Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "social-documentary"
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1. Sex Life (2019– )
TV-MA | Documentary
Voyeuristic documentary series about titillating sexual and erotic experiences.
Stars: Rev Rucifer, Natasha Estrada, Barbara Ann Duffy, Vera Duffy
Votes: 296
2. Take Care of Maya (2023)
TV-14 | 103 min | Documentary
As a medical team tries to understand 10-year-old Maya Kowalski's rare illness, they begin to question her parents. Suddenly, Maya is in state custody - despite a family desperate to bring their daughter home.
Director: Henry Roosevelt | Star: Maya Kowalski
Votes: 9,834
3. Häxan (1922)
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary, Fantasy, Horror
Fictionalized documentary showing the evolution of witchcraft, from its pagan roots to its confusion with hysteria in Eastern Europe.
Director: Benjamin Christensen | Stars: Benjamin Christensen, Elisabeth Christensen, Maren Pedersen, Clara Pontoppidan
Votes: 16,837
4. An Idiot Abroad (2010–2012)
TV-14 | 43 min | Documentary, Adventure, Comedy
British comedy duo Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send their simple and closed-minded friend Karl Pilkington on a trip around the world to experience a variety of people and cultures.
Stars: Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Richard Yee
Votes: 34,442
5. Paris Is Burning (1990)
R | 78 min | Documentary
A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.
Director: Jennie Livingston | Stars: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey, Paris Duprée
Votes: 17,727 | Gross: $3.78M
6. Baraka (1992)
Not Rated | 96 min | Documentary
A collection of expertly photographed scenes of human life and religion.
Director: Ron Fricke | Star: Patrick Disanto
Votes: 41,087 | Gross: $1.33M
7. 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
8. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
R | 122 min | Documentary, Drama, War
Michael Moore's view on what happened to the United States after September 11 and how the Bush Administration allegedly used the tragic event to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, George W. Bush, Ben Affleck, Stevie Wonder
Votes: 132,521 | Gross: $119.19M
9. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared (2023)
TV-14 | 53 min | Documentary
March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar. 239 people went missing, a global investigation into this greatest mystery Despite reports, countless theories, and searches for evidence, nothing. What Are We Missing?
Stars: Intan Othman, Jeff Wise, Danica Weeks, Ghislain Wattrelos
Votes: 14,314
10. Intervention (2005– )
TV-14 | 44 min | Documentary, Drama
Addicts try to overcome their addictions with the help of their families and others.
Stars: Candy Finnigan, Jeff VanVonderen, Ken Seeley, Donna Chavous
Votes: 3,049
11. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (2023)
TV-14 | 39 min | Documentary, Adventure
Travel around the world with author Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.
Stars: Dan Buettner, Marion Nestle
Votes: 3,323
12. The Innocence Files (2020)
TV-MA | 64 min | Documentary, Crime
Cases of wrongful conviction that the Innocence Project and organizations within the Innocence Network have worked to highlight and overturn.
Stars: Peter Neufeld, Barry Scheck, Michael West, Gary Wells
Votes: 3,135
13. Locked Up Abroad (2007– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Documentary, Drama
Survivors share their stories and experience of survival abroad.
Stars: Natalie Dunne, Max Wrottesley, Manuel Villaseñor, Jerry Murillo
Votes: 2,243
14. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
Not Rated | 68 min | Documentary
A man travels around a city with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling invention.
Director: Dziga Vertov | Stars: Mikhail Kaufman, Elizaveta Svilova
Votes: 28,099
15. 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: 37,754
16. Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012– )
TV-PG | 53 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Before the popularity of AncestryDNA, journalist and cultural critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. divulges the family trees of various celebrities, many times with stunning revelations.
Stars: Henry Louis Gates Jr., CeCe Moore, Anita Hill, Ty Burrell
Votes: 1,658
17. 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
18. The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
PG-13 | 98 min | Documentary
Portrays human bravery and resilience after a tragic volcano disaster in New Zealand.
Director: Rory Kennedy | Stars: Mark Inman, Hazel Osborne, Pouroto Ngaropo, Andy McGregor
Votes: 8,408
19. 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
20. Flee (2021)
PG-13 | 89 min | Documentary, Animation, Biography
FLEE tells the extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, on the verge of marriage which compels him to reveal his hidden past for the first time.
Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen | Stars: Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari, Belal Faiz
Votes: 19,599
21. Clusterf**k: Woodstock '99 (2022)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary, History, Music
Woodstock 1969 promised peace and music, but its '99 revival delivered days of rage, riots and real harm. Why did it go so horribly wrong?
