National Board of Review documentaries

by amairson | created - 14 Jun 2018 | updated - 14 Jun 2018 | Public
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1. The Fight for Life (1940)

Approved | 69 min | Drama, History

An interne witnesses the death of a young mother in a maternity hospital delivery room. Disturbed that he might have overlooked something that could have prevented the death, he goes to a ... See full summary »

Director: Pare Lorentz | Stars: Myron McCormick, Storrs Haynes, Will Geer, Dudley Digges

Votes: 86

2. Target for Tonight (1941)

Approved | 48 min | Documentary, Drama, War

The planning and implementation of an RAF night raid on Germany in World War II, concentrating on a low level mission by a Wellington bomber on an oil storage facility by the Rhine.

Director: Harry Watt | Stars: John Cobb, Richard Peirse, Percy Charles Pickard, Robert Saundby

Votes: 405

3. The Forgotten Village (1941)

Approved | 67 min | Documentary, Drama

Documentary examining the conflicts between the coming of modernization and the traditional culture of a small Mexican village.

Directors: Herbert Kline, Alexander Hammid | Star: Burgess Meredith

Votes: 99

4. Moscow Strikes Back (1942)

Approved | 55 min | Documentary, War

A number of frontline cameramen shot the footage used in this documentary of the Battle of Moscow, between October 1941 and January 1942,in which a people's war against the German invaders,... See full summary »

Directors: Ilya Kopalin, Leonid Varlamov | Stars: N. Dubravin, Edward G. Robinson, Joseph Stalin

Votes: 293

5. Native Land (1942)

Not Rated | 80 min | Drama, History

Paul Robeson narrates a mix of dramatizations and archival footage about the bill of rights being under attack during the 1930s by union busting corporations, their spies and contractors. ... See full summary »

Directors: Leo Hurwitz, Paul Strand | Stars: Paul Robeson, Fred Johnson, Mary George, John Rennick

Votes: 380

6. Desert Victory (1943)

62 min | Documentary, War

The Allied campaign to drive Germany and Italy from North Africa is analysed, with the major portion of the film examining the battles at El Alamein, including a re-enactment.

Directors: Roy Boulting, David MacDonald | Stars: Harold Alexander, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Bernard L. Montgomery

Votes: 370

7. The Battle of Russia (1943)

Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, History, War

Documentary revealing the nature and process of the fight between the Soviet Union and Germany in the Second World War.

Directors: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak | Stars: Anthony Veiller, Ion Antonescu, Nikolay Cherkasov, Anthony Eden

Votes: 1,609

8. Why We Fight (1942)

Not Rated | 52 min | Documentary, War

The official World War II US Government film statement defining the various enemies of the Allies and why they must be fought.

Directors: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak | Stars: Walter Huston, Victor Bulwer-Lytton, Kai-Shek Chiang, Walter Darré

Votes: 2,406

9. The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)

Not Rated | 45 min | Documentary, History, War

A documentary on the 25th bombing mission of the Memphis Belle, a B-17 in the US 8th Air Force.

Director: William Wyler | Stars: Stanley Wray, Robert Morgan, James A. Verinis, Robert J. Hanson

Votes: 1,848

10. Tunisian Victory (1944)

Approved | 75 min | Documentary, War

Documentary made by the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

Directors: John Boulting, Roy Boulting, Frank Capra, Hugh Stewart, John Huston | Stars: Leo Genn, Burgess Meredith, Bernard Miles, Jacques Duchesne

Votes: 691

11. Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)

PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

This documentary movie covers two concerts at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, to celebrate Chuck Berry's 60th birthday, and also discusses his life and career.

Director: Taylor Hackford | Stars: Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley

Votes: 1,569 | Gross: $0.72M

12. The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Not Rated | 101 min | Documentary, Crime

79 Metascore

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: 25,908 | Gross: $1.21M

13. Roger & Me (1989)

R | 91 min | Documentary

70 Metascore

After General Motors closes its factory in Flint, Michigan, eliminating 35,000 jobs, filmmaker Michael Moore undertakes a quixotic quest to interview General Motors' chairman, Roger B. Smith.

Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Roger B. Smith, Rhonda Britton, Fred Ross

Votes: 27,509 | Gross: $6.71M

14. 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: 23,217 | Gross: $1.32M

15. Brother's Keeper (1992)

R | 104 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery

93 Metascore

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: 4,279 | Gross: $1.31M

16. The War Room (1993)

PG | 96 min | Documentary, History

78 Metascore

A documentary of the Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and the organization who ran it.

Directors: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker | Stars: James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Heather Beckel, Paul Begala

Votes: 4,431 | Gross: $0.90M

17. Hoop Dreams (1994)

PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport

98 Metascore

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: 28,010 | Gross: $7.83M

18. Crumb (1994)

R | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy

93 Metascore

An intimate portrait of controversial cartoonist Robert Crumb and his traumatized family.

Director: Terry Zwigoff | Stars: Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb

Votes: 21,587 | Gross: $3.17M

19. 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: 18,134

20. Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (1997)

PG | 80 min | Documentary

An exploration of the careers of four unrelated professionals: a lion tamer, a robotics expert, a topiary gardener, and a naked mole rat specialist.

Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Dave Hoover, George Mendonça, Rodney Brooks, Raymond A. Mendez

Votes: 3,981 | Gross: $0.83M

21. Wild Man Blues (1997)

PG | 105 min | Documentary, Music, Romance

Academy Award-winner Barbara Kopple directs this documentary portrait of Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Woody Allen, seen traveling with friends and fellow musicians during their New... See full summary »

Director: Barbara Kopple | Stars: Woody Allen, Letty Aronson, Soon-Yi Previn, Dan Barrett

Votes: 2,291 | Gross: $0.43M

22. Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

G | 105 min | Documentary, Music

81 Metascore

Aging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro's takeover of Cuba, are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder, who travelled to Havana in order to bring the musicians together, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music, and resurrecting the musicians' careers.

Director: Wim Wenders | Stars: Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Octavio Calderon

Votes: 20,514 | Gross: $7.00M

23. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1998)

PG | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

75 Metascore

The life and career of Hank Greenberg, the first major Jewish baseball star in the Major Leagues.

Director: Aviva Kempner | Stars: Reeve Brenner, Hank Greenberg, Walter Matthau, Alan Dershowitz

Votes: 816 | Gross: $1.70M

24. The Endurance (2000)

G | 97 min | Documentary, History

85 Metascore

A retelling of Sir Ernest Shackleton 's ill-fated expedition to Antarctica in 1914-1916, featuring new footage of the actual locations and interviews with surviving relatives of key ... See full summary »

Director: George Butler | Stars: Liam Neeson, Julian Ayer, John Blackborow, David Cale

Votes: 2,194 | Gross: $2.45M

25. Bowling for Columbine (2002)

R | 120 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama

72 Metascore

Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.

Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Charlton Heston, Marilyn Manson, Salvador Allende

Votes: 148,712 | Gross: $21.58M

26. The Fog of War (2003)

PG-13 | 107 min | Documentary, Biography, History

87 Metascore

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: 25,043 | Gross: $4.20M

27. Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004)

R | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, News

78 Metascore

Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district.

Directors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman | Stars: Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das, Manik

Votes: 18,002 | Gross: $3.41M

28. March of the Penguins (2005)

G | 80 min | Documentary, Family

79 Metascore

In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family.

Director: Luc Jacquet | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Romane Bohringer, Charles Berling, Jules Sitruk

Votes: 59,939 | Gross: $77.44M

29. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

PG | 96 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

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: 85,198 | Gross: $23.81M

30. Body of War (2007)

Unrated | 87 min | Documentary, War

60 Metascore

The story of an injured American veteran returning home from the war Iraq is set against the backdrop of a critical indictment of the government's handling of the U.S.-led invasion.

