Top Documentaries (Shows), a list by TV_Genie

8.6

/2129/

68

/57/

55

/29/

4.3

/1764/

96

/24/

65

80

/15/

age 13+

The American Revolution was at once a war for independence, a war of conquest, a civil war, and a world war, fought by neighbors on American farms and between global powers an ocean or more away. It impacted millions from Vermont’s Green Mountains to the swamps of South Carolina, from Indian Country to the Iberian Peninsula. In defeating the British Empire and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside-down. Thirteen colonies on the Atlantic Coast united in rebellion, won their independence, and established a republic that still endures. The American Revolution will present the story of the men and women of the Revolutionary generation, their humanity in victory and defeat, and the crisis that they lived through.

86

8.5

/35819/

82

/1954/

80

/237/

96

/103/

89

87

/45/

age 13+

With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Nathan Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?

76

7.4

/11170/

73

/736/

70

/52/

3.6

/25768/

90

/10/

87

67

/5/

age 16+

A revealing look at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' journey from music mogul to high-profile sexual offender, featuring footage and insider accounts that expose both his groundbreaking success with Bad Boy Entertainment and the troubling shadows behind his empire.

90

9.0

/177007/

85

/4744/

82

/1415/

4.4

/138696/

97

/61/

96

90

/13/

age 13+

A 10-part documentary chronicling the untold story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty with rare, never-before-seen footage and sound from the 1997-98 championship season – plus over 100 interviews with famous figures and basketball’s biggest names.

86

9.2

/139061/

89

/5439/

84

/1637/

4.4

/21603/

80

/5/

86

age 10+

Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson provides clarity for the vision of the cosmos as he voyages across the universe with never-before-told stories that delve into the scientific concepts of the laws of gravity and the origins of space and time.

NEW

?

9.2

/5156/

A five-part true-crime docudrama uncovers real cases where wives kill their husbands. The series dives deep into how love, control, betrayal and hidden marital fractures can lead to fatal breakdowns

89

9.1

/35648/

86

/742/

82

/205/

4.5

/16098/

96

/49/

94

90

/19/

An immersive 360-degree narrative telling the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. Featuring testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides.

89

8.9

/48945/

86

/2435/

82

/287/

97

/45/

92

age 14+

Self-proclaimed business expert, writer, director and comedian Nathan Fielder helps real small businesses turn a profit with marketing tactics that no ordinary consultant would dare to attempt. From driving foot traffic to an off-the-strip souvenir shop by using Hollywood flair and a Johnny Depp impersonator, to creating a rebate that can only be redeemed by climbing a mountain, to founding a coffee shop called "Dumb Starbucks,” Nathan has always gone to the limit to make his ideas come to life. With his unorthodox approach to problem solving, Nathan’s genuine efforts to do good often draw the real people he encounters into an experience far beyond what they signed up for.

81

8.5

/58774/

79

/3576/

81

/579/

age 15+

Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane - both on and off the track - during one cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing.

85

70

8.7

/2707/

80

/175/

88

/30/

4.3

/20792/

88

/16/

86

age 11+

A behind-the-scenes docuseries event chronicling the development, impact, and inner workings that created the phenomenon that was Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, as well as providing an intimate look at Taylor's life as her tour made headlines and thrilled fans around the world. The series also spotlights performers, family members, and friends — including Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Florence Welch — offering never-before-seen insight into what it took to create a phenomenon.

74

30

7.4

/1196/

71

/93/

77

/19/

Monsters can be found lurking behind any innocent smile and on any street corner in America. Never-before-seen-video footage stares straight into the eyes of these killers who hide in plain sight. Anyone can be a monster.

75

73

7.3

/5610/

70

/429/

83

/39/

3.5

/20952/

age 15+

When popular vlogger Ruby Franke is arrested for child abuse in August 2023, it quickly becomes one of the biggest trending stories in America. For years, the Frankes' YouTube channel had documented a wholesome, happy family life, with nearly 3 million subscribers tuning in at its peak. But as the cracks began to show, the family turned to counselor Jodi Hildebrandt for guidance – and rapidly found themselves trapped in a nightmare.

83

8.6

/57872/

82

/2280/

79

/494/

4.3

/35167/

90

/80/

91

73

/44/

Robert Durst, scion of NY's billionaire real-estate family, has been accused of three murders but has evaded justice for over 30 years. Durst speaks in this true crime series, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities.

