30 Best Documentaries of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · June 11, 2026

Drama thought provoking

Real life, shot and cut with care, can be more gripping than most scripted films. O.J.: Made in America follows O.J. Simpson’s rise and fall against the backdrop of race in Los Angeles, Senna tells Ayrton Senna’s whole story through archive footage alone, and Dear Zachary turns a tribute to a murdered friend into a custody nightmare. For a change of pace there’s Free Solo, Hoop Dreams, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and the street-art oddity Exit Through the Gift Shop.

O.J.: Made in America (2016)

01

O.J.: Made in America (2016)

IMDb ★ 8.9 RT 100%

A sprawling account of O.J. Simpson's rise, trial and fall against the backdrop of race in Los Angeles.

Directed by Ezra Edelman · 7h 47m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar49 wins & 35 nominations

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Senna (2010)

02

Senna (2010)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 93% Metacritic 79

Formula One driver Ayrton Senna's career and death told entirely through archival race footage.

Directed by Asif Kapadia · 1h 46m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 BAFTA Awards20 wins & 19 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dear Zachary (2008)

03

Dear Zachary (2008)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 94% Metacritic 82

A filmmaker's tribute to his murdered friend turns into a custody nightmare involving the killer.

Directed by Kurt Kuenne · 1h 34m · Rated NR

2 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

04

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 97% Metacritic 85

A look at Fred Rogers' quiet, deliberate philosophy behind decades of children's television.

Directed by Morgan Neville · 1h 35m · Rated PG-13

54 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Cove (2009)

05

The Cove (2009)

IMDb ★ 6.1

Activists secretly film a hidden Japanese cove where dolphins are captured and slaughtered.

Directed by Boo Junfeng · 0h 19m

Where to watch

Stream: Film Movement Plus

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

13th (2016)

06

13th (2016)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 97% Metacritic 81

A documentary tracing a line from slavery to the modern American prison system.

Directed by Ava DuVernay · 1h 40m

Nominated for 1 Oscar32 wins & 47 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Apollo 11 (2019)

07

Apollo 11 (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 99% Metacritic 88

Restored, never-before-seen footage rebuilds the moon landing mission almost in real time.

Directed by Todd Douglas Miller · 1h 33m · Rated G

Won 3 Primetime Emmys59 wins & 44 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, History Vault, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hoop Dreams (1994)

08

Hoop Dreams (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 98% Metacritic 98

Two Chicago teenagers' basketball dreams are tracked over years of real hardship and hope.

Directed by Steve James · 2h 54m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar23 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Act of Killing (2012)

09

The Act of Killing (2012)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 96% Metacritic 92

Indonesian death-squad leaders re-enact their real 1960s killings as though they were making a movie.

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer · 2h 39m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar55 wins & 46 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Free Solo (2018)

10

Free Solo (2018)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 97% Metacritic 83

A climber attempts to scale Yosemite's El Capitan with no rope and no margin for error.

Directed by Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar32 wins & 54 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Citizenfour (2014)

11

Citizenfour (2014)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 96% Metacritic 88

Edward Snowden's NSA leaks are filmed in real time from inside his Hong Kong hotel room.

Directed by Laura Poitras · 1h 53m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar44 wins & 40 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

12

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 96% Metacritic 85

An amateur filmmaker's obsession with street art turns him into an accidental art-world phenomenon.

Directed by Banksy · 1h 26m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar24 wins & 31 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Fog of War (2003)

13

The Fog of War (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 96% Metacritic 87

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara reflects on the wars he helped shape.

Directed by Errol Morris · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar14 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

14

Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 95% Metacritic 79

Two South African fans investigate what really happened to a forgotten American musician.

Directed by Malik Bendjelloul · 1h 25m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar44 wins & 33 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blackfish (2013)

15

Blackfish (2013)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 98% Metacritic 83

A captive orca's history of violent incidents exposes SeaWorld's treatment of its performing animals.

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite · 1h 23m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award7 wins & 42 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Thin Blue Line (1988)

16

The Thin Blue Line (1988)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 100% Metacritic 79

A filmmaker's investigation into a wrongful murder conviction helps overturn it in real life.

Directed by Errol Morris · 1h 43m · Rated NR

12 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Criterion Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

17

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 95% Metacritic 72

An investigation into America's gun culture in the aftermath of the Columbine shooting.

Directed by Michael Moore · 2h 00m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar39 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

18

Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 99% Metacritic 77

An 85-year-old sushi master's relentless pursuit of perfection at his tiny Tokyo restaurant.

Directed by David Gelb · 1h 22m · Rated PG

3 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Man on Wire (2008)

19

Man on Wire (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 100% Metacritic 89

A Frenchman's illegal high-wire walk between the Twin Towers, told like an actual heist.

Directed by James Marsh · 1h 34m · Rated PG-13

Won 1 Oscar46 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Icarus (2017)

20

Icarus (2017)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 92% Metacritic 68

An amateur cyclist's doping experiment stumbles into exposing Russia's state-sponsored Olympic scandal.

Directed by Bryan Fogel · 2h 01m

Won 1 Oscar9 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Amy (2015)

21

Amy (2015)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 96% Metacritic 85

Amy Winehouse's rise and fall, told entirely through home video and her own recorded voice.

Directed by Asif Kapadia · 2h 08m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar51 wins & 47 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spellbound (2002)

22

Spellbound (2002)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 97% Metacritic 80

Eight kids compete in the National Spelling Bee, each carrying wildly different family expectations.

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz · 1h 37m

Nominated for 1 Oscar17 wins & 19 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Grizzly Man (2005)

23

Grizzly Man (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 93% Metacritic 87

A bear enthusiast's years of self-filmed footage reveal exactly how his story ends.

Directed by Werner Herzog · 1h 43m · Rated R

22 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Restrepo (2010)

24

Restrepo (2010)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 97% Metacritic 85

Embedded journalists document a platoon's deployment at one of Afghanistan's deadliest outposts.

Directed by Tim Hetherington & Sebastian Junger · 1h 33m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar10 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Grey Gardens (1975)

25

Grey Gardens (1975)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 95% Metacritic 83

A reclusive mother and daughter, relatives of Jackie Kennedy, live in genteel squalor in their decaying mansion.

Directed by Ellen Giffard & Muffie Meyer · 1h 35m · Rated PG

5 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Imposter (2012)

26

The Imposter (2012)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 95% Metacritic 77

A missing Texas boy's family accepts a returned 'son' who looks nothing like him.

Directed by Bart Layton · 1h 39m · Rated R

Won 1 BAFTA Award13 wins & 34 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

27

20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 99% Metacritic 83

Backing singers who shaped decades of hit records finally get their turn in the spotlight.

Directed by Morgan Neville · 1h 29m · Rated NR

Won 1 Oscar22 wins & 27 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Tiger King (2020)

28

Tiger King (2020)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A big-cat zoo owner's feud with an animal-rights rival spirals into an actual murder-for-hire plot.

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Super Size Me (2004)

29

Super Size Me (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.2 Metacritic 73

A filmmaker eats nothing but McDonald's for thirty days to document what happens to his body.

Directed by Morgan Spurlock · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar7 wins & 13 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Catfish (2010)

30

Catfish (2010)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 80% Metacritic 65

A man's online romance turns out to be a far stranger story than he expected.

Directed by Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost · 1h 27m · Rated PG-13

2 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.