Docs
by kuruczbalint | created - 05 Feb 2018 | updated - 09 Jan 2022 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (1990)
PG-13 | 115 min | Documentary, Music
A unique look at the legendary musician, arranger, composer and producer offers a collage of memories, sounds and intimate interviews with musical greats in a rousing showcase.
Director: Ellen Weissbrod | Stars: Clarence Avant, George Benson, Big Daddy Kane, Richard Brooks
Votes: 222 | Gross: $0.78M
2. Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
PG | 108 min | Documentary, Music
Documentary about the Funk Brothers, a group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists.
Director: Paul Justman | Stars: Joe Hunter, Jack Ashford, Uriel Jones, Richard 'Pistol' Allen
Votes: 3,849 | Gross: $1.60M
3. Prince: The Glory Years (2007 Video)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
New documentary featuring rare and classic performances, live and studio footage, brand new interviews and seldom seen photographs.
Director: Tom O'Dell | Stars: Pepé Willie, Marcy Ingvoldstad, Kristie Lazenberry, David Rivkin
Votes: 36
4.
Unsung (2008– )
Episode:
Eddie Kendricks
(2013)
TV-PG | Documentary, Biography, Music
Eddie Kendricks was the lead singer and co-founder of The Temptations; his move to a solo career.
Stars: Prentiss Anderson, Shelly Berger, Dennis Edwards, Aika Kendrick
Votes: 21
5.
Omnibus (1967–2003)
Episode:
Nina Simone -The Legend
(1993)
Not Rated | Documentary, Biography, Music
Nina Simone -The Legend.
Director: Frank Lords | Star: Nina Simone
Votes: 7
6. Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2016)
Not Rated | 99 min | Documentary, Biography, History
An exploration of the global power and impact of the music of John Coltrane where the passions, experiences and forces that shaped his life and revolutionary sounds are revealed.
Director: John Scheinfeld | Stars: Denzel Washington, Reggie Workman, Ravi Coltrane, Ashley Kahn
Votes: 2,498 | Gross: $0.41M
7.
Unsung (2008– )
Episode:
Big Daddy Kane
(2011)
TV-PG | Documentary, Biography, Music
Stars: Big Daddy Kane, Barry Benson, Mr. Cee, Eric B.
Votes: 14
8. Tragedy: The Story of Queensbridge (2005)
115 min | Documentary
An in-depth look at the life of the hip-hop MC known as Tragedy Khadafi, aka Intelligent Hoodlum, who hails from the Queensbridge housing project in New York City.
Director: Booker Sim | Stars: Tragedy Khadafi, Capone, Jayson Evans, Havoc
Votes: 37
9. Mobb Deep: Infamous Allegiance Pt. 1 (2004 Video)
Documentary, Short, Crime
Stars: The Alchemist, Chinky, Twin Gambino, Havoc
Votes: 8
10. The Infamous Times, Volume I: The Original 50 Cent (2005 Video)
R | 120 min | Documentary
The true story of the legend who inspired the biggest name in rap.
Directors: Froi Cuesta, Anthony Turner | Stars: 50 Cent, Lucesse, Bonz Malone, DJ Scratch
Votes: 44
11. 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: 3,338 | Gross: $0.11M
12. Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage (2011 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
Fascinating documentary about the history and legacy of the rap group "Public Enemy".
Director: James Hale | Stars: Bill Adler, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Scott Ian
Votes: 60
13. The Show (1995)
R | 93 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary about the culture of hip-hop. Through interviews with some of hip-hops biggest names, the film makers attempt to find out why it has become so popular.
Director: Brian Robbins | Stars: Craig Mack, Dr. Dre, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow
Votes: 383 | Gross: $2.70M
14. The Art of 16 Bars: Get Ya' Bars Up (2005 Video)
R | 80 min | Documentary
Learn from the biggest MCs exactly how they achieved success. They share their approach to live performances and how they put together a demo tape, got signed and dealt with labels as well as their knowledge about how the industry works.
Director: Peter Spirer | Stars: Barry Bergman, David Diaz, Loco Gringo, Jadakiss
Votes: 128
15. What Ever Happened to Hip Hop? (2009)
Not Rated | 54 min | Documentary, Music
This documentary presents views from hip hop founders, contributors, and artists in an attempt to return its audience to the four principles: Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun.
Director: Sonali Aggarwal | Stars: Pugs Atomz, Jared Ball, Afrika Bambaataa, Busy Bee
Votes: 20
16. Rap: Looking for the Perfect Beat (1995 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary, Music
Director: Susan Shaw | Stars: Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, Nelson George, Grandmaster Flash
Votes: 30
17.
Arena (1975– )
Episode:
Beat This!: A Hip Hop History
(1984)
60 min | Documentary
Director: Dick Fontaine | Stars: Muhammad Ali, Almighty K.G., Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa
Votes: 73
18. Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk (2007 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
Director: Benjamin Whalley | Stars: John Cale, Chuck D, Jayne County, Richard Hell
Votes: 61
19. 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: 7,183 | Gross: $0.43M
20. Rhyme and Punishment (2011)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary, Crime, Music
The gritty elements of urban crime and violence have always had an influence on hip hop culture and rap music. More and more, the trappings of street life have landed popular rap artists ... See full summary »
Director: Peter Spirer | Stars: KRS-One, Beanie Sigel, Prodigy, Cassidy
Votes: 82
21. Rhyme & Reason (1997)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Music
A study in the world of hip-hop, done mostly with interviews, in order to see why it is as popular as it is today and what the future holds.
Director: Peter Spirer | Stars: B-Real, Kurtis Blow, Da Brat, Chuck D
Votes: 923 | Gross: $1.59M
22. This Is the Life (2008)
97 min | Documentary
A feature-length documentary that chronicles "The Good Life" emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the art form.
Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: 2Mex, Chali 2na, Cut Chemist, Brian Cross
Votes: 298
23. SBX! Holding Down the Tradition (2003)
31 min | Documentary, Short
Director: Jun Ohki | Stars: Party Arty, Andre Barnes, Lord Finesse, Percee-P
24. Player Hating: A Love Story (2009 Video)
97 min | Documentary, Drama, Musical
A documentary about hip hop artist named Half-a-Mill and his Brooklyn crew as they struggle to escape the poverty and violence of the Albany Housing Projects through music.
Director: Maggie Hadleigh-West | Star: Jasun Jabbar Wardlaw Jr.
Votes: 17
25. Divided Time (2015)
Not Rated | 56 min | Documentary, Family, Music
Divided Time" examines the impact of fatherhood on several aspiring independent hip-hop artists. It's an inspiring behind-the-scenes look that counters the negative imagery often associated with hip-hop in mainstream media.
Director: William Feagins | Stars: Jerrell Anderson, Masud Asante, Ekundayo Donegan, Jermaine Edmonds
26. Moog (2004)
Not Rated | 72 min | Documentary, History, Music
Bob Moog shaped musical culture with some of the most inspiring electronic instruments ever created. This "compelling documentary portrait of a provocative, thoughtful and deeply ... See full summary »
Director: Hans Fjellestad | Stars: Charlie Clouser, Herbert Deutsch, Keith Emerson, Woody Jackson
Votes: 642
27. Beat Makers (2007 Video)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary
A documentary that charts the never ending hustle of up and coming, as well as seasoned hip-hop producers.
Director: Laron Austin | Star: Conrad Clifton
Votes: 11
28. The Bass That Ate Miami: The Foundation (2013)
150 min | Documentary
Director: Alex J. Weir | Stars: Lon Alonzo, Willie Andrews, Afrika Bambaataa, Claudio Barrella
Votes: 12
29. Brooklyn Boheme (2011)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
An intimate portrait of the black arts movement that exploded in Fort Greene from the mid 1980s through the 90s as told by writer, historian and Brooklyn resident Nelson George.
Directors: Nelson George, Diane Paragas | Stars: Rhonda F. Cowan, Spike Lee, Branford Marsalis, Rosie Perez
Votes: 120
30. When Albums Ruled the World (2013 TV Movie)
87 min | Documentary, Music
Documentary showing how the long-playing album changed popular music for ever between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s by allowing artists to express themselves as never before.
Director: Steve O'Hagan | Stars: The Beatles, Blondie, Joe Boyd, Richard Branson
Votes: 120
31. Baadasssss Cinema (2002 TV Movie)
58 min | Documentary
Filmmaker Isaac Julien uses film clips and interviews to illustrate the history of the so-called "blaxploitation" genre.
Director: Isaac Julien | Stars: Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Melvin Van Peebles, Elvis Mitchell
Votes: 760
32. MLK: The Assassination Tapes (2012 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 47 min | Documentary, History
Relive an unspeakable tragedy detailed with unforgettable images, videos, and recordings only recently rediscovered.
Director: Tom Jennings | Star: Martin Luther King
Votes: 93
33. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015)
Not Rated | 115 min | Documentary, History
This documentary tells the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, one of the 20th century's most alluring and controversial organizations that captivated the world's attention for nearly 50 years.
Director: Stanley Nelson | Stars: Blair Anderson, Omar Barbour, Julian Bond, Elaine Brown
Votes: 2,145 | Gross: $0.48M
34. 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: 28,035 | Gross: $7.83M
35. When the Garden Was Eden (2014)
76 min | Documentary, History, Sport
A look at the basketball team, The New York Knicks, during their championship runs during the 1970s.
Director: Michael Rapaport | Stars: Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, Phil Jackson
Votes: 263
36. Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006)
PG-13 | 61 min | Documentary, Music
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture.
Director: Byron Hurt | Stars: Carmen Ashurst-Watson, Yasiin Bey, Chuck D, Jelani Cobb
Votes: 294
37. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011)
R | 97 min | Documentary, Music
Michael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows this innovative and influential band to this day.
Director: Michael Rapaport | Stars: Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jarobi White
Votes: 4,078 | Gross: $1.20M
38. Style Wars (1983 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 69 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary that exposes the rich growing subculture of hip-hop that was developing in New York City in the late '70s and early '80s, specifically focusing on graffiti art and breakdancing.
Director: Tony Silver | Stars: Demon, Kase 2, Eric Haze, D. 5
Votes: 3,302
39. Whose Streets? (2017)
R | 102 min | Documentary
An unflinching look at how the police killing of 18-year-old Mike Brown inspired a community to fight back and sparked a global movement.
Directors: Sabaah Folayan, Damon Davis | Stars: Lezley McSpadden, Michael Brown Sr., David Whitt, Montague Simmons
Votes: 1,411 | Gross: $0.18M
40. From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale (2006 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary
A former symbol of urban decay, the South Bronx is also known as a creative breeding ground and for its enduring cultural spirit.
Director: Henry Chalfant | Stars: Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri
Votes: 29
41. Discovering Electronic Music: Revised (1983)
22 min | Documentary, Short, Music
A short educational documentary on early electronic composition and synthesizers.
Director: Bernard Wilets | Star: Jean-Claude Risset
Votes: 14
42. The Fourth World (2011)
Not Rated | 55 min | Documentary, Adventure, History
A quick look at the slums of Nairobi, Guatemala City, and Manila.
Director: Mark Volkers | Star: Mark Volkers
Votes: 71
43. The New 8-bit Heroes (2016)
112 min | Documentary
Modern creatives must retrofit their skills to program a new game for a 30 year old game console.
Director: Joseph Granato IV | Stars: Dain Anderson, Derek Andrews, Piers Anthony, Brendan Becker
Votes: 76
44. The Alchemists of Sound (2003 TV Movie)
58 min | Documentary
A documentary about the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, responsible for creating some of the most memorable television and radio music in British popular culture, including "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and Doctor Who (1963).
Director: Roger Pomphrey | Stars: Oliver Postgate, Roger Limb, Mark Ayres, Brian Hodgson
Votes: 82
45. I Dream of Wires (2014)
96 min | Documentary, History, Music
The history and resurgence of the electronic modular music synthesizer.
Director: Robert Fantinatto | Stars: Patti Schmidt, Joel Chadabe, John Mills-Cockell, Morton Subotnick
Votes: 853
46. Pete Rock: Soul Survivor (1998 Music Video)
42 min | Music
Director: Chris LaMonica | Stars: Pete Rock, Inspectah Deck, Kurupt, Method Man
47. Quincy (2018)
TV-MA | 124 min | Documentary, Biography
An intimate look into the life of icon Quincy Jones. A unique force in music and popular culture for 70 years, Jones has transcended racial and cultural boundaries; his story is inextricably woven into the fabric of America.
