Top Documentary Movies


The Top Documentary Movies List is calculated by overall movie ratings and members' "Top Documentary List". Lists are calculated daily.

1. Super Size Me

Year of Release: 2004
Overall Rating: 2.8 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Comedy
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Actors: Morgan Spurlock, Bridget Bennett, Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, Kelly Brownell
Plot: A look at the fast food industry and its' affect on American Obesity.

2. Hoop Dreams

Year of Release: 1994
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Sport
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Steve James
Actors: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates
Plot: A documentary detailing the lives of two high school basketball players.

3. Spellbound

Year of Release: 2003
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Actors: Angela Arenivar, Nupur Lala, Neelima Marupudi, Mrs. Slaughter
Plot: Spellbound is a Documentary that follows eight children through the National spelling bee.

4. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Year of Release: 2007
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Seth Gordon
Actors: Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Walter Day, Steve Sanders
Plot: Gamers compete to break the World Records of classic arcade games like Donkey Kong.

5. Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Year of Release: 2018
Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Morgan Neville
Actors: Joanne Rogers, Fred Rogers, Yo-Yo Ma, François Scarborough Clemmons
Plot: Through life lessons, sharing, puppets and compassion, Fred Rogers influenced generations of children though his television show. Won't You Be My Neighbor? looks into the life and legacy of Mr. Rogers.

6. Grizzly Man

Year of Release: 2005
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Werner Herzog
Actors: Timothy Treadwell, Franc G. Fallico, Amie Huguenard
Plot: Timothy Treadwell spent 13 summers in the Alaskan wilderness in what he saw as a quest to understand and protect grizzly bears but he would find out his good intentions could not tame the wild animals.

7. 13th

Year of Release: 2016
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Ava DuVernay

8. O.J.: Made in America

Year of Release: 2016
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Biography
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Ezra Edelman
Actors: O.J. Simpson, Marcia Clark, Mark Fuhrman, Ron Shipp
Plot: This Five-Part Documentary explores the life, trail and aftermath of O.J. Simpson. From his college days, to pro football star, Hertz advertising star, budding actor, Brentwood resident to suspected murderer. While the 1994 trail takes center stage, the documentary explores how race and celebrity played a part in the proceedings. Features interviews with many involved including Marcia Clark, F. Lee Bailey, Ron Shipp, Mark Fuhrman, Ron Goldman and two of the jurors among many others.

9. Sicko

Year of Release: 2007
Overall Rating: 2.9 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Drama
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Michael Moore
Actors: Michael Moore, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton
Plot: A documentary on the health care system in the US versus other countries in addition to problems American citizens seem to encounter because of the process.

10. The Thin Blue Line

Year of Release: 1988
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Crime
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Errol Morris
Actors: Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson
Plot: Using interviews and re-enactments, the film examines the 1976 murder of a Dallas policeman, and the wrongful conviction of one of the two men implicated in the killing.

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