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Best Documentary Movies

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2,283 results

2,283 results

1,489. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

Jul 7, 2006 • Rated PG-13

It was 1977 and one of New York’s most tumultuous and decadent summers. Then, in the midst of blackouts, riots, the Son of Sam serial killer scare and the dawn of Studio 54, came an entirely unexpected moment of inspiration: the rise of the New York Cosmos, America’s first great soccer team, and its larger-than-life superstar, Pelé. Suddenly embraced by a city obsessed with celebrity and flamboyance, the Cosmos kicked off America’s first passionate love affair with the world’s most popular sport & found themselves swept up in a careening path of glory, glamour, debauchery and controversy. (Miramax Films)

1,490. Web Junkie

Aug 6, 2014 • Rated Not Rated

China is the first country to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder. With extraordinary intimacy, Web Junkie investigates a Beijing rehab center where Chinese teenagers are deprogrammed, focusing on three teens, their parents and the health professionals determined to help them kick their habit.

1,491. Rock School

Jun 3, 2005 • Rated R

Far from your typical documentary, Rock School follows the trials and tribulations of far from your typical music school. Welcome to the hallowed halls of the Paul Green School of Rock Music, an after-school, Philadelphia institute of rock, where kids ages nine to seventeen learn the how-to's of rock and roll and serve under the tutelage of self-titles "uberlord" and founder of the school, Paul Green. (Newmarket Films)

1,492. Bones Brigade: An Autobiography

Nov 2, 2012 • Rated PG

It's not a death metal band, an extreme diet club or historic dominoes association—the Bones Brigade was a talented gang of teenage outcasts. Unmotivated by fame or popularity, they completely dedicated their lives to a disrespected art form. For most of the 1980s, this misfit crew headed by a 1970s ex-skateboard champion blasted the industry with a mixture of art and raw talent becoming the most popular skateboarding team in history. The core unit of the Bones Brigade built an empire that covered the world. They dominated contests, made hundreds of thousands of dollars, created the modern skateboard video, reinvented endemic advertising, pushed skate progression into a new era, and set the stage for a totally new form of skating called street style. There's nothing comparable in today's skateboarding. This is a documentary about them. (Union Avenue Productions)

1,493. Dealt

Oct 20, 2017 • Rated Not Rated

One of the most renowned card magicians of all time, Richard Turner astounds audiences around the world with his legendary sleight of hand. What they may not even realize—and what makes his achievements all the more amazing—is that he is completely blind. Charting Turner’s colorful life from his tumultuous childhood to the present, Dealt reveals how through determination and force of will, he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to rise to the top of his profession. [Sundance Selects]

1,494. We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen

Aug 26, 2005 • Rated Not Rated

This feature length documentary chronicles the ground breaking, early 80's punk rock band from their humble beginnings in the harbor town of San Pedro, CA to their tragic and untimely demise when lead signer and guitarist D. Boon was killed in a van accident in December of 1985. (Rocket Fuel Films)

1,495. Being Mary Tyler Moore

May 26, 2023 • Rated TV-PG

With unprecedented access to Mary Tyler Moore’s vast archive, Being Mary Tyler Moore chronicles the screen icon whose storied career spanned sixty years. Weaving Moore’s personal narrative with the beats of her professional accomplishments, the film highlights her groundbreaking roles and the indelible impact she had on generations of women who came after her.

1,496. Tupac: Resurrection

Nov 14, 2003 • Rated R

Celebrating the life of Tupac Shakur, one off the top-selling hip-hop artists of all time, this film explores Shakur's life viscerally and dramatically through his own words and music. (Paramount Pictures)

1,497. To Be Takei

Aug 22, 2014 • Rated Not Rated

Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei boldly journeyed from a WWII internment camp, to the helm of the starship Enterprise, to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband Brad on this star's playful and profound trek for life, liberty, and love.

1,498. LA 92

Apr 28, 2017 • Rated R

LA 92 looks at the events of 1992 from a multitude of vantage points, bringing a fresh perspective to a pivotal moment that reverberates to this day. Told entirely through stunning and rarely seen archival footage, the film captures the shock, disappointment and fury felt by many Angelenos, particularly those in the African-American community, following the outcomes of two back-to-back, highly publicized trials.

