Documentary backdrop

Documentary movies

Fascinating real-life stories, historical accounts, and educational deep dives that reveal the truth about our world.

Subgenres include: True Crime Documentary, Biographical Documentary, Social & Political Documentary.

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

201. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

Documentary TV Movie Social & Political Documentary
8.0

20152h

United States

Director: Alex Gibney

GOING CLEAR intimately profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a light on how they attract true believers and the things they do in the name of religion.

Themes

Abuse of power, Cult dynamics, Coercive leadership, Indoctrination pressure, Surveillance and harassment, Recruitment manipulation

Available on

Amazon Video
HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Racing Extinction

202. Racing Extinction

Adventure Documentary
8.2

20151h 30min

Director: Louie Psihoyos

An unlikely team of activists and innovators hatches a bold mission to save endangered species.


Bitter Lake

203. Bitter Lake

Documentary
8.1

20152h 15min

Director: Adam Curtis

An experimental documentary that explores Saudi Arabia's relationship with the U.S. and the role this has played in the war in Afghanistan.


Hot Girls Wanted

204. Hot Girls Wanted

Documentary Social & Political Documentary
6.1

20151h 24min

United States

Director: Ronna Gradus

A first-ever look at the realities of the professional “amateur” porn world and the steady stream of 18-to-19-year old girls entering into it.

Themes

Economic vulnerability, Labor market precarity, Agency versus exploitation, Porn star labor, Consent negotiation dynamics, Sex trade stigma

Available on

Netflix
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Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Resurrection of Jake The Snake

205. The Resurrection of Jake The Snake

Documentary
7.8

20151h 33min

Director: Steve Yu

A fallen professional wrestling superstar battles his past demons in a struggle to reclaim his life and the family that has given up on him.


Virunga

206. Virunga

Documentary War Social & Political Documentary Modern Conflicts
8.1

20141h 40min

Congo - Kinshasa, United Kingdom

Director: Orlando von Einsiedel

Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a contested ground among insurgencies seeking to topple the government that see untold profits in the land. Among this ongoing power struggle, Virunga also happens to be the last natural habitat for the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The only thing standing in the way of the forces closing in around the gorillas: a handful of passionate park rangers and journalists fighting to secure the park’s borders and expose the corruption of its enemies. Filled with shocking footage, and anchored by the surprisingly deep and gentle characters of the gorillas themselves, Virunga is a galvanizing call to action around an ongoing political and environmental crisis in the Congo.

Themes

Conservation under threat, Armed conflict pressure, Oil-driven exploitation, Watchful journalism, Biodiversity protection, Governance and corruption

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Citizenfour

207. Citizenfour

Documentary Social & Political Documentary
8.0

20141h 53min

Germany, United Kingdom

Director: Laura Poitras

In June 2013, Laura Poitras and reporter Glenn Greenwald flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her.

Themes

Media accountability, Whistleblower risk, Privacy vs security, State secrecy tension, Surveillance ethics, Journalist ethics, Asylum politics

Available on

Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot

208. Nowitzki: The Perfect Shot

Documentary
7.5

20141h 46min

Director: Sebastian Dehnhardt

This documentary chronicles the life story of the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki and his inspiring journey from Germany to superstardom in the NBA.


Last Days in Vietnam

209. Last Days in Vietnam

War Documentary
7.6

20141h 38min

Director: Rory Kennedy

During the chaotic final weeks of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army closes in on Saigon as the panicked South Vietnamese people desperately attempt to escape. On the ground, American soldiers and diplomats confront a moral quandary: whether to obey White House orders to evacuate only U.S. citizens.


The Salt of the Earth

210. The Salt of the Earth

Documentary Biographical Documentary
8.4

20141h 50min

Italy, France

Director: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado

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.

Themes

Labor and exploitation, Displacement and exile, Documentary photography as witness, Human impact of conflict, Land restoration and renewal, Indigenous resilience and tradition

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.