Directors: Phil Donahue, Ellen Spiro | Stars: Robert Byrd, Garett Reppenhagen, Cathy Smith, Nathan Young

Votes: 569 | Gross: $0.07M

31. Man on Wire (2008)

PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

89 Metascore

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: 58,664 | Gross: $2.96M

32. The Cove (2009)

PG-13 | 92 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

84 Metascore

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

Director: Louie Psihoyos | Stars: Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones, Michael Illiff

Votes: 51,433 | Gross: $0.87M

33. Waiting for Superman (2010)

PG | 111 min | Documentary

81 Metascore

An examination of the current state of education in America today.

Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Charles Adams, Jonathan Alter, Robert Balfanz, Harriet Ball

Votes: 11,635 | Gross: $6.41M

34. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)

Not Rated | 121 min | Documentary, Crime

85 Metascore

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: 10,859

35. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

PG-13 | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

79 Metascore

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: 72,885 | Gross: $3.97M

36. Stories We Tell (2012)

PG-13 | 108 min | Documentary

91 Metascore

A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers.

Director: Sarah Polley | Stars: Michael Polley, John Buchan, Mark Polley, Joanna Polley

Votes: 14,111 | Gross: $1.60M

37. Life Itself (2014)

R | 121 min | Documentary, Biography

87 Metascore

The life and career of the renowned film critic and social commentator, Roger Ebert.

Director: Steve James | Stars: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert, Gene Siskel, Martin Scorsese

Votes: 16,247 | Gross: $0.81M

38. Amy (III) (2015)

R | 128 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

85 Metascore

Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse.

Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Amy Winehouse, Mitch Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Russell Brand

Votes: 55,003 | Gross: $8.41M

39. 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: 21,742

40. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (2016)

Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

A small financial institution called Abacus becomes the only company criminally indicted in the wake of the United States' 2008 mortgage crisis.

Director: Steve James | Stars: Thomas Sung, Hwei Lin Sung, Cyrus Vance Jr., Matt Taibbi

Votes: 2,940 | Gross: $0.10M

41. Brimstone & Glory (2017)

67 min | Documentary

70 Metascore

Ecstatic ritual, danger and the absolute beauty of fireworks.

Director: Viktor Jakovleski

Votes: 904 | Gross: $0.03M

42. Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (2017)

TV-MA | 135 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

62 Metascore

A look at the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton, told by those who have known him best, including BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and George Harrison.

Director: Lili Fini Zanuck | Stars: Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Ginger Baker, Chuck Berry

Votes: 2,537

43. Faces Places (2017)

PG | 94 min | Documentary, Adventure

94 Metascore

Director Agnes Varda and photographer/muralist J.R. journey through rural France and form an unlikely friendship.

Directors: JR, Agnès Varda | Stars: Agnès Varda, JR, Jeannine Carpentier, Clemens Van Dungern

Votes: 13,592 | Gross: $0.95M

44. Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS (2017)

R | 99 min | Documentary

84 Metascore

A look at the current state of Syria amidst war and chaos in 2017, featuring stories of survival and observations by political experts from around the world.

Directors: Sebastian Junger, Nick Quested | Stars: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, Amr Al-Azm, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, Tareq Al-Hashemi

Votes: 791

45. De Palma (2015)

R | 110 min | Documentary, Biography

83 Metascore

A documentary about writer and director Brian De Palma.

Directors: Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow | Stars: Brian De Palma, Mark Hamill, Amy Irving, Kurt Russell

Votes: 6,200 | Gross: $0.16M

46. The Eagle Huntress (2016)

G | 87 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport

72 Metascore

Thirteen-year-old Aisholpan trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her nomad family to become an eagle huntress.

Director: Otto Bell | Stars: Aisholpan Nurgaiv, Daisy Ridley, Rys Nurgaiv

Votes: 4,184 | Gross: $3.17M

47. Gleason (2016)

R | 110 min | Documentary, Biography

80 Metascore

After he is diagnosed with ALS, former professional football player Steve Gleason begins making a video diary for his unborn son, as he, his wife, and their friends and family work to raise money for ALS patients as his disease progresses.

