Top 50 Documentary Movies and TV Shows
1. History of Swear Words (2021– )
TV-MA | 20 min | Documentary, Comedy
An education in expletives: the history lesson you didn’t know you needed hosted by Nicolas Cage. A loud and proudly profane series that explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words.
Stars: Nikki Glaser, London Hughes, Elvis Mitchell, Melissa Mohr
Votes: 1,809
2. The Minimalists: Less Is Now (2021)
TV-14 | 53 min | Documentary
The Minimalists have reworked this phrase to create a sense of urgency for today’s consumer culture: now is the time for less.
Director: Matt D'Avella | Stars: Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, Dave Ramsey, Denaye Barahona
Votes: 1,883
3. Surviving Death (2021– )
TV-MA | Documentary, Reality-TV
Explores questions that have been contemplated throughout time: What does it mean to die, and is death the end of our existence? Weaving together innovative new research with firsthand accounts from those who’ve been close to death.
Votes: 499
4. The Social Dilemma (2020)
PG-13 | 94 min | Documentary, Drama
Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.
Director: Jeff Orlowski | Stars: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson, Joe Toscano
Votes: 61,341
5. The Ripper (2020)
TV-MA | 195 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
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: 4,085
6. Headspace: Guide to Meditation (2021– )
TV-G | Documentary
Over the course of eight animated episodes, Andy Puddicombe—former Buddhist monk and co-founder of the globally beloved Headspace meditation app—takes viewers through the benefits and science behind meditation.
Star: Andy Puddicombe
Votes: 416
7. The Last Dance (2020)
TV-MA | 491 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Charting the rise of the 1990's Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
Stars: Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, David Aldridge, Scottie Pippen
Votes: 77,166
8. Pretend It's a City (2021– )
TV-MA | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
Wander the New York City streets and fascinating mind of wry writer, humorist and raconteur Fran Lebowitz as she sits down with Martin Scorsese.
Stars: Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese, Michael Alexis Palmer
Votes: 772
9. The Curse of Oak Island (2014– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Reality-TV
Rick and Marty Lagina, two brothers from Michigan with a life-long interest in the mystery of Oak Island, renew efforts to discover the legendary treasure with sophisticated machinery.
Stars: Robert Clotworthy, Marty Lagina, Rick Lagina, Charles Barkhouse
Votes: 4,192
10. Operation Odessa (2018)
TV-MA | 92 min | Documentary
In the early 1990s, three friends set out to hustle the Russian mob, the Cali cartel and the DEA for the score of a lifetime.
Director: Tiller Russell | Stars: Juan Almeida, Brent Eaton, Ludwig Fainberg, Kristy Galeota
Votes: 4,286
11. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
85 min | Documentary
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: 15,681
12. Planet Earth II (2016)
TV-G | 298 min | Documentary
Wildlife documentary series with David Attenborough, beginning with a look at the remote islands which offer sanctuary to some of the planet's rarest creatures, to the beauty of cities, which are home to humans, and animals...
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 95,591
13. Murder on Middle Beach (2020)
TV-MA | 265 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
A young man is determined to solve an unspeakable crime and absolve the people he loves, while looking for answers within his fractured family and community.
Star: Madison Hamburg
Votes: 1,815
14. Escape to the Chateau (2016–2020)
Documentary
British engineer Dick Strawbridge and his wife Angel buy a rundown French chateau. The series shows them over the course of a year, as they restore the building that has stood empty for 40 years.
Stars: Tracy Ann Oberman, Angel Adoree, Dick Strawbridge
Votes: 699
15. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014– )
TV-PG | 557 min | Documentary
An exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
Stars: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Seth MacFarlane, Patrick Stewart, Stoney Emshwiller
Votes: 110,274
16. SanPa: Sins of the Savior (2020)
Documentary, Crime, History
Amidst a heroin crisis, Vincenzo Muccioli cared for the addicted, earning him fierce public devotion -- even as charges of violence began to mount.
