Best Documentaries, a list by amything

6.8

/152/

55

/5/

70

/1/

3.8

/1815/

100

/20/

92

/9/

4.0

Adapted from Kahlil Joseph’s renowned video art installation, BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is a distinctive cinematic experience that mirrors the sonic textures of a record album, weaving fiction and history in an immersive journey where the fictionalized figures of W. E. B Du Bois and Marcus Garvey join artists, musicians, Joseph’s family, and even Twitter chats, in a vision for black consciousness.

79

7.9

/953/

75

/45/

72

/12/

4.1

/4990/

81

/11/

3.5

age 14+

In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.

81

7.7

/769/

66

/20/

67

/16/

4.0

/5351/

98

/50/

83

/13/

4.0

An Iranian filmmaker participates in a series of video calls with a young Palestinian photojournalist who describes her life confined in Gaza during the current regional conflict.

87

7.6

/105/

80

/3/

100

/1/

3.9

/594/

93

/13/

4.0

American filmmaker Julia Loktev, born in the Soviet Union, returned to Moscow in 2021 to make a documentary on the persistence of independent media journalism in Putin’s Russia—just months, as it turned out, before the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Structured in five chapters, Loktev’s film is an extraordinary vérité document of a moment of immense change and anxiety.

81

8.5

/2231/

80

/97/

82

/21/

4.3

/6828/

94

/49/

91

/19/

2.0

Amid the failing counteroffensive, a journalist follows a Ukrainian platoon on their mission to traverse one mile of heavily fortified forest and liberate a strategic village from Russian occupation. But the farther they advance through their destroyed homeland, the more they realize that this war may never end.

79

7.4

/148/

75

/4/

80

/2/

3.9

/1692/

94

/17/

3.0

Wang Bing concludes his monumental Youth trilogy in expansive fashion, giving ever wider scope to the lives of migrant workers in Zhili’s textile factories as they plan to go to their remote hometowns to visit their families and celebrate the festivities for New Year’s break.

80

7.5

/2519/

74

/166/

75

/44/

3.7

/30757/

91

/43/

85

/12/

82

/16/

3.5

age 14+

When does a democracy end and a theocracy begin? Petra Costa investigates the increasingly powerful grip Christian evangelical leaders hold over politics in Brazil. She gains extraordinary access to the country’s top political leaders, including President Lula and former president Bolsonaro, as well as to Brazil’s most famous televangelist: a magnetic pastor who aspires to play puppet master to the far-right leader.

83

8.3

/4560/

82

/228/

80

/39/

4.0

/15227/

100

/35/

94

/96/

75

/7/

3.0

Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.

89

79

8.5

/4782/

83

/418/

81

/58/

4.3

/17538/

100

/11/

96

/11/

93

/4/

age 10+

David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.

79

7.1

/1070/

71

/53/

70

/11/

3.7

/17552/

95

/61/

76

/21/

4.0

'90s indie-rock band Pavement reunites for their sold-out 2022 tour. But as preparations get underway, surreal tributes emerge: an off-Broadway musical adaptation of their songs, a museum devoted entirely to the band’s legacy, and a shamelessly awards-baiting Hollywood biopic.

79

7.2

/1464/

68

/51/

71

/15/

3.7

/9465/

90

/83/

95

/34/

79

/24/

3.5

An exploration of the seminal and transformative 18 months that one of music’s most famous couples — John Lennon and Yoko Ono — spent living in Greenwich Village, New York City, in the early 1970s.

80

7.7

/159/

73

/6/

83

/3/

4.0

/1569/

3.5

In this enveloping second part of the Youth trilogy, shot between 2015 and 2019, Wang Bing deepens his vérité portrait of a generation struggling to survive on meager wages amidst a nation’s economic expansion, emphasizing the distrustful, increasingly combative relationship between workers and management.

80

7.2

/1456/

68

/64/

71

/44/

3.8

/14922/

88

/41/

85

/12/

4.0

The life of the bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey during a day of bullfighting, from the moment he dresses up to the moment he undresses.

82

7.8

/153/

78

/6/

90

/1/

3.9

/1332/

73

/5/

4.0

Explores the life and career of cartoonist Art Spiegelman including the creation and ground-breaking impact of his Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel MAUS.

79

7.5

/7729/

75

/530/

72

/99/

3.5

/30861/

85

/46/

95

/542/

64

/12/

4.0

age 13+

The individual journeys of the four members of the band, as they move through the music scene of the 1960s, playing small clubs throughout Britain and performing some of the biggest hits of the era, until their meeting in the summer of 1968 for a rehearsal that changes their lives forever.

80

7.9

/678/

76

/10/

76

/5/

3.8

/1724/

100

/14/

3.0

Intercepted is a journey through Ukraine that reveals the banality of evil behind the Russian invasion with the shocking juxtaposition of two realities: the Ukrainians who have been suffering and resisting the war violence, and the Russian military, and civilians, who have been perpetrating it.