Director: Clay Tweel | Stars: Steve Gleason, Mike Gleason, Scott Fujita, Mike McKenzie

Votes: 3,082 | Gross: $0.59M

48. Miss Sharon Jones! (2015)

Unrated | 93 min | Documentary, Music

77 Metascore

Dreams never expire but sometimes they are deferred. The film follows the talented and gregarious soul singer of the Grammy-nominated R&B band "Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings." In the most ... See full summary »

Director: Barbara Kopple | Stars: Sharon Jones, Starr Duncan-Lowe, Binky Griptite, Megan Holken

Votes: 691 | Gross: $0.12M

49. Life, Animated (2016)

PG | 92 min | Documentary, Comedy, Drama

75 Metascore

A coming-of-age story about a boy and his family who overcame great challenges by turning Disney animated movies into a language to express love, loss, kinship and brotherhood.

Director: Roger Ross Williams | Stars: Owen Suskind, Cornelia Suskind, Ron Suskind, Walter Suskind

Votes: 6,176 | Gross: $0.26M

50. Best of Enemies (2015)

R | 87 min | Documentary, Biography, History

77 Metascore

A documentary on the series of televised debates in 1968 between liberal Gore Vidal and conservative William F. Buckley.

Directors: Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville | Stars: Gore Vidal, William F. Buckley, Dick Cavett, Noam Chomsky

Votes: 6,495 | Gross: $0.89M

51. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (2015)

Not Rated | 115 min | Documentary, History

79 Metascore

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: 2,144 | Gross: $0.48M

52. The Diplomat (2015)

TV-14 | 104 min | Documentary, Biography

THE DIPLOMAT tells the remarkable story of the life and legacy of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, whose singular career spanned fifty years of American foreign policy - from Vietnam to Afghanistan.

Director: David Holbrooke | Stars: Madeleine Albright, Christiane Amanpour, Rina Amiri, Kofi Annan

Votes: 347

53. Listen to Me Marlon (2015)

Unrated | 103 min | Documentary, Biography

87 Metascore

A documentary that utilizes hundreds of hours of audio that Marlon Brando recorded over the course of his life to tell the screen legend's story.

Director: Stevan Riley | Stars: Marlon Brando, Stella Adler, Bernardo Bertolucci, Michael Borne

Votes: 7,915 | Gross: $0.43M

54. The Look of Silence (2014)

PG-13 | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, History

92 Metascore

A family that survived the genocide in Indonesia confronts the men who killed one of their brothers.

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer | Stars: Adi Rukun, M.Y. Basrun, Volker Hanisch, Amir Hasan

Votes: 13,876 | Gross: $0.11M

55. Art and Craft (2014)

Not Rated | 89 min | Documentary

68 Metascore

When one of the most prolific art forgers in US history is finally exposed, he must confront the legacy of his 30-year con.

Directors: Sam Cullman, Jennifer Grausman, Mark Becker | Stars: Mark A. Landis, Lester Sullivan, Irwin Lakov, Matthew Leininger

Votes: 1,792 | Gross: $0.22M

56. Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

PG-13 | 90 min | Documentary

79 Metascore

The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.

Director: Frank Pavich | Stars: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Michel Seydoux, H.R. Giger, Chris Foss

Votes: 27,539 | Gross: $0.65M

57. Keep on Keepin' On (2014)

R | 84 min | Documentary

77 Metascore

A documentary that follows jazz legend Clark Terry over four years to document the mentorship between Terry and 23-year-old blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin as the young man prepares to compete in an elite, international competition.

Director: Alan Hicks | Stars: Clark Terry, Justin Kauflin, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock

Votes: 1,054 | Gross: $0.16M

58. The Kill Team (2013)

R | 79 min | Documentary

72 Metascore

This provocative, bold, and deeply moving documentary profiles Adam Winfield, a soldier-turned-whistleblower who returns from the battlefield to expose shocking war crimes that the U.S. Army will do anything to cover up.

Director: Dan Krauss | Stars: Adam Winfield, Christopher Winfield, Emma Winfield, Alaina Winfield

Votes: 1,352

59. Last Days in Vietnam (2014)

Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary, History, War

86 Metascore

During the final days of the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese forces closed in on Saigon as South Vietnamese resistance crumbled. An unlikely group of heroes emerged as Americans and South Vietnamese took matters into their own hands.

