Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "history-documentary"

1. Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020–2022)

TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Drama, History

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

Stars: Cem Yigit Uzümoglu, Tuba Büyüküstün, Alp Ilkman, Ushan Çakir

Votes: 32,909

2. The Vietnam War (2017)

TV-MA | 99 min | Documentary, History, War

A comprehensive history of the United States' involvement in the bitterly divisive armed conflict in Southeast Asia.

Stars: Peter Coyote, Huy Duc, James Willbanks, Duong Van Mai Elliott

Votes: 27,988

3. The Bloody Hundredth (2024)

TV-14 | 62 min | Documentary

It honors the heroes of the 100th Bomb Group.

Directors: Laurent Bouzereau, Mark Herzog | Stars: Tom Hanks, Robert Rosenthal, Steven Spielberg, James Stewart

Votes: 1,236

4. Grant (2020)

TV-PG | 85 min | Documentary, Biography, History

The documentary-series examines Ulysses S. Grant's life story using his perspective and experiences to explore a turbulent time in history: the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Stars: Justin Salinger, Francis Chouler, Carel Nel, Gabriel Harry Meltz

Votes: 2,169

5. They Shall Not Grow Old (II) (2018)

R | 99 min | Documentary, History, War

A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.

Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Thomas Adlam, William Argent, John Ashby, Attwood

Votes: 38,474 | Gross: $17.96M

6. The World at War (1973–1974)

TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, History, War

A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.

Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, Anthony Eden, Albert Speer

Votes: 29,502

7. The Civil War (1990)

TV-14 | 76 min | Documentary, History, War

A comprehensive survey of the American Civil War.

Stars: David McCullough, Sam Waterston, Julie Harris, Jason Robards

Votes: 18,564

8. Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2021– )

TV-MA | 44 min | Documentary, Action, Adventure

An exploration of the warring kingdoms of feudal Japan when several powerful warlords fought to become absolute ruler.

Stars: Hiro Kanagawa, Hayate Masao, Isaac Meyer, Stephen Turnbull

Votes: 5,163

9. Benjamin Franklin (2022)

225 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Exploring the life and work of writer and publisher, scientist and inventor, diplomat and signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution: Benjamin Franklin.

Stars: Peter Coyote, Mandy Patinkin, Josh Lucas, Liam Neeson

Votes: 1,168

10. Triumph of the Will (1935)

Not Rated | 110 min | Documentary, History

The infamous propaganda film of the 1934 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, Germany.

Director: Leni Riefenstahl | Stars: Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, Max Amann, Martin Bormann

Votes: 18,325

11. Prehistoric Planet (2022–2023)

TV-PG | 203 min | Documentary, Animation, History

Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.

Star: David Attenborough

Votes: 10,677

12. American Experience (1987– )

TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, History

A series showcasing documentaries on American history.

Stars: David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, Oliver Platt

Votes: 2,205

13. Bad Faith (2024)

89 min | Documentary

Exposes how Christian Nationalism has become the most powerful anti-democratic force in America. Leaders join forces to defend our country from this march to fascism, but American citizens seem unaware of the threat.

Directors: Stephen Ujlaki, Christopher Jacob Jones | Stars: Steve Schmidt, William J. Barber II, Randall Balmer, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Votes: 51

14. Shoah (1985)

Not Rated | 566 min | Documentary, History, War

Claude Lanzmann's epic documentary recounts the story of the Holocaust through interviews with witnesses - perpetrators as well as survivors.

Director: Claude Lanzmann | Stars: Simon Srebnik, Michael Podchlebnik, Motke Zaïdl, Hanna Zaïdl

Votes: 10,557 | Gross: $0.02M

15. Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (2021)

TV-14 | 52 min | Documentary, History, War

This unflinching series documents the 9/11 terrorist attacks, from Al Qaeda's roots in the 1980s to America's forceful response, both at home and abroad.

Stars: Mark Fallon, James LaPorta, Michel Paradis

Votes: 11,294

16. Apocalypse: The Second World War (2009)

TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, History, War

This six-part series traces the Second World War, from the rise of the Nazis to the surrender of the Japanese, with detailed portraits of key figures.

Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, Martin Sheen, Rudolf Hess

Votes: 14,292

17. Ennio (2021)

156 min | Documentary, Biography, History

A documentary on the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Hans Zimmer, Oliver Stone

Votes: 5,531

18. The Last Czars (2019)

TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Drama, History

A Chronicled look at the fall of the Romanov dynasty in Russia.

