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146 VOTESThe Greatest Night in Pop brings to light the extraordinary, behind-the-scenes moments of the epoch-making 1985 recording of "We Are the World," uniting figures like Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, and Diana Ross. Through revealing interviews and archival footage, the documentary directed by Bao Nguyen captures the tensions, camaraderie, and last-minute hurdles that nearly derailed the creation of a song that defined a generation's call for humanitarian action. This film is a celebratory testament to the power of music and collaboration, spotlighting a pivotal event in pop culture that continues to inspire decades later.
- Actors: Tom Bähler
- Directed by: Bao Nguyen
- #47 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #1 of 114 onThe Best Documentaries About Music
- #56 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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224 VOTESBitconned hones in on the dark side of digital gold rushes, exploring the shocking true story of how three individuals orchestrated a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. This documentary meticulously unpacks the creation, execution, and eventual unraveling of a scam that siphoned millions from unsuspecting investors to finance excessive opulence. Director Bryan Storkel guides viewers through a labyrinth of deceit in the unregulated crypto market, providing an eye-opening look at the seductive power of modern financial crime.
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- #212 of 218 onThe 200 Best Crime Movies Ever
- #54 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #36 of 36 onThe 30+ Best Movies About Money
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330 VOTESLover, Stalker, Killer presents a chilling true-crime documentary that delves into the hazards of the digital age through the lens of a mechanic's first plunge into online dating, leading to a terrifying encounter with a woman whose fixation turns fatal. The film combines firsthand accounts and archival footage to construct a narrative that is as engrossing as it is cautionary, painting a vivid portrait of modern love gone wrong. Directed by Sam Hobkinson, this gripping tale unravels a real-life horror story of romantic pursuit that escalates into a nightmare, offering a stark examination of the extreme perils of virtual intimacy.
- Actors: Christopher Maher, Katie Otten, Jessica N Johnson
- Directed by: Sam Hobkinson
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47 VOTESThe true story of Bray Wyatt's rise to worldwide fame as a WWE Superstar and the struggles and successes that came with being a creative visionary.- Directed by: Steve Conoscenti
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524 VOTESShattered Glass: A WNBPA Story is a compelling documentary that takes you off the court and into the multifaceted lives of Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, and WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes. The film meticulously weaves the intensity of professional training with the personal lives of these athletes, shedding light on their roles as leaders in the family and advocates in the fiercely political arena of women's sports. Directed by Andrea Buccilla, the documentary is a celebration and an exploration of the resilience and perseverance that make up the fabric of the WNBA and its trailblazing players.
- Directed by: Andrea Buccilla
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611 VOTESThe journey of Giannis Antetokounmpo.- #44 of 81 onThe Best Black Sports Movies Ever Made
- #43 of 75 onThe Best Basketball Movies Of All Time
- #30 of 53 onThe Best Documentary Films On Amazon Prime
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74 VOTESThe journey and legacy of PBS's show Reading Rainbow through interviews with host LeVar Burton, filmmakers, and staff members, along with clips from episodes that had particularly memorable impact; its creators face believe that television can inspire children with a lifelong love of reading.- Actors: LeVar Burton, Whoopi Goldberg, Alisa Reyes
- Directed by: Bradford Thomason, Brett Whitcomb
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84 VOTESThe life of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, told through her own words from diaries, letters, essays, and interviews.- Actors: Pablo Alarson, Tizoc Arroyo, Roberto Cavazos, Jeanne Albanese, Yeraldín Balcázar
- Directed by: Carla Gutierrez
More Frida- #87 of 103 onThe Best Biopics To Watch About Real People
- #33 of 36 onThe 35+ Best Foreign Movies On Amazon Prime, Ranked
- #29 of 53 onThe Best Documentary Films On Amazon Prime
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97 VOTESFocuses on the aftermath of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and the defamation lawsuit against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.- Directed by: Dan Reed
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Filmmaker Daniel Peddle looks at how much the language, culture and visibility of the trans community has evolved during the last 25 years.- Directed by: Daniel Peddle
- #110 of 279 onThe Greatest Documentaries of All Time
- #74 of 74 onThe Best LGBTQ+ Documentaries
- #48 of 83 onThe 75+ Best Transsexual Movies
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The trials of two parents.
