Best Documentaries of All Time

The best documentaries by audience rating and number of votes. Each movie links to a list of similar ones. Still can't decide? Swipe to find yours.

1. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)
★ 8.4 · 621 votes · Documentary, Music
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
Movies like Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me →
2. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
★ 8.4 · 470 votes · Documentary, Drama
The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.
Movies like David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet →
3. Human (2015)
★ 8.4 · 315 votes · Documentary
A collection of stories about and images of our world, offering an immersion to the core of what it means to be human. Through these stories full of love and happiness, as well as hatred and violence, it brings us face to face with the Other, making us reflect on our lives. From stories of everyday experiences to accounts of the most unbelievable lives, these poignant encounters share a rare sincerity and underline who we are – our darker side, but also what is most noble in us, and what is universal. Our Earth is shown at its most sublime through never-before-seen aerial images accompanied by soaring music, resulting in an ode to the beauty of the world, providing a moment to draw breath and for introspection. This film is a politically engaged work which allows us to embrace the human condition and to reflect on the meaning of our existence.
Movies like Human →
4. Everybody’s Everything (2019)
★ 8.4 · 311 votes · Documentary
The story of artist Lil Peep from his birth in Long Island and meteoric rise as a genre blending pop star & style icon, to his death due to an accidental opioid overdose in Arizona at just 21 years of age.
Movies like Everybody’s Everything →
5. Stop Making Sense (1984)
★ 8.3 · 398 votes · Documentary, Music
A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.
Movies like Stop Making Sense →
6. Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
★ 8.3 · 436 votes · Music, Documentary
Burn the Stage: the Movie is the first movie from BTS, going behind-the-scenes of the BTS WINGS TOUR to reveal the full story of the band’s meteoric rise to fame. This unmissable film provides an intimate look at what happens when the most successful global boy band of all time breaks down barriers and invades the mainstream music scene. Exclusive tour footage and brand-new one-on-one interviews with BTS members give fans an unprecedented glimpse into their lives and an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together worldwide.
Movies like Burn the Stage: The Movie →
7. Ennio (2022)
★ 8.3 · 392 votes · Documentary, Music, History
A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of over five hundred unforgettable scores.
Movies like Ennio →
8. Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
★ 8.3 · 463 votes · Music, Documentary
A glimpse into K-pop group BTS’ world away from the stage, featuring intimate group discussions alongside spectacular concert performances from their world tour.
Movies like Bring the Soul: The Movie →
9. Love Meetings (1965)
★ 8.2 · 301 votes · Documentary
Pier Paolo Pasolini sets out to interview Italians about sex, apparently their least favorite thing to talk about in public: he asks children if they know where babies come from; asks old and young women if they support gender equality; asks both sexes if a woman's virginity still matters, what do they think of homosexuality, if divorce should be legal, or if they support the recent abolition of brothels. He interviews blue-collar workers, intellectuals, college students, rural farmers, the bourgeoisie, and every other kind of people, painting a vivid portrait of a rapidly-industrializing Italy, hanging between modernity and tradition — toward both of which Pasolini shows equal distrust.
Movies like Love Meetings →
10. For Sama (2019)
★ 8.2 · 320 votes · Documentary, War
A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.
Movies like For Sama →
11. Baraka (1992)
★ 8.2 · 726 votes · Documentary
A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.
Movies like Baraka →
12. One Direction: This Is Us (2013)
★ 8.2 · 1,081 votes · Documentary, Music
"One Direction: This Is Us" is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it's really like to be One Direction.
Movies like One Direction: This Is Us →
13. BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul (2019)
★ 8.2 · 462 votes · Music, Documentary
Shot at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul during the BTS World Tour ‘Love Yourself’ to celebrate the seven members of the global boyband and their unprecedented international phenomenon.
Movies like BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul →
14. Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry (2021)
★ 8.2 · 351 votes · Documentary, Music
This documentary offers a deeply intimate look at extraordinary teenager Billie Eilish. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler follows her journey on the road, onstage, and at home with her family as the writing and recording of her debut album changes her life.
Movies like Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry →
15. BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (2020)
★ 8.2 · 532 votes · Documentary, Music
Record-shattering Korean girl band BLACKPINK tell their story — and detail the hard fought journey of the dreams and trials behind their meteoric rise.
Movies like BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky →
16. Senna (2010)
★ 8.1 · 1,252 votes · Documentary
The remarkable story of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of Senna, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend's years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his untimely death a decade later.
Movies like Senna →
17. Earthlings (2005)
★ 8.1 · 349 votes · Documentary
Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, Earthlings chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.
Movies like Earthlings →
18. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
★ 8.1 · 698 votes · Documentary
During the last forty years, the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the continents, in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed the major events of our recent history: international conflicts, starvations and exodus… He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of the wild fauna and flora, of grandiose landscapes: a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty. Salgado's life and work are revealed to us by his son, Juliano, who went with him during his last journeys, and by Wim Wenders, a photographer himself.
Movies like The Salt of the Earth →
19. 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
★ 8.1 · 323 votes · Documentary, War
As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.
Movies like 20 Days in Mariupol →
20. Samsara (2011)
★ 8.1 · 713 votes · Documentary
Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.
Movies like Samsara →

Best Documentaries of All Time

The best documentaries by audience rating and number of votes. Each movie links to a list of similar ones. Still can't decide? Swipe to find yours.

1. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)
★ 8.4 · 621 votes · Documentary, Music
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
Movies like Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me →
2. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
★ 8.4 · 470 votes · Documentary, Drama
The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.
Movies like David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet →
3. Human (2015)
★ 8.4 · 315 votes · Documentary
A collection of stories about and images of our world, offering an immersion to the core of what it means to be human. Through these stories full of love and happiness, as well as hatred and violence, it brings us face to face with the Other, making us reflect on our lives. From stories of everyday experiences to accounts of the most unbelievable lives, these poignant encounters share a rare sincerity and underline who we are – our darker side, but also what is most noble in us, and what is universal. Our Earth is shown at its most sublime through never-before-seen aerial images accompanied by soaring music, resulting in an ode to the beauty of the world, providing a moment to draw breath and for introspection. This film is a politically engaged work which allows us to embrace the human condition and to reflect on the meaning of our existence.
Movies like Human →
4. Everybody’s Everything (2019)
★ 8.4 · 311 votes · Documentary
The story of artist Lil Peep from his birth in Long Island and meteoric rise as a genre blending pop star & style icon, to his death due to an accidental opioid overdose in Arizona at just 21 years of age.
Movies like Everybody’s Everything →
5. Stop Making Sense (1984)
★ 8.3 · 398 votes · Documentary, Music
A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.
Movies like Stop Making Sense →
6. Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
★ 8.3 · 436 votes · Music, Documentary
Burn the Stage: the Movie is the first movie from BTS, going behind-the-scenes of the BTS WINGS TOUR to reveal the full story of the band’s meteoric rise to fame. This unmissable film provides an intimate look at what happens when the most successful global boy band of all time breaks down barriers and invades the mainstream music scene. Exclusive tour footage and brand-new one-on-one interviews with BTS members give fans an unprecedented glimpse into their lives and an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together worldwide.
Movies like Burn the Stage: The Movie →
7. Ennio (2022)
★ 8.3 · 392 votes · Documentary, Music, History
A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of over five hundred unforgettable scores.
Movies like Ennio →
8. Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
★ 8.3 · 463 votes · Music, Documentary
A glimpse into K-pop group BTS’ world away from the stage, featuring intimate group discussions alongside spectacular concert performances from their world tour.
Movies like Bring the Soul: The Movie →
9. Love Meetings (1965)
★ 8.2 · 301 votes · Documentary
Pier Paolo Pasolini sets out to interview Italians about sex, apparently their least favorite thing to talk about in public: he asks children if they know where babies come from; asks old and young women if they support gender equality; asks both sexes if a woman's virginity still matters, what do they think of homosexuality, if divorce should be legal, or if they support the recent abolition of brothels. He interviews blue-collar workers, intellectuals, college students, rural farmers, the bourgeoisie, and every other kind of people, painting a vivid portrait of a rapidly-industrializing Italy, hanging between modernity and tradition — toward both of which Pasolini shows equal distrust.
Movies like Love Meetings →
10. For Sama (2019)
★ 8.2 · 320 votes · Documentary, War
A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.
Movies like For Sama →
11. Baraka (1992)
★ 8.2 · 726 votes · Documentary
A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.
Movies like Baraka →
12. One Direction: This Is Us (2013)
★ 8.2 · 1,081 votes · Documentary, Music
"One Direction: This Is Us" is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it's really like to be One Direction.
Movies like One Direction: This Is Us →
13. BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul (2019)
★ 8.2 · 462 votes · Music, Documentary
Shot at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul during the BTS World Tour ‘Love Yourself’ to celebrate the seven members of the global boyband and their unprecedented international phenomenon.
Movies like BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul →
14. Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry (2021)
★ 8.2 · 351 votes · Documentary, Music
This documentary offers a deeply intimate look at extraordinary teenager Billie Eilish. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler follows her journey on the road, onstage, and at home with her family as the writing and recording of her debut album changes her life.
Movies like Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry →
15. BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (2020)
★ 8.2 · 532 votes · Documentary, Music
Record-shattering Korean girl band BLACKPINK tell their story — and detail the hard fought journey of the dreams and trials behind their meteoric rise.
Movies like BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky →
16. Senna (2010)
★ 8.1 · 1,252 votes · Documentary
The remarkable story of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of Senna, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend's years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his untimely death a decade later.
Movies like Senna →
17. Earthlings (2005)
★ 8.1 · 349 votes · Documentary
Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, Earthlings chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.
Movies like Earthlings →
18. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
★ 8.1 · 698 votes · Documentary
During the last forty years, the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the continents, in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed the major events of our recent history: international conflicts, starvations and exodus… He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of the wild fauna and flora, of grandiose landscapes: a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty. Salgado's life and work are revealed to us by his son, Juliano, who went with him during his last journeys, and by Wim Wenders, a photographer himself.
Movies like The Salt of the Earth →
19. 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
★ 8.1 · 323 votes · Documentary, War
As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.
Movies like 20 Days in Mariupol →
20. Samsara (2011)
★ 8.1 · 713 votes · Documentary
Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.
Movies like Samsara →

1. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)

2. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)

3. Human (2015)

4. Everybody’s Everything (2019)

5. Stop Making Sense (1984)

6. Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)

7. Ennio (2022)

8. Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)

9. Love Meetings (1965)

10. For Sama (2019)

11. Baraka (1992)

12. One Direction: This Is Us (2013)

13. BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul (2019)

14. Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry (2021)

15. BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (2020)

16. Senna (2010)

17. Earthlings (2005)

18. The Salt of the Earth (2014)

19. 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)

20. Samsara (2011)

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