86

71

8.5

/3291/

78

/113/

81

/17/

4.2

/14992/

98

/61/

93

84

/26/

3.5

age 15+

Explore the many lives of Martin Scorsese through intimate interviews with the man himself, access to his private archives, plus conversations with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Daniel Day-Lewis, Steven Spielberg, and more.

84

82

9.0

/25261/

84

/372/

79

/121/

4.3

/9531/

A documentary on the American Civil War narrated by Ken Burns, covering the secession of the Confederacy to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

71

33

7.1

/1292/

67

/126/

75

/21/

age 15+

Twin brothers and superstars Tom and Bill Kaulitz offer a glimpse into their private lives in LA and Germany in this funny and intimate reality series.

87

9.2

/36846/

88

/536/

83

/163/

4.5

/4185/

A documentary series that gives a historical account of the events of World War II, from its roots in the 1920s to the aftermath and the lives it profoundly influenced.

78

74

8.0

/5442/

74

/265/

81

/56/

3.7

/1360/

88

/8/

67

/6/

Chris is on a mission to live better for longer. With the help of top scientists, he takes on six epic challenges to test mind and body to the max.

90

9.3

/52055/

91

/1247/

86

/409/

4.5

/10157/

Carl Sagan covers a wide range of scientific subjects, including the origin of life and a perspective of our place in the universe.

89

8.9

/36508/

85

/977/

83

/389/

4.5

/90749/

93

/120/

94

85

/28/

4.0

age 13+

The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music's most iconic foursome. The series also includes – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles' final performance at London's Savile Row.

77

7.7

/10430/

75

/686/

75

/58/

3.7

/14971/

100

/8/

60

age 15+

Featuring rare footage and interviews with CIA insiders, this edge-of-your-seat documentary series traces the epic hunt for Osama bin Laden.

67

7.1

/32038/

70

/1480/

70

/406/

3.3

/31573/

81

/42/

67

61

/13/

2.0

Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses.

76

?

7.6

/9395/

76

/510/

77

/51/

3.8

/9985/

age 15+

A tenacious mother unravels the complex mystery surrounding the 1989 disappearance of the daughter she placed for adoption.

83

8.5

/107502/

80

/4799/

78

/537/

4.0

/28777/

84

/85/

95

77

/34/

age 14+

Filmed over 10 years, this real-life thriller follows a DNA exoneree who, while exposing police corruption, becomes a suspect in a grisly new crime.

71

60

7.3

/3907/

77

/219/

64

/48/

Dateline NBC, or simply Dateline, is a weekly American television newsmagazine series. It was previously the network's flagship newsmagazine, but now focuses mainly on true crime stories with only occasional editions that focus on other topics.

85

82

9.0

/20211/

83

/349/

84

/147/

4.3

/2934/

A six-part French documentary about the Second World War composed exclusively of actual footage of the war as filmed by war correspondents, soldiers, resistance fighters and private citizens. The series is shown in color, with the black and white footage being fully colorized, save for some original color footage. The only exception to the treatment are most Holocaust scenes, which are presented in the original black and white.

76

8.0

/47206/

74

/831/

74

/332/

3.6

/5614/

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.

83

8.1

/38055/

76

/1666/

77

/277/

4.0

/27998/

98

/46/

87

79

/8/

age 16+

When a controversial cult leader builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.

71

7.6

/11347/

76

/530/

76

/43/

3.6

/20253/

75

/16/

81

57

/6/

2.5

age 16+

Actor Charlie Sheen tells his story in this candid two-part documentary tracing his dazzling Hollywood rise, tabloid-topping fall and road to recovery.

74

?

8.4

/1294/

78

/117/

71

/15/

The landmark documentary series that captures real life drama at its most intense, following police detectives around the clock as they investigate major crimes.

83

7.8

/29054/

74

/1137/

75

/188/

3.8

/14548/

94

/32/

82

95

/9/

age 17+

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial. In 2001, author Michael Peterson was arraigned for the murder of his wife Kathleen, whose body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the stairway of their home. Granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers, home and immediate family, de Lestrade's cameras capture the defense team as it considers its strategic options. The series is an engrossing look at contemporary American justice that features more twists than a legal bestseller.