Director: Rory Kennedy | Stars: Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Stuart Herrington, Juan Valdez

Votes: 4,096 | Gross: $0.47M

60. Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013)

PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, History

83 Metascore

Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.

Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill

Votes: 13,950 | Gross: $4.95M

61. The Act of Killing (2012)

Not Rated | 117 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

92 Metascore

A documentary which challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers.

Directors: Joshua Oppenheimer, Anonymous, Christine Cynn | Stars: Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik

Votes: 40,798 | Gross: $0.49M

62. After Tiller (2013)

PG-13 | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

74 Metascore

This thought provoking, sometimes troubling documentary examines the personal and ethical imperatives that drive abortion providers to continue in the face of often dangerous legal and personal harassment.

Directors: Martha Shane, Lana Wilson | Stars: George Tiller, Warren Hern, Leroy Carhart, Susan Robinson

Votes: 1,118 | Gross: $0.07M

63. Casting By (2012)

TV-14 | 89 min | Documentary, Biography

70 Metascore

The surprising, never-before-told tale of the indispensable yet unsung Casting Director - Iconoclasts whose keen eye, exquisite taste and gut instincts redefined Hollywood.

Director: Tom Donahue | Stars: Deborah Aquila, Risa Bramon Garcia, Ellen Chenoweth, Marion Dougherty

Votes: 1,638 | Gross: $0.01M

64. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012)

R | 91 min | Documentary

81 Metascore

A documentary that chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and gets into an increasing number of clashes with the Chinese government.

Director: Alison Klayman | Stars: Ai Weiwei, Dan Ai, Lao Ai, Lee Ambrozy

Votes: 4,527 | Gross: $0.53M

65. Detropia (2012)

Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary

68 Metascore

A documentary on the city of Detroit and its woes, which are emblematic of the collapse of the U.S. manufacturing base.

Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady | Stars: Noah Stewart, Rachele Gilmnore, Michael Wanko, Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra

Votes: 1,626 | Gross: $0.36M

66. The Gatekeepers (2012)

PG-13 | 101 min | Documentary, History, War

91 Metascore

A documentary featuring interviews with all surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency whose activities and membership are closely held state secrets.

Director: Dror Moreh | Stars: Ami Ayalon, Avraham Shalom, Avi Dichter, Yaakov Peri

Votes: 5,886 | Gross: $2.42M

67. The Invisible War (2012)

Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Crime

75 Metascore

An investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military.

Director: Kirby Dick | Stars: Amy Ziering, Kirby Dick, Kori Cioca, Jessica Hinves

Votes: 7,083 | Gross: $0.07M

68. Only the Young (2012)

Not Rated | 72 min | Documentary, Comedy, Romance

71 Metascore

A documentary on three teenagers living in a small desert town in Southern California.

Directors: Elizabeth Mims, Jason Tippet | Stars: Garrison Saenz, Kevin Conway, Skye Elmore, Samantha MacDonald

Votes: 416 | Gross: $0.01M

69. George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)

Not Rated | 208 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

Filmmaker Martin Scorsese examines the life of musician George Harrison, weaving together interviews, concert footage, home movies and photographs.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: George Harrison, Harry Harrison, Peter Harrison, Paul McCartney

Votes: 12,624

70. Project Nim (2011)

PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary

83 Metascore

Tells the story of a chimpanzee taken from its mother at birth and raised like a human child by a family in a brownstone on the upper West Side in the 1970s.

Director: James Marsh | Stars: Nim Chimpsky, Stephanie LaFarge, Herbert Terrace, Wer LaFarge

Votes: 8,600 | Gross: $0.41M

71. Senna (2010)

PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport

79 Metascore

A documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34.

Director: Asif Kapadia | Stars: Ayrton Senna, Reginaldo Leme, John Bisignano, Neyde Senna

Votes: 75,746 | Gross: $1.61M

72. A Film Unfinished (2010)

Unrated | 88 min | Documentary, Drama, History

88 Metascore

A film about an unfinished film which portrays the people behind and before the camera in the Warsaw Ghetto, exposing the extent of the cinematic manipulation forever changing the way we look at historic images.

