My Favorite Documentaries of All Time!
by Cloverfield91 | created - 27 Oct 2012 | updated - 12 Aug 2022 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Jimi Hendrix (1973)
R | 98 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Made shortly after his death, this documentary explores the brief life and remarkable legacy of guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
Directors: Joe Boyd, John Head, Gary Weis | Stars: Arthur Allen, Albert Allen, Stella Benabon, Eric Barrett
Votes: 1,855 | Gross: $0.03M
2. Chariots of the Gods (1970)
G | 92 min | Documentary
Based on Erich Von Daniken's book purporting to prove that throughout history aliens have visited earth.
Director: Harald Reinl | Stars: Heinz-Detlev Bock, Klaus Kindler, Christian Marschall, Aleksandr Kazantsev
Votes: 1,740 | Gross: $25.95M
3. Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock (II) (1999 Video)
Not Rated | 87 min | Music
Live At Woodstock features all of the existing film footage from Jimi's unforgettable August, 1969, Woodstock concert newly re-edited and presented uninterrupted in its original performance sequence.
Director: Michael Wadleigh | Stars: Billy Cox, Jimi Hendrix, Larry Lee, Mitch Mitchell
Votes: 532
4. Terror in the Aisles (1984)
R | 84 min | Documentary, Drama, Horror
"Terror in the Aisles" is a compilation of scenes from many science fiction, crime drama and horror movies of the 1930s through 1980s.
Director: Andrew J. Kuehn | Stars: Donald Pleasence, Nancy Allen, Fred Asparagus, Lainie Cooke
Votes: 2,310 | Gross: $10.00M
5. 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: 5,184
6. His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Horror
A documentary exploring 30 years of the "Friday The 13th" film series featuring all new interviews with cast and crew from all 12 films and various horror fans and filmmakers.
Director: Daniel Farrands | Stars: Natalie Adams, Diane Almeida, Erich Anderson, Judie Aronson
Votes: 3,178
7. Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009)
Unrated | 96 min | Documentary, Horror
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.
Director: Andrew Monument | Stars: Lance Henriksen, Larry Cohen, Joe Dante, John Carpenter
Votes: 2,887
8. Boogeymen: The Killer Compilation (2001 Video)
Unrated | 56 min | Documentary, Horror
A compilation of clips from 17 classic slasher films.
Stars: Andrew Robinson, Grace Kirby, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley
Votes: 1,233
9. Eyes of the Mothman (2011)
Not Rated | 150 min | Documentary
Feature length documentary of the real story behind the legend of The Mothman.
Director: Matthew J. Pellowski | Stars: Mothman, Richard Pait, John H. Sauer, Helen H. Tanner
Votes: 357
10. History of the Eagles (2013)
Not Rated | 187 min | Documentary, Music
The life and times of the super successful American soft-rock band, Eagles.
Stars: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh
Votes: 2,805
11. Super Size Me (2004)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary
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: 113,212 | Gross: $11.53M
12. Gimme Shelter (1970)
GP | 91 min | Documentary, Music, Thriller
When three hundred thousand members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway, the bloody slash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment was immortalized on this film.
Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts
Votes: 12,853 | Gross: $0.25M
13. Best Worst Movie (2009)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Comedy
A look at the making of the film Troll 2 (1990) and its journey from being crowned the "worst film of all time" to a cherished cult classic.
Director: Michael Paul Stephenson | Stars: George Hardy, Pita Ray, Micki Knox, Tommy Bice
Votes: 8,522 | Gross: $0.10M
14. Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)
R | 103 min | Documentary, History
The story of the Australian exploitation genre cinema of 1970s and 80s.
Director: Mark Hartley | Stars: Phillip Adams, Glory Annen, Christine Amor, Victoria Anoux
Votes: 4,679 | Gross: $0.02M
15. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: A Family Portrait (1988 Video)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary
A documentary about the classic 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' film, including interviews with Gunnar Hansen, Edwin Neal, John Dugan and Jim Seidow.
Director: Brad Shellady | Stars: John Dugan, Jim Siedow, Edwin Neal, Gunnar Hansen
Votes: 784
16. Beyond the Mat (1999)
R | 102 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
A heartfelt documentary focusing on the day-to-day lives of professional wrestlers, some on the rise, some on the wane, and others fighting for their lives.
Director: Barry W. Blaustein | Stars: Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake Roberts, Barry W. Blaustein
Votes: 9,468 | Gross: $2.05M
17. Can't You Hear the Wind Howl? The Life & Music of Robert Johnson (1997)
77 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
An in-depth, award-winning documentary on the life and music of legendary bluesman ROBERT JOHNSON. Mixing rare photographs, exclusive interviews, and dramatic re-creations, director PETER ... See full summary »
Director: Peter Meyer | Stars: Danny Glover, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Hammond
Votes: 144
18. Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987 Video)
Not Rated | 83 min | Horror, Comedy, Documentary
Deranged projectionist Mad Ron, host Nick, and charismatic zombie Happy Goldsplatt screen a collection of horror and exploitation trailers for a theater of the undead.