Stars: Vincenzo Andreucci, Antonio Boschini, Fabio Cantelli, Walter Delogu
Votes: 605
17. A Perfect Planet (2021– )
Documentary
Perfect Planet analyzes, in five episodes, how the forces of nature, including the power of the Sun or even humans, drive and shape life on Earth.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 243
18. Ghost Adventures (2008– )
TV-PG | 45 min | Documentary, History, Reality-TV
Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley investigate the scariest, most notorious, haunted places in the world.
Stars: Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, Jay Wasley
Votes: 8,057
19. 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: Omar Abdulaziz, Fahrettin Altun, John O. Brennan, Hatice Cengiz
Votes: 4,861
20. The Vow (2020– )
TV-MA | Documentary
A look at the experiences of the members of the NXIVM, an organization and sex cult who made headlines for being charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Stars: Anthony Ames, Sarah Edmondson, Bonnie Piesse, Mark Vicente
Votes: 3,022
21. The Phenomenon (2020)
Not Rated | 100 min | Documentary
This documentary examines unidentified aerial phenomenon. With testimony from high-ranking government officials, and NASA Astronauts, Senator Harry Reid says it "makes the incredible credible."
Director: James Fox | Stars: Bill Clinton, Peter Coyote, George Knapp, Chris Mellon
Votes: 1,521
22. How to with John Wilson (2020– )
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, Comedy
An anxious New Yorker who attempts to give everyday advice while dealing with his own personal issues.
Stars: John Wilson, Cynthia Larson, Ron Low, Kyle MacLachlan
Votes: 2,369
23. Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020)
44 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, Tommaso Basili, Selim Bayraktar, Birkan Sokullu
Votes: 17,641
24. Nathan for You (2013–2017)
TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary, Comedy
Nathan Fielder uses his business degree and life experiences to help real small businesses turn a profit. But because of his unorthodox approach, Nathan's genuine efforts to do good often draw real people into an experience far beyond what they signed up for.
Stars: Nathan Fielder, Anthony Filosa, William Heath, Brian S. Wolfe
Votes: 19,084
25. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
TV-MA | 187 min | Documentary, Crime
A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens.
Stars: Deanna Thompson, John Green, Claudette Hamlin, Antonio Paradiso
Votes: 36,367
26. Collective (2019)
Not Rated | 109 min | Documentary
Director Alexander Nanau follows a crack team of investigators at the Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor as they try to uncover a vast health-care fraud that enriched moguls and politicians and led to the deaths of innocent citizens.
Director: Alexander Nanau | Stars: Razvan Lutac, Mirela Neag, Catalin Tolontan, Tedy Ursuleanu
Votes: 2,578
27. The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)
TV-MA | 111 min | Documentary
An exploration of the history of the Bee Gees, featuring revealing interviews with oldest brother Barry Gibb, and archival interviews with the late twin brothers Robin and Maurice.
Director: Frank Marshall | Stars: Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Peter Brown
Votes: 1,862
28. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021– )
TV-MA | Documentary, Crime
The limited docu-series "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer" tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice.
29. Zappa (2020)
Not Rated | 129 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
An in-depth look into the life and work of musician Frank Zappa.
Director: Alex Winter | Stars: David Bowie, Larry King, Arsenio Hall, Kathie Lee Gifford
Votes: 854
30. Roman Empire (2016– )
TV-MA | 48 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Chronicles some of the most famous leaders of the Roman Civilization.
Stars: Aaron Irvin, Corey Brennan, Jerry Toner, Steve West
Votes: 5,682
31. Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian (2020– )
TV-14 | 33 min | Documentary
A behind the scenes look at the making of the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian."
Stars: Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa
Votes: 1,766
32. I Am Greta (2020)
TV-14 | 97 min | Documentary, Biography
The documentary follows Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist from Northern Europe, on her international crusade to get people to listen to scientists about the world's environmental problems.
