The best documentaries ever made
Documentaries that entertain while at the same time changing your worldview and teach you something unique.
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- StarsHarald EiaJørgen LorentzenMartine AurdalInterviewing several Norwegian and international scientists, the documentary series asks whether biology has been underestimated in social sciences.Norwegian documentary that you can find on youtube. Clearly the best documentary ever made as it is the only one of its kind. It focuses on interviewing scientists and comparing their data. This is not just a great documentary but great science presented so that all can understand it. Already a classic.
- DirectorSteve JamesStarsWilliam GatesArthur AgeeEmma GatesA film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.This is the best documentary that is not a series. Clearly the best documentary ever made. When I see a "top ##" lists of best documentaries ever made and this one is not in top 5 I stop reading. This documentary shows us what human beings are. There is only one way to make a documentary like this one. Film real human beings doing daily stuff for a year or 2.
- DirectorBarbara KoppleStarsMike TysonKevin RooneyDesiree WashingtonFilmmaker Barbara Kopple profiles the life and career of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and the surrounding events that led to his 1992 6 year prison conviction.The one with black and white scenes in it.
- DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsSimon YatesJoe SimpsonBrendan MackeyThe true story of two climbers and their perilous journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.This is again an incredible documentary about survival. A lot of documentaries and movies are copying its style now - for obvious reasons.
- StarsDavid McCulloughSam WaterstonJulie HarrisA comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.Ken Burns is the best documentary maker of all time. And all of his documentaries are incredible. But this one is a 101 on how to make a historical documentary. This style has been copied at least 1000 times. If the style was copyrighted he would be a billionaire.
- CreatorRandall MoldaveEric SmallStarsPenn JilletteTellerShera PollinsThe comedy illusionist duo explore various topics and debunk what they consider misconceptions about them.Very education and entertaining at the same time. A lot of episodes will blow your mind. So basic, yet so ignored. Their ultra libertarianism might be a bit too much at times. But their political conviction seems to guide them onto the right track most of the time. Lacks an episode on nuclear power among other things.
- DirectorKen BurnsStarsJack JohnsonStanley CrouchJames Earl JonesThe story of Jack Johnson, the first African-American Heavyweight boxing champion.Ken Burns... on one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived.
- StarsSigourney WeaverDavid AttenboroughNikolay DrozdovA documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.The go to documentary while high. While David Attenborough is not as informative as he should be it is still an amazing spectacle and a must watch for all ages and still very informative. Fantastic. Now we need more documentaries in this quality but with tons of information in them too.
- DirectorSeth GordonStarsSteve WiebeBilly MitchellMark AlpigerDie-hard gamers compete to break world records on classic arcade games.A good vs bad documentary from the country of media manipulation. Such a great story.
- DirectorJean-Xavier de LestradeStarsAnn FinnellPatrick McGuinnessJames WilliamsOscar-winning documentary that documents a murder trial in which a 15-year-old African-American is wrongfully accused of a 2000 murder in Jacksonville, Florida.Hi... you there... watch this documentary. It is very good. As someone studying psychology this is a documentary that blew my mind. I knew all this. But you are always surprised when you see people as stupid as the psychology books say they are.
- StarsDorothy Christenson WiliamsonDonald WorsterTimothy EganA documentary about the 1930s drought of North American prairie farm land, and its consequences during the great depression.Watch the rest of the scenes used in Interstellar. But it is much better than Interstellar even though the movie is good too.
- StarsNeil deGrasse TysonChristopher EmersonKeythe FarleyAn exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.Really good. Very informative documentary on space, physics and the story about our discovery of these things. The CGI effects are worth a watch by themselves, but they are only there to educate you. Neil deGrasse Tyson is born for tv.
- DirectorRobert StoneStarsStewart BrandRichard RhodesGwyneth CravensThe atomic bomb and meltdowns like Fukushima have made nuclear power synonymous with global disaster. But what if we've got nuclear power wrong?Very good. Great job by everyone involved. I highly recommend this documentary to everyone who want to know about radiation, environment, energy sources, society and such.
- DirectorBanksyStarsBanksyMr. BrainwashSpace InvaderFollowing the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.Another A to B documentary. A story about a man. This is a bit like a movie. A Borat type of documentary. But the most important things in it is our reaction to modern art. And all the reactions are real. Another must watch documentary to understand the concept of modern art.
- DirectorRon BergerDan KloresStarsDon DunphyBenny ParetEmile GriffithA story of violence, love, sex, politics and media centered around the life of Griffith, a six-time world welterweight champion.
- StarsPeter CoyotePete HamillCatherine Gilbert MurdockThe story of the American activist struggle against the influence of alcohol, climaxing in the failed early 20th century nationwide era when it was banned.Ken Burns... one of his best. This is something everyone in Europe has heard about. But we never understood how the most libertarian country in the world could forbid an essential part of mans diet.
- StarsLukás JuzaBernt HahnEpic documentary. I wish all history documentaries were made like this. Even if you are not interested in the Jews you will like this documentary.
- StarsPeter CoyoteN. Scott MomadayMurphy GuyerStephen Ives' "The West" is a PBS 4-Video Series co-produced by Ken Burns: - "Death Runs Riot" 85 min. - "Fight No More Forever" 85 min. - "Ghost Dance" 58 min. - "The People" 82 min.Ken Burns produced... which makes is great but not incredible. A few pretentious interviews drag it down. But it is still a must watch for all human beings.
- DirectorBarak GoodmanDaniel AnkerStarsFrances McDormandStanley TucciAndre BraugherThe history of the "Scottsboro Boys," a group of African American men who were victims of a racist miscarriage of justice that became a national controversy.The story is amazing. Nothing subjective just presenting the story as it was. About bigots, blacks, a Jew and much more.
- DirectorMarina ZenovichStarsCrystal MangumJoe AllevaBradley BannonA documentary examination of the accusations of sexual misconduct against the Duke University lacrosse team that were ultimately found to be baseless
- DirectorLeon GastStarsMuhammad AliGeorge ForemanDon KingBoxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
- StarsLaurence OlivierAverell HarrimanAnthony EdenA groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
- DirectorMichael MooreStarsMichael MooreCharlton HestonMarilyn MansonFilmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.Yes, Michael Moore is very subjective. A millionaire knowing what people want to see on screen. But here he archives to present a very interesting story with real issues.
- DirectorJohn DowerStarsJoe FrazierMarvis FrazierThomas HauserA detailed examination of the intense rivalry between the two heavyweight boxing champions, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
- DirectorGeoffrey O'ConnorStarsLouis TherouxLouis stays with the residents of a soon to open brothel in Nevada for a few weeks.All Louis Theroux documentaries not set in England are great. But this one is one of the best and the most touching.