Stars: Ananda Lewis, Heather Eason Liposky, Colin Speir, John Scher
Votes: 21,637
22. Catching Killers (II) (2021– )
TV-MA | 40 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
The investigators behind infamous serial killer cases reveal the harrowing, chilling details of their extraordinary efforts in this true crime series.
Stars: Charles Coffey, John Ingram, Jim McIntyre, Debbie Harris
Votes: 5,505
23. McMillions (2020)
TV-14 | 57 min | Documentary, Crime, History
A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents involved.
Stars: Chris Graham, Doug Mathews, Amy Murray, Janet Pellicciotti
Votes: 9,255
24. Human Planet (2011)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
A cinematic experience bringing you the most amazing human stories in the world. Humans and wildlife surviving in the most extreme environments on Earth
Stars: John Hurt, Roger Munns
Votes: 27,861
25. The Way Down (2021–2022)
TV-MA | 44 min | Documentary, Crime
Follows the Remnant Fellowship Church, exploring the fame and power of its leader Gwen Shambling Lara as a diet guru and church leader, and the truth behind her carefully-curated image, detailing the church's controversial practices.
Stars: Natasha Pavlovich, Glen Wingerd, Carey Wingerd, Robert Gardner
Votes: 3,460
26. God Forbid (2022)
TV-MA | 109 min | Documentary
Giancarlo Granda, former pool attendant at the Fontainebleau Hotel, shares the intimate details of his 7-year relationship with a charming older woman, Becki Falwell, and her husband, the Evangelical Trump stalwart Jerry Falwell Jr.
Director: Billy Corben | Stars: Tom Arnold, Michael Cohen, Ted Cruz, Nicole Cunliffe
Votes: 2,332
27. The Pharmacist (2020)
TV-MA | 54 min | Documentary, Crime
Dan Schneider, a small-town pharmacist in Louisiana, makes effort to identify his son's killer, which leads to his gathering of evidence against a prolific "pill mill" doctor in New Orleans.
Stars: Dan Schneider, Annie Schneider, Jack Stephens, M.
Votes: 8,718
28. Another Body (2023)
80 min | Documentary
"Another Body" follows a college student's search for justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online.
Directors: Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn | Stars: Ava Breuer, Faith Quinn, Julia Weinberg
Votes: 383
29. How to Change Your Mind (2022)
TV-MA | 53 min | Documentary
It showcases what psychedelics teaches people about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression and transcendence.
Stars: Michael Pollan, Erika Gagnon, Paul Daley, Kathleen Kral
Votes: 3,327
30. Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga (2022)
TV-MA | 36 min | Documentary
A look at the layers of intrigue, from the supercharged power of digital communities to the gamification of trading.
Stars: Daniel Wilson, Peter Sasaki, Diana Wilson, Bob Sloan
Votes: 4,323
31. The Elephant Whisperers (2022)
PG | 41 min | Documentary, Short
Bomman and Bellie, a couple in South India, devote their lives to caring for an orphaned baby elephant named Raghu, forging a family like no other that tests the barrier between the human and the animal world.
Director: Kartiki Gonsalves | Stars: Bellie, Bomman
Votes: 9,879
32. Nuclear Now (2022)
105 min | Documentary
An investigation into the possibility of addressing climate change with a move away from fossil fuels to nuclear power.
Director: Oliver Stone
Votes: 892
33. Escaping Utopia (2024)
Documentary
New Zealand's most extreme religious cult, Gloriavale, and the true stories of people attempting to break free, including current and former members that have never gone on record before.
Votes: 85
34. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (2023)
R | 97 min | Documentary
The film will explore society's obsessions with the pursuit of happiness and will be presented by Mark Manson alongside Disappointment Panda, a character from the book whose superpower is to tell people the harsh truth.
Director: Nathan Price | Stars: Jonno Roberts, Jack Barry, Jackson Bliss, Andrew Munro
Votes: 1,853
35. Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
PG | 103 min | Documentary
A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.
Director: Barbara Kopple | Stars: John L. Lewis, Carl Horn, Norman Yarborough, Logan Patterson
Votes: 6,667
36. Jesus Camp (2006)
PG-13 | 87 min | Documentary
A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham.
Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady | Stars: Mike Papantonio, Lou Engle, Becky Fischer, Ted Haggard
Votes: 28,811 | Gross: $0.90M
37. Cartel Land (2015)
R | 100 min | Documentary
Filmmaker Matthew Heineman examines the state of the ongoing drug problem along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Director: Matthew Heineman | Stars: Tim Foley, José Manuel 'El Doctor' Mireles, Paco Valencia, Chaneque
Votes: 18,840 | Gross: $0.70M
38. Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (2022)
TV-MA | 39 min | Documentary, History
When a 20-year-old attempts to win a fighter jet in a Pepsi sweepstakes, he sets the stage for a David versus Goliath court battle for the history books.
Stars: John Leonard, Todd Hoffman, Michael Patti, Jeff Mordos
Votes: 12,434
39. The Principles of Pleasure (2022)
TV-MA | 152 min | Documentary
Sex, joy and modern science converge in this eye-opening series that celebrates the complex world of women's pleasure - and puts old-fashioned myths to rest.
Stars: Michelle Buteau, Supriya Ganesh, Annie Pisapia, Kate Robards
Votes: 1,702
40. Kokomo City (2023)
R | 73 min | Documentary
A raw depiction of the lives of four black trans sex workers as they confront the dichotomy between the black community and themselves.
Director: D. Smith | Stars: Daniella Carter, Dominique Silver, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell
Votes: 1,022
41. Every Body (2023)
R | 92 min | Documentary
Focuses on three individuals who overcame shame, secrecy, and unauthorized surgery throughout their childhoods to enjoy successful adulthoods. Choosing to ignore medical advice to conceal their bodies and coming out as who they truly were.
Director: Julie Cohen | Stars: Sean Saifa Wall, Alicia Roth Weigel, River Gallo
Votes: 856
42. The Century of the Self (2002)
59 min | Documentary
A documentary about the rise of psychoanalysis as a powerful means of persuasion for both governments and corporations.
Stars: Adam Curtis, Robert Reich, Ann Bernays, Alfred Pritz
Votes: 6,382
43. Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021)
194 min | Documentary, Horror
A thorough overview and dissection of the subgenre of 'folk horror, ' with contributions from many of the major creators and clips from cinema all over the world.
Director: Kier-La Janisse | Stars: Linda Hayden, Ian Ogilvy, Kevin Kölsch, Sean Hogan
Votes: 1,653
44. How to Get Rich (2023)
TV-14 | 35 min | Documentary
Money holds power over us - but it doesn't have to. Finance expert Ramit Sethi works with people across the US to help them achieve their richest lives.
Stars: Kyleen McHenry, Ramit Sethi
Votes: 1,558
45. Victim/Suspect (2023)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Crime
Young women tell the police they've been sexually assaulted, but instead of finding justice, they're charged with the crime of making a false report, arrested, and even imprisoned by the system they believed would protect them.
Director: Nancy Schwartzman | Stars: Lisa Avalos, Dyanie Bermeo, Rachel de Leon, Carlton Hershman
Votes: 2,109
46. News from Home (1976)
85 min | Documentary
Impersonal and beautiful images of Akerman's life in New York are combined with letters from her loving but manipulative mother, read by Akerman herself.
Director: Chantal Akerman | Star: Chantal Akerman
Votes: 2,851
47. This Place Rules (2022)
TV-MA | 82 min | Documentary, Crime, History
Follows events and characters surrounding the January 6th, 2021 insurrection of the U.S. Capital Building in the days preceding the attack.
Director: Andrew Callaghan | Stars: Andrew Callaghan, Joker Gang, Gum Gang, Brittany
Votes: 6,568
48. Gaza (2019)
92 min | Documentary
A beautiful portrait of everyday Gazan citizens, leading meaningful lives beyond the rubble of perennial conflict.
Directors: Garry Keane, Andrew McConnell | Star: Dana Abed
Votes: 598
49. Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022)
PG-13 | 120 min | Documentary, History
A chronicle about how the Lakota Indians fight to reclaim control of the Black Hills. Will investigate how the sacred land was stolen in violation of treaty agreements and feature interviews with Indigenous citizens.
Directors: Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli | Stars: Nick Tilsen, Nick Estes, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Milo Yellow Hair
Votes: 276
50. The Leather Boys (1964)
Not Rated | 108 min | Drama, Romance
An immature teenager marries a young biker but becomes disenchanted with the realities of working-class marriage--and her husband's relationship with his best friend.
Director: Sidney J. Furie | Stars: Rita Tushingham, Colin Campbell, Dudley Sutton, Gladys Henson
Votes: 1,036