heilbroner | Stars: Jennifer Petit, Hayley Petit, William Petit Jr., Michaela Petit
Votes: 3,171
90. Hated: GG Allin & the Murder Junkies (1993)
Not Rated | 52 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Documentary about notorious punk rock performer GG Allin.
Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: GG Allin, Merle Allin, Brian Unk Hunter, Shireen Kadivar
Votes: 3,520
91. Trouble the Water (2008)
Unrated | 93 min | Documentary
A redemptive tale of an aspiring rap artist surviving failed levees and her own troubled past and seizing a chance for a new beginning.
Directors: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin | Stars: Michael Brown, George W. Bush, Julie Chen Moonves, Ray Nagin
Votes: 2,071 | Gross: $0.52M
92. No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad (2013 TV Movie)
135 min | Documentary
An extensive, detailed account on the incredible legacy Breaking Bad created before it had even ended, whilst documenting in intimate detail the filming of its final season.
Director: Stuart Richardson | Stars: Adam Bernstein, Melissa Bernstein, Sharon Bialy, Michael Bowen
Votes: 696
93. Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child (2010)
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Jimi Hendrix talking about how he became who he is.
Director: Bob Smeaton | Stars: Bootsy Collins, Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell
Votes: 514
94.
American Masters (1985– )
Episode:
Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'
(2013)
TV-14 | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, History
the Definitive documentary about the extraordinary life of the greatest guitarist of all time, features new performance footage, home movies and an archive of unearthed primary documents.
Director: Bob Smeaton | Stars: Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, Al Hendrix
Votes: 580
95. Jobs (2013)
PG-13 | 128 min | Biography, Drama
The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century.
Director: Joshua Michael Stern | Stars: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas
Votes: 103,891 | Gross: $16.13M
This could have been so much better. The performances are good, but the script is so overly effusive it kinda makes you want to puke at times when it gets really cheesy. I like true stories however, so the story of Steve Jobs and the performances are captured fairly well here, but the film could've been much less hollow than it was... it just falls flat.
96. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
R | 117 min | Biography, Drama
In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn
Votes: 519,466 | Gross: $27.30M
97. Nine Inch Nails and the Industrial Uprising (2009 Video)
Documentary, Music
Stars: Thomas Arnold, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Alan Cross
Votes: 55
98. Montana Meth (2007 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary
Montana Meth takes a look into the world of Crystal Meth in a few towns in the state of Montana. Actual users give their insight and tales of their addiction and what its done to them and their lives.
Director: Eames Yates
Votes: 52
99. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
PG-13 | 125 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.
Director: John Lee Hancock | Stars: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Annie Rose Buckley, Colin Farrell
Votes: 170,071 | Gross: $83.30M
100. The Untold History of the United States (2012–2013)
TV-MA | 58 min | Documentary, History, War
Oliver Stone 's re-examination of under-reported events in American history.
Stars: Oliver Stone, Alan Shearman, Jim Ward, André Sogliuzzo
Votes: 9,709
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