Stars: Robert Jack, Susanna Herbert, Ben Cartwright, Oliver Dimsdale

Votes: 9,669

19. Tantura (2022)

94 min | Documentary, History

In the war of 1948 hundreds of Palestinian villages were depopulated. Israelis call it 'The War of Independence. Palestinians call it 'Nakba"'. The film examines one village- Tantura and why "Nakba" is taboo in Israeli society.

Director: Alon Schwarz | Stars: Avigdor Feldman, Yoav Gelber, Teddy Katz, Ilan Pappe

Votes: 1,256

20. 13th (2016)

TV-MA | 100 min | Documentary, Crime, History

An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality.

Director: Ava DuVernay | Stars: Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, Cory Booker, Dolores Canales

Votes: 37,682

21. The Lost Pirate Kingdom (2021– )

TV-MA | 43 min | Documentary, Adventure, Drama

The real-life pirates of the Caribbean violently plunder, stealing and form a surprisingly egalitarian republic in this documentary series.

Stars: Derek Jacobi, James Oliver Wheatley, Sam Callis, Tom Padley

Votes: 3,452

22. Apollo 11 (I) (2019)

G | 93 min | Documentary, History

A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins.

Director: Todd Douglas Miller | Stars: Neil Armstrong, Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Deke Slayton

Votes: 27,220 | Gross: $9.04M

23. Waltz with Bashir (2008)

R | 90 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography

An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict.

Director: Ari Folman | Stars: Ari Folman, Ron Ben-Yishai, Ronny Dayag, Ori Sivan

Votes: 60,417 | Gross: $2.28M

24. X-Rated: The Greatest Adult Movies of All Time (2015 TV Movie)

TV-MA | 95 min | Documentary

A look at a plethora of pornographic films ranging from the 1970s to the 2010s and a commentary about their lasting impacts on the adult industry and the world.

Director: Bryn Pryor | Stars: Chanel Preston, Nina Hartley, Raylin Joy, Herschel Savage

Votes: 821

25. Greatest Events of WWII in Colour (2019)

50 min | Documentary, History, War

A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II.

Stars: Derek Jacobi, Geoffrey Wawro, James Holland, Saul David

Votes: 10,725

26. Hitler's Circle of Evil (2018)

TV-14 | 52 min | Documentary, Biography, History

This is the story of the rise and fall of the Third Reich told like the drama it really was: through the personal relationships of the movers and shakers of the Nazi Party.

Stars: Guy Walters, Alisdair Simpson, Jay Osborne, Michael Lynch

Votes: 5,066

27. Hispanoamerica (2024)

115 min | Documentary

Documentary traversing the 3 centuries that gave birth to Hispanic America, exploring the history, art, music and religious syncretism that blossomed from the encounter of two worlds into a civilization vibrant and beautiful like no other.

Director: José Luis López-Linares | Stars: Rafael Aita, Úrsula Camba Ludlow, Ximena Carcelén, Mamela Fiallo

Votes: 52

28. Modern Marvels (1993– )

TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, History

Fast-paced, fun and informative, Modern Marvels is The History Channel's signature series focusing on historical technology.

Stars: Lloyd Sherr, Harlan Saperstein, Adam Richman, William Atwater

Votes: 2,163

29. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

PG-13 | 93 min | Documentary, History

Writer James Baldwin tells the story of race in modern America with his unfinished novel, Remember This House.

Director: Raoul Peck | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X

Votes: 23,507 | Gross: $7.12M

30. Civilisation (1969–1970)

TV-G | 698 min | Documentary, History, Music

Sir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.

Stars: Kenneth Clark, Ian Richardson, Ronald Lacey, Patrick Stewart

Votes: 1,068

31. The Men Who Built America (2012)

TV-14 | 37 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan. Their names are part of history and synonymous with the American dream. These men transformed every industry they touched: oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobiles, and finance.

Stars: Campbell Scott, H.W. Brands, Mark Cuban, Donny Deutsch

Votes: 4,581

32. Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)

TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary, Animation, History

Documentary-style series about the era of the dinosaurs, mixing real locations and CGI.

Stars: Nikolay Drozdov, Kenneth Branagh, Avery Brooks, Craig Sechler

Votes: 6,886

33. World War II in Colour (2009)

TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War

Recounts the events of world War II in color.

Stars: Robert Powell, Swaylee Loughnane

Votes: 7,485

34. Rise of the Nazis (2019–2023)

60 min | Documentary, History

Powerful and resonant series that looks at how Hitler and the Nazis seized power in Germany and ushered in the death of democracy.