Director: Jim Monaco | Stars: Nick Pawlow, Happy Goldsplatt, Michael Townsend Wright, Anthony Kelly
Votes: 557
19. The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A chronicle of the impact early movie special effects had on star creators of future sci-fi films.
Director: Paul Davids | Stars: Peter Jackson, Ray Harryhausen, Leonard Maltin, Forrest J. Ackerman
Votes: 485
20. I Am Chris Farley (2015)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary on the life of comedian, Chris Farley.
Directors: Brent Hodge, Derik Murray | Stars: Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Lorri Bagley
Votes: 3,640
21. Behind the Planet of the Apes (1998 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 127 min | Documentary
The story behind the making of the 5 "Planet of the Apes" movies.
Directors: Kevin Burns, David Comtois | Stars: Roddy McDowall, Mort Abrahams, Charlton Heston, Richard D. Zanuck
Votes: 1,829
22. Bruce Lee, the Legend (1984)
TV-14 | 88 min | Documentary
The Official Golden Harvest tribute to the Master of the Martial Arts Film, Bruce Lee.
Director: Leonard Ho | Stars: James B. Nicholson, Hoi-Chuen Lee, Bruce Lee, Hon-Sang Siu
Votes: 1,244
23. I Am Bruce Lee (2012 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary, Biography
Bruce Lee is universally recognized as the pioneer who elevated martial arts in film to an art form, and this documentary will reveal why Bruce Lee's flame burns brighter now than the day he died over three decades ago.
Director: Pete McCormack | Stars: Bruce Lee, Paul Bowman, Daniele Bolelli, Richard Bustillo
Votes: 3,939
24. Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006 Video)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Horror
A retrospective documentary about the Halloween films.
Director: Stefan Hutchinson | Stars: P.J. Soles, Irwin Yablans, Moustapha Akkad, John Carpenter
Votes: 1,963
25. The Secret KGB UFO Files (1998 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 105 min | Documentary
For five decades, American agencies have stockpiled information on UFOs. So did their counterparts behind the iron curtain. Soldiers, scientists and spies all paint a disturbing picture of ... See full summary »
Director: Dan Goldman | Stars: Roger Moore, Tiurin Avinsky, Vladimir Azazha, George Filer
Votes: 179
26. The Roswell Crash: Startling New Evidence (2002 TV Movie)
120 min | Documentary, Sci-Fi
From the initial news of a "disk" being recovered in the desert to a scientific excavation of the 1947 crash site in Roswell, N.M., this documentary offers an account of what may be an ... See full summary »
Director: Melissa Jo Peltier | Stars: Bryant Gumbel, Edwin Scott, Chuck Zukowski
Votes: 56
27. UFOs and the Alien Presence (1992 Video)
Not Rated | 73 min | Documentary
World renowned UFO author and researcher Michael Lindemann presents the facts on how the government has worked to shape the public view about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. Now referred to... See full summary »
Director: Marty Thomas | Stars: Michael Lindemann, Colin Andrews, Bob Lazar, Sean David Morton
Votes: 20
28. Alien from Area 51: The Alien Autopsy Footage Revealed (2012)
TV-14 | 75 min | Documentary
Footage of a dead alien from a crashed UFO in Roswell, NM and moved to Area 51 shocked the world. The time is coming for alien intervention on Earth whether we are ready or not.
Director: Philip Gardiner | Stars: Ray Santilli, Gary Shoefield
Votes: 42
29. Area 51: The Alien Interview (1997 Video)
Unrated | 84 min | Documentary
A documentary about aliens and UFOs with re-enactments of alien interviews and video of a supposedly real video of an alien being interviewed by government officials.
Director: Jeff Broadstreet | Stars: Steven Williams, Bob Lazar, Sean David Morton, Rick Baker
Votes: 284
30. The Legend of Bigfoot (1975)
PG | 76 min | Documentary
A documentary about the legendary creature, Bigfoot, with emphasis on him being the missing link.
Director: Harry Winer | Stars: Ivan Marx, Peggy Marx, Yukon Frida, Raymond L. Wallace
Votes: 612
31. UFO Chronicles: Pilot Encounters and Underground Bases (2013)
TV-MA | 75 min | Documentary
Commander Graham Bethune is a retired Navy commander pilot with a top-secret clearance. He was a VIP Plane Commander who flew most of the high-ranking officers and civilians from Washington... See full summary »
Director: Anthony T. Miles | Star: Graham Bethune
Votes: 13
32. More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011 Video)
Not Rated | 120 min | Documentary
Retrospective documentary about the making of the horror cult classic "The Return of the Living Dead."
