Top 100 Documentaries Of All Time
by rivetbadtz | created - 10 Jun 2011 | updated - 10 Jun 2011 | PublicA list of 50 documentaries that either blew me or away or I found completely engrossing
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1. Jupiter's Wife (1995)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary, Biography, Mystery
Michel Negroponte, a documentary filmmaker, meets Maggie one day in Central Park. Maggie claims to be married to the god Jupiter and the daughter of actor Robert Ryan. Michel gets to know ... See full summary »
Director: Michel Negroponte | Stars: Maggie Cogan, Katina Pendleton
Votes: 220
2. RFK Must Die: The Assassination of Bobby Kennedy (2007)
139 min | Documentary
A new investigative documentary exploring the controversies surrounding the assassination of Bobby Kennedy on June 5, 1968 as he looked set to challenge Nixon for the White House. Munir ... See full summary »
Director: Shane O'Sullivan | Stars: Bradley Ayers, William A. Bailey, H. Rap Brown, Frank Burns
Votes: 247
3. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama
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: 18,470 | Gross: $1.21M
4. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Music
A collection of expertly photographed phenomena with no conventional plot. The footage focuses on nature, humanity and the relationship between them.
Director: Godfrey Reggio | Stars: Lou Dobbs, Ted Koppel
Votes: 29,952 | Gross: $1.72M
5. The Cruise (1998)
PG-13 | 76 min | Documentary
Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, ... See full summary »
Director: Bennett Miller | Star: Timothy 'Speed' Levitch
Votes: 1,471 | Gross: $0.24M
6. We Live in Public (2009)
Unrated | 91 min | Documentary
A documentary focusing on the life of dot-com entrepreneur Josh Harris, and his exploits over the last decade.
Director: Ondi Timoner | Stars: Josh Harris, Tom Harris, Carlos Alvarez, David Amron
Votes: 1,651 | Gross: $0.04M
7. Biggie and Tupac (2002)
R | 108 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Documentary on the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and the East Coast/West Coast, hip-hop/rap rivalry that culminated in late 1996 and early 1997.
Director: Nick Broomfield | Stars: The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Nick Broomfield, Russell Poole
Votes: 3,960 | Gross: $0.09M
8. The Coconut Revolution (2000 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary
This is the modern-day story of a native peoples' remarkable victory over Western Colonial power. A Pacific island rose up in arms against giant mining corporation Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and won despite a military occupation and blockade.
Director: Dom Rotheroe | Stars: Joseph Kabui, Francis Ona
Votes: 156
9. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
The story of how an eccentric French shop-keeper and amateur film-maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains... See full summary »
Director: Banksy | Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Votes: 56,386 | Gross: $3.29M
10. 9/11: The Falling Man (2006 TV Movie)
PG-13 | 80 min | Documentary
The Falling Man is a documentary that examines one of the many images that were circulated by the press immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. The ... See full summary »
Director: Henry Singer | Stars: Steven Mackintosh, Iliana Guibert
Votes: 1,057
11. Man on Wire (2008)
PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Biography
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: 46,755 | Gross: $2.96M
12. 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: 21,268 | Gross: $7.83M
13. The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear (2004)
157 min | Documentary, History
A series of three documentaries about the use of fear for political gain.
Stars: Gilles Kepel, Melvin Goodman, Stephen Holmes, William Kristol
Votes: 3,532
14. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
Not Rated | 110 min | Documentary
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: 14,389
15. The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (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 Johnson, Robert McNamara.
Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Robert McNamara, John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon
Votes: 20,786 | Gross: $4.19M
16. The Filth and the Fury (2000)
R | 108 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A film about the career of the notorious punk rock band, the Sex Pistols.
Director: Julien Temple | Stars: Paul Cook, Steve Jones, John Lydon, Glen Matlock
Votes: 5,181 | Gross: $0.61M
17. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary, Biography
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: 21,218 | Gross: $3.12M
18. Tarnation (2003)
Unrated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography
Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more -- culled from 19 years of his life.
Director: Jonathan Caouette | Stars: Jonathan Caouette, Renee Leblanc, Adolph Davis, Rosemary Davis
Votes: 5,962 | Gross: $0.59M
19. 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, Peder Anker, Tord Björk
Votes: 1,263
20. Press for Truth (2006)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary
The story and truth about 9/11
Director: Ray Nowosielski | Stars: Kristen Breitweiser, George W. Bush, Patty Casazza, Dick Cheney
Votes: 519
21. The Rock-afire Explosion (2008)
Not Rated | 72 min | Documentary
A cult fan favorite documentary which explores the rise and fall of Showbiz Pizza Place, it's animatronic rock band, and the origins of Chuck E. Cheese's.
