Top Documentary Movies


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

161. 56 Up

Year of Release: 2013
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Michael Apted, Paul Almond
Actors: Michael Apted, Bruce Balden, Neil Hughes, John Brisby
Plot: Michael Apted's long-running documentary about the lives of a group of British individuals - started in 1963 and recorded every seven years since - catches up with the familiar faces, who are now 56 years old.

162. Wordplay

Year of Release: 2006
Overall Rating: 2.9 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Patrick Creadon
Actors: Will Shortz, Merl Reagle, Tyler Hinman, Norman Payne
Plot: A documentary about Crossword puzzles and their enthusiasts. The drama revolves around the annual tournament held in Stamford, CT each year.

163. Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

Year of Release: 2008
Overall Rating: 2.9 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Alex Gibney
Actors: Johnny Depp, Jimmy Carter, Pat Buchanan, George McGovern

164. Buena Vista Social Club

Year of Release: 1999
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: Spanish
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Wim Wenders
Actors: Ry Cooder, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa, Joachim Cooder
Plot: Several talented Cuban musicians, all but forgotten after Castro came into power, are brought together by Ry Cooder, who convinces them to come out of retirement and bring them together resulting in a new chapter for both the men and their music.

165. Hot Coffee

Year of Release: 2011
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Susan Saladoff
Actors: Al Franken, John Grisham, Victor Schwartz, Joanne Doroshow
Plot: Documentary that seeks the truth behind the McDonald's coffee-spilling lawsuit.

166. The Devil and Daniel Johnston

Year of Release: 2006
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Biography
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Jeff Feuerzeig
Actors: Daniel Johnston, Matt Groening, Thurston Moore, Louis Black

167. Stop Making Sense

Year of Release: 1984
Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Jonathan Demme
Actors: Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, David Byrne, Steven Scales

168. Aliens of the Deep

Year of Release: 2005
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: G
Director: James Cameron, Steven Quale
Actors: Loretta Hidalgo, James Cameron, Anatoly M. Sagalevitch, David L. Dubois

169. The Unbelievers

Year of Release: 2013
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: English
Genre: Documentary/Biography
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Gus Holwerda
Actors: Woody Allen, Richard Dawkins, Cameron Diaz, Ricky Gervais
Plot: Follows a a globe-spanning journey of renowned scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss as they speak about embracing science and reason over religion and politics with hopes of making the world a better place for all.

170. Flee

Year of Release: 2021
Overall Rating: 3.1 out of 4 stars
Language: Danish
Genre: Animation/Documentary
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Actors: Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari, Belal Faiz

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