78

7.9

/1970/

76

/101/

57

/14/

4.2

/6783/

90

/9/

3.5

Incarcerated men defy the odds to expose a cover-up in one of America’s deadliest prison systems.

83

8.0

/819/

76

/51/

80

/14/

4.1

/3949/

82

/10/

4.0

Discover the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about. During eight tumultuous days in 1988 at the world's only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead a revolution—and change the course of history.

78

7.5

/681/

74

/32/

80

/15/

3.5

/2540/

92

/48/

87

/1754/

76

/16/

3.0

Rich with archival gems and Liza Minnelli’s own point of view, Bruce David Klein's luminous documentary celebrates a young entertainer full of boundless raw talent and the deep, creative relationships with her mentors and influences.

78

7.6

/1513/

73

/105/

69

/12/

3.8

/6837/

93

/45/

77

/12/

3.5

An examination of the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone – the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic Sly Stone – that captures the band's reign while shedding light on the burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.

89

8.0

/699/

85

/19/

89

/14/

4.2

/3172/

98

/57/

98

/26/

82

/16/

4.0

"From Ground Zero" is a compelling project that brings together 22 short films created by talented filmmakers from Gaza. Launched by Rashid Masharawi, a notable Palestinian filmmaker, the initiative emerged amid the backdrop of conflict, aiming to provide a platform for young artists to express themselves through their craft. Each film, ranging from 3 to 7 minutes, presents a unique perspective on the current reality in Gaza. The project captures the diverse experiences of life in the Palestinian enclave, including the challenges, tragedies, and moments of resilience faced by its people. With a mix of genres such as fiction, documentary, docu-fiction, animation, and experimental cinema, "From Ground Zero" showcases a rich tapestry of stories that reflect the sorrow, joy, and hope inherent in Gazan life.

78

6.9

/2549/

68

/187/

66

/50/

3.5

/41595/

94

/80/

77

/21/

82

/25/

4.0

age 15+

Two unemployed friends have a fresh idea: they want to stage Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in Grand Theft Auto. But even in a virtual world, reality intrudes in a wild and trippy film shot entirely inside the ultra-violent video game.

91

8.2

/33174/

83

/661/

79

/256/

4.6

/103646/

100

/105/

100

/64/

93

/24/

4.0

This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.

85

8.2

/5771/

83

/506/

80

/77/

4.0

/19566/

100

/49/

97

/52/

74

/12/

3.5

age 10+

His unforgettable scores are an essential part of some of the most beloved movies of our time, over a career that spans decades. See and hear maestro John Williams' own story, with insights from filmmakers, musicians, and others he has inspired, complete with rare behind-the-scenes looks at the making of movie history.

82

7.5

/4315/

76

/242/

76

/78/

4.0

/22553/

99

/72/

81

/13/

82

/18/

3.5

Journalist Shiori Ito embarks on a courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Her quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's outdated judicial and societal systems.

83

8.0

/11333/

82

/870/

80

/190/

4.1

/40806/

98

/107/

98

/312/

76

/22/

3.0

age 11+

Christopher Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care.

78

7.4

/13490/

76

/819/

72

/87/

3.9

/72456/

99

/122/

81

/167/

74

/28/

3.0

age 15+

When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self.

85

7.8

/3800/

75

/162/

76

/56/

4.1

/34555/

97

/65/

97

/27/

91

/19/

3.5

Jazz and decolonization are intertwined in a powerful narrative that recounts one of the tensest episodes of the Cold War.

78

7.7

/1179/

81

/125/

77

/14/

3.7

/2798/

88

/41/

77

/13/

3.0

age 13+

This documentary opens a new door to Springsteen's creative process for fans around the world, sharing fly-on-the-wall footage of band rehearsals and special moments backstage — as well as hearing from Springsteen himself.

80

7.5

/1769/

78

/232/

75

/23/

3.8

/9233/

100

/16/

81

/4/

3.0

Casa Bonita opened in 1974 in an unassuming strip mall. The massive "Disneyland of Mexican restaurants" is an Old West and Acapulco-inspired fever dream made famous by its indoor waterfall, cliff divers, and haunted caves, and was featured in a classic 2003 episode of South Park. When its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, learn that Casa Bonita might close its doors for good, they attempt to preserve a crumbling piece of their childhood and Denver history.

78

7.2

/1636/

70

/60/

72

/34/

3.6

/7568/

97

/64/

82

/17/

3.5

Explores Leni Riefenstahl's artistic legacy and her complex ties to the Nazi regime, juxtaposing her self-portrayal with evidence suggesting awareness of the regime's atrocities.