Directors: Alan Hicks, Rashida Jones | Stars: Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Clarence Avant
Votes: 5,169
48. The Weird World of Blowfly (2010)
Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Clarence Reid is a musician who wrote and produced romantic and spiritual songs for some of the greatest Southern soul and R&B acts of the 1960s and '70s. He is also the gonzo performer ... See full summary »
Director: Jonathan Furmanski | Stars: Clarence Reid, Steve Alaimo, Bela B., Greg Bell
Votes: 149 | Gross: $0.00M
49. Explained (2018–2021)
TV-MA | 18 min | Documentary
A documentary series that looks to explore the big questions of today.
Stars: Estelle Caswell, Samira Wiley, Maria Bello, Kyle MacLachlan
Votes: 9,947
50. Word Is Bond (II) (2018)
TV-MA | 87 min | Documentary, Music
What was born on the streets of the South Bronx has now taken root globally, and the young poets of New York have helped to spawn regional dialects everywhere. Through dynamic archival ... See full summary »
Director: Sacha Jenkins | Stars: Anderson .Paak, Brother Ali, Big Daddy Kane, J. Cole
Votes: 137
51. Sound City (2013)
Not Rated | 107 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary on the fabled recording studio that was located in Van Nuys, California.
Director: Dave Grohl | Stars: Trent Reznor, Tom Petty, Mick Fleetwood, Vinny Appice
Votes: 13,444 | Gross: $0.42M
52. Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus (2017–2018)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
The raucous adventures of musicians such as Johnny Paycheck, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, as told by those who knew them best. Season 2 covers the legends of funk.
Stars: Mike Judge, Kinky Friedman, Shooter Jennings, Don Adams
Votes: 1,491
53. Rapture (2018– )
Documentary, Music
Featuring an impressive collection of artists who have found worldwide success, this documentary series showcases hip-hop's impact on global culture.
Stars: Joseph Simmons III, Logic, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Votes: 596
54. Harryhausen: The Lost Movies (2019)
Documentary
Award-winning filmmaker John Walsh will for the first time bring together all the materials on the unrealized projects of the master of special effects, Ray Harryhausen.
Director: John Walsh
55. The Harryhausen Chronicles (1998 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
Narrated by actor Leonard Nimoy and featuring appearances by George Lucas and Ray Bradbury, this film documents Ray Harryhausen's remarkable visual effects work, including his hand in ... See full summary »
Director: Richard Schickel | Stars: Ray Harryhausen, Leonard Nimoy, Ray Bradbury, Dennis Muren
Votes: 328
56. Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Biography
The life and work of the renowned film visual effects artist and producer.
Director: Gilles Penso | Stars: Ray Harryhausen, Peter Jackson, Terry Gilliam, Guillermo del Toro
Votes: 1,364
57. C-Walk: It's a Way of Livin' (2003 Video)
Unrated | 85 min | Documentary
Straight off the streets of South Central L.A., CJ Mac brings you a documentary about a gang ritual that has become a popular dance craze. Hear the opinions from the artists who made the ... See full summary »
Director: CJ Mac | Stars: Crips, Jonathan Davis, Warren G, Ice-T
Votes: 29
58. The New Sound of Music (1979 TV Movie)
49 min | Documentary, Music
Charting the development of recorded and electronic music from the first barrel organs and pianolas onto the concepts of 'musique concrete' and electronic music development with voltage-controlled oscillators.
Stars: Michael Rodd, Malcolm Clarke, Peter Howell, Paddy Kingsland
Votes: 8
59. Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me (2018)
TV-MA | 106 min | Documentary, Biography
This documentary explores the rise of Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident.
Director: Olivia Lichtenstein | Stars: Teddy Pendergrass, Sammy Davis Jr., Ida Pendergrass, Mikido Soto Jr.
Votes: 480
60. In Search of Darkness (2019)
Not Rated | 264 min | Documentary, Horror
An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and SFX craftspeople who made them, and their impact on contemporary cinema.