Director: Nathan Grossman | Stars: Greta Thunberg, Malena Ernman, Pope Francis, António Guterres
Votes: 5,334
33. Tiger King (2020)
TV-MA | 317 min | Documentary, 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: John Reinke, Kelci Saffery, John Finlay, Rick Kirkham
Votes: 64,740
34. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
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: 23,110
35. Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
PG-13 | 89 min | Documentary, Drama
A daughter helps her father prepare for the end of his life.
Director: Kirsten Johnson | Stars: Michael Hilow, Ana Hoffman, Dick Johnson, Kirsten Johnson
Votes: 3,092
36. Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
TV-MA | 84 min | Documentary
A documentary about young women who have been drawn into the sex trade - and how easy it is for a web-savvy generation to end up making porn.
Directors: Jill Bauer, Ronna Gradus | Stars: Tressa Silguero, Riley Reynolds, Rachel Bernard, John Anthony
Votes: 15,921
37. Ancient Aliens (2009– )
TV-PG | 42 min | Documentary, History, Sci-Fi
Science and mythology - and how they are the same thing.
Stars: Robert Clotworthy, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, David Childress, William Henry
Votes: 9,486
38. Free Solo (2018)
PG-13 | 100 min | Documentary, Adventure, Sport
Alex Honnold attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb El Capitan.
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi | Stars: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe
Votes: 53,970 | Gross: $17.54M
39. Real Detective (2016– )
43 min | Documentary, Crime, Drama
Each episode is a crime solution reenactment of a real murder. The actual detectives offer commentary throughout the show.
Stars: Michael Douglas Cake, Liana Montoro, Tyrone Benskin, Mizinga Mwinga
Votes: 2,721
40. The Vietnam War (2017)
TV-MA | 990 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.
Stars: Peter Coyote, Huy Duc, James Willbanks, Duong Van Mai Elliott
Votes: 20,099
41. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
TV-MA | 82 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: 16,764
42. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 538 min | Documentary
Emmy Award-winning, 11 episodes, five years in the making, the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC, and the first to be filmed in high definition.
Stars: David Attenborough, Sigourney Weaver, Thomas Anguti Johnston, Huw Cordey
Votes: 166,282
43. David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
TV-14 | 105 min | Documentary, Music, Musical
Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.
Director: Spike Lee | Stars: David Byrne, Jacqueline Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman
Votes: 1,970
44. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019– )
TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Sport
Docuseries following the FIA Formula One World Championship across multiple seasons.
Stars: Valtteri Bottas, Will Buxton, Pierre Gasly, Romain Grosjean
Votes: 18,959
45. Alone (2015– )
TV-14 | 44 min | Documentary, Reality-TV
Ten survival "experts" attempt to survive alone. The winner receives $500,000.
Stars: Nicole Apelian, Dan, David, Desmond
Votes: 3,225
46. Making a Murderer (2015–2018)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Crime
Filmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.
Stars: Dolores Avery, Steven Avery, Laura Nirider, Ken Kratz
Votes: 86,154
47. Inside the World's Toughest Prisons (2016–2021)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary
Imagine being in jail. Now imagine living in a foreign country. Scary? Paul Connelly takes you inside these jails. He shows what living conditions are for the inmates, as well as the guards. You'll never look at prison the same.
Stars: Raphael Rowe, Paul Connelly, Robin
Votes: 1,873
48. The Repair Shop (2017– )
30 min | Documentary, Reality-TV
Some of Britain's most skilled restoration experts breathe new life into much-cherished family heirlooms that are dropped off by members of the public, who reveal the personal stories behind the items.
Stars: Jay Blades, Steven Fletcher, William Kirk, Bill Paterson
Votes: 850
49. Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind (2020)
120 min | Documentary
Dr. Steven Greer examines details surrounding his alien-visitation "disclosure" movement.
Director: Michael Mazzola | Stars: Linda A'Roraha, Wendy Boast, Justice Campbell, Jeremy Cloake
Votes: 894
50. Our Planet (2019)
TV-G | 403 min | Documentary
Documentary series focusing on the breadth of the diversity of habitats around the world, from the remote Arctic wilderness and mysterious deep oceans to the vast landscapes of Africa and diverse jungles of South America.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 31,948