Documentary-O-Rama
by micah-295-284860 | created - 21 May 2014 | updated - 23 Jun 2019 | PublicEvery documentary I've seen ranked from favorite to least favorite.
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1. American Movie (1999)
R | 107 min | Documentary, Comedy
Documentary about an aspiring filmmaker's attempts to finance his dream project by finally completing the low-budget horror film he abandoned years before.
Director: Chris Smith | Stars: Mark Borchardt, Mike Schank, Tom Schimmels, Monica Borchardt
Votes: 19,308 | Gross: $1.16M
2. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
Director: Banksy | Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Votes: 68,785 | Gross: $3.29M
3. 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: 58,651 | Gross: $2.96M
4. Happy (2012)
Not Rated | 76 min | Documentary, Drama, Family
Happy takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy.
Director: Roko Belic | Stars: Marci Shimoff, Ed Diener, Richard Davidson, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Votes: 3,380
5. Indie Game: The Movie (2012)
Not Rated | 103 min | Documentary, Drama
A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world.
Directors: Lisanne Pajot, James Swirsky | Stars: Jonathan Blow, Brandon Boyer, Renaud Bédard, Anthony Carboni
Votes: 21,439
6. Marwencol (2010)
Not Rated | 83 min | Documentary, Biography, Fantasy
Documentary about Mark Hogancamp. After a vicious attack leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard. Inspired the movie Welcome to Marwen (2018)
Director: Jeff Malmberg | Stars: Mark Hogancamp, Emmanuel Nneji, Edda Hogancamp, Tom Neubauer
Votes: 3,704 | Gross: $0.11M
7. Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.
Director: Richard Press | Stars: Bill Cunningham, Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Editta Sherman
Votes: 5,667 | Gross: $1.51M
8. Wild Wild Country (2018)
TV-MA | 67 min | Documentary, Crime
When Osho, the world's most controversial guru, builds an Utopian city deep in the Oregon country, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.
Stars: Ma Anand Sheela, Philip Toelkes, Jane Stork, George Meredith
Votes: 35,029
9. Three Identical Strangers (2018)
PG-13 | 96 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
In 1980 New York, three young men who were all adopted meet each other and find out they're triplets who were separated at birth. But their quest to find out why turns into a bizarre and sinister mystery.
Director: Tim Wardle | Stars: Robert Shafran, Michael Domnitz, Howard Schneider, Ellen Cervone
Votes: 39,481 | Gross: $12.32M
10. 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
11. Trekkies (1997)
PG | 86 min | Documentary, Comedy
Denise Crosby takes a first look at the huge fans of "Star Trek" and how the series from around America has affected and shaped their lives.
Director: Roger Nygard | Stars: Denise Crosby, Frank D'Amico, Barbara Adams, Denis Bourguignon
Votes: 5,039 | Gross: $0.62M
12. Touching the Void (2003)
R | 106 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama
The true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Simon Yates, Joe Simpson, Brendan Mackey, Nicholas Aaron
Votes: 38,079 | Gross: $4.59M
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. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey (2011)
PG | 80 min | Documentary, Biography
The Muppet Elmo is one of the most beloved characters among children across the globe. Meet the unlikely man behind the puppet - the heart and soul of Elmo - Kevin Clash.
Directors: Constance Marks, Philip Shane | Stars: Kevin Clash, Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Oz, Bill Barretta
Votes: 7,217 | Gross: $0.30M
15. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)
TV-MA | 94 min | Documentary
A behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon (1999).
Director: Chris Smith | Stars: Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, Milos Forman, Peter Bonerz
Votes: 27,967
16. Freakonomics (2010)
PG-13 | 85 min | Documentary
A collection of documentaries that explores the hidden side of human nature through the use of the science of economics.
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock | Stars: James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock, Melvin Van Peebles
Votes: 7,731 | Gross: $0.10M
17. 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: 113,213 | Gross: $11.53M
18. For No Good Reason (2012)
R | 89 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Johnny Depp pays a visit to Ralph Steadman, the renown artist and the last of the original Gonzo visionaries who worked alongside Hunter S. Thompson.
Director: Charlie Paul | Stars: Ralph Steadman, Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson, Terry Gilliam
Votes: 1,587 | Gross: $0.07M
19. The American Scream (2012)
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary
In a small Massachusetts community, three Halloween-obsessed households transform into neighbor-terrifying supernatural wonderlands.
Director: Michael Paul Stephenson | Stars: Victor Bariteau, Tina Bariteau, Gwen Bariteau, Catherine Bariteau
Votes: 1,247
20. March of the Penguins (2005)
G | 80 min | Documentary, Family
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: 59,924 | Gross: $77.44M
21. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Not Rated | 95 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
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: 40,642 | Gross: $0.02M
22. Baraka (1992)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary
A collection of expertly photographed scenes of human life and religion.
Director: Ron Fricke | Star: Patrick Disanto
Votes: 40,956 | Gross: $1.33M
23. Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
A documentary on the life and current times of artist Wayne White.