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123 VOTESA young tigress raises her cubs in the forests of India.- Directed by: Mark Linfield
More Tiger- #62 of 122 onThe Best Movies To Stream On Disney+
- #6 of 6 onThe Best Documentaries on Motherhood
- #59 of 63 onThe 55+ Best Intelligent Documentaries, Ranked
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1321 VOTESLil Nas X: Long Live Montero offers an intimate look at the highly acclaimed artist's life on tour, delving into his personal journey with identity, familial dynamics, and the pressures of fame within the ongoing narrative of Black, queer history in music and performance. The documentary, co-directed by Zac Manuel and Carlos López Estrada, celebrates Lil Nas X’s vulnerability and strength as he reconciles his past with his trailblazing presence in the industry. It stands out as an important cultural piece that amplifies the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ artists, underscoring their invaluable contribution to the arts.
- Actors: Lil Nas X, Madonna
- Directed by: Carlos López Estrada, Zac Manuel
- #150 of 176 onThe Best Movies About Music
- #77 of 130 onThe Best Black Documentaries
- #140 of 158 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Gay Themes
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1412 VOTESDelve into the life and times of Stormy Daniels as she shares her story and account of events that have become part of American history.- Actors: Stormy Daniels
- Directed by: Sarah Gibson
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1512 VOTESThe friends who belong to the pioneering YouTube group take a look back at their journey over their years together.- Directed by: Luke Hyams
More The Sidemen Story- #53 of 94 onThe Best Foreign Documentary Films
- #53 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #57 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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The Instagram-perfect image of Brandy Melville hides a toxic work culture endemic to fast fashion, with discrimination against race, sex and body size.- Directed by: Eva Orner
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From the rise of QAnon to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, this documentary film explains how a group of bored teenagers built an online community out of their shared loneliness but accidentally shattered consensus reality in the process.- Directed by: Giorgio Angelini, Arthur Jones
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A celebratory exploration of the boisterous times of Freaknik, the iconic Atlanta street party that drew hundreds of thousands of people in the '80s and '90s, helping put Atlanta on the map culturally.- Directed by: P. Frank Williams
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194 VOTESThe airmen of the 100th Bomb Group.More The Bloody Hundredth- #213 of 263 onThe Best War Movies Of All Time
- #75 of 80 onThe Best Movies About Ancient & Historical Wars
- #28 of 29 onThe Best Apple TV+ Movies
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A look back on Paul Simon's extraordinary career.
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217 VOTESA woman's parents are shot.- Directed by: Jenny Popplewell
More What Jennifer Did- #50 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #18 of 19 onThe Best Documentaries About Psychopaths
- #38 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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221 VOTESCanadian rockers Nickelback discuss their rural roots in Alberta and their rise to fame in the 2000s, the online negativity they've faced, and their return after a five-year break.- Directed by: Leigh Brooks
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231 VOTESInterviews and never-before-seen footage provide insight into the life, career and legacy of actor and comedian Gene Wilder.- Directed by: Ron Frank
- #70 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
- #61 of 63 onThe 55+ Best Intelligent Documentaries, Ranked
- #78 of 83 onThe 75+ Best Documentaries About Movies & Hollywood
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242 VOTESExplores the scope and scale of the American police over hundreds of years. Traces the money, political power and bipartisan support that has created modern policing.- Directed by: Yance Ford
More Power- #66 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #25 of 26 onThe Best History Documentaries On Netflix
- #58 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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- Hip Hop World
252 VOTESA journey with hip hop artists.- Photo:
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265 VOTESA look at what American democracy would look like in the hands of teenage girls. Young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.- Directed by: Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
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The dangers of homegrown violence.- Directed by: Marc Levin
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Students take on a rigorous college preparatory program at Piney Woods, one of America's oldest Black boarding schools.- Directed by: J.J. Anderson
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Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project is an immersive documentary that delves into the profound musings and life journey of the influential queer poet Nikki Giovanni. Through a creative fusion of intimate vérité, historical footage, and imaginative representations of her poetry, the film paints a captivating portrait that transcends the traditional boundaries of biographical storytelling. Directors Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster craft a lyrical and visually engaging ode to Giovanni's legacy, cementing her impact not only on literature and activism but also on the cultural tapestry of America.