1,499. The Take

Sep 22, 2004 • Rated Unrated

A compelling political thriller that pits ordinary workers in suburban Buenos Aires against the local ruling elite and the powerful forces of global capitalism. (First Run/Icarus Films)

1,500. Darfur Now

Nov 2, 2007 • Rated PG

Darfur Now is a story of hope in the midst of one of humanity's darkest hours--a call to action for people everywhere to end the catastrophe unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. In this documentary, the struggles and achievements of six different individuals from inside Darfur and around the world bring to light the tragedy in Sudan and show how the actions of one person can make a difference to millions. (Warner Independent Pictures)

1,501. Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine

Dec 3, 2004 • Rated PG

This documentary captures the drama and history surrounding the precedent shattering chess match where, Garry Kasparov - arguably the greatest human player ever - lost to IBM computer Deep Blue. (ThinkFilm)

1,502. Unmistaken Child

Jun 3, 2009 • Rated Not Rated

The Buddhist concept of reincarnation, while both mysterious and enchanting, is hard for most westerners to grasp. Unmistaken Child follows the 4-year search for the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a world-renowned Tibetan master who passed away in 2001 at age 84. The Dalai Lama charges the deceased monk's devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa (who had been in his service since the age of seven), to search for his master's reincarnation. (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

1,503. Much Ado About Something

This humorous documentary explores the premise that the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare were actually written by Christopher Marlowe.

1,504. Last Dance

Jul 12, 2002 • Rated Not Rated

An inside look at one of the most innovative dance companies, the Pilobolus Dance Theatre. This documentary follows the development of the dance from its conception, through the process of improvisation and composition, to the premiere and beyond. (First Run Features)

1,505. The Lost Arcade

Aug 12, 2016 • Rated Not Rated

The legendary arcade Chinatown Fair opened on Mott Street in the 1940's. Rival chinatown gangs, a tic-tac-toe playing chicken, an eccentric New York rapper, and a Pakistani immigrant’s religious vision all had a part in making the arcade what it was. By the 1990’s, Chinatown Fair was a grungy downtown dive with teenagers drinking beers in the back playing Street Fighter. It was also home to an ultra competitive crew of fighting game players that were the best in the world. When Chinatown Fair became the last arcade in New York it transformed into something that was far greater than just a place to spend pocket change playing games.

1,506. Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers

Jul 31, 2013 • Rated Not Rated

In their own words and with unprecedented access, the most successful jewel thieves of all time take you into their world: the post-Milosovic Balkans, the modern diamond trade and a 21st Century crime gang. But as the thieves brazenly commit their crimes across the world - Europe, Asia and UEA - Interpol and global police forces are tightening their grip. As many of the criminals responsible are caught and extradited, the film asks: Is this the end of the Pink Panthers?

1,507. Born to Be Wild

Apr 8, 2011 • Rated G

Born to be Wild 3D is an inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them—saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured in IMAX 3D, Born to be Wild 3D is a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne Sheldrick, as they and their team rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild. (Warner Bros.)

1,508. An Open Secret

Jun 5, 2015 • Rated Unrated

An investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry.

1,509. Patti Smith: Dream of Life

Aug 6, 2008 • Rated Not Rated

When people ask her "How does it feel to be a rock icon?" Patti Smith says she "always thinks of Mount Rushmore." Steven Sebring's directorial debut takes a lyrical, stream-of-consciousness approach that is exactly right in his affecting portrait of the "rock-and-roll Joan of Arc." She can bring a crowd of devotees to its feet chanting "Glor-i-a!" as effectively as she can share her pain over the early death of her husband, Fred Smith, her brother, her close friend Robert Mapplethorpe, and other artists she admires. Everyone knows that Patti Smith's music, poetry, and politics are fearless, funny, raw, and original. But this film also captures her physical presence--her gamine beauty and charming, self-effacing style--that will take you by surprise and leave you deeply moved. (Palm Pictures)

1,510. Vita Activa: The Spirit of Hannah Arendt

The German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt caused an uproar in the 1960s by coining the subversive concept of the "Banality of Evil" when referring to the trial of Adolph Eichmann, which she covered for the New Yorker magazine. Her private life was no less controversial thanks to her early love affair with the renowned German philosopher and Nazi supporter Martin Heidegger. This documentary, with its abundance of archival materials, offers an intimate portrait of the whole of Arendt's life, traveling to places where she lived, worked, loved, and was betrayed, as she wrote about the open wounds of modern times. [Zeitgeist Films]

1,511. Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton

Sep 29, 2017 • Rated Not Rated

Laird Hamilton is perhaps the greatest big wave surfer of all time, a living legend who has tamed some of the world’s mightiest waves. Amongst the surf community, he is also one of the most controversial figures, an innovator who has revolutionized the sport often to the dismay of purists. This thrilling, up-close portrait traces Hamilton’s remarkable journey, from his rebellious childhood in Hawaii to his fearless first forays into surfing to his relentless pursuit of ever-bigger waves, a quest that ultimately led him to conquer what’s been called “the heaviest wave ever ridden.” [Sundance Selects]

1,512. Pink Ribbons, Inc.

Jun 1, 2012 • Rated Not Rated

Breast cancer has become the poster child of corporate cause-related marketing campaigns. Countless women and men walk, bike, climb and shop for the cure. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve? (First Run Features)

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Titles with fewer than 7 critic reviews are excluded.