The Best Documentaries of 2020
by BonaFideBOSS | created - 10 Dec 2020 | updated - 09 Jan 2021 | PublicWhich of these top-rated 2020 documentary films and shows is your favorite?
• Note: Only titles with at least 3000 votes and an average rating of 7.0 or above are considered.
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[ See more: Best of 2020 Polls ]
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1. The Last Dance (2020)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Led by Michael Jordan, the 1990s Chicago Bulls establish themselves as one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
Stars: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, David Aldridge
Votes: 152,335
2. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020 TV Movie)
PG | 83 min | Documentary, Biography
One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. This unique feature documentary is his witness statement.
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Jonathan Hughes, Keith Scholey | Stars: David Attenborough, Max Hughes
Votes: 34,568
3. Uncle Tom (2020)
G | 106 min | Documentary, History
An oral history of the American black conservative.
Director: Justin Malone | Stars: Brandon Tatum, Carol Swain, Chad Jackson, Larry Elder
Votes: 6,684
4. James May: Our Man in... (2020–2024)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, Adventure, Comedy
James May embarks on a remarkable journey across Japan, from its icy north to its balmy south. He'll see the sights, meet the locals, and eat the noodles in a bid to truly understand the Land of the Rising Sun.
Stars: James May, Yujiro Taniyama, Paolo Damiano, Aditi Mittal
Votes: 8,970
5. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
TV-G | 85 min | Documentary, Drama
A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.
Directors: Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed | Stars: Craig Foster, Tom Foster
Votes: 63,875
6. Kiss the Ground (2020)
84 min | Documentary
A revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of "Regenerative Agriculture" that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world.
Directors: Joshua Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell | Stars: Woody Harrelson, Ray Archuleta, John Wick, Kristin Ohlson
Votes: 7,589
7. Disclosure (2020)
TV-MA | 108 min | Documentary
An in-depth look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of those stories on transgender lives and American culture.
Director: Sam Feder | Stars: Laverne Cox, Bianca Leigh, Jen Richards, Alexandra Billings
Votes: 6,086
8. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
TV-MA | 55 min | Documentary, Crime
Filmmaker Brian Knappenberger investigates the tragic death of an 8-year-old California boy who endured horrific abuse by his mother and her boyfriend, along with the fractured and complex systems that failed to protect him.
Stars: William Guirola, Wyatt Hinz, Alfredo Tavares, Adam Saunders
Votes: 13,580
9. The Dissident (2020)
PG-13 | 119 min | Documentary, Crime, Thriller
When Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappears in Istanbul, his fiancée and dissidents around the world piece together the clues to a murder and expose a global cover up.
Director: Bryan Fogel | Stars: Jamal Khashoggi, Omar Abdulaziz, Irfan Fidan, Recep Kiliç
Votes: 30,483
10. All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur (2020)
TV-14 | 46 min | Documentary, Sport
An inside look at the 2019/20 season of the Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur.
Stars: Tom Hardy, José Mourinho, Daniel Levy, Dele Alli
Votes: 6,729
11. Cheer (2020–2022)
TV-MA | 837 min | Documentary, Sport
In the small town of Corsicana, Texas, hard-driving head cheer coach Monica Aldama demands perfection from her team of competitive college athletes.
Stars: Monica Aldama, Gabi Butler, La'Darius Marshall, James Thomas
Votes: 6,834
12. Night on Earth (2020)
TV-PG | 41 min | Documentary
This nature series' new technology lifts night's veil to reveal the hidden lives of the world's creatures, from lions on the hunt to bats on wings.
Stars: Samira Wiley, Alessandra Mastronardi, Beren Saat
Votes: 4,917
13. Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020– )
TV-PG | 40 min | Documentary, History, Reality-TV
In this travel show, actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in search of healthy, sustainable ways to live.
Stars: Zac Efron, Darin Olien, Steve Hoffmann, Bruce Pascoe
Votes: 7,980
14. Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020–2022)
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Drama, History
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.
Stars: Cem Yigit Uzümoglu, Tuba Büyüküstün, Alp Ilkman, Ushan Çakir
Votes: 32,916
15. Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, History
Four-part docuseries on the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, unpacking an indelible moment for a generation of Americans.
Stars: June Scobee Rodgers, William Harwood, John Zarrella, Frederick D. Gregory
Votes: 7,938
16. A Secret Love (2020)
TV-MA | 81 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Falling in love in 1947, two women -- Pat Henschel and pro baseball player Terry Donahue -- begin a 65-year journey of love and overcoming prejudice.
Director: Chris Bolan | Stars: Terry Donahue, Pat Henschel, Diana Bolan, Kim Donahue
Votes: 4,928
17. I Am Greta (2020)
TV-14 | 97 min | Documentary, Biography
The documentary follows Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist from Sweden, on her international crusade to get people to listen to scientists about the world's environmental problems.