- Actors: Taraji P. Henson
- Directed by: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson
- #45 of 74 onThe Best HBO Documentaries Of The Last Few Years
- #30 of 40 onThe 40 Best Movies About Protests, Ranked
- #17 of 21 onThe Best HBO Max Original Movies
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304 VOTESTwelve-year-old Madu leaves his family and community in Nigeria to study at a prestigious ballet school in England. Having never left his home outside of Lagos, Anthony finds himself in a new world where his wildest dreams are suddenly within reach.- Directed by: Matthew Ogens, Joel Kachi Benson
More Madu- #100 of 130 onThe Best Black Documentaries
- #56 of 56 onThe 50+ Best Ballet Dancer Movies
- #21 of 21 onThe Best PG Dance Movies
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314 VOTESIn 2011, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon died in a horrific crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, shaking the world of motorsports to its core. Ten years later, Dan's two sons, Sebastian and Oliver, follow in their father's footsteps.- Actors: Michael Andretti, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Chip Ganassi, Bryan Herta
- Directed by: Laura Brownson
More The Lionheart- #72 of 74 onThe Best HBO Documentaries Of The Last Few Years
- #55 of 105 onThe 100+ Best Movies With Cars
- #58 of 59 onThe 50 Best PG-13 Documentary Movies
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324 VOTESFilmmakers Kip Andersen and Kameron Waters expose unforgiving truths about animal cruelty in the name of religion.- Directed by: Kip Andersen, Kameron Waters
More Christspiracy- #20 of 118 onLife-Changing Documentaries You've Got to See
- #65 of 66 onThe 60+ Best Movies About Food
- #49 of 50 onThe 45+ Best Documentaries About Business, Ranked
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Through key testimonies, this documentary looks at a gang rape that took place during the 2016 San Fermín festival and sparked protests worldwide.- Directed by: Robert Bahar, Almudena Carracedo
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A young concert promoter launches a festival in 1969 to revive the kings of rock 'n' roll and present new bands. John Lennon's performance with the Plastic Ono Band triggers him to leave the Beatles.- Directed by: Ron Chapman
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350 VOTESAngela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climb the world's last super skyscraper, blending daring acrobatics with a tumultuous love story.- Directed by: Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina
- #106 of 279 onThe Greatest Documentaries of All Time
- #7 of 7 onThe Best Love and Relationship Documentaries
- #77 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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360 VOTESCeline Dion highlights the music that guides her life and shows the resilience of the human spirit.- Directed by: Irene Taylor
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370 VOTESThe Abulaban's project a perfect life.- Photo:
- Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors
380 VOTESWarriors guard the emperor's tomb.- Directed by: James Tovell
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390 VOTESLady Gaga performs at Dodger Stadium.- Directed by: Lady Gaga
More Gaga Chromatica Ball- #86 of 130 onThe Best Pop Music Documentaries
- #73 of 114 onThe Best Documentaries About Music
- #47 of 48 onThe 40+ Best Concert Movies
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400 VOTESA film crew follows two leopard cubs.- Directed by: Alex Parkinson
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410 VOTESThe mind of Jim Henson, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of "Sesame Street," "The Muppet Show" and beyond.- Directed by: Ron Howard
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420 VOTESThe forests of Michoacán are home to millions of monarch butterflies. Activist Homero Gómez is highly vocal about its preservation, until he vanishes.- Directed by: Emiliano Ruprah
- #50 of 94 onThe Best Foreign Documentary Films
- #64 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
- #23 of 33 onThe Best Spanish Documentaries
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430 VOTESExploring the company's founding and the implosion that occurred after outside investors took over, rendering the company bankrupt and under investigation.- Directed by: Muta'Ali Muhammad
