Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "history-documentary"
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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: 34,054
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: 28,168
3. 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: 18,660
4. 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: 30,012
5. 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: 1,399
6. 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: 38,590 | Gross: $17.96M
7. 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, Ta-Nehisi Coates
Votes: 2,216
8. 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: 14,369
9. 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: 10,749
10. 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: 2,219
11. 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: 18,374
12. 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: 60,554 | Gross: $2.28M
13. 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: 1,195
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: 10,611 | Gross: $0.02M
15. 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: 9,720
16. 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: 11,408
17. 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: 5,103
18. 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: 27,290 | Gross: $9.04M
19. 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: 4,611
20. 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: 3,477
21. 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: 37,751
22. 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: 2,430
23. 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: 23,580 | Gross: $7.12M
24. 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: 88
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: 10,844
26. 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: 1,323
27. Ennio (2021)
156 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary on the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore | Stars: Ennio Morricone, Silvano Agosti, Alessandro Alessandroni, Dario Argento
Votes: 5,612
28. 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: 827
29. 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, Stephen Turnbull, Darren Ashmore
Votes: 5,214
30. 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: 2,179
31. 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: 9,741
32. Vietnam in HD (2011)
262 min | Documentary, History, War
Original Vietnam War footage presented in high definition along with narrations by war veterans and the voices of Hollywood stars.
Stars: Tempestt Bledsoe, Edward Burns, Dean Cain, Kevin Connolly
Votes: 1,651
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: 7,505
34. 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: 4,760
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: 338
36. 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: 1,608
37. Barbarians Rising (2016)
TV-14 | 30 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: 2,260
38. 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: 5,694
39. 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: 6,911
40. 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, Richard Overy, Heike B. Görtemaker
Votes: 1,184
41. 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: 7,948 | Gross: $0.27M
42. 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: 7,979
43. 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: 3,874
44. 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: 949
45. 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: 11,438
46. Lucy and Desi (2022)
PG | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
This film will explore the rise of comedian icon Lucille Ball, her relationship with Desi Arnaz, and how their groundbreaking sitcom I Love Lucy forever changed Hollywood, cementing her legacy long after her death in 1989.
Director: Amy Poehler | Stars: Lucie Arnaz, Bette Midler, Carol Burnett, Laura Laplaca
Votes: 3,041
47. 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: 1,087
48. The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen (2018)
TV-PG | 83 min | Documentary, History
A look at the lives of iconic pioneers such as Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, Tecumseh, Davy Crocket and Andrew Jackson as they traveled across America.
Stars: Campbell Scott, Mykel Hawke, Andrew Robertt, Robert I. Mesa
Votes: 962
49. 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: 4,494
50. Muhammad Ali (2021)
445 min | Documentary, Biography, History
An in-depth look at the life of boxer, Muhammad Ali, including his years as an activist and philanthropist.
Stars: Gerald Early, Todd Boyd, Salim Muwakkil, Jerry Izenberg
Votes: 1,385