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."
- The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)
- Making a Murderer (2015)
- Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
- The Imposter (2012)
- The Staircase (2004)
- Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
- The Central Park Five (2012)
- Wild Wild Country (2018)
- The Keepers (2017)
- Tickled (2016)
- Fyre (2019)
- Cartel Land (2015)
- Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
- The Devil We Know (2018)
- Dirty Money (2018)
- The China Hustle (2017)
- 13 Cameras (2015)
- American Factory (2019)
- Citizenfour (2014)
- Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
Environmental Documentaries¶
"Revealing the beauty and threats to our natural world."
- Planet Earth (2006)
- The Cove (2009)
- Blackfish (2013)
- An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
- Virunga (2014)
- Cowspiracy (2014)
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
- Our Planet (2019)
- The Ivory Game (2016)
- The True Cost (2015)
- Home (2009)
- Wild China (2008)
- The Salt of the Earth (2014)
- The Farthest (2017)
- Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
- Sherpa (2015)
- Life in a Day (2011)
- Hubble (2010)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- Fire in Paradise (2019)
Biographical Documentaries¶
"Uncover the lives and legacies of influential figures."
- Amy (2015)
- Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
- Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
- What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
- Gleason (2016)
- Miss Americana (2020)
- Marley (2012)
- For Sama (2019)
- Life Itself (2014)
- Paris is Burning (1990)
- The Fog of War (2003)
- Faces Places (2017)
- Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
- Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
- Born Into Brothels (2004)
- The September Issue (2009)
- Helvetica (2007)
- They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
- Crip Camp (2020)
- The Up Series (1964-ongoing)
Political and Social Commentary¶
"Examining our world through a critical lens."
- 13th (2016)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- The Social Dilemma (2020)
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
- The Act of Killing (2012)
- Inside Job (2010)
- The Great Hack (2019)
- Bowling for Columbine (2002)
- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
- The Bleeding Edge (2018)
- Won’t Back Down (2021)
- Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
- Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016)
- Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
- Last Breath (2019)
- Wild Wild Country (2018)
- LA 92 (2017)
- Street Food (2019)
- The Keepers (2017)
- Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
Sports and Adventure Documentaries¶
"Stories of endurance, adrenaline, and victory."
- Free Solo (2018)
- The Last Dance (2020)
- Grizzly Man (2005)
- Hitting the Apex (2015)
- Apollo 11 (2019)
- Team Foxcatcher (2016)
- Last Chance U (2016)
- Restrepo (2010)
- The Ivory Game (2016)
- The Farthest (2017)
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
- Fire in Paradise (2019)
- Tales by Light (2015)
- 13 Minutes (2015)
- Sherpa (2015)
- Hubble (2010)
- Crip Camp (2020)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- American Factory (2019)
- Street Food (2019)
Top 100 List¶
- The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)
- Making a Murderer (2015)
- Planet Earth (2006)
- Amy (2015)
- 13th (2016)
- Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
- The Last Dance (2020)
- Free Solo (2018)
- Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
- Blackfish (2013)
- Cowspiracy (2014)
- The Social Dilemma (2020)
- Bowling for Columbine (2002)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- The Cove (2009)
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
- Fire in Paradise (2019)
- Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
- Paris is Burning (1990)
- My Octopus Teacher (2020)
- The Imposter (2012)
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
- Grizzly Man (2005)
- The Fog of War (2003)
- Inside Job (2010)
- Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
- Crip Camp (2020)
- Hitting the Apex (2015)
- Miss Americana (2020)
- Apollo 11 (2019)
- Hoop Dreams (1994)
- Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
- The Central Park Five (2012)
- Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
- Last Breath (2019)
- Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
- Wild Wild Country (2018)
- Life Itself (2014)
- Citizenfour (2014)
- An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- Gleason (2016)
- For Sama (2019)
- Life in a Day (2011)
- Restrepo (2010)
- Tales by Light (2015)
- The Up Series (1964-ongoing)
- The Keepers (2017)
- Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
- The True Cost (2015)
- Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
- Sherpa (2015)
- Helvetica (2007)
- The September Issue (2009)
- Wild China (2008)
- The Devil We Know (2018)
- Street Food (2019)
- The Farthest (2017)
- Cartel Land (2015)
- The Act of Killing (2012)
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
- Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
- Team Foxcatcher (2016)
- LA 92 (2017)
- Knock Down the House (2019)
- American Factory (2019)
- Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2016)
- Faces Places (2017)
- Born Into Brothels (2004)
- Home (2009)
- The Salt of the Earth (2014)
- 13 Minutes (2015)
- Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
- What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
- Virunga (2014)
- The Ivory Game (2016)
- Fyre (2019)
- Dirty Money (2018)
- The Staircase (2004)
- LA 92 (2017)
- Fire in Paradise (2019)
- Hubble (2010)
- Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007)
- Apollo 11 (2019)
- Sherpa (2015)
- The Salt of the Earth (2014)
- Helvetica (2007)
- Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
- Hitting the Apex (2015)
- The Farthest (2017)
- Inside Job (2010)
- The Devil We Know (2018)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- 13 Assassins (2010)
- Restrepo (2010)
- Knock Down the House (2019)
- Team Foxcatcher (2016)
- Our Planet (2019)
- Last Chance U (2016)
Top 100 Table¶
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." |
Images¶
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.