83

7.6

/1835/

78

/111/

69

/27/

4.2

/13350/

100

/71/

91

/29/

3.5

age 13+

Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail.

81

7.0

/3838/

69

/212/

69

/54/

3.7

/20168/

100

/68/

80

/70/

90

/17/

4.0

An investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school in Canada ignites a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.

78

7.1

/868/

79

/44/

73

/18/

3.8

/5551/

90

/20/

94

/3/

73

/8/

3.0

Iconic British band blur (“Song 2”, “Girls & Boys”) comes together to record their first album in eight years – the chart-topping The Ballad of Darren – and prepare for the biggest concerts of their career, two sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium. With footage of the band in the studio and on the road, plus performances of their much-loved, seminal songs.

79

78

7.7

/8150/

80

/472/

81

/106/

3.9

/23082/

age 15+

Before Avicii, there was Tim. Through his own words, witness how a prodigious musical talent became one of the defining artists of his generation.

80

7.7

/4182/

78

/330/

77

/45/

3.9

/20281/

98

/61/

92

/34/

69

/13/

3.0

age 10+

Featuring unprecedented access to Jim Henson's personal archives, filmmaker Ron Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.

85

7.9

/1539/

75

/69/

76

/24/

4.0

/7444/

99

/75/

95

/4/

83

/22/

4.0

Martin Scorsese presents this very personal and insightful new feature-length documentary about British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

85

8.1

/14452/

82

/865/

81

/123/

4.1

/37351/

97

/60/

95

/73/

78

/17/

3.5

age 13+

The secret life of a young World of Warcraft gamer is vividly reimagined when his online friends contact his family after his death.

80

7.5

/719/

71

/40/

78

/10/

3.8

/3655/

98

/46/

79

/12/

3.5

The extraordinary story of the 1971 Women’s World Cup, which was held in Mexico City and witnessed by more than 100,000 fans. This landmark tournament was dismissed by FIFA and written out of sports history – until now, with dazzling archival footage and interviews with the former players.

79

7.6

/727/

79

/51/

64

/8/

3.6

/901/

100

/21/

98

/46/

75

/9/

3.0

age 14+

An exploration of the perils of nationalism and art’s role as a weapon of resistance and activism throughout the 1990s Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. Explore how art and music sustained hope, thanks in part to humanitarians and the band U2.

80

7.6

/1460/

79

/66/

75

/13/

3.9

/8647/

85

/27/

80

/14/

3.5

Originally formed amidst the chaos of the 1970 Kent State anti-Vietnam War protest killings, the not quite new wave band Devo scored a hit with "Whip It" and gained mainstream success with their message of societal "de-evolution."

80

7.9

/15994/

81

/1273/

78

/264/

3.8

/57412/

98

/50/

89

/72/

69

/10/

3.0

age 13+

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

78

7.3

/576/

72

/37/

77

/9/

3.6

/1769/

81

/26/

100

/1/

3.0

The world’s most talented young pianists compete in the International Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. A rare behind the scenes look at the triumphant highs and crushing lows of competition, Pianoforte is both a testament to the remarkable power of music and an intimate coming-of-age portrait.

79

7.5

/506/

69

/16/

84

/7/

4.0

/3184/

100

/20/

55

/2/

82

/6/

3.5

In defiance of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws, a queer, 21-year-old artist risks her life performing in surreal costumes throughout Moscow. Jenna Marvin’s radical public performances blend artistry and activism in this SXSW documentary.

85

7.7

/722/

72

/37/

71

/13/

4.0

/5012/

100

/56/

89

/7/

91

/20/

4.0

Founded in 1930, Troisgros has held three Michelin stars for 55 years. The children of the fourth generation, Marie-Pierre and Michel's sons are continuing the family business: César runs the Michelin-starred restaurant, "Le Bois sans feuilles" ("The Leafless Wood"), and Léo is in charge of one of the other two Troisgros restaurants, "La Colline du colombier" ("The Dovecote Hill"). From the daily market to the cheese maturing cellars, via the vineyard, the cattle farm and the vegetable garden adjacent to the restaurant, Menus-Plaisirs is an intimate, sensory journey through the kitchens of one of the world's most prestigious restaurants.

79

7.4

/759/

65

/54/

38

/7/

3.9

/2990/

100

/61/

97

/10/

83

/17/

4.0

Shere Hite’s 1976 bestselling book, The Hite Report, liberated the female orgasm by revealing the most private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Her findings rocked the American establishment and presaged current conversations about gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. So how did Shere Hite disappear?

84

7.9

/4986/

78

/295/

77

/58/

4.0

/10399/

100

/58/

99

/45/

85

/16/

3.0

A courageous pastor uses his underground network to rescue and aid North Korean families as they risk their lives to embrace freedom.

82

7.6

/2968/

76

/126/

75

/35/

3.9

/8996/

100

/23/

87

/16/