Top 50 Documentary Movies and TV Shows
1. Queen Cleopatra (2023)
TV-14 | 180 min | Documentary
Netflix docudrama about Queen Cleopatra of Egypt of the Ptolemaic lineage from Macedonia, Greece, that ruled for 21 years, between the years 51 BC and 30 BC, ending with her suicide.
Stars: Jada Pinkett Smith, Adele James, Craig Russell, John Partridge
Votes: 77,024
2. The Curious Case of Natalia Grace (2023)
Documentary
This docuseries offers extraordinary access and exclusive insight into a world-renowned mystery. Initially assumed to be a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare bone growth disorder she was actually a fully grown adult.
Stars: Dan Cody, Caitlin McEachran, Katrina Kemp
Votes: 257
3. SmartLess: On the Road (2023– )
Documentary, Comedy
Follows the North American tour Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett did for their Podcast project "SmartLess".
Stars: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Ferrell
Votes: 621
4. FDR (2023– )
Documentary
The three-part miniseries chronicles the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the thirty-second President of the United States.
Stars: Jack Parham, Adrian Galley, Christian McKay, Rufus Jones
Votes: 134
5. Still (2023)
PG | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
Follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Tracy Pollan, Sam Fox, Aquinnah Fox, Schuyler Fox
Votes: 6,961
6. Bama Rush (2023)
100 min | Documentary
It centers on women as they rush the sorority system at the University of Alabama in 2022.
Director: Rachel Fleit | Stars: Shelby Rose, Isabelle Eacrett, Makalya Miller, Gracie O'Connor
Votes: 1,123
7. What Is a Woman? (2022)
95 min | Documentary
Political commentator Matt Walsh explores the changing concepts of sex and gender in the digital age, particularly the transgender rights movement, anti-transgender bigotry, and what it means to be a woman.
Director: Justin Folk | Stars: Matt Walsh, Gert Comfrey, Marci Bowers, Don Sucher
Votes: 35,026
8. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets (2023)
Documentary
Docuseries exploring the truth beneath the surface of reality TV's mega-family, The Duggars.
Stars: Derick Dillard, Jill Duggar Dillard, Brooke Arnold, Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Votes: 565
9. Prehistoric Planet (2022–2023)
PG | 203 min | Documentary, Animation, History
Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 9,269
10. Victim/Suspect (2023)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Crime
Young women tell the police they've been sexually assaulted, but instead of finding justice, they're charged with the crime of making a false report, arrested, and even imprisoned by the system they believed would protect them.
Director: Nancy Schwartzman | Stars: Lisa Avalos, Dyanie Bermeo, Rachel de Leon, Carlton Hershman
Votes: 839
11. The Secrets of Hillsong (2023)
18+ | Documentary
Exploring one of America's most successful megachurches and the investigative reporting that lead to the dismissal of two prominent pastors.
Stars: Carl Lentz, Josh Canfield, Dan Adler, Alex French
Votes: 265
12. How to Create a Sex Scandal (2023)
132 min | Documentary, Crime
Follows the story of a peaceful town in Mineola, Texas which was rocked in 2005 when neighborhood kids came forward with alarming information about a pedophile sex ring that operated out of a swingers club.
Votes: 215
13. Planet Earth II (2016)
PG | 298 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns with a new wildlife documentary that shows life in a variety of habitats.
Stars: David Attenborough, Chadden Hunter, Gordon Buchanan, Elizabeth White
Votes: 150,540
14. The Last Dance (2020)
TV-MA | 491 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Charting the rise of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
Stars: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, David Aldridge
Votes: 135,070
15. Welcome to Wrexham (2022– )
14+ | 28 min | Documentary, Sport
Docuseries chronicling the purchase and stewardship of Wrexham AFC, one of professional football's oldest clubs, by two Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Stars: Wrexham A.F.C., Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Phil Parkinson
Votes: 14,237
16. Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
13+ | 119 min | Documentary
Mary's vanguard career, who, as an actor, performer, and advocate, revolutionized the portrayal of women in media, redefined their roles in show business, and inspired generations to dream big and make it on their own.