Director: Yael Hersonski | Stars: Alexander Beyer, Rüdiger Vogler, Hanna Avrutzki, Luba Gewisser

Votes: 1,898 | Gross: $0.31M

73. Inside Job (2010)

PG-13 | 109 min | Documentary, Crime

88 Metascore

Takes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.

Director: Charles Ferguson | Stars: Matt Damon, Gylfi Zoega, Andri Snær Magnason, Sigridur Benediktsdottir

Votes: 78,945 | Gross: $4.31M

74. Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

R | 84 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy

79 Metascore

A documentary on the life and career of Joan Rivers, made as the comedienne turns 75 years old.

Directors: Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg | Stars: Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Kathy Griffin, Jocelyn Pickett

Votes: 3,816 | Gross: $2.93M

75. Restrepo (2010)

R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, History

85 Metascore

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

76. The Tillman Story (2010)

R | 94 min | Documentary, Biography, Mystery

86 Metascore

Chronicles the life of the late Pat Tillman, who walked away from a multimillion-dollar contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals in 2002 to join the Army but died from friendly fire in Afghanistan.

Director: Amir Bar-Lev | Stars: Pat Tillman, Josh Brolin, Mary Tillman, Russell Baer

Votes: 5,431 | Gross: $0.80M

77. Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country (2008)

Unrated | 84 min | Documentary, History, News

82 Metascore

Using smuggled footage, this documentary tells the story of the 2007 protests in Burma by thousands of monks.

Director: Anders Østergaard | Stars: George W. Bush, Joshua Min Htut, Ko Muang, Aung San Suu Kyi

Votes: 2,518 | Gross: $0.05M

78. Crude (2009)

Unrated | 105 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

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: 867 | Gross: $0.17M

79. Food, Inc. (2008)

PG | 94 min | Documentary, News

80 Metascore

An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.

Director: Robert Kenner | Stars: Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, Richard Lobb, Vince Edwards

Votes: 52,205 | Gross: $4.42M

80. Good Hair (2009)

PG-13 | 96 min | Documentary, Comedy

72 Metascore

Chris Rock explores the wonders of African-American hairstyles.

Director: Jeff Stilson | Stars: Chris Rock, Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton, Tanya Crumel

Votes: 6,214 | Gross: $4.16M

81. The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2009)

Not Rated | 92 min | Documentary

75 Metascore

An exploration of the life and work of Dr. Daniel Ellsberg, former Marine and military strategist, who was responsible for the publication of secret government documents that revealed the truth behind America's involvement in Vietnam.

Directors: Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith | Stars: Peter Arnett, Ben Bagdikian, Ann Beeson, John Dean

Votes: 2,421 | Gross: $0.45M

82. American Teen (2008)

PG-13 | 95 min | Documentary

66 Metascore

A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.

Director: Nanette Burstein | Stars: Hannah Bailey, Jake Tusing, Megan Krizmanich, Colin Clemens

Votes: 4,230 | Gross: $0.94M

83. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime

82 Metascore

A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son.

Director: Kurt Kuenne | Stars: Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby

Votes: 40,675 | Gross: $0.02M

84. Encounters at the End of the World (2007)

G | 99 min | Documentary

80 Metascore

Film-maker Werner Herzog travels to the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, looking to capture the continent's beauty and investigate the characters living there.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan Pashov, Doug MacAyeal

Votes: 19,247 | Gross: $0.94M

85. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)

Unrated | 99 min | Documentary, Crime

78 Metascore

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: 5,205 | Gross: $0.06M

86. Darfur Now (2007)

PG | 98 min | Documentary

66 Metascore

An examination of the genocide in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Director: Ted Braun | Stars: Don Cheadle, Ahmed Mahammed Abaka, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamad Abakar, Hawa Abaker

Votes: 774 | Gross: $0.11M

87. In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)

PG | 100 min | Documentary, History

84 Metascore

The crew members of NASA's Apollo missions tell their story in their own words.

Director: David Sington | Stars: Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Mike Collins

Votes: 6,925 | Gross: $1.13M

88. Nanking (2007)

R | 88 min | Biography, History, War

76 Metascore

Through readings of historical account by actors and the testimony of survivors, the events of the Nanjing Massacre are recounted.