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Martin Scorsese reflects on the influence of filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, whose decades-long collaboration led to a series of classics that made the duo a crucial part of British cinema.- Directed by: David Hinton
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450 VOTESAn England penalty defeat to Italy.- Directed by: Kwabena Oppong
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460 VOTESMysteries surrounding the Neanderthals.- Actors: Gabriel Andreu
- #68 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #26 of 26 onThe Best History Documentaries On Netflix
- #65 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
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470 VOTESAspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, unwittingly becomes an extreme case study on a Japanese reality TV show.- Directed by: Clair Titley
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- Tigers on the Rise
480 VOTESCelebrating the resurgence of tiger populations and showcasing their triumphant return to the wild. As they reclaim their territories, they venture beyond forest reserves, posing challenges for humans and animals alike.- Directed by: Rob Sullivan
More Tigers on the Rise- #60 of 122 onThe Best Movies To Stream On Disney+
- #58 of 63 onThe 55+ Best Intelligent Documentaries, Ranked
- #52 of 56 onThe Best Documentaries About Animals
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- The Beach Boys
490 VOTESThe Beach Boys' journey from forming the band in the early1960s, to their rise to fame; it explores their music, their evolution in the 1960s, and personal impact with reference to interviews and archival footage.- Directed by: Frank Marshall, Thom Zimny
More The Beach Boys- #49 of 51 onThe Best Music Biopics Of All Time
- #69 of 114 onThe Best Documentaries About Music
- #55 of 59 onThe 50 Best PG-13 Documentary Movies
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An unprecedented look at the non-stop life of a cultural luminary. At a time when gender equality and women's issues are at the forefront, Diane von Furstenberg's life exemplifies empowerment, resilience, entrepreneurship and style.Available On:
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511 VOTESThe WNBA's journey from underestimation to activism, fighting for equal rights, fair compensation, and social justice, ultimately impacting U.S. politics.- Directed by: Dawn Porter
More Power of the Dream- #52 of 85 onThe Best Basketball Documentaries Of All Time
- #47 of 53 onThe Best Documentary Films On Amazon Prime
- #52 of 59 onThe 50 Best PG-13 Documentary Movies
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521 VOTESWhen the filmmaker's 83-year-old aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell asks, "Why not make a Barbie that looks like me?," the story of the first Black Barbie begins.- Directed by: Lagueria Davis
- #99 of 130 onThe Best Black Documentaries
- #65 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #24 of 26 onThe Best History Documentaries On Netflix
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531 VOTESCentering on 1980s films starring the "Brat Pack" and their profound impact on the young stars' lives.- Directed by: Andrew McCarthy
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541 VOTESA year in the cockpit with the exclusive aviator team.- Directed by: Paul Crowder
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The digestive system and gut health.- Directed by: Anjali Nayar
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561 VOTESFor decades, Dan Rather delivered the news with authenticity, integrity and courage. He emerged as the voice of reason to a new generation.- Directed by: Frank Marshall
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573 VOTESA look at the TV show.- Directed by: Jens von Reis
More Young Royals Forever- #70 of 94 onThe Best Foreign Documentary Films
- #69 of 88 onThe Best Documentary Movies Streaming on Netflix
- #72 of 77 onThe Best Netflix Original Documentary Movies
COLLECTION16 LISTS
Documentaries You Need to SeeLists that rank the most fascinating, most trusted documentaries on every subject, from poverty and addiction to Wall Street and the oil industry.
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Documentaries You Need to See
Lists that rank the most fascinating, most trusted documentaries on every subject, from poverty and addiction to Wall Street and the oil industry.
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