Director: David A. Weiner | Stars: Tom Atkins, Doug Bradley, John Bloom, Diana Prince
Votes: 3,761
61.
Unsung (2008– )
Episode:
Mtume
(2018)
TV-PG | Documentary, Biography, Music
Stars: Scot Brown, Daddy-O, Wade Dean, Hubert Eaves III
Votes: 9
62. Woodstock Diary (1994 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 174 min | Documentary, Music
The Woodstock Diaries is an enthralling fly on the wall music documentary about the creation of Woodstock and rarely seen concert performances from the festival. Three one hour programmes ... See full summary »
Directors: Chris Hegedus, Erez Laufer, D.A. Pennebaker | Stars: Joan Baez, Lennie Baker, Marty Balin, Bruce Barthol
Votes: 181
63. A Life in Waves (2017)
Not Rated | 74 min | Documentary, Biography, Musical
An exploration of the life and innovations of composer and electronic-music pioneer Suzanne Ciani.
Director: Brett Whitcomb | Stars: Peter Baumann, Don Buchla, Dorit Chrysler, Suzanne Ciani
Votes: 150
64. Breakin' 'N' Enterin' (1983)
85 min | Documentary
Documentary about the LA hip hop/electro scene in the early 80s.
Director: Topper Carew | Stars: Ice-T, Kid Frost, Adolfo Quinones
Votes: 18
65. LA Originals (2020)
92 min | Documentary
Photographer Estevan Oriol and artist Mister Cartoon turned their Chicano roots into gritty art, impacting street culture, hip hop and beyond.
Director: Estevan Oriol | Stars: Estevan Oriol, Mister Cartoon, Snoop Dogg, Clifton Collins Jr.
Votes: 2,002
66. They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018)
TV-MA | 98 min | Documentary, Biography
In the final fifteen years of the life of legendary director Orson Welles, he pins his Hollywood comeback hopes on a film, The Other Side of the Wind (2018), in itself a film about an aging film director trying to finish his last great movie.
Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Alan Cumming, Peter Bogdanovich, Oja Kodar, Orson Welles
Votes: 5,445
67. John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)
PG | 96 min | Documentary
The film explores Georgia representative's, 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration.
Director: Dawn Porter | Stars: Elijah Cummings, Anthony Johnson, Hillary Clinton, Ayanna Pressley
Votes: 1,055
68. Fear City: New York vs the Mafia (2020)
TV-MA | 52 min | Documentary, Crime
Five Mafia families ruled New York with a bloody fist in the 1970s and '80s, until a group of federal agents tried the unthinkable: taking them down.
Stars: John Alite, Michael Franzese, Jim Kossler, John Joyce
Votes: 8,448
69. Wholetrain (2006)
82 min | Drama
This feature length documentary takes a look at the graffiti movement, and the young people who populate the niche culture. Following four such artists as they shape the graffiti community ... See full summary »
Director: Florian Gaag | Stars: Mike Adler, Florian Renner, Elyas M'Barek, Jacob Matschenz
Votes: 1,076
70. 80 Blocks from Tiffany's (1979)
67 min | Documentary
Depicts the daily life of gangs within the context of the South Bronx. Deals primarily with two African American and Puerto Rican gangs known as the "Savage Skulls" and the "Savage Nomads".
Director: Gary Weis | Star: Louis Gigante
Votes: 421
71. Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives (2015)
Not Rated | 99 min | Documentary, Music
A retrospective look at the "Best Hip Hop Radio Show of All-Time".
Director: Bobbito Garcia | Stars: A-Plus, Anthony Alonso, Stretch Armstrong, B-Real
Votes: 1,007
72. Stations of the Elevated (1981)
46 min | Documentary
Stations of the Elevated (1981) is a 45-minute city symphony directed, produced and edited by Manfred Kirchheimer. Shot on lush 16mm color reversal stock, the film weaves together vivid ... See full summary »
Director: Manfred Kirchheimer
Votes: 210 | Gross: $0.02M
73. Black Panthers (1968)
Not Rated | 31 min | Documentary, Short
A short film of interviews and protests at a rally to free Huey P. Newton.
Director: Agnès Varda | Stars: Bill Brent, Huey P. Newton, Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge Cleaver
Votes: 2,696
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