Director: Brett Whitcomb | Stars: Chris Thrash, Aaron Fechter, Travis Schafer, Mike Scherpenberg
Votes: 344
22. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
William S. Burroughs: featuring never before seen footage as well as exclusive interviews with his closest friends and colleagues. Born the heir of the Burroughs' adding machine estate, he ... See full summary »
Director: Yony Leyser | Stars: Fred Aldrich, Laurie Anderson, Amiri Baraka, Jello Biafra
Votes: 942 | Gross: $0.05M
23. Crumb (1994)
R | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
An intimate portrait of the controversial cartoonist and his traumatized family.
Director: Terry Zwigoff | Stars: Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb
Votes: 15,799 | Gross: $3.17M
24. Lake of Fire (2006)
Unrated | 152 min | Documentary
A graphic documentary on both sides of the abortion debate.
Director: Tony Kaye | Stars: Noam Chomsky, Bill Baird, Flip Benham, Dallas Blanchard
Votes: 2,286 | Gross: $0.02M
25. Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006)
PG-13 | 74 min | Documentary
In this documentary, veteran filmmaker Harry Moses exposes the controversy in the world of high priced artwork. He paints a vivid picture of how art is bought and sold in America.
Director: Harry Morgan Moses | Stars: Teri Horton, Tod M. Volpe, Ben Heller, Nick Carone
Votes: 1,096 | Gross: $0.01M
26. I Think We're Alone Now (2008)
Not Rated | 70 min | Documentary
Two individuals, Jeff and Kelly, claim to be in love with the 80's pop singer Tiffany.
Director: Sean Donnelly | Stars: Kelly McCormick, Tiffany, Jeff Turner
Votes: 1,141
27. Winnebago Man (2009)
85 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
Jack Rebney is the most famous man you've never heard of - after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney's outrageously funny outtakes became an underground sensation and ... See full summary »
Director: Ben Steinbauer | Stars: Jack Rebney, Ben Steinbauer, Keith Gordon, Nick Prueher
Votes: 4,267 | Gross: $0.18M
28. New World Order (2009)
83 min | Documentary
This documentary explores the activities of Alex Jones, Jim Tucker, Jack McLamb, and Luke Rudkowski. The film focuses on their efforts to expose the highly secretive meetings of the ... See full summary »
Directors: Luke Meyer, Andrew Neel | Stars: Alex Jones, Luke Rudowski, Jack McLamb, Jim Tucker
Votes: 615
29. Incident at Oglala (1992)
PG | 89 min | Documentary, History
This film describes the events surrounding a 1975 shootout at the Pine Ridge reservation in S. Dakota where two FBI agents were killed.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Robert Redford, Norman Zigrossi, Robert Sikma, Darelle 'Dino' Butler
Votes: 955 | Gross: $0.54M
30. Shoah (1985)
Not Rated | 566 min | Documentary, History, War
Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary recounts the story of the Holocaust through interviews with witnesses - perpetrators as well as survivors.
Director: Claude Lanzmann | Stars: Simon Srebnik, Michael Podchlebnik, Motke Zaïdl, Hanna Zaïdl
Votes: 6,955 | Gross: $0.02M
31. Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch (1997 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary, Biography
From an early age, David Lynch was inspired by the arts and the warm inner glow that comes with the pursuit of creative expression. "Pretty as a Picture:The Art of David Lynch" examines how... See full summary »
Director: Toby Keeler | Stars: Patricia Arquette, Angelo Badalamenti, Robert Blake, Mel Brooks
Votes: 691
32. Confessions of a Superhero (2007)
R | 92 min | Documentary
Chronicles the lives of four mortal men and women who work as characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.
Director: Matthew Ogens | Stars: Christopher Dennis, Maxwell Allen, Jennifer Wenger, Joe McQueen
Votes: 2,025
33. Marwencol (2010)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Biography, Fantasy
After a vicious attacks leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard.
Director: Jeff Malmberg | Stars: Mark Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Edda Hogancamp, Tom Neubauer
Votes: 2,659 | Gross: $0.11M
34. Martial Law 9/11: Rise of the Police State (2005)
156 min | Documentary, War
Director: Alex Jones | Stars: Osama bin Laden, Wolf Blitzer, George Bush, George W. Bush
Votes: 778
35. The Corporation (2003)
Not Rated | 145 min | Documentary, History
Documentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.
