Trying to explore movies that offer windows into reality? Documentary movies are the go-to genre. They present facts in a powerful, compelling way, and are a real source of profound knowledge. The unique thing about this genre? It shows those elements of real life that are often more thrilling and thought-provoking than any fiction. This is coupled with their ability to capture human experience.
Want to discover your next great watch? Here, we’ve put together our expert list of the top 10 best documentary movies to stream. From gripping true crime docs and stunning nature docs to insightful political documentaries, our list of movies is ranked by what’s popular and trending. Find your next essential documentary easily and start streaming the best documentary movies right now.
What are the best documentary movies to watch now?
Ensuring the recommendations are both high-quality and relevant to what viewers are watching, a detailed approach is the foundation of our reviews. But what else do we explore? We check out the public opinion through social media and what’s currently trending across major streaming platforms. And we focus on documentaries that have received positive criticism and strike a chord with a wide audience. From true crime and captivating nature to insightful political documentaries, we’ve got plenty to explore.
Plus, not only do we look at film’s genre and key cast members, but we even include which streaming service it’s available on, the title, a short synopsis, the director, and its runtime. Check out this comprehensive guide, where we give you all the information you need to make an informed streaming choice.
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Documentary •Music •Musical
Overview
The individual journeys of the four members of the band, as they move through the music scene of the 1960s, playing small clubs throughout Britain and performing some of the biggest hits of the era, until their meeting in the summer of 1968 for a rehearsal that changes their lives forever.
Director
Bernard MacMahon
Cast
Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
Duration
122 minutes
The Dark Emu Story
Documentary
Overview
A thought provoking, revelatory and inspiring documentary telling the story of Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu – the publishing phenomenon that challenged Australia to rethink its history and ignited a raging debate.
Director
Allan Clarke
Cast
Bruce Pascoe, Stan Grant, Narelda Jacobs, Marcia Langton, Stephen Page
Duration
82 minutes
Nang Nak
Drama •Crime •Documentary
Overview
In a rural village in Thailand, Mak is sent to fight in a war and leaves his pregnant wife, Nak. Mak is injured and barely survives. He returns home to his doting wife and child, or so he thinks.
Director
Nonzee Nimibutr
Cast
Inthira Charoenpura, Winai Kraibutr, Manit Meekaewjaroen, Pramote Suksatit
Duration
100 minutes
No Other Land
Documentary
Overview
This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.
Director
Rachel Szor
Cast
Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Farisa Abu Aram, Nasser Adra, Harun Abu Aram
Duration
96 minutes
David Stratton: A Cinematic Life
Documentary
Overview
A compelling personal journey with David Stratton, as he relates the fascinating development of our cinema history. David guides us from his boyhood cinema experience of Australia in England, where he saw the first images of this strange and exotic landscape via the medium of film, to his migration to Australia as a ‘ten pound pom’ in 1963 and onto his present day reflections on the iconic themes that run through our cinematic legacy. All of this reflects a passionate engagement in a uniquely Australian medium. Parallel and at the heart of the series is the story of an industry whose growing pains David has witnessed over a lifetime. Alongside David, the protagonists of this history are the giants of Australian cinema – both behind the camera and in front of it.
Director
Sally Aitken
Cast
David Stratton, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Anne-Louise Lambert, Margaret Pomeranz
Duration
102 minutes
Lynch / Oz
Documentary
Overview
Victor Fleming’s 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is one of David Lynch’s most enduring obsessions. This documentary goes over the rainbow to explore this Technicolor through-line in Lynch’s work.
Director
Alexandre O. Philippe
Cast
Milkhaus, Amy Nicholson, Rodney Ascher, John Waters, Karyn Kusama
Duration
108 minutes
Supersonic
Music •Documentary •Musical •History
Overview
Supersonic charts the meteoric rise of Oasis from the council estates of Manchester to some of the biggest concerts of all time in just three short years. This palpable, raw and moving film shines a light on one of the most genre and generation-defining British bands that has ever existed and features candid new interviews with Noel and Liam Gallagher, their mother, and members of the band and road crew.
Director
Mat Whitecross
Cast
Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul Gallagher, Peggy Gallagher
Duration
113 minutes
The Biggest Little Farm
Documentary •Family •Kids
Overview
The successes and failures of a couple determined to live in harmony with nature on a farm outside of Los Angeles are lovingly chronicled by filmmaking farmer John Chester, in this inspiring documentary.
Director
John Chester
Cast
John Chester
Duration
91 minutes
The Bridge
Documentary •Drama
Overview
The Bridge is a controversial documentary that shows people jumping to their death from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco – the world’s most popular suicide destination. Interviews with the victims’ loved ones describe their lives and mental health.
Director
Eric Steel
Duration
94 minutes
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse
Documentary
Overview
A chronicle of the production problems — including bad weather, actors’ health, war near the filming locations, and more — which plagued the filming of Apocalypse Now, increasing costs and nearly destroying the life and career of Francis Ford Coppola.
Director
Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, Eleanor Coppola
Cast
Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor Coppola, Orson Welles, John Milius
Duration
96 minutes
Frequently asked questions
As a non-fiction film that explores a real subject, this genre stands alone. And unlike a regular movie, which is a work of fiction designed to entertain, documentaries are constructed to inform and raise awareness. Of course, they take a close look at real-life events and people. But what’s more, they incorporate interviews and archival footage to present a compelling narrative grounded in fact.
We check out a combination of elements that reflect their critical and popular appeal, looking closely at what’s currently trending across major streaming platforms. We then have a close look at public opinion to gauge what is resonating with a broad audience. What we aim to do is present a mix of films that not only have earned awards, but also genuinely captivate viewers.
It’s true that, yes, documentaries are created to tell factual stories. But they are ultimately a creative form of storytelling. What a filmmaker decides to include and leave out impacts the viewer’s perspective. And we can consider documentaries as a filmmaker’s unique take on a subject, using real information to construct a powerful and persuasive narrative.
The format is the main difference between these two genres. Documentaries, on the one hand, are single, self-contained films and the docuseries genre presents a longer, episodic production. So, you will notice that the latter explores a topic or story over multiple episodes, providing deeper exploration of subplots and characters over an extended period.
No doubt about it – documentaries are recognised at the highest levels of filmmaking. In fact, this is seen in the fact that the Academy Awards have a dedicated category for Best Documentary Feature, and other notable ceremonies like the International Documentary Association Awards also honour the genre. So, as these awards celebrate the artistic and social impact of documentaries, it’s clear they are just as important as fictional films.
This isn’t too difficult thanks to major streaming platforms, which have dedicated sections for documentary content. Want to find them more easily? You can also explore specialised streaming services, many of which focus exclusively on documentary films and series. Keep in mind that your local library will also often provides free access to a wide selection of documentaries through platforms like Kanopy.
Since they’re seeking authentic, meaningful stories that connect them to the real world, people look to documentaries for unique and in-depth looks at genuine lives and important issues simply because they provide as a trusted source of information. They’re an educational tool, offering insight and sparking conversations about tangible topics.
From true crime and political scandals to captivating nature films and biographies, to historical and social issues, and even personal journeys the incredible range of subjects documentaries cover is wide in scope. What the most impactful ones do is to provide a clear point of view about a subject, allowing you to learn something new.
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