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.

Navalny

1. Navalny

Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.7
20221h 38min

Overview

Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. During his months-long recovery, he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home.

Themes

Assassination attempt pressure, Russian secret police control, Chemical poisoning risk, Political opposition resilience, Russian politics influence, Poisoning exposure risk

Available on

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

Return to Space

2. Return to Space

Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.3
20222h 8min

Overview

The inspirational rise of SpaceX as well as Elon Musk's two-decade effort to resurrect America’s space travel ambitions.

Themes

Long term effort, National space ambition, Technological progression, Private space industry, Exploration drive, Ambitious ascent

Available on

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

OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)

3. OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)

Music Documentary
7.2
20221h 16min

Overview

Grammy® winner singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo takes a familiar road trip from Salt Lake City, where she began writing her debut album “SOUR,” to Los Angeles. Along the way, Rodrigo recounts the memories of writing and creating her record-breaking debut album and shares her feelings as a young woman navigating a specific time in her life. Through new live arrangements of her songs, intimate interviews and never-before-seen footage from the making of the album, audiences will follow Olivia along on a cinematic journey exploring the story of “SOUR.”


The Tinder Swindler

4. The Tinder Swindler

Documentary Crime True Crime Documentary Con Artist Crime
7.1
20221h 54min

Overview

Posing as a wealthy, jet-setting diamond mogul, an Israeli conman wooed women online then conned them out of millions of dollars. Now some victims plan for payback.

Themes

Online dating deception, Financial manipulation through gifts, False persona construction, Threat-based coercion, Ponzi-scheme exploitation, Victim debt pressure

Available on

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

Jackass Forever

5. Jackass Forever

Action Comedy Documentary Adult Comedy
6.8
20221h 36min

Overview

The Jackass crew, along with some newcomers, returns for one final round of hilarious, absurd, and dangerous stunts.

Themes

Reality show risk, Collective performance norms, Absurd humor escalation, Privacy vs spectacle, Risk vs safety, Body as prop

Available on

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

Cow

6. Cow

Documentary
7.1
20221h 33min

Overview

A close-up portrait of the daily lives of a pair of cows: told by way of some narrative-free, intimate POV photography, with plenty of close shot images, we follow the daily routine of these animals as they live what can only be described as mundane, boring lives - all with an ultimate purpose within the human food chain.


The Velvet Queen

7. The Velvet Queen

Documentary
7.8
20211h 32min

Overview

High up on the Tibetan plateau. Amongst unexplored and inaccessible valleys lies one of the last sanctuaries of the wild world, where rare and undiscovered fauna lives. Vincent Munier, one of the world’s most renowned wildlife photographers takes the adventurer and novelist Sylvain Tesson (In the Forest of Siberia) with him on his latest mission. For several weeks, they’ll explore these valleys searching for unique animals and try to spot the snow leopard, one of the rarest and most difficult big cats to approach.


14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible

8. 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible

Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.7
20211h 41min

Overview

In 2019, Nepalese mountain climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja set out to do the unthinkable by climbing the world’s fourteen highest summits in less than seven months. (The previous record was eight years). He called the effort “Project Possible 14/7” and saw it as a way to inspire others to strive for greater heights in any pursuit. The film follows his team as they seek to defy naysayers and push the limits of human endurance.

Themes

Risk and sacrifice, Ambition vs responsibility, Extreme endurance under pressure, Family ties and duty, Team resilience under danger, Public recognition and legacy

Available on

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

JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass

9. JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass

Documentary History
7.5
20211h 59min

Overview

Thirty years after the release of his film JFK (1991), filmmaker Oliver Stone reviews recently declassified evidence related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which took place in Dallas on November 22, 1963.


The Velvet Underground

10. The Velvet Underground

Documentary Music
7.3
20212h 1min

Overview

Experience the iconic rock band's legacy in the first major documentary to tell their story. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage.