Long ago, documentaries might have gotten a bad rap for not offering the inherent cinematic escapism of action-adventure odysseys or superhero extravaganzas. But, truth be told, the capital-T truth presents rich stories that even our most creative screenwriters could not imagine, and these days viewers realize they’re where some of the most fascinating plots can be found.
From the fraudulent chaos of Fyre Festival and healthcare-tech behemoth Theranos to the complicated celebrity live of Britney Spears, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin, documentaries guide audiences down a rabbit hole of fascinating, fact-driven entertainment. How else would we ever have any sort of access to the grand predators of Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya (“African Cats”) or a lively South African kelp forest (“My Octopus Teacher”)?
Lifelong learners may gravitate to Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” which brings to light the connection between U.S. racism and its prison system, or “Crip Camp” and its presentation of the American disability rights revolution. On the other hand, music history obsessives will enjoy reflecting on the ’60s Laurel Canyon music scene by watching “Echo in the Canyon” or reveling in the greatness and animosity of the Gallagher brothers with “Oasis: Supersonic.”
These nonfiction tales also serve as vessels for processing the complicated nature of the human experience and how larger socio-economic patterns dictate our lives. Still, audiences can find understanding in the likes of coming-of-age skateboarding film “Minding the Gap” or even the kindness of Fred Rogers in “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Across Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and Showtime, Variety has you covered in finding the best documentaries to watch right now. See the full list below.
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NETFLIX
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13th
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Ava DuVernay’s seminal 2016 documentary walks its audience down the timeline that traces the United States’ original institution of slavery to its modern day prison industrial complex, all the while unveiling the disproportionate levels of incarceration of Black people. The wisdom of academics and activists like Angela Davis and Michelle Alexander will, if you haven’t already, have you question the validity of our punitive system.
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The Social Dilemma
Image Credit: Exposure Labs/Netflix As the saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. “The Social Dilemma” exposes the deliberate propaganda and unethical practices of tech companies in a digestible fashion, causing viewers to re-evaluate their own relationships with social media.
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My Octopus Teacher
Image Credit: Credit: Netflix “What she taught me was to feel… that you’re part of this place, not a visitor.”
“My Octopus Teacher” is an utterly beautiful film about a man’s growing relationship with an octopus that immerses you in the exceptional biosphere of the False Bay kelp forest. Beyond that, it depicts the full lengths that curiosity and acceptance can take a person.
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Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix and Higher Ground Productions With the disability rights movement gaining major traction in the entertainment industry, Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht’s heartwarming film brings viewers back to Camp Jened in 1971, a free-spirited summer camp designed for those with disabilities. These campers eventually grew up to become activists, igniting a revolution for accessibility legislation across the U.S.
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Echo in the Canyon
Image Credit: Courtesy of Greenwich Entertainment Hosted by Jakob Dylan, “Echo in the Canyon” celebrates the blossoming of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon music scene in the mid-‘60s and the incredible musical talent that interacted and flourished in the city during that time. With conversations and performances from Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Michelle Phillips, Ringo Starr, Beck, Fiona Apple and more, the film also features Tom Petty’s last film interview.
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HBO MAX
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Jane Fonda in Five Acts
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection The Emmy-nominated portrait of Oscar winner Jane Fonda captures a life full of controversy, tragedy and transformation, all the while under the gaze of the public. Going beyond her star persona, whether that be “Hanoi Jane” or the sex symbol of “Barbarella,” “Jane Fonda in Five Acts” shapes 21 hours of interviews with its star to present a candid, vulnerable woman who opens up about her mother’s suicide, her famous father’s emotional unavailability, her decades-long eating disorder and three marriages.
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival Fred Rogers taught children how to be honest with themselves, peacefully deal with angry feelings and love their neighbor on the popular children’s program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which ran from 1969-2001 on PBS. Morgan Neville’s documentary explores the imprint Mr. Rogers’ left behind as well as the life he led off-camera.
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The Hunting Ground
Image Credit: Courtesy of Radius-TWC Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering’s exposé of sexual violence on U.S. college campuses is a scathing report on the rape culture that dominates our country’s most elite and beloved universities. Unveiling the endless failures of college administrations to protect survivors, “The Hunting Ground” centers on the Title IX fight by two former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students. Its featured song, “‘Til It Happens to You,” comes from Lady Gaga and Diane Warren and was nominated for Grammy and Academy Awards.
