Are you a documentary fan? For us, the answer is yes. From compelling true stories to insightful and informative examinations of history and current events, get ready to explore more than 50 documentaries recommended by us and crowdsourced by our readers.
Use these suggestions to plan your next movie night and let us know if we’ve missed any on this list!
50+ of the most watchable documentaries
Documentaries on Disney+
free solo
free solo It tells the story of Alex Honnold as he prepares to climb the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes. This gripping story will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie.You can also watch gourd.
fire of love
fire of love It tells the beautiful, thrilling, and otherworldly love story of two scientists, their shared love of volcanoes, and how they ultimately lead to their demise.You can also watch gourd.
rescue
rescue is the harrowing story of the incredible rescue of 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.You can also watch gourd.
summer of soul
summer of soul is a concert film documenting this historic event celebrating black culture, history and fashion.
Taylor Swift Ballad: Long Pond Studio Sessions
Folklore: Long Pond Studio Sessions An in-depth look at the recording sessions for Taylor Swift’s albums and every song recorded live at the historic Long Pond Studios.
More from Disney+
Documentaries on Hulu
Martin Luther King/FBI
Martin Luther King/FBI Delve into recently declassified documents that reveal government surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King Jr.
run away
run away Uniquely narrated mainly through animation, it tells the story of Amin, a child refugee from Afghanistan, and the secret he has kept for 20 years.
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
This documentary is as follows The Beatlesthe band took the world by storm during their early tours in 1963 and 1964.
leave no trace
leave no trace Exposing sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America, 82,000 men reveal personal accounts from their own childhoods.
Notice the gap
The documentary draws parallels between modern masculinity and the traumatic upbringing of a group of skateboarders.
More from Hulu
Documentaries on Netflix
will you be my neighbor
The story of everyone’s favorite Mr. Roger and the kindness, empathy and understanding he shared through his humble children’s show. will you be my neighbor Someone who tugs at your heartstrings.
FYRE: The greatest party that never happened
An incredible story of a luxury music festival gone wrong at the hands of an arrogant entrepreneur. Farley It’s one you don’t want to miss!
My octopus teacher
My octopus teacher is a beautiful story of friendship found in the most unexpected places, when the worlds of the filmmaker and the octopus collide, and the octopus helps the filmmaker reconnect with himself and the world around him.
Beckham
Beckham The story of David Beckam’s rise to stardom as a footballer is told with never-before-seen footage.
Number 13
this Number 13 An in-depth look at America’s prison boom and injustice against African Americans.
More from Netflix
Documentaries on HBO Max
landfill gas
landfill gas Get an inside look at the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s fight for equal pay.
Love, Lizzo
Love, Lizzo It tells the story of singer Lizzo’s life while recording her album “Special”.
oath
oath An up-close look at NXIVM, a “self-improvement group” turned cult, and the fight to expose their crimes.
Roadrunner: A Movie About Anthony Bourdain
For fans of Anthony Bourdain, roadrunner tells the story of the life and legacy of the beloved chef and television personality.
Documentaries on Amazon Prime
grizzly man
grizzly man Tells the story of Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, two bear activists who live with Alaska’s endangered animals and their devastating fate.
black fish
black fish Delve into the history of these loving and aggressive creatures, and the harmful impact humans have on these beautiful creatures.
tickle
A reporter’s curiosity about “competitive endurance tickling” leads him to discover a dark underworld of secret identities and criminal activity. tickle It’s unlike any documentary you’ve ever seen!
More from Amazon Prime
Documentaries on Apple TV+
Billie Eilish: The world is a bit blurry
A raw and honest look at the lives of superstars, billie eilish Her life is on the road, touring and at home. See her life change firsthand!
Velvet Underground
have a look Velvet UndergroundRevitalizing the band through interviews and footage reveals its iconic legacy.
Stills: Michael J. Fox’s Movies
stillIt tells the story of Michael J. Fox, an ordinary kid who became a pop culture sensation in the 1980s and whose diagnosis changed his life forever.
Selena Gomez: My thoughts and me
raw and intimate observation selena gomezHer rise to stardom and the impact of mental health struggles inspire her journey to find her true purpose.
prehistoric planet
Ever wonder what prehistoric times were like? prehistoric planet is an incredible documentary made by planet earth This takes us back 66 million years to experience dinosaurs in an era we can’t even imagine.
More from Apple TV+
More readers recommend documentaries
- 20 feet from the star
- life itself
- inner workings
- murder ball
- Project Nim
- Fascinated
- truffle hunter
- Enron: The smartest guy in the room
- columbine bowling
- act of killing
- bay
- Winged migration
- queen of versailles
- impostor
- Food company
- Marley
- moon shadow
- the stories we tell
- an inconvenient truth
- extra size me
- sick
- waiting for superman
- September issue
- This movie has not been rated yet
- blue planet
Is there anything else missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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