Directors: Bill Guttentag, Dan Sturman | Stars: Hugo Armstrong, Rosalind Chao, Stephen Dorff, John Getz

Votes: 3,587 | Gross: $0.16M

89. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)

R | 106 min | Documentary, Crime, History

82 Metascore

Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan.

Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Alex Gibney, Brian Keith Allen, Moazzam Begg, Christopher Beiring

Votes: 16,802 | Gross: $0.27M

90. Toots (2006)

84 min | Documentary

The '40s and '50s were a classic period in New York City nightlife, when the saloonkeeper was king and regular folks could drink with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Jackie Gleason. In this documentary, Kristi Jacobson profiles her grandfather, the king of kings: Toots Shor of the eponymous restaurant and saloon, which was once the place to be seen in Manhattan.

Director: Kristi Jacobson | Stars: Maury Allen, Dave Anderson, Yogi Berra, David Brown

Votes: 125

91. 51 Birch Street (2005)

Unrated | 90 min | Documentary

77 Metascore

In the wake of his mother's passing, filmmaker Doug Block discovers a trove of unearthed secrets in the pages of her diary.

Director: Doug Block | Stars: Carol Block, Doug Block, Ellen Block, Karen Block

Votes: 933 | Gross: $0.08M

92. Iraq in Fragments (2006)

Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary, War

84 Metascore

Stories from modern day Iraq as told by Iraqis living in a time of war, occupation and ethnic tension.

Director: James Longley | Stars: Marmar Alhilali, Mohammed Haithem, Suleiman Mahmoud, Mohamed Qasim Sainakh

Votes: 1,546 | Gross: $0.20M

93. Shut Up & Sing (2006)

R | 93 min | Documentary, Biography, Music

77 Metascore

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: 4,988 | Gross: $1.22M

94. Wordplay (2006)

PG | 94 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

An in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.

Director: Patrick Creadon | Stars: Will Shortz, Ken Burns, Jon Stewart, Merl Reagle

Votes: 3,781 | Gross: $3.12M

95. Ballets Russes (2005)

Not Rated | 118 min | Documentary, History, Music

81 Metascore

Ballets Russes is an intimate portrait of a group of pioneering artists -- now in their 70s, 80s and 90s -- who gave birth to modern ballet.

Directors: Daniel Geller, Dayna Goldfine | Stars: Irina Baronova, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, Yvonne Chouteau, Yvonne Craig

Votes: 698 | Gross: $0.82M

96. Grizzly Man (2005)

R | 103 min | Documentary, Biography

87 Metascore

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: 61,855 | Gross: $3.17M

97. Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)

PG | 105 min | Documentary, Family, Music

71 Metascore

The students of several New York City elementary schools learn ballroom dancing and compete in a city wide dance competition.

Director: Marilyn Agrelo | Stars: Heather Berman, Emma Therese Biegacki, Eva Carrozza, Evangelina Carrozzo

Votes: 3,551 | Gross: $8.12M

98. Paper Clips (2004)

G | 82 min | Documentary, War

64 Metascore

As a part of their study of the Holocaust, the children of the Whitwell, TN Middle School try to collect 6 million paper clips representing the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis, and grows to include millions of others killed.

Directors: Elliot Berlin, Joe Fab | Stars: Sandra Roberts, Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand, Tom Bosley, Casey Condra

Votes: 1,786 | Gross: $1.10M

99. Super Size Me (2004)

PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary

73 Metascore

While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month.

Director: Morgan Spurlock | Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Chemeeka Walker, Dania Abu-Rmaileh

Votes: 113,252 | Gross: $11.53M

100. Die Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel (2003)

PG | 93 min | Documentary, Drama, Family

81 Metascore

When a Mongolian nomadic family's newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind.

Directors: Byambasuren Davaa, Luigi Falorni | Stars: Janchiv Ayurzana, Chimed Ohin, Amgaabazar Gonson, Zeveljamz Nyam

Votes: 6,413 | Gross: $1.74M



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