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Leaving Neverland
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO A two-part documentary directed by Dan Reed, “Leaving Neverland” follows Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two men who say they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson as children. The film, which includes harrowing accounts about what happened at Jackson’s sprawling estate, resulted in media backlash and protests challenging the validity of the allegations.
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Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Image Credit: Courtesy of Dee Cercone/Everett Collection Directed by Brett Morgen, “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” traces the life of the Nirvana frontman, from his birth in Aberdeen, Washington and troubled teenage years to his rise to fame and tragic suicide. The film features Cobain’s original artwork and sound collages, as well as a thundering soundtrack full of Nirvana’s greatest hits.
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HULU
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Minding the Gap
Image Credit: Hulu To put it simply, Bing Liu’s debut feature archives his decade-long friendship with fellow skateboarders Keire Johnson and Zack Mulligan. But there’s a reason “Minding the Gap” earned an Academy Award nomination and won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Filmmaking at Sundance Film Festival. Taking on racism, domestic violence, substance abuse and working class struggles, Liu’s documentary highlights the bond of three young men looking to escape their volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they grow up and grow apart, Liu, Johnson and Mulligan get closer to who they are and where they need to be.
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The Inventor
Image Credit: Courtesy of Drew Kelly/Sundance From Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, “The Inventor” unpacks Elizabeth Holmes’ ascent as the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire, only to have it all coming crashing down when Theranos, her healthcare company offering so-called revolutionary blood testing, turns out to be a scam.
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Three Identical Strangers
Image Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival For many, heading to college kicks opens the door to self discovery. For Edward Galland, David Kellman and Robert Shafran, that meant discovering their long-lost brothers. “Three Identical Strangers” captures the jubilant reunion of identical triplets Edward, David and Robert, each of who were adopted by separate families but grew up not knowing about the existence of one another. As young men, the trio coast on a high of appearing on talk shows, cameoing in a Madonna music video and constant partying while living together in their shared NYC apartment. However, as the brothers mature and their relationship grows complicated, they also learn the dark reason behind their early separation.
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Framing Britney Spears
Image Credit: Courtesy of FX Presented by The New York Times, “Framing Britney Spears” focuses on Spears’ career, conservatorship and the #FreeBritney movement. The film exposes the sometimes-tragic effects of being in the limelight and explains how even one of music’s biggest stars can end up with so little control over her own life and career. It is directed by Samantha Stark and produced by Jason Stallman, Sam Dolnick and Stephanie Priess.
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Fyre Fraud
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu A hilarious and tragic glimpse into the failed Fyre Festival, “Fyre Fraud” tracks the biggest influencer-backed scam of 2017 and the devastating impact it had on local Bahamians. Directed by Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason, “Fyre Fraud” features interviews with whistleblowers, victims and the con men behind Fyre Festival.
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AMAZON PRIME
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Time
Image Credit: Amazon Studios Garrett Bradley’s Academy Award-nominated documentary spotlights the familial distress inflicted by the United States’ punitive justice system. “Time” recounts the story of Fox Rich and her campaign for the release of her husband Rob G. Rich, who was sentenced to prison for 60 years for armed robbery. Meanwhile, she raises six sons, most of who hit manhood before their father is granted clemency after 21 years of incarceration.
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The Endless Summer
Image Credit: Courtesy of Second Sight Films Known as one of the most influential surf movies of all time, “The Endless Summer” follows Mike Hynson and Robert August on a trip around the world to find the perfect wave. Along the way, the filmmakers capture the beauty of each destination as the surfing duo embraces meaningful encounters with other travelers.
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Citizenfour
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company What do you do when you receive an encrypted email from a stranger who offers inside information about the U.S. National Security Agency’s illegal wiretapping practices? You fly to Hong Kong and meet him, according to documentarian Laura Poitras. Accompanied by investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald, Poitras journeys across the globe to meet an unidentified inside source who turns out to be Edward Snowden. What results is “Citizenfour,” the Academy-Award winning film that documents the NSA’s illegal invasions of privacy and the real-time fallout.