Stars: Richard John Evans, Kate Fleetwood, Heike B. Görtemaker, Richard Overy

Votes: 1,171

35. Forbidden History (2013– )

Documentary, History

Jamie Theakston attempts to uncover the truth about historical mysteries, ancient relics, hidden treasures, conspiracy theories and lost civilizations. Have these stories been omitted from the history books?

Stars: Jamie Theakston, Andrew Gough, Lynn Picknett, Dominic Selwood

Votes: 335

36. Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)

TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, History

Four-part docuseries on the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster, unpacking an indelible moment for a generation of Americans.

Stars: June Scobee Rodgers, William Harwood, John Zarrella, Frederick D. Gregory

Votes: 7,937

37. The Planets (2019)

59 min | Documentary

Welcome to the greatest story that's never been told. In a new, ground breaking series we'll be telling the story of the planets as never before.

Stars: Brian Cox, Fran Bagenal, John Grotzinger, Julie Webster

Votes: 3,848

38. Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (2023)

Documentary, History, War

Twenty-five years on from a peace agreement being reached, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland shares intimate, unheard testimonies from all sides of the conflict.

Votes: 927

39. The Untold History of the United States (2012–2013)

TV-MA | 58 min | Documentary, History, War

Oliver Stone 's re-examination of under-reported events in American history.

Stars: Oliver Stone, Alan Shearman, Jim Ward, André Sogliuzzo

Votes: 9,707

40. Meltdown: Three Mile Island (2022)

TV-14 | 43 min | Documentary, History

Insiders recount the events, controversies and lingering effects of the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania.

Stars: Rick Parks, Nicole Remsburg, Paula Kinney, Joyce Corradi

Votes: 5,406

41. Barbarians Rising (2016)

TV-14 | 120 min | Documentary, Action, Drama

Rome. The greatest empire the world has ever known. This docudrama tells the story of Rome through the eyes of the empire's many adversaries who battled to see its destruction.

Stars: Michael Ealy, Barry Strauss, Richard Riddell, Julian Kostov

Votes: 2,252

42. Baseball (1994–2010)

TV-PG | 104 min | Documentary, History, Sport

A documentary on the history of the sport with major topics including Afro-American players, player/team owner relations and the resilience of the game.

Stars: Daniel Okrent, George F. Will, John Chancellor, Doris Kearns Goodwin

Votes: 4,740

43. The Central Park Five (2012)

Not Rated | 119 min | Documentary, Crime, History

A documentary that examines the 1989 case of five black and Latino teenagers who were convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park. After having spent between 6 and 13 years each in prison, a serial rapist confessed to the crime.

Directors: Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon | Stars: Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Kharey Wise, Raymond Santana

Votes: 7,936 | Gross: $0.27M

44. 1 (2013)

Not Rated | 112 min | Documentary, Action, History

Set in the golden era of Grand Prix Racing '1' tells the story of a generation of charismatic drivers who raced on the edge, risking their lives during Formula 1's deadliest period, and the men who stood up and changed the sport forever.

Director: Paul Crowder | Stars: Michael Fassbender, Lewis Hamilton, Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher

Votes: 4,477

45. The Dust Bowl (2012)

TV-PG | 229 min | Documentary, History

A documentary about the 1930s drought of North American prairie farm land, and its consequences during the great depression.

Stars: Dorothy Williamson, Donald Worster, Timothy Egan, Pamela Riney-Kehrberg

Votes: 2,110

46. The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022)

TV-14 | 398 min | Documentary, History

Explores America's response to the Holocaust, and how it challenged the ideals of democracy.

Stars: Peter Coyote, Daniel Mendelsohn, Peter Hayes, Deborah Lipstadt

Votes: 1,581

47. The War (2007)

TV-14 | 124 min | Documentary, History, War

A seven-part series focusing on the many ways in which the Second World War impacted the lives of American families.

Stars: Keith David, Katharine Phillips, Tom Hanks, Paul Fussell

Votes: 5,669

48. How to Become a Tyrant (2021)

TV-14 | 23 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Ruling with an iron fist requires an aspiring dictator to know the playbook for absolute power, as history's despots prove in this sardonic docuseries.

Stars: Peter Dinklage, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Waller Newell, Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Votes: 11,376

49. Washington (2020)

253 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama

The life story of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

Stars: Jeff Daniels, Joanne Freeman, Alan Taylor, Joseph Ellis

Votes: 1,076

50. The World Wars (2014)

TV-14 | 270 min | Documentary, History, War

A look at both World Wars and what the biggest names in history did during each war and the time in between.

Stars: Maximilian Klas, Ian Beyts, Jacopo Rampini, Jonathan Hartman

Votes: 2,422