Director: Bill Philputt | Stars: Jules Brenner, Don Calfa, James Dalesandro, J. Trevor Edmond
Votes: 723
33. Alcatraz: Search for the Truth (2015 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 88 min | Documentary
More than 50 years after three men broke out of the world's toughest penitentiary, HISTORY's 'ALCATRAZ: SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH' uncovers new leads and exclusive family secrets that may solve this country's most notorious cold case.
Stars: Quinntin Wolfe Bernstein, Michael Dyke, Michael Esslinger, Erin Una Olson
Votes: 209
34. The Nightmare (II) (2015)
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary, Horror
A look at a frightening condition that plagues thousands; sleep paralysis.
Director: Rodney Ascher | Stars: Stephen Joseph, Estrella Cristina, Siegfried Peters, Nicole Bosworth
Votes: 7,151
35. Who Took Johnny (2014)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
An examination into the cold case of the Iowa boy, Johnny Gosch, who disappeared on his paper route 30 years earlier.
Directors: David Beilinson, Michael Galinsky, Suki Hawley | Stars: Noreen Gosch, Nancy Allen, Paul Bonacci, Troy Boner
Votes: 3,153
36. Cropsey (2009)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Crime, Horror
Realizing that 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: 9,159 | Gross: $0.05M
37. Killer Legends (2014)
TV-MA | 86 min | Documentary, Crime, History
Delving into our collective nightmares, this horror-documentary investigates the origins of our most terrifying urban legends and the true stories that may have inspired them.
Director: Joshua Zeman | Stars: Rachel Mills, Joshua Zeman, Stephen Winick, James Presley
Votes: 3,529
38. From 'Star Wars' to 'Jedi': The Making of a Saga (1983 TV Movie)
Unrated | 65 min | Documentary
A look at the making of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Stars: Mark Hamill, George Lucas, Anthony Daniels, Harrison Ford
Votes: 674
39. Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary
In 1989, physicist Bob Lazar broke the story of Area 51 and the US government's work on alien spacecrafts. He blew the whistle, shocked the world, then went silent - until now.
Director: Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell | Stars: Bob Lazar, George Knapp, Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell, Mickey Rourke
Votes: 6,585
40. Missing 411 (2016)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary
A documentary that chronicles the similar disappearances of five children in the wilds of North America, across multiple decades.
Directors: Michael DeGrazier, Benjamin Paulides | Stars: Jaryd Atadero, DeOrr Kunz Jr., Nate Eaton, Frank Vilt
Votes: 2,086
41. Missing 411: The Hunted (2019)
Not Rated | 97 min | Documentary
Hunters have disappeared from wildlands without a trace for hundreds of years. David Paulides presents the haunting true stories of hunters experiencing the unexplainable in the woods of North America.
Director: Michael DeGrazier | Stars: David Paulides, Beverly Messick, Rob Messick, Sid Sharpe
Votes: 2,334
42. The Mysterious Monsters (1975)
G | 86 min | Documentary
Peter Graves examines a range of supernatural topics, including mysterious monsters Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster and the Yeti, and also psychics and hypnotism.
Director: Robert Guenette | Stars: Peter Graves, Peter Hurkos, William Stenberg, Sidney Walter
Votes: 304
43. Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders and Drive-Ins (2014 Video)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary
From THINGS to BODY SNATCHERS to CREATURES FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, sci-fi monsters dominated 1950s horror. Take a ride to an era of drive-ins, Red Scares, low budgets and big bugs with SPACE INVADERS AND DRIVE INS.
Director: Jeff Herberger | Stars: Forrest J. Ackerman, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Aaron Christensen, Robert Clarke
Votes: 57
44. Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011)
R | 95 min | Documentary
A documentary on DIY producer/director Roger Corman and his alternative approach to making movies in Hollywood.
Director: Alex Stapleton | Stars: Roger Corman, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Paul W.S. Anderson
Votes: 2,674 | Gross: $0.01M
45. Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film (2019)
86 min | Documentary
The story of the makeup artists behind one of the most ground breaking and beloved science fiction franchise of all time, Planet of the Apes.
Director: William Conlin | Stars: Thomas R. Burman, Gino Acevedo, Rick Baker, Howard Berger
Votes: 242
46. 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
47. Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002 Video)
Unrated | 53 min | Documentary
In their second film compilation following their 'Boogeymen:The Killer Compilation' series, FlixMix takes you into the history of action movies from Hollywood to Hong Kong cinema that spans... See full summary »
Stars: Rab Affleck, Marc Akerstream, Ian Bannen, Andy Beckwith
Votes: 355
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