Top 100 Best Documentaries

"Explore powerful stories and eye-opening insights with these must-watch documentaries."

The world of documentaries is rich with stories that inform, inspire, and provoke thought. From environmental activism to personal triumphs, these 100 documentaries have made a mark on audiences around the globe. This list highlights must-see films for anyone looking to dive into true stories that have shaped perspectives and sparked conversations.

Cheat

# Top 100 Best Documentaries
- Subtitle: A curated collection of the most impactful documentaries
- Tagline: Explore powerful stories and eye-opening insights with these must-watch documentaries
- Description: A diverse mix of nature, political, historical, and personal stories.
- 5 Topics
    - True Crime
    - Environmental Documentaries
    - Biographical Pieces
    - Political and Social Commentary
    - Sports and Adventure

Topics

• True Crime: justice, mystery, court cases, serials, real-life investigations
• Environmental Documentaries: nature, conservation, climate change, wildlife, sustainability
• Biographical Pieces: personal stories, famous figures, artists, life journeys, memoirs
• Political and Social Commentary: societal impacts, political movements, activism, modern issues, media
• Sports and Adventure: adrenaline, human achievement, iconic sports moments, survival, challenges

True Crime Documentaries

"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."

1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)
2. Making a Murderer (2015)
3. Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
4. The Imposter (2012)
5. The Staircase (2004)
6. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
7. The Central Park Five (2012)
8. Wild Wild Country (2018)
9. The Keepers (2017)
10. Tickled (2016)
11. Fyre (2019)
12. Cartel Land (2015)
13. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
14. The Devil We Know (2018)
15. Dirty Money (2018)
16. The China Hustle (2017)
17. 13 Cameras (2015)
18. American Factory (2019)
19. Citizenfour (2014)
20. Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)

Environmental Documentaries

"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."

1. Planet Earth (2006)
2. The Cove (2009)
3. Blackfish (2013)
4. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
5. Virunga (2014)
6. Cowspiracy (2014)
7. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
8. Our Planet (2019)
9. The Ivory Game (2016)
10. The True Cost (2015)
11. Home (2009)
12. Wild China (2008)
13. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
14. The Farthest (2017)
15. Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
16. Sherpa (2015)
17. Life in a Day (2011)
18. Hubble (2010)
19. The Game Changers (2018)
20. Fire in Paradise (2019)

Biographical Documentaries

"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."

1. Amy (2015)
2. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
3. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
4. What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
5. Gleason (2016)
6. Miss Americana (2020)
7. Marley (2012)
8. For Sama (2019)
9. Life Itself (2014)
10. Paris is Burning (1990)
11. The Fog of War (2003)
12. Faces Places (2017)
13. Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
14. Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
15. Born Into Brothels (2004)
16. The September Issue (2009)
17. Helvetica (2007)
18. They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
19. Crip Camp (2020)
20. The Up Series (1964-ongoing)

Political and Social Commentary

"Examining our world through a critical lens."

1. 13th (2016)
2. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
3. The Social Dilemma (2020)
4. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
5. The Act of Killing (2012)
6. Inside Job (2010)
7. The Great Hack (2019)
8. Bowling for Columbine (2002)
9. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
10. The Bleeding Edge (2018)
11. Won’t Back Down (2021)
12. Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
13. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016)
14. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
15. Last Breath (2019)
16. Wild Wild Country (2018)
17. LA 92 (2017)
18. Street Food (2019)
19. The Keepers (2017)
20. Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)

Sports and Adventure Documentaries

"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."

1. Free Solo (2018)
2. The Last Dance (2020)
3. Grizzly Man (2005)
4. Hitting the Apex (2015)
5. Apollo 11 (2019)
6. Team Foxcatcher (2016)
7. Last Chance U (2016)
8. Restrepo (2010)
9. The Ivory Game (2016)
10. The Farthest (2017)
11. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
12. Fire in Paradise (2019)
13. Tales by Light (2015)
14. 13 Minutes (2015)
15. Sherpa (2015)
16. Hubble (2010)
17. Crip Camp (2020)
18. The Game Changers (2018)
19. American Factory (2019)
20. Street Food (2019)

Top 100 List

Introduction

This section presents the complete list of the 100 best documentaries, ranked and categorized for easy exploration. Whether you're interested in environmental issues, true crime mysteries, or powerful biographical stories, this compilation offers something for every documentary enthusiast.