Directors: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott | Stars: Mikela Jay, Rob Beckwermert, Christopher Gora, Nina Jones
Votes: 19,160 | Gross: $1.88M
36. Darwin's Nightmare (2004)
107 min | Documentary
A documentary on the effect of fishing the Nile perch in Tanzania's Lake Victoria. The predatory fish, which has wiped out the native species, is sold in European supermarkets, while starving Tanzanian families have to make do with the leftovers.
Director: Hubert Sauper | Stars: Elizabeth 'Eliza' Maganga Nsese, Raphael Tukiko Wagara, Dimond Remtulia, Marcus Nyoni
Votes: 5,081 | Gross: $0.20M
37. Home of the Brave (2004)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
Documentary on the civil rights activist, Viola Liuzzo, who was murdered in 1965 as she campaigned for black suffrage in Selma, Alabama, and its effect on her family.
Director: Paola di Florio | Stars: Julie Stevens, Stockard Channing, Molly Howe, Viola Gregg Liuzzo
Votes: 117 | Gross: $0.00M
38. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000)
PG-13 | 79 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary look, mostly through the eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, at her rise and fall as a popular televangelist with husband Jim Bakker. Traces their rise: her teen marriage to ... See full summary »
Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato | Stars: RuPaul, Tammy Faye Bakker, Virginia Fairchild, Johnny Grover
Votes: 1,402 | Gross: $1.03M
39. 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: 5,883 | Gross: $0.43M
40. My Flesh and Blood (2003)
Unrated | 83 min | Documentary
Documentary following Susan Tom of Fairfield, California and her 11 adopted special needs children.
Director: Jonathan Karsh | Stars: Susan Tom, Anthony Tom, Faith Tom, Joe Tom
Votes: 1,638
41. The Jew in the Lotus (1998)
58 min | Documentary
Tells how Roger Kamenetz, author of the best-selling 1994 book by the same title, found his way back to Judaism - the tradition of his birth.
Director: Laurel Chiten | Star: Rodger Kamenetz
Votes: 27
42. Flicker (2008)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
Artist Brion Gysin developed the Dream Machine. The device has in its core a 100-watt light bulb, which is surrounded by a spinning open column with windows to allow the light to shine ... See full summary »
Director: Nik Sheehan | Stars: Brion Gysin, Kenneth Anger, Marcus Boon, Udo Breger
Votes: 108
43. Modulations (1998)
75 min | Documentary, Music
The evolution of electronic music and its many genres. How the wide range of styles and scenes formed through experimentations on sound formation.
Director: Iara Lee | Stars: Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, Carl Cox, David Kristian
Votes: 326 | Gross: $0.14M
44. Enemies of the People (2009)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary
The Khmer Rouge slaughtered nearly two million people in the late 1970s. Yet the Killing Fields of Cambodia remain unexplained. Until now. Enter Thet Sambath, an unassuming, yet cunning, ... See full summary »
Directors: Rob Lemkin, Thet Sambath | Stars: Thet Sambath, Nuon Chea, Pol Pot, Khieu Samphan
Votes: 435 | Gross: $0.07M
45. Popaganda: The Art and Crimes of Ron English (2005)
78 min | Documentary
Documentary about street artist Ron English, who vandalizes billboards with elaborate, anti-corporate propaganda.
Director: Pedro Carvajal | Stars: Pedro Carvajal, Ron English, Shepard Fairey
Votes: 109
46. Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992)
Not Rated | 167 min | Documentary, Biography, War
A film about the noted American linguist/political dissident and his warning about corporate media's role in modern propaganda.
Directors: Mark Achbar, Peter Wintonick | Stars: Noam Chomsky, Mark Achbar, Karin Aguilar-San Juan, Paul Andrews
Votes: 3,897
47. Zizek! (2005)
Not Rated | 71 min | Documentary
A look at the controversial author, philosopher and candidate for Slovenian presidency: Slavoj Zizek.
Director: Astra Taylor | Star: Slavoj Zizek
Votes: 1,346 | Gross: $0.02M
48. Examined Life (2008)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary
Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today's most ... See full summary »
Director: Astra Taylor | Stars: K. Anthony Appiah, Judith Butler, Michael Hardt, Martha Nussbaum
Votes: 1,397 | Gross: $0.12M
49. Cropsey (2009)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Crime, Horror
Realizing the urban legend of their youth has actually come true; two filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.
Directors: Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zeman | Stars: Joshua Zeman, Barbara Brancaccio, Bill Ellis, Dorothy D'Eletto
Votes: 6,597 | Gross: $0.05M
50. Joy Division (2007)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Music
A chronological account of the influential late 1970s English rock band.
Director: Grant Gee | Stars: Richard Boon, Anton Corbijn, Kevin Cummins, Ian Curtis
Votes: 2,807