Uncovering Reality: A Collection Of Documentary Films

Noura Haddad
Noura HaddadOctober 22, 2025
In the world of cinema, documentary films offer a unique lens through which we can view and understand the complexities of our reality. These films have the power to educate, to inspire, and to challenge our perspectives on the world around us. From the depths of human tragedy to the heights of artistic expression, documentaries can take us on journeys that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.

The art of documentary filmmaking is about capturing the essence of a story, whether it's a historical event, a personal struggle, or a cultural phenomenon. It's about presenting facts in a way that engages, informs, and sometimes provokes the audience. The documentaries selected for this list represent a diverse range of topics and approaches, each offering a distinct insight into the human experience.

One of the compelling aspects of documentaries is their ability to spark conversation and reflection. They can shed light on lesser-known stories, provide new insights into familiar topics, and challenge prevailing narratives. Whether they focus on individual lives, societal issues, or global events, these films contribute to a broader understanding of our world and its complexities.

This collection of documentary films is designed to intrigue, to inform, and to inspire. It includes stories of resilience, explorations of creativity, and examinations of the human condition. Each film has been chosen for its unique perspective and its contribution to the rich tapestry of documentary storytelling. By watching these documentaries, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the world and its many facets, and perhaps, discover new perspectives that challenge and enrich their own views.
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
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Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

#1

Vulgar, taunting texts blow up the phones of a teen and her boyfriend. Who's sending them — and why? This twisty documentary reveals the shocking answer.

202594 min
Documentary
7.0
107 votes
Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy
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Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy

#2

Featuring exclusive interviews with survivors, paramedics and festival staff, this documentary examines the 2021 Astroworld tragedy and its aftermath.

202580 min
Documentary
6.7
75 votes
Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster
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Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster

#3

OceanGate's Titan tourist submersible imploded in 2023 on a deep-sea dive to the Titanic. This documentary details how a bold vision ended in tragedy.

2025112 min
DocumentaryDrama
7.0
121 votes
A Deadly American Marriage
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A Deadly American Marriage

#4

Murder or self-defense? Told from both sides, this documentary explores the killing of Jason Corbett during a dispute with his wife and her father.

2025103 min
DocumentaryCrime
6.4
55 votes
Wick Is Pain
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Wick Is Pain

#5

Witness the never-before-seen footage and true story behind the John Wick phenomenon – from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.

2025127 min
Documentary
7.4
63 votes
The Twister: Caught in the Storm
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The Twister: Caught in the Storm

#6

In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. With pulse-pounding firsthand footage, this documentary goes inside a deadly twister.

202589 min
Documentary
6.5
81 votes
Chaos: The Manson Murders
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Chaos: The Manson Murders

#7

In August 1969, Charles Manson's followers killed seven people on his orders. Why? Explore a conspiracy of mind control, CIA experiments, and murder.

202596 min
DocumentaryCrime
6.1
52 votes
Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever
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Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever

#8

In this documentary, wealthy entrepreneur Bryan Johnson puts his body and fortune on the line to defy aging and extend his life beyond all known limits.

202588 min
Documentary
6.3
58 votes
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy
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Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy

#9

This subversive documentary unpacks the tricks brands use to keep their customers consuming — and the real impact they have on our lives and the world.

202485 min
Documentary
6.5
107 votes
The Lost Children
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The Lost Children

#10

After a plane crash, four indigenous children fight to survive in the Colombian Amazon using ancestral wisdom as an unprecedented rescue mission unfolds.

202497 min
Documentary
7.5
79 votes
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare
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Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare

#11

Kirat falls for a man she meets online, only to get swept up in a virtual relationship that upends her life for years, in this shocking documentary.

202482 min
Documentary
6.7
57 votes
The Menendez Brothers
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The Menendez Brothers

#12

Serving life in prison for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez speak out in this documentary explaining the shocking crime and ensuing trials.

2024116 min
Documentary
7.4
138 votes
Maroun Returns to Beirut
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Maroun Returns to Beirut

#13

2023 marked the thirtieth anniversary of Maroun Baghdadi’s sudden and tragic death. Maroun was a Lebanese filmmaker who wrote and directed films during the Lebanese civil war and contributed to documentary and fiction filmmaking from 1973 up until his death in 1993. In this film, Feyrouz Serhal embarks on a day trip in Beirut and navigates the city that profoundly shaped Maroun’s journey in life and cinema. Here she encounters individuals who were close to him and who shared his experiences. And as she traverses Maroun’s life and career, the social and political backdrop moves to the foreground. The film reflects on the last fifty years of the history of the country from a present standpoint. Through Maroun’s story, we perceive how cinema can, beautifully and dramatically, portray our stories and discourse our life events..

2024125 min
Documentary
6.8
60 votes

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