Unveiling Reality: A Curated List Of Documentary Films

By WatchListHQSeptember 5, 2025
Documentary films have a unique ability to captivate and educate audiences, offering a glimpse into the lives and stories of others. From the world of art and music to the realms of technology and social justice, documentaries provide a platform for exploration and discovery.

The art of documentary filmmaking is a delicate balance of storytelling, investigation, and presentation, requiring a deep understanding of the subject matter and a passion for sharing it with the world. The films selected for this list demonstrate a commitment to this art form, showcasing a range of topics and themes that are both thought-provoking and visually stunning.

Whether you're interested in the creative process, the impact of technology on society, or the stories of individuals who have made a significant impact on the world, there's something on this list for everyone. With a focus on quality and authenticity, these documentaries offer a unique perspective on the world, challenging our assumptions and broadening our understanding of the human experience.

From behind-the-scenes looks at the making of iconic films to investigations into the world of technology and social justice, this curated list of documentary films is sure to inspire, educate, and entertain. With a range of styles and approaches, these films demonstrate the diversity and complexity of the documentary genre, highlighting the power of storytelling to shape our perceptions and challenge our understanding of the world.
Nude
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Nude

#1

NUDE explores perceptions of nudity in art by chronicling the creative process of photographer David Bellemere as he's commissioned by NU Muses founder Steve Shaw to shoot a fine art calendar of nude photographs.

201789 min
Documentary
9.4
163 votes
Square One
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Square One

#2

An investigation into the original 1993 Michael Jackson allegations brought by the Chandler family.

201983 min
DocumentaryCrimeDrama
8.6
58 votes
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
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Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

#3

An enchanting making-of story told through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.

2022103 min
Documentary
7.3
3428 votes
The Great Hack
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The Great Hack

#4

Data—arguably the world’s most valuable asset—is being weaponized to wage cultural and political wars. The dark world of data exploitation is uncovered through the unpredictable, personal journeys of players on different sides of the explosive Cambridge Analytica/Facebook data story.

2019114 min
Documentary
6.9
541 votes
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
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Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese

#5

Part documentary, part concert film, part fever dream, this film captures the troubled spirit of America in 1975 and the joyous music that Dylan performed during the fall of that year.

2019142 min
DocumentaryMusic
7.1
139 votes
X-Rated: The Greatest Adult Movies of All Time
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X-Rated: The Greatest Adult Movies of All Time

#6

The evolution of adult cinema through the most influential films in history, a journey that begins in the 1970s and ends nowadays. An in-depth analysis of the success of the most prestigious erotic films, their impact on industry and society, and their influence on cinema and contemporary culture.

201594 min
Documentary
6.5
190 votes
Memory: The Origins of Alien
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Memory: The Origins of Alien

#7

The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott's Alien - rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, the art of Francis Bacon, and the dark visions of Dan O'Bannon and H.R. Giger. A contemplation on the symbiotic collaborative process of movie-making, the power of myth, and our collective unconscious.

201995 min
Documentary
6.3
101 votes
Winnebago Man
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Winnebago Man

#8

Jack Rebney is the most famous man you've never heard of - after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney's outrageously funny outtakes became an underground sensation and made him an internet superstar. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer journeys to the top of a mountain to find the recluse who unwittingly became the "Winnebago Man".

201085 min
DocumentaryComedy
6.6
91 votes
Waking Sleeping Beauty
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Waking Sleeping Beauty

#9

By the mid-1980s, the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts: maybe the best days of animation were over. Maybe the public didn't care. Only a miracle or a magic spell could produce a happy ending. Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairy tale. It's the true story of how Disney reg

200986 min
Documentary
7.2
109 votes
Pornocracy: The New Sex Multinationals
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Pornocracy: The New Sex Multinationals

#10

Never before have we watched as much porn as today yet the traditional porn industry is dying. The arrival of web sites showing amateur clips has transformed the way porn is made and consumed. Behind this transformation lies one opaque multinational.

201777 min
Documentary
6.7
62 votes
Hot Girls Wanted
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Hot Girls Wanted

#11

A first-ever look at the realities of the professional “amateur” porn world and the steady stream of 18-to-19-year old girls entering into it.

201584 min
Documentary
6.1
681 votes
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
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Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

#12

A horrific triple child murder leads to an indictment and trial of three nonconformist boys based on questionable evidence.

1996150 min
DocumentaryCrime
7.6
187 votes
Concert for George
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Concert for George

#13

As a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his passing, The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 . Organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. A benefit for Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation, the all-star concert took place on the day of the first anniversary of his death. Proceeds from the film also went to the Material World Charitabl

2003140 min
MusicDocumentary
8.1
61 votes
WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn
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WeWork: or The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn

#14

Explore the rise and fall of one of the biggest corporate flameouts and venture capitalist bubbles in recent years – the story of WeWork, and its hippie-messianic leader Adam Neumann.

2021104 min
Documentary
6.7
64 votes
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
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An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

#15

A decade after An Inconvenient Truth brought climate change into the heart of popular culture comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution. Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight, traveling around the world training an army of climate champions and influencing international climate policy. Cameras follow him behind the scenes—in moments private and public, funny and poignant—as he pursues the empowering notion that while the s

2017100 min
Documentary
6.7
172 votes
Capturing Avatar
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Capturing Avatar

#16

Capturing Avatar is a feature length behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Avatar. It uses footage from the film's development, as well as stock footage from as far back as the production of Titanic in 1995. Also included are numerous interviews with cast, artists, and other crew members. The documentary was released as a bonus feature on the extended collector's edition of Avatar.

201098 min
Documentary
7.0
94 votes
Wick Is Pain
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Wick Is Pain

#17

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 Invisible War
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The Invisible War

#18

An investigative and powerfully emotional documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military, the institutions that perpetuate and cover up its existence, and its profound personal and social consequences.

201293 min
DocumentaryWarCrime
7.2
114 votes
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
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Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me

#19

After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.

202295 min
DocumentaryMusic
8.5
481 votes