73

35

8.0

/1500/

72

/176/

69

/16/

Richard Hammond trades his jet-setting lifestyle for a long-standing dream to set up a classic car restoration workshop close to his home in Herefordshire. With the help of skilled craftsmen, he navigates the ups and downs of building a new business.

76

52

7.9

/3621/

70

/135/

80

/26/

3.4

/412/

This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud, and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - India's most infamous tycoons.

83

66

8.1

/2196/

71

/155/

71

/17/

100

/8/

94

83

/5/

age 15+

At a storied professional wrestling organization, new owners and a roster of rising stars strive to make an impact beyond the ring in this docuseries.

75

8.0

/68236/

75

/3452/

75

/614/

3.7

/83249/

69

/13/

80

A twisted criminal's gruesome videos drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that pulls them into a dark underworld.

74

54

7.5

/2697/

75

/158/

73

/51/

This newsmagazine series investigates intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all aspects of the human experience. Over its long run, the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, driven the reopening — and resolution — of cold cases, and changed numerous lives. CBS News correspondents offer an in-depth look into each story, with the emphasis on solving the mystery at its heart.

88

8.7

/16665/

84

/965/

81

/124/

100

/46/

91

90

/20/

age 16+

In a uniquely hilarious odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation, documentary filmmaker and self-described "anxious New Yorker" John Wilson covertly and obsessively films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to give everyday advice on relatable topics. The awkward contradictions of modern life are eased by Wilson’s candid, unpolished commentary. Building upon Wilson’s previously released "how to" short films, each episode takes wildly unexpected turns but is grounded in John's refreshing honesty.

81

76

7.1

/5617/

71

/381/

72

/29/

3.4

/6558/

100

/7/

91

age 15+

This tense true-crime series examines the hunt for the Long Island serial killer through the perspective of his victims, their loved ones and the police.

88

80

9.1

/10385/

86

/153/

82

/90/

4.4

/9629/

93

/120/

94

85

/10/

age 14+

A documentary series on the career of The Beatles.

81

8.6

/13347/

79

/530/

79

/119/

4.1

/3964/

Using highly advanced colourisation techniques, critical moments from World War II, from Stalingrad to The Battle of Britain, are shown in a whole new light.

83

8.0

/27161/

76

/1207/

74

/186/

3.9

/16866/

97

/32/

93

78

/11/

age 15+

This docuseries examines the decades-old murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik and its suspected link to a priest accused of abuse.

78

7.4

/9885/

73

/528/

70

/130/

3.9

/8171/

96

/48/

69

80

/22/

3.5

age 16+

An exploration of the case of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s, committing 50 sexual assaults and 10 murders, and true crime author Michelle McNamara's obsessive quest to find justice on behalf of his victims.

70

21

7.1

/3027/

69

/14/

70

/2/

age 14+

Follows on-going efforts to expose America's "troubled teen" industry (TTI). For six decades and counting, this billion-dollar business has used what it calls "tough love" as a form of treatment despite numerous deaths, countless suicides, life-altering injuries, and instances of child sexual abuse. Until recently, nobody has been able to stop it. The series follows a recurring band of young survivors and whistleblowers and their harrowing first-hand accounts of extreme abuse and cult-like brainwashing at the hands of these programs, starting a social media firestorm in 2021.

82

8.1

/10700/

75

/749/

70

/185/

100

/19/

90

80

/9/

age 14+

From crippling payday loans to cars that cheat emissions tests, this investigative series exposes brazen acts of corporate greed and corruption.

85

61

8.6

/2846/

85

/79/

88

/9/

4.0

/6739/

92

/24/

92

72

/9/

An expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews, the documentary intimately explores the life and work of Joel, whose music has endured across generations.

67

38

7.2

/1118/

54

/28/

55

/23/

88

/23/

Each hour-long film follows a different woman as they experience “moments that are emotionally raw, thought-provoking and utterly personal”.

81

80

8.8

/8076/

77

/413/

78

/76/

Real crimes, disease outbreaks and accidents around the world are solved by experts using scientific laboratory analysis which helps them find previously undetectable evidence. Brilliant scientific work helps convict the guilty and free the innocent.

79

51

7.1

/2056/

69

/118/

82

/6/

3.6

/2644/

100

/5/