Since the world is so full of information and untapped knowledge, some content gets the rare chance of being labeled among the “must-see documentaries.” Combining information and fun into one thing, they can provide us with a mountain of knowledge while also staying somewhat interesting to watch. However, some of the best documentaries stay true to several elements, even if it's a movie or a series.
Two elements are always found in the interesting documentaries that get watched — brilliant visuals and matter at hand. Visuals are vital because our eyes are focused on the screen for multiple hours. For this reason, documentaries like Planet Earth and Blue Planet capture our attention through the information presented and with gorgeous visuals. After all, who doesn’t like a close-up of a predator or a small fish? The other element at play is the topic itself. You might have noticed that the popular documentaries people talk about focus on relevant subjects. Winter On Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom is a documentary that focuses on the unrest in Ukraine. This topic, sadly, is still relevant these days.
So, if you are on the internet looking for the next documentary to watch — we’ve got you covered. Someone has already raised the same question on the internet before. User bunniebunnxo asked the members on AskReddit an interesting question — “What documentary is a must-see?” With so many great documentaries given, we picked the best ones and compiled them in the list below. Did the documentary’s title or the context pique your interest? Upvote it. On the other hand, if you have any similar interesting documentaries to suggest, you can share them in the comments below.
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#21 NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell

"It's about New York City in 1977. the city was in really bad shape, Son of Sam was terrorizing NYC, the summer blackout and the looting that followed. But at the same time disco and Studio 54 were happening, CBGB's had bands that went on to infamy, and hip-hop was in it's infancy in the Bronx.
The easiest watching documentary I've ever seen."
16points
#22 Hot Coffee

"It's important to watch for a number of reasons. It's about the case that was used as propaganda to persuade the average American citizen that limiting their own rights by supporting Tort reform was important so sad mega-corporations wouldn't have to waste their time dealing with the people that they wronged."
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15points
#23 Winter On Fire: Ukraine's Fight For Freedom

"About the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv that led pretty directly to the current mess, but also cemented democracy and freedom as core Ukrainian values."
15points
#24 Exit Through The Gift Shop

"You start off thinking its a Banksy documentary and it just keeps changing until it ends and you realize how blurred the lines are on the commentary of the entire thing."
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15points
#25 March Of The Penguins

Mean-Duck-low-crowe replied:
"I have the absolute BEST sleeps to this documentary. Something about the penguins cooing and the winds howling really hits my soul hard. I've "watched" it lots but only front to back, awake, once."
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15points
#26 Free Solo

treo700P replied:
"I watched Free Solo at someone’s house where they had it projected on a very large wall. That climber is skilled! I will happily stay on the ground or if I ever climb, I will use ropes and other equipment. Highly recommend watching it!"
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14points
#27 Hoop Dreams

Chronic_The_Kid replied:
"Ever since I saw Hoop Dreams as a teen, it’s been my dream to do a documentary just like that one except with amateur boxers."
lovesmyirish also replied:
"When I saw it as a kid I thought it was about two kids trying to fulfill their dream of being basketball players.
When I watched it was a little older I realized it was more about how the system uses the kids."
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14points
#28 Imposter

MoeKara replied:
"...The mixed style of actual footage, interviews and then reenactment where the main actor is lip-synched with the narration. It's all phenomenal and that's before we even mention the crazy story."
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14points
#29 The Last Dance

"I love it. The soundtrack is superb and it can actually be pretty funny at times. That kind of competitive drive makes Mike seem like a huge dick sometimes, but I feel like somebody has play that role in any successful group. Some guys won’t get it done unless they’re tested and have pressure put on them."
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14points
#30 The Cove

JustKindaHappenedxx said:
"It stopped me from ever wanting to swim with dolphins."
"It stopped me from ever wanting to swim with dolphins."
Pootis__Spencer replied:
"One of the few documentaries I've rewatched several times. Very hard watch but very insightful."
"One of the few documentaries I've rewatched several times. Very hard watch but very insightful."
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13points
#31 Crumb

"I don't think there's ever been a better documentary about the relationship between art and the artist. It's also an incredible commentary on mental illness and art as therapy, but in the end it's just a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a genius."
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13points
#32 Act Of Killing

Rebar4Life replied: "Act of Killing is a documentarians documentary. Absolutely stunning and mind blowing."
hesnothere also replied:
"How right you are: I got to work a shoot one time with Errol Morris and his production company. I took a few of his guys out for beers and asked them their favorite documentary by Errol. All but one said The Act of Killing."
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13points
#33 Resurrect Dead: The Mystery Of The Toynbee Tiles

"Another one to file under 'so weird you couldn't make it up.' This one is better if you just watch it. It's incredibly mysterious."
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13points
#34 Icarus

janky_koala replied: "Starts out about documenting the effects of doping in endurance sports, ends in state secrets, exile, and genuine fears of safety."
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11points
#35 Reel Rock

"The Reel Rock series is also fantastic and a shorter format with equally amazing footage and stories."
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11points
#36 Searching For Sugar Man

Tlentic replied:
"It was a good documentary but it wasn’t very factual. Sixto Rodriguez actually had some commercial success in Australia and New Zealand in the 70s and 80s. He did a couple tours and what not. The documentary just kinda glossed over this because it made for a better story."
"It was a good documentary but it wasn’t very factual. Sixto Rodriguez actually had some commercial success in Australia and New Zealand in the 70s and 80s. He did a couple tours and what not. The documentary just kinda glossed over this because it made for a better story."
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11points
#37 Touching The Void

PissedFurby replied:
"2 guys go climbing in the Andes, get caught in a storm and things go bad and then worse. It's a story of raw survival and tough choices. recreated with actors but with narration and interviews from the real people. definitely recommend it, it comes with one of my favorite life lessons about overcoming what seems to be impossible challenges."
"2 guys go climbing in the Andes, get caught in a storm and things go bad and then worse. It's a story of raw survival and tough choices. recreated with actors but with narration and interviews from the real people. definitely recommend it, it comes with one of my favorite life lessons about overcoming what seems to be impossible challenges."
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11points
#38 Muscle Shoals

"Just a period of music history that I had no idea about."
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11points
#39 Finders Keepers

"This man bids for an abandoned storage unit and wins. What he doesnt expect to find is a barbecue with an embalmed leg in it. He sets the barbecue and leg up as a sideshow attraction at his house. Until the owner of the leg finds out.
What ensues is a really interesting legal fight: who legally owns the leg?
Absolutely worth your time."
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11points
#40 Man On Wire

"The documentary is about this guy who walked on a wire between the twin towers, or rather the walk itself. It gave me a new understanding of what sublime means."
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11points