Director: James Adolphus | Stars: Mary Tyler Moore, James L. Brooks, Rob Reiner, Treva Silverman
Votes: 362
17. Ghost Adventures (2008– )
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: 9,791
18. McGregor Forever (2023)
TV-MA | 200 min | Documentary, Sport
Conor McGregor's brutal strikes and trash-talking swagger made him the UFC's biggest draw. This rousing docuseries follows his dynamic career.
Star: Conor McGregor
Votes: 2,215
19. Clarkson's Farm (2021– )
16+ | 45 min | Documentary, Comedy, Reality-TV
Follow Jeremy Clarkson as he attempts to run a farm in the countryside.
Stars: Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland, Lisa Hogan
Votes: 48,089
20. Tina (2021)
118 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Exclusive access to the Grammy Award-winning artist to celebrate her career.
Directors: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin | Stars: Tina Turner, Carl Arrington, Ike Turner, Lejeune Richardson
Votes: 5,723
21. Missing: Dead or Alive? (2023– )
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Crime
Follow officers from a South Carolina sheriff's department as they urgently search for individuals who've disappeared under troubling circumstances.
Stars: Vicki Rains, Heidi Jackson, J.P. Smith, Nina Mauldin
Votes: 1,183
22. Moment of Contact (2022)
108 min | Documentary
Is an exploration of extraterrestrial encounters centered on a series of events in 1996 when citizens of Varginha, Brazil, reported seeing a UFO crash and one or more strange creatures.
Director: James Fox | Stars: James Fox, Marco Aurelio Leal, Cinthya Covo Leão, Humberto Leão
Votes: 1,387
23. Chimp Empire (2023)
TV-PG | 187 min | Documentary
A vast community of chimpanzees thrives in a forest in Uganda, navigating complex social politics, family dynamics and dangerous territory disputes.
Star: Mahershala Ali
Votes: 1,721
24. MerPeople (2023)
TV-MA | 177 min | Documentary
Welcome to the whimsical world of professional mermaiding, where people's passion for swimming in fins has exploded into a half-billion-dollar industry.
Stars: Morgana Alba, Brittany Sparkles, The Blixunami, Eric Ducharme
Votes: 356
25. Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster (2023– )
Documentary, Crime
It showcases the untold story of the investigation that exposed the monster insidiously lurking behind Fogle's persona and how his true nature as a child sex predator was finally revealed.
Stars: Rochelle Herman, Christian Showalter, Hannah Parrett, Thomas Herman
Votes: 639
26. Jelly Roll: Save Me (2023 TV Special)
87 min | Documentary, Music
A 38-year-old rapper turned country rocker named Jelly Roll is taking the country by storm. Addressing his own struggles with mental health and addiction. This documentary tells the story of the rise of the musician and Nashville native.
Director: Bari Pearlman | Stars: Bunnie Deford, Jelly Roll
Votes: 101
27. Dark Side of the Ring (2019– )
16+ | 60 min | Documentary, Drama, History
From backstage controversies to mysterious deaths and unsolved homicides, this series explores the darkest stories from the golden age of professional wrestling, and tries to find truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality.
Stars: Chris Jericho, Steve Kasan, James E. Cornette, Jim Ross
Votes: 3,220
28. Nathan for You (2013–2017)
14A | 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, Salomon Flores, William Heath
Votes: 34,027
29. Nuclear Now (2022)
105 min | Documentary
An investigation into the possibility of addressing climate change with a move away from fossil fuels to nuclear power.
Director: Oliver Stone
Votes: 158
30. Undercover Underage (2021– )
43 min | Documentary, Crime
Follows child advocate Roo Powell and her team at nonprofit organization SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse), as they work with law enforcement to help stop and identify the menacing adults who use the internet to harm children.
Stars: Shelby Chikazawa, Matt Monath, Roo Powell, Isabel Edwards
Votes: 450
31. Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me (2023)
TV-MA | 116 min | Documentary, Biography
Anna Nicole Smith, featuring never before seen footage of the iconic Playboy and Guess jeans model, who blazed a trail through the 90s before her tragic death at the age of 39.
Director: Ursula Macfarlane | Stars: Anna Nicole Smith, Daniel Smith, Marilyn Grabowski, Pol Atteu
Votes: 1,819
32. Our Planet II (2023)
Documentary | Completed
Explores and unravels the mystery of how and why animals migrate, showing some of the most dramatic and compelling stories in the natural world through spectacular and innovative cinematography.