1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)
2. Making a Murderer (2015)
3. Planet Earth (2006)
4. Amy (2015)
5. 13th (2016)
6. Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
7. The Last Dance (2020)
8. Free Solo (2018)
9. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
10. Blackfish (2013)
11. Cowspiracy (2014)
12. The Social Dilemma (2020)
13. Bowling for Columbine (2002)
14. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
15. The Cove (2009)
16. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
17. Fire in Paradise (2019)
18. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
19. Paris is Burning (1990)
20. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
21. The Imposter (2012)
22. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
23. Grizzly Man (2005)
24. The Fog of War (2003)
25. Inside Job (2010)
26. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
27. Crip Camp (2020)
28. Hitting the Apex (2015)
29. Miss Americana (2020)
30. Apollo 11 (2019)
31. Hoop Dreams (1994)
32. Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
33. The Central Park Five (2012)
34. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
35. Last Breath (2019)
36. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
37. Wild Wild Country (2018)
38. Life Itself (2014)
39. Citizenfour (2014)
40. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
41. The Game Changers (2018)
42. Gleason (2016)
43. For Sama (2019)
44. Life in a Day (2011)
45. Restrepo (2010)
46. Tales by Light (2015)
47. The Up Series (1964-ongoing)
48. The Keepers (2017)
49. Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
50. The True Cost (2015)
51. Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
52. Sherpa (2015)
53. Helvetica (2007)
54. The September Issue (2009)
55. Wild China (2008)
56. The Devil We Know (2018)
57. Street Food (2019)
58. The Farthest (2017)
59. Cartel Land (2015)
60. The Act of Killing (2012)
61. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
62. Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
63. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
64. Team Foxcatcher (2016)
65. LA 92 (2017)
66. Knock Down the House (2019)
67. American Factory (2019)
68. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016)
69. Faces Places (2017)
70. Born Into Brothels (2004)
71. Home (2009)
72. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
73. 13 Minutes (2015)
74. Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
75. What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
76. Virunga (2014)
77. The Ivory Game (2016)
78. Fyre (2019)
79. Dirty Money (2018)
80. The Staircase (2004)
81. LA 92 (2017)
82. Fire in Paradise (2019)
83. Hubble (2010)
84. Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
85. Apollo 11 (2019)
86. Sherpa (2015)
87. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
88. Helvetica (2007)
89. Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
90. Hitting the Apex (2015)
91. The Farthest (2017)
92. Inside Job (2010)
93. The Devil We Know (2018)
94. The Game Changers (2018)
95. 13 Assassins (2010)
96. Restrepo (2010)
97. Knock Down the House (2019)
98. Team Foxcatcher (2016)
99. Our Planet (2019)
100. Last Chance U (2016)

Top 100 Table

Top 100 Table

Introduction

Explore the complete table that ranks the top 100 documentaries, detailing their topics and taglines. This is your quick reference guide for discovering the most impactful and compelling documentaries to watch.

Rank	Name	Topic	Tagline
1	The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
2	Making a Murderer	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
3	Planet Earth	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
4	Amy	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
5	13th	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
6	Won't You Be My Neighbor?	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
7	The Last Dance	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
8	Free Solo	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
9	Searching for Sugar Man	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
10	Blackfish	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
11	Cowspiracy	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
12	The Social Dilemma	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
13	Bowling for Columbine	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
14	Fahrenheit 9/11	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
15	The Cove	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
16	David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
17	Fire in Paradise	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
18	Jiro Dreams of Sushi	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
19	Paris is Burning	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
20	My Octopus Teacher	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
21	The Imposter	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
22	Exit Through the Gift Shop	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
23	Grizzly Man	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
24	The Fog of War	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
25	Inside Job	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
26	Searching for Sugar Man	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
27	Crip Camp	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
28	Hitting the Apex	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
29	Miss Americana	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
30	Apollo 11	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
31	Hoop Dreams	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
32	Abducted in Plain Sight	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
33	The Central Park Five	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
34	Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
35	Last Breath	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
36	Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
37	Wild Wild Country	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
38	Life Itself	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
39	Citizenfour	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
40	An Inconvenient Truth	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
41	The Game Changers	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
42	Gleason	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
43	For Sama	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
44	Life in a Day	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
45	Restrepo	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
46	Tales by Light	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
47	The Up Series	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
48	The Keepers	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
49	Zeitgeist: The Movie	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
50	The True Cost	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
51	Happy People: A Year in the Taiga	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
52	Sherpa	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
53	Helvetica	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
54	The September Issue	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
55	Wild China	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
56	The Devil We Know	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
57	Street Food	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
58	The Farthest	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
59	Cartel Land	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
60	The Act of Killing	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
61	David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
62	Hot Girls Wanted	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
63	The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
64	Team Foxcatcher	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
65	LA 92	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
66	Knock Down the House	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
67	American Factory	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
68	Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
69	Faces Places	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
70	Born Into Brothels	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
71	Home	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
72	The Salt of the Earth	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
73	13 Minutes	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
74	Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
75	What Happened, Miss Simone?	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
76	Virunga	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
77	The Ivory Game	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
78	Fyre	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
79	Dirty Money	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
80	The Staircase	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
81	LA 92	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
82	Fire in Paradise	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
83	Hubble	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
84	Zeitgeist: The Movie	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
85	Apollo 11	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
86	Sherpa	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
87	The Salt of the Earth	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
88	Helvetica	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
89	Happy People: A Year in the Taiga	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
90	Hitting the Apex	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
91	The Farthest	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
92	Inside Job	Political Commentary	"Examining our world through a critical lens."
93	The Devil We Know	True Crime	"Gripping real-life stories that delve into mysteries and justice."
94	The Game Changers	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
95	13 Assassins	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
96	Restrepo	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
97	Knock Down the House	Biographical	"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
98	Team Foxcatcher	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
99	Our Planet	Environmental	"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
100	Last Chance U	Sports and Adventure	"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."

Conclusion

This complete table showcases a variety of impactful documentaries that span numerous topics, including true crime, biographical stories, environmental insights, and political commentary. These documentaries not only entertain but also educate and inspire viewers to think deeply about the world around them. Dive into this collection and find your next great watch!

Conclusion

From awe-inspiring nature documentaries to thought-provoking true crime and political pieces, these top 100 documentaries showcase the power of storytelling. They open windows into different worlds, challenging viewers to question, learn, and empathize.

Images