Few cinematic treats beata great documentary. They can be informative as well as engaging, offering insights into history, politics, human resilience, and the natural world while remaining visually dynamic and sonically striking. Regardless of their subject matter,great documentaries leave a lasting impact, challenging perspectives and expanding our understanding of the world.
With this in mind, this list looks at some must-see documentaries, powerful films that greatly influenced the development of the medium. From the adrenaline-fueled ascent inFree Soloto the haunting testimonies inShoah, each of these projects demonstrates the power of nonfiction storytelling in film.
10’Free Solo' (2018)
Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
“I’m not crazy. I mean, I don’t think I’m crazy.“Free Solochronicles rock climberAlex Honnold’s attempt to scale El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite monolith in Yosemite National Park, without any ropes or safety equipment. Through interviews, viewers gain insight into Honnold’s singular focus and the challenges he faces in balancing his passion with personal relationships. Then there’s the stunning cinematography: every awe-inspiring, vertigo-inducing shot emphasizes the razor-thin line between success and catastrophe.
Honnold makes for a fascinating subject.He’s deeply committed to his climbing and willing to risk his life in pursuit of it. Naturally, this causes his loved ones no small amount of concern, particularly his girlfriend,Sanni McCandless, who features prominently in the interviews. The result is an entertaining peek inside the mind of a unique, enigmatically, and endlessly audacious individual. Also worth checking out is the documentaryThe Alpinist, also about free solo climbers, which serves asa grimmer counterparttoFree Solo.
9’Grizzly Man' (2005)
Directed by Werner Herzog
“Nobody friggin' knew that there are times when my life has been on the precipice of death!“Grizzly Manexplores the life and tragic death ofTimothy Treadwell, an environmentalist who spent 13 summers living among grizzly bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. Through Treadwell’s own footage and directorWerner Herzog’s narration, the film examines the man’s complex personality and his passion for wildlife conservation. In the process,the documentary raises questions about the boundaries of natureand the human desire to connect with the wild.
Grizzly Man operates on multiple levels, offering both a psychological portrait of Treadwell and a cautionary tale abouthumanity’s relationship with nature. It’s harrowing as well as thoughtful; Treadwell’s camera was still running during the fatal bear attack, though its lens cap was on. There’s a chilling moment in the movie where Herzog listens to the audio track (though we don’t hear it), and becomes visibly distressed. He latercalledthe recording “the most terrifying thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Grizzly Man
8’The Thin Blue Line' (1988)
Directed by Errol Morris
“Truth is not always a matter of opinion.“The Thin Blue Lineis perhaps the defining work byvisionary documentary filmmakerErrol Morris, who also madeGates of HeavenandThe Fog of War. This one investigates the wrongful conviction ofRandall Dale Adamsfor the murder of a Texas police officer in 1976. Drawing on interviews, reenactments, and meticulous examination of evidence, Morris exposes flaws in the criminal justice system, including coerced testimonies and prosecutorial misconduct.
The film’s compelling narrative and innovative style not only brought attention to Adams’s case but also influenced the true crime documentary genre. In particular, Morris’s use of reenactments was groundbreaking for the time, blurring the lines between documentary and narrative storytelling. He rejects objectivity while still making the pursuit of truth his main focus. Even more notably,The Thin Blue Linenot only documented a case but altered it, eventually leading to Adams’s release from prison after 12 years.
The Thin Blue Line
7’Bowling for Columbine' (2002)
Directed by Michael Moore
“We need to control the bullets. I think all bullets should cost five thousand dollars.” InBowling for Columbine,Michael Mooreexplores the roots of America’s gun violence epidemic, using the 1999 Columbine High School massacre as a focal point. The documentary examines cultural factors, media influence, and political policies that contribute to the nation’s high rates of gun-related deaths. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, Moore succeeds in making the movie entertaining as well as interesting.
The film blends dark humor with sobering statistics, adding up to a searing, provocative social statement. Moore’s documentaries don’t always hit the mark, but here his unapologetic approach works well, even if some critics would argue that his treatment of the material is too biased. Unsurprisingly,the movie was controversial on release, winning prestigious awards like the Palme d’Or while also being roundly condemned in certain circles. Flaws aside,Bowling for Columbineremains one of the most thought-provoking documentaries from the Bush era.
bowling for columbine
6’The Act of Killing' (2012)
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
“War crimes are defined by the winners. I’m a winner.“The Act of Killingconfronts former Indonesian death squad leaders who participated in mass killings during the 1965–66 anti-communist purge. DirectorJoshua Oppenheimerinvites these men to reenact their atrocities in the style of their favorite film genres, revealing their lack of remorse and the lingering impunity within Indonesian society.The film’s unconventional approach provides a chilling insight into the psychology of perpetratorsand the normalization of violence.
The film was widely hailed as a masterpiece when it came out, with some drawing parallels between it and Hannah Arendt’s theory of the banality of evil, in which some people commit atrocities not out of malice or ideology but for more mundane reasons, like complacency or professional promotion. The Act of Killing is, at times, tough to watch, but its message is urgent and its reflections profound. The result is a film that is shocking, unsettling, darkly absurd, and essential.