Star: David Attenborough
33. The God Man (2023)
118 min | Documentary | Pre-production
It centers on Jesus Christ. Darren, led by dreams, chance encounters, and impossible timing, follows a spiritual trail that leads to a remarkable conclusion about Jesus' nature and character.
Director: Darren Wilson | Stars: David Wagner, Robby Dawkins, Bill Johnson, Daniel Kolenda
34. House of Hammer (2022)
167 min | Documentary
The definitive inside story of the rise and fall of the notorious Hammer family.
Stars: Candice Cronkite, Casey Hammer, Courtney Vucekovich, Lauren Skae
Votes: 2,513
35. The Rehearsal (2022– )
13+ | 30 min | Documentary, Comedy
Nathan Fielder gives people a chance to rehearse for their own lives in a world where nothing ever works out as expected.
Stars: Nathan Fielder, Journey Baker, Anna Lamadrid, Sawyer J. Bell
Votes: 21,817
36. Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed (2022)
178 min | Documentary
Features several ex-members of the church who share harrowing allegations of the trauma, abuse, homophobia and financial and labor exploitation that created a culture of chaos at Hillsong.
Stars: Troy Dillinger, Michael G. Gabel, Marie Finch, Kelsey McKinney
Votes: 684
37. Alone (2015– )
PG | 44 min | Documentary, Game-Show, Reality-TV
Ten survival "experts" attempt to survive alone. The winner receives $500,000.
Stars: Nicole Apelian, Brooke Whipple, Jesse Bosdell, Brad Richardson
Votes: 6,234
38. Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020–2022)
TV-MA | 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, Tuba Büyüküstün, Alp Ilkman, Ushan Çakir
Votes: 28,376
39. 100 Years of Warner Bros. (2023)
232 min | Documentary, History
100 Years of Warner Bros. takes a historical look at the legacy of one of America's leading studios. The documentary explores the origin, evolution and endurance of Warner Bros. - from a family affair to a global juggernaut.
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Gregory Orr, Martin Scorsese, Keanu Reeves
Votes: 176
40. Money Shot: The Pornhub Story (2023)
TV-MA | 94 min | Documentary
Follow the rise of the most famous adult entertainment platform and the recent backlash it has received.
Director: Suzanne Hillinger | Stars: Noelle Perdue, Michael Stabile, Wolf Hudson, Siri Dahl
Votes: 3,991
41. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
R | 122 min | Documentary
Follows the life of artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical dynasty who was greatly responsible for the opioid epidemic's unfathomable death toll.
Director: Laura Poitras | Stars: Nan Goldin, David Velasco, Megan Kapler, Marina Berio
Votes: 5,115
42. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
557 min | Documentary
An exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
Stars: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Christopher Emerson, Keythe Farley, Piotr Michael
Votes: 124,472
43. Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019– )
TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Sport
Docuseries following the FIA Formula One World Championship across multiple seasons.
Stars: Will Buxton, Jack Nicholls, Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton
Votes: 45,528
44. Roman Empire (2016–2019)
18A | 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: 8,579
45. Mayday (2003– )
60 min | Documentary, Crime, History
Dramatized reconstruction of real-life air disasters, along with interviews with aviation experts and eyewitnesses.
Stars: Jonathan Aris, Stephen Bogaert, John Cox, John Nance
Votes: 5,372
46. The Curse of Oak Island (2014– )
G | 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, Jack Begley
Votes: 6,194
47. Unsolved Mysteries (2020– )
TV-14 | 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: Allison Rivera, Pistol Black, Brandi Petersen, Lars Christian Wegner
Votes: 11,633
48. The World at War (1973–1974)
52 min | Documentary, History, War
A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, Albert Speer, Anthony Eden
Votes: 26,879
49. The Fire That Took Her (2022)
94 min | Documentary, Crime
The case of Judy Malinowski, a young mother who suffered debilitating burns after being set on fire by a man she had dated.
Director: Patricia E. Gillespie | Star: Judy Malinowski
Votes: 95
50. Otter Dynasty (WT) (2023– )
Documentary
Set in Singapore, follow the urban wildlife story of three otter families and their clash for dominance.
Star: Sofia Jin
Votes: 34