Ranked · Culture
Best documentaries of all time
The ten best documentaries to watch in 2026, from Planet Earth II and Free Solo to Hoop Dreams and The Last Dance, with director, year and running time.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 9 min read
AI generatedThe best documentaries of all time tell true stories with the tension of a thriller and the emotional pull of great drama. The ten below include Oscar winning documentaries, landmark nature series and gripping sports and music films, and all of them are regularly named among the documentaries everyone should watch.
We compared critics' lists, award records and audience polls, and favoured films and series that remain widely available and hold up for first-time viewers. We aimed for range across subjects, including the best nature documentaries, best sports documentaries and best music documentaries, as well as films about history and justice.
At a glance
#1 · Best for Adventure and inspiration
Free Solo
A heart-stopping climb on film
Climber Alex Honnold prepares to scale the 900-metre face of El Capitan in Yosemite without ropes. The film follows both the physical preparation and the fears of the people around him, including the camera crew. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar winner
- Stunning climbing footage
- Personal story alongside the climb
- Produced by National Geographic
- Director
- Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
- Released
- 2018
- Length
- About 100 min
#2 · Best for Nature lovers and families
Planet Earth II
The benchmark nature documentary
This six-part BBC series explores islands, mountains, jungles, deserts, grasslands and cities, using new camera technology to film animals up close. David Attenborough presents and narrates, and Hans Zimmer composed the main theme. Its chase between racer snakes and a baby iguana became one of TV's most talked-about scenes.
- Six episodes
- Presented by David Attenborough
- Groundbreaking camera work
- Theme by Hans Zimmer
- Director
- BBC Natural History Unit
- Released
- 2016
- Length
- 6 episodes
#3 · Best for Serious film fans
Hoop Dreams
A landmark of American documentary
The film follows two Chicago teenagers, William Gates and Arthur Agee, over several years as they chase their dream of playing professional basketball. It becomes a portrait of family, class, race and education in America. Critics often rank it among the greatest documentaries ever made.
- Filmed over several years
- Intimate family portraits
- Social themes beyond sport
- In the US National Film Registry
- Director
- Steve James
- Released
- 1994
- Length
- About 170 min
#4 · Best for Viewers who want suspense
Man on Wire
A real-life heist story in the sky
In 1974, Philippe Petit walked on a wire strung between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The film tells how he and his team planned the illegal stunt, using interviews, archive footage and reconstructions. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar winner
- Structured like a heist film
- Archive footage and reconstructions
- Uplifting true story
- Director
- James Marsh
- Released
- 2008
- Length
- About 94 min
#5 · Best for Sports fans
The Last Dance
The definitive sports documentary series
This ten-part series follows Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls through the 1997–98 season, with flashbacks to their earlier championships. Unseen behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with players make it compelling even for non-basketball fans. It won an Emmy for outstanding documentary series.
- Ten episodes
- Rare behind-the-scenes footage
- Interviews with Jordan and teammates
- Emmy winner
- Director
- Jason Hehir
- Released
- 2020
- Length
- 10 episodes
#6 · Best for Space and history fans
Apollo 11
The moon landing as if you were there
Built entirely from archive material, including newly discovered large-format footage, this film follows the 1969 moon mission from launch to splashdown. There is no narrator or modern interviews, just the images and original audio. The restored footage looks remarkably fresh on a big screen.
- All archive footage and audio
- No narration
- Restored large-format film
- Short running time
- Director
- Todd Douglas Miller
- Released
- 2019
- Length
- About 93 min
#7 · Best for Understanding social issues
13th
A powerful look at justice in the US
Ava DuVernay examines how the exception in the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution has shaped mass incarceration and racial inequality. Interviews with activists, scholars and politicians are combined with archive footage. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar nominee
- History of race and prisons
- Wide range of interviewees
- Netflix original
- Director
- Ava DuVernay
- Released
- 2016
- Length
- About 100 min
#8 · Best for Music lovers
Searching for Sugar Man
A music mystery with a remarkable twist
Two South African fans set out to learn what happened to Rodriguez, a US singer-songwriter who flopped at home but became a star in South Africa. The investigation leads to a surprising answer. The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar winner
- Detective-style storytelling
- Great soundtrack
- Feel-good ending
- Director
- Malik Bendjelloul
- Released
- 2012
- Length
- About 86 min
#9 · Best for A calm, moving watch
My Octopus Teacher
An unlikely friendship under the sea
Filmmaker Craig Foster spends a year visiting a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest and forms a bond with her. The underwater photography is beautiful, and the story is gentle and reflective. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar winner
- Underwater kelp forest footage
- Personal, reflective tone
- Netflix original
- Director
- Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
- Released
- 2020
- Length
- About 85 min
#10 · Best for Music documentary fans
Amy
An intimate and heartbreaking music film
Built from home videos, archive footage and interviews, Amy tells the story of singer Amy Winehouse from her early talent to her death at 27. It looks hard at fame, addiction and the media. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
- Oscar winner
- Largely unseen personal footage
- Themes of fame and addiction
- Features her music throughout
- Director
- Asif Kapadia
- Released
- 2015
- Length
- About 128 min
How to choose
Start with the subject you care about. For breathtaking footage of wildlife, Planet Earth II and My Octopus Teacher are the obvious choices. For inspiring documentaries about human daring, Free Solo and Man on Wire are hard to beat. For sport, The Last Dance and Hoop Dreams show very different sides of basketball.
Think about time and tone too. Documentary series such as Planet Earth II and The Last Dance can be watched an episode at a time, while Hoop Dreams runs close to three hours. 13th and Amy deal with difficult subjects and are best watched when you can give them your full attention. Streaming availability changes often and varies by country, so check a service such as JustWatch before you settle in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best documentary of all time?
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There is no single answer, but Hoop Dreams, Man on Wire and Planet Earth II appear on many critics' lists. Hoop Dreams is often cited by film critics as one of the greatest documentaries ever made.
Which documentaries won the Oscar?
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On this list, Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Amy, Free Solo and My Octopus Teacher all won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. 13th was nominated.
What is the best nature documentary series?
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Planet Earth II, presented by David Attenborough, is one of the most acclaimed nature documentary series. Its predecessor Planet Earth and later BBC series such as Blue Planet II and Our Planet are also highly rated.
Where can I watch The Last Dance?
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The Last Dance was produced by ESPN and released internationally on Netflix in 2020. Streaming rights change over time and vary by country, so check a current streaming guide.
Is Free Solo real?
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Yes. Free Solo documents Alex Honnold's real climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017 without