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Janis: Little Girl Blue
Image Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS Directed by Amy Berg and narrated by Cat Power, “Janis: Little Girl Blue” showcases Janis Joplin’s rise to stardom via the letters she wrote over the years to friends, family and collaborators. Archival footage and interviews with musical peers like Kris Kristofferson and Bob Weir capture how she became a legend of the ’60s and her untimely, addiction-inflicted end.
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I Am Not Your Negro
Image Credit: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures “I Am Not Your Negro” deeply honors the legacy of James Baldwin and the ideas he represented. Featuring a soothing voiceover by legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson, the film revisits the past and uncovers the methods used by the media to directly influence societal racial stereotypes.
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DISNEY PLUS
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Wolfgang
Image Credit: Alex Berliner/BEI/REX/Shuttersto This documentary explores the impact and life of Wolfgang Puck, the endearing Austrian chef who moved to America and made a monumental impact on the dining scene, especially in Los Angeles. The culinary expert, known for his restaurants Spago, Chinois, Cut and many more, mentored a generation of young chefs while building a restaurant empire and building his brand through a constant stream of TV appearances.
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Jane
Image Credit: Courtesy of TIFF Directed by Brett Morgen, “Jane” follows the extraordinary life of Jane Goodall, the primatologist, ethologist and anthropologist who challenged the male-dominated scientific discourse of her time with revolutionary chimpanzee research and findings about the natural world.
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Free Solo
Image Credit: Courtesy of National Geographic/Cheyne Lempe “Free Solo” follows the hair-raising journey of Alex Honnold, who sets out to become the first-ever person to free climb Yosemite’s 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. The film goes beyond the realm of extreme sports and explores the psychological impacts of one’s burning passion.
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Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Disney Plus Beyond the illustrious space battles and exorbitant lightsaber duels, George Lucas wanted to portray a poignant message about fighting the corporate system and pursuing your dreams in the “Star Wars” original trilogy. This documentary comprehensively outlines how Lucas transformed his ubiquitous concept for a sci-fi film into the biggest blockbuster franchise of all time.
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African Cats
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney/Everett Collection Disney Plus is the exclusive streaming home of many National Geographic documentaries, and “African Cats” is a great example of how the studio uses real-life footage from the wild to create a compelling narrative. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the film follows a pride of lions and a family of cheetahs trying to survive in the African savannah in southwestern Kenya.
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SHOWTIME
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Amy
Image Credit: Courtesy of A24 From director Asif Kapadia, “Amy” focuses on the life and death of legendary singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The film covers Winehouse’s fame, creative process and struggle with addiction that ultimately led to her death in 2011.
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Oasis: Supersonic
Image Credit: Courtesy of A24/Everett Collection “Oasis: Supersonic” tracks the highs and lows of Britpop’s biggest band. Featuring off-screen interviews and archival concert footage, the film documents Oasis and the Gallagher brothers during their formative years and the height of their success in the 1990s. Mat Whitecross directs, while Asif Kapadia serves as executive producer and James Gay-Rees as film producer.
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Belushi
Image Credit: Alan Adler/MediaPunch/IPx With access to the late John Belushi’s archive, director R. J. Cutler explores the life of the iconic comedian, actor and singer. The film covers Belushi’s early years as one of the original cast members of “Saturday Night Live” up to his tragic death in 1982. The documentary received positive reviews but was criticized for omitting Cathy Smith, Belushi’s friend and drug dealer who served 15 months in state prison for injecting the comedian with a fatal dose of heroin and cocaine.
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Kobe Bryant's Muse
Image Credit: Courtesy of Showtime Directed by Gotham Chopra, “Kobe Bryant’s Muse” explores the legendary career of Kobe Bryant, covering the mentorships, allies and rivalries that shaped his 18-year tenure in the NBA. The film features archival footage with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and more.
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The Go-Go's
Image Credit: Courtesy of Melanie Nissen Finally paying respect to the first successful all-girl band to write their own songs and play their own instruments, Alison Ellwood’s 2020 documentary looks back on The Go-Go’s rise from the Los Angeles punk scene to becoming No. 1 hitmakers. It won a Critic’s Choice Documentary Award for best music documentary.