Director: Nathan Grossman | Stars: Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Niclas Svenningsen, António Guterres
Votes: 8,376
18. Beastie Boys Story (2020)
TV-MA | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Here's a little story they're about to tell... Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of the band, Beastie Boys, and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend and collaborator, Spike Jonze.
Director: Spike Jonze | Stars: Beastie Boys, Mike D, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch
Votes: 7,912
19. The Social Dilemma (2020)
PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Drama
Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking; tech experts sound the alarm on their own creations.
Director: Jeff Orlowski-Yang | Stars: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson, Joe Toscano
Votes: 89,485
20. Athlete A (2020)
PG-13 | 103 min | Documentary, Crime, Sport
Follow the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's abuse and hear from gymnasts like Maggie Nichols.
Directors: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk | Stars: Maggie Nichols, Gina Nichols, John Nichols, Steve Berta
Votes: 12,427
21. The Pharmacist (2020)
TV-MA | 54 min | Documentary, Crime
Dan Schneider, a small-town pharmacist in Louisiana, makes effort to identify his son's killer, which leads to his gathering of evidence against a prolific "pill mill" doctor in New Orleans.
Stars: Dan Schneider, Annie Schneider, Jack Stephens, M.
Votes: 8,684
22. Tiger King (2020–2021)
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.
Stars: Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, John Reinke, Jeff Lowe
Votes: 87,013
23. Blackpink: Light Up the Sky (2020)
TV-14 | 79 min | Documentary, Music
Chart the meteoric rise of the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK in director Caroline Suh's documentary.
Director: Caroline Suh | Stars: Reila Post, Blackpink, Kim Jisoo, Jennie Kim
Votes: 7,332
24. Miss Americana (2020)
TV-MA | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
A look at iconic pop artist Taylor Swift during a transformational time in her life as she embraces her role as a singer/songwriter and harnesses the full power of her voice.
Director: Lana Wilson | Stars: Taylor Swift, Andrea Swift, Scott Swift, Joel Little
Votes: 24,844
25. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez (2020)
TV-MA | 67 min | Documentary, Crime, Sport
A three-part documentary series examining what led to the murderous fall and shocking death of former NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez.
Stars: Kevin Armstrong, Dan Wetzel, Stephen Ziogas, Patrick Haggan
Votes: 18,991
26. High Score (2020)
TV-14 | 42 min | Documentary, History
Traces the history of classic video games, featuring insights from the innovators who brought these worlds and characters to life.
Stars: Charles Martinet, Rebecca Ann Heineman, Nolan Bushnell, John Romero
Votes: 8,910
27. I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020–2021)
TV-MA | 50 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
Gripping examination of the unsolved crimes of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s.
Stars: Patton Oswalt, Paul Haynes, Amy Ryan, Lauren Orlando
Votes: 8,860
28. Unsolved Mysteries (2020– )
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
Immersive, character-driven stories are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable. Families, detectives and journalists hope viewers hold the clues to solving these mysteries.
Stars: Thom Reed, Allison Rivera, Anne-Sophie Martin, Mary Murphy
Votes: 12,461
29. Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb (2020)
TV-PG | 113 min | Documentary, History
After unearthing a tomb that had been untouched for 4,400 years, Egyptian archaeologists attempt to decipher the history of the astonishing find.
Director: James Tovell | Stars: Ahmed Zikrey Abdellhak, Ghareeb Ali Mohammed Abushousha, Nabil Eldaleel, Sabry Mohyeldin Farag
Votes: 7,176
30. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
TV-MA | 83 min | Documentary, Crime
In 2018, 34-year-old Shanann Watts and her two young daughters disappear in Colorado. With the heartbreaking details emerging, the family's story made headlines around the world.
Director: Jenny Popplewell | Stars: Nickole Atkinson, Jim Benemann, Luke Epple, Mark Jamieson
Votes: 32,772
31. McMillions (2020)
TV-14 | 57 min | Documentary, Crime, History
A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents involved.
Stars: Chris Graham, Doug Mathews, Amy Murray, Janet Pellicciotti
Votes: 9,207
32. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
TV-MA | 57 min | Documentary, Crime
Survivors reveal the manipulation, abuse and emotional scars suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Their stories expose a sex trafficking ring of powerful enablers leading up to his 2019 arrest.
Stars: Michael Reiter, Annie Farmer, Shawna Rivera, Alan Dershowitz
Votes: 29,180
33. 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: 8,445
34. The Ripper (2020)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, Crime
Investigators and witnesses recall how a modern-day Jack the Ripper terrorized the north of England during the late 1970s.
Stars: Alan Whitehouse, Keith Hellawell, Andrew Laptew, Christa Ackroyd
Votes: 10,861
35. Class Action Park (2020)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Crime
A documentary that focuses on a dangerously legendary water park and its slew of injuries and crimes along with child safety concerns.
Directors: Seth Porges, Chris Charles Scott III | Stars: John Hodgman, Faith Anderson, Alison Becker, Bill Benneyan
Votes: 7,984
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