The Act of Killing
5’Blackfish' (2013)
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
“There’s no record of an orca doing any harm in the wild.“Blackfishinvestigates the controversial captivity of orcas, focusing on Tilikum, a SeaWorld whale involved in the deaths of three people.It’s a fiery critique of SeaWorld, built on shocking firsthand accounts and often distressing footage. Through interviews with former trainers and experts, the film exposes the darker side of marine parks and their treatment of animals.
The movie argues that being held in captivity psychologically harms orcs and makes them more aggressive. It also lays bare SeaWorld’s efforts to bury evidence of trainer deaths, mislead the public, and protect its financial interests. ButBlackfishdoesn’t just indict the corporation—it points a finger at mass consumerism, media complacency, and the millions of ticket buyers who enabled the industry’s cruelty. It’s occasionally tough viewing, butBlackfishsucceeds as a crusading exposé. The documentary sparked a public outcry, leading to increased scrutiny of marine parks and changes in industry practices.
4’Hoop Dreams' (1994)
Directed by Steve James
“People always say to me, ‘When you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me.'“Hoop Dreamsfollows the lives of two Black teenagers,William GatesandArthur Agee, over five years as they pursue their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. It looks at their personal struggles, family dynamics, and the socioeconomic challenges they face in inner-city Chicago. Beyond basketball,the documentary addresses themes of ambition, education, and inequality.
Hoop Dreamsis sweeping and ambitious, offering a comprehensive look at the boys’ journeys. Gates' and Agee’s lives initially diverge, but then intersect later in unexpected ways. Through their experiences, the film becomes a bigger story of aspiration, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of chasing the American Dream. It’s come to be regarded as a landmark documentary, and its approach has been emulated by countless filmmakers since. Though snubbed at the Oscars,Hoop Dreamsis now widely regarded as the best documentary of the 1990s.
Hoop Dreams
3’Man with a Movie Camera' (1929)
Directed by Dziga Vertov
“An experimentation in the cinematic transmission of visual phenomena.“Man with a Movie Camerais a silent Soviet documentary that presents urban life in various Soviet cities through a montage of candid shots. It captures the rhythm of daily life, industrial progress, and the energy of the modern city, serving as both a cinematic experiment and a sociopolitical statement.
Aesthetically,Man with a Movie Camerais chock-full of techniques that were innovative at the time, including double exposure, fast motion, slow motion, freeze frames, montage editing, and split screens. This avant-garde style went on to become hugely influential. It’s also quite meta and self-reflexive, frequently calling attention to its own artifice. For instance, we sometimes see the actual cameraman at work, as well as strips of the film being edited. This is a purely cinematic experience, almost a surreal one, reveling in the power of the camera and the editing room.
Man with a Movie Camera
2’Stop Making Sense' (1984)
Directed by Jonathan Demme
“Thank you. Does anybody have any questions?” The most important concert film ever made,Stop Making Sensecaptures new wave band Talking Heads at the height of their creative powers. Directed byJonathan Demme(The Silence of the Lambs,Rachel Getting Married), the film isa meticulously crafted performance piece that eschews conventional concert film techniquesin favor of a gradual build-up, beginning with frontmanDavid Byrnealone onstage and expanding song-by-song into a full-band spectacle.
Capturing the electricity of a live performance on film is tough, butStop Making Sensetotally nails it, radiating an infectious energy. The visuals are dynamic (the film was shot by Blade Runner’sJordan Cronenweth) and the editing is pitch-perfect, amplifying rather than diminishing the band’s on-stage power. In the process,Stop Making Senseredefined what a concert film could be, paving the way for so many movies to follow, includingBeyoncé’sHomecomingandTaylor Swift: The Eras Tour.
Stop Making Sense
1’Shoah' (1985)
Directed by Claude Lanzmann
“If you could lick my heart, it would poison you.“Shoahis a nine-hour examination of the Holocaust, constructed entirely from interviews with survivors, former Nazis, and witnesses, without any archival footage. DirectorClaude Lanzmannspent over a decade making the film, traveling across Europe to gather firsthand accounts of the horrors inflicted upon Jewish communities during World War II. The result is an unflinching and deeply personal testimony of one of history’s darkest chapters.
Unlike traditional historical documentaries,Shoahrelies solely on the spoken word and (then) present-day locations, allowing the memories of those who lived through the Holocaust to serve as the narrative. Lanzmann captures strikingly quiet yet deeply unsettling images of everyday life unfolding around the remnants of concentration camps. He wants the viewer to feel the weight of a history that isn’t so far removed.Shoahis one of the most powerful documentaries ever made, leadingRoger Eberttocallit “an act of witness”.
Shoah is a comprehensive documentary exploring the Holocaust through firsthand testimonies. Director Claude Lanzmann presents interviews with survivors, bystanders, and perpetrators, offering detailed accounts from individuals connected to Chelmno, Auschwitz, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and Treblinka. The film eschews archival footage to focus on personal narratives and experiences.
