The Best Documentary Movies of All Time
The definitive documentary watchlist, ranked by the people who actually watched them — over 14K ratings sit behind this page. Free Solo takes the top spot at 7.9, followed by Bowling for Columbine and The Social Dilemma. Start at number one and work down; there is no filler in the first twenty.
7 titles · average score 7.2 ·
The top 5 picks
- 1
Free Solo (2018)
★ 7.9 · 1,548 ratingsFollow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing…
- 2
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
★ 7.5 · 1,720 ratingsThis is not a film about gun control. It is a film about the fearful heart and soul of the United States, and the 280 million Americans lucky enough to have the right to a constitutionally protected Uzi. From a look at…
- 3
The Social Dilemma (2020)
★ 7.5 · 1,829 ratingsThis documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.
- 4
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)
★ 7.3 · 3,552 ratingsAn 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.
- 5
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
★ 7.1 · 1,543 ratingsMichael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2 more worth your time
How this list is ranked
Nothing on this page is hand-picked to hit a word count. We pull films matching this list's criteria from TMDB, require a real audience behind each score, and rank by that score — 7 titles averaging 7.2. The page rebuilds daily, so new releases appear here as soon as enough people have rated them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best documentary movie ever made?
By audience score, Free Solo (2018) — 7.9 from 2K ratings. Bowling for Columbine, The Social Dilemma and Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts round out the top of the list.
Where should I start with documentary movies?
Start at number one and work down. The first ten on this page are the genre's consensus picks; below that the list gets more varied and is a good place to find something you have not seen.
Is this list updated?
Yes — it rebuilds every day from TMDB, so newly released movies appear as soon as enough people have rated them. You do not need an account to browse it, and there is no paywall on anything at MovieAI.