Director: Neil Berkeley | Stars: Wayne White, Mimi Pond, Paul Reubens, Mark Mothersbaugh
Votes: 1,223
24. Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
Director Tamra Davis pays homage to her friend in this definitive documentary but also delves into Basquiat as an iconoclast. His dense, bebop-influenced neoexpressionist work emerged while... See full summary »
Director: Tamra Davis | Stars: Jean Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Larry Gagosian, Bruno Bischofberger
Votes: 2,482 | Gross: $0.26M
25. A Complete History of My Sexual Failures (2008)
Unrated | 90 min | Documentary, Comedy
A humorous look at life for a loser in love.
Director: Chris Waitt | Stars: Aleksandra Boyarskaya, Danielle McLeod, Olivia Trench, Chris Waitt
Votes: 3,856
26. Spellbound (2002)
G | 97 min | Documentary, Comedy, Thriller
Spellbound follows eight teenagers on their quest to win the 1999 National Spelling Bee.
Director: Jeffrey Blitz | Stars: Angela Arenivar, Ubaldo Arenivar, Jorge Arenivar, Scott McGarraugh
Votes: 12,460 | Gross: $5.73M
27. We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen (2005)
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A feature-length documentary chronicling early 80's punk rock band the Minutemen, from their beginnings in San Pedro, California, to their demise after the death of singer D. Boon in 1985.
Director: Tim Irwin | Stars: Milo Aukerman, Joe Baiza, Kevin Barrett, Scott Becker
Votes: 1,062
28. Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker (2017)
77 min | Documentary
In 2007, 11 years after one of the most influential American punk bands, Jawbreaker, called it quits the three members reconnected in a San Francisco recording studio. Follow the band as they retell their "rags to riches to rags" story.
Directors: Tim Irwin, Keith Schieron | Stars: Steve Albini, Billy Anderson, Billie Joe Armstrong, Chris Bauermeister
Votes: 205
29. King Corn (2007)
Unrated | 88 min | Documentary
King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from ... See full summary »
Director: Aaron Woolf | Stars: Bob Bledsoe, Earl L. Butz, Dawn Cheney, Ian Cheney
Votes: 2,089 | Gross: $0.08M
30. Jedi Junkies (2010)
PG-13 | 75 min | Documentary
A film about the world's most dedicated Star Wars fans. From lightsaber wielding martial arts academies to a filmmaker who built the world's only life-size Millennium Falcon, from a Monster... See full summary »
Director: Mark Edlitz | Stars: Jay Shrivastava, Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch
Votes: 483
31. The People vs. George Lucas (2010)
Not Rated | 93 min | Documentary, Comedy
An examination of the widespread fan disenchantment with George Lucas.
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe | Stars: Joe Nussbaum, Daryl Frazetti, Doug Jones, Damian Hess
Votes: 4,872
32. Microcosmos (1996)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.
Directors: Claude Nuridsany, Marie Pérennou | Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Jacques Perrin
Votes: 11,639 | Gross: $1.57M
33. Salinger (2013)
PG-13 | 120 min | Documentary
An unprecedented look inside the private world of J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye.
Director: Shane Salerno | Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton, Judd Apatow, John Cusack
Votes: 2,687 | Gross: $0.58M
34. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Sport
Documentary about the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skating team.
Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Sean Penn, Jay Adams, Tony Alva, Jeff Ament
Votes: 13,350 | Gross: $1.29M
35.
30 for 30 (2009– )
Episode:
The Birth of Big Air
(2010)
TV-G | 49 min | Documentary, Biography, History
In 1985, at the tender age of 13, Mat Hoffman entered into the BMX circuit as an amateur, and by 16 he had risen to the professional level. Throughout his storied career, Hoffman has ... See full summary »
Director: Jeff Tremaine | Stars: Mat Hoffman, Johnny Airtime, Brian Blyther, Mike Dominguez
Votes: 829
36. I Like Killing Flies (2004)
R | 80 min | Documentary
This bitingly funny comedy follows a prickly, profanity-prone man seeking to preserve his dream; it dishes up bites of wisdom along the way, ultimately serving both a hilarious trip and a charming slice of New York history.
Director: Matt Mahurin | Stars: Michael Fishman, John A. Papa, Eve Shopsin, Kenny Shopsin
Votes: 1,270 | Gross: $0.01M
37. Objectified (2009)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
A feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.
Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Paola Antonelli, Chris Bangle, Andrew Blauvelt, Erwan Bouroullec
Votes: 3,719 | Gross: $0.01M
38. My Father, the Genius (2002)
84 min | Documentary
An old architect who believes he's a genius and the world doesn't appreciate his big ideas, asks his daughter to write his biography, and she decides to make a movie about him including all aspects of his life, professional and personal.
Director: Lucia Small | Stars: John Johansen, David Mesa, Ralph Mursinna, Michael Rendler
Votes: 110
39. Helvetica (2007)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture.
Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Manfred Schulz, Massimo Vignelli, Rick Poynor, Wim Crouwel
Votes: 8,167 | Gross: $0.20M
40. 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 Lloyd Dennis, Maxwell Allen, Jennifer Wenger, Joe McQueen
Votes: 2,269
41. I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes (2009)
74 min | Documentary
In reaction to the big business run companies of BMX in the early 90's, 17-year-old Steve Crandall started a company of his own called Fat Bald Men (FBM). What began as selling t-shirts out... See full summary »
Director: Joe Stakun | Stars: Dave Mirra, Mat Hoffman, Leland Thurman, Darryl Nau
Votes: 8
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