Summary
- The best documentaries are both educational and entertaining, grabbing the audience's attention and eliciting emotion while conveying meaningful information.
- These 10 must-watch documentaries expertly convey important messages while maintaining a level of entertainment, making them highly engaging and impactful.
- From exploring controversial subjects like captive orcas to examining systemic corruption in the financial industry, these documentaries will change the way viewers see many topics.
The world of documentaries is rich with powerful messages and penetrating insight, especially with these 10 must-watch documentaries. Documentaries come in all shapes and sizes, often covering some of the most controversial subjects of the age they come out in. The best documentaries are both educational and ethically or morally meaningful. A good documentary should elicit emotion from the audience and make them care about subjects that they may not have before.
The best documentaries are also entertaining, however. It's not enough to simply present new information, regardless of how meaningful or insightful that information might be. A documentary has to grab the audience's attention and keep hold of it until the end. Even if a particular documentary provides a revolutionary way of thinking or exposes some terrible crime, it must keep audiences engaged. These 10 documentaries manage to expertly convey meaningful information while maintaining a level of entertainment.
10 Black Fish (2013)
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Box Office: $2.3 million
Black Fish is a 2013 American documentary that details the controversy over captive orcas, especially that of Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld until his death in 2017. Black Fish focuses on the psychological impact being captive has on orcas, and how that impact has contributed to the deaths of several people. This documentary tells a riveting story and builds incredible sympathy for these highly intelligent creatures. It also brings up larger issues surrounding captive wildlife in general. This is an excellent documentary that may change the way viewers see zoos and aquariums forever.
9 Man On Wire (2008)
Where To Watch: Prime Video, Hulu
Box Office: $5.3 million
Man on Wire details the 1974 high-wire walk between New York City's Twin Towers performed by Phillipe Petit. This documentary often feels like a heist film as it details Petit's audacious walk from one Twin Tower to the other. This is one of the best documentaries on Hulu because of its storytelling and thoroughness. The film uses a combination of real footage from Petit's preparation and reenactment to inform and entertain in equal parts. It won numerous awards and is considered one of the best documentary films ever produced, making it a must-watch.
8 20 Feet From Stardom (2013)
Where To Watch: Hulu
Box Office: $5.8 million
20 Feet from Stardom follows the lives of backup singers and explores the way that certain musicians become stars and others do not. Backup vocalists are often some of the most talented singers on the planet, yet they rarely receive the fame and recognition of the musicians they back up. This is one of the best music documentaries on Hulu, in large part because of its gripping storytelling. Its success can also be attributed to its premise, which is unique and eye-catching. 20 Feet from Stardom also won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2014.
7 Inside Job (2010)
Where To Watch: Max, Prime Video
Box Office: $7.9 million
Inside Job is a 2010 documentary film that details the financial crisis of 2008, and the ways that it was caused by systemic corruption within the financial services industry. The documentary comes in five parts and covers the crisis from its origins in the early 2000s to the aftermath that is still felt today. This is one of the most impactful documentaries ever made, as it played a part in the improved disclosure standards set by the American Economic Association shortly after the film's release. This is one of the best documentaries on Max, and it's a must-watch for anyone interested in America's financial industry.
6 Project Nim (2011)
Where To Watch: Prime Video, YouTube
Box Office: $1.58 million
Project Nim focuses on the life of a chimpanzee known as, Nim Chimpsky. Nim was born in 1973 and was the subject of an experiment meant to find out if a chimpanzee raised in close with humans would be able to learn American Sign Language. This documentary is gripping and thought-provoking as it explores the ethics of human experimentation on animals alongside its focus on the intellectual abilities of chimpanzees. Project Nim is highly rated by audiences and deserving of a watch from anyone interested in animal rights or evolutionary science.
5 Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room (2005)
Where To Watch: Hulu, Prime Video
Box Office: $4.9 million
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room details the collapse of the Enron Corporation in 2001 and the company's involvement in the California electricity crisis of 2000-01. This film uses a combination of archival footage and new interviews to take a deep dive into the infamous collapse of Enron and the fall of its top executives. Produced and directed by Alex Gibney, this documentary provides a harrowing of greed and self-interest. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is paced well and thoroughly researched, making it a highly entertaining and educational film.
4 Restrepo (2010)
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Box Office: $1.4 million
Restrepo is a 2010 documentary film that follows a platoon of US Army soldiers during the War in Afghanistan. This film documents the heroism of soldiers while warning against the dangers of war. It aims to capture the lives of these soldiers in one of the most dangerous postings in the world at the time. The film explores the relationships that grow between soldiers and the ways that they cope with being in constant danger. It is a highly entertaining war documentary, worth a watch for any fans of this genre.
3 Undefeated (2011)
Where To Watch: Prime Video, YouTube
Box Office: $562,218
Undefeated is a classic sports documentary that details a high school football team from Memphis' attempts to put together a winning season after years of losing. This is a heartfelt and inspiring film that examines the value of teamwork and the nature of winning in any type of competition. Undefeated is a must-watch for fans of sports documentaries because of its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking themes. The film's 96% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes speaks to its worth as a documentary.
2 Food, Inc. (2008)
Where To Watch: Prime Video, YouTube
Box Office: $4.6 million
Food, Inc. is a penetrating documentary film that examines corporate farming and the ways that it's harmful to both animals and the environment. It also emphasizes the ways that corporate farming creates unhealthy food for the general population. Food, Inc. was nominated for several distinguished awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. This documentary changes the way viewers see food and encourages people to look for local produce and meat to avoid the unhealthy side effects of food that comes from large corporations.
1 Waiting For "Superman" (2010)
Where To Watch: Prime Video, YouTube
Box Office: $6.4 million
Waiting for "Superman" is a documentary film that follows several young students seeking to be accepted at competitive charter schools. The film serves as a critique of the American public education system, examining the ways that competing bureaucracies affect the teaching standards of public schools. This is a fascinating film that forces the audience to rethink what it knows about education in America. This film can be heartbreaking, but it ultimately provides a glimmer of hope that things can be turned around, making it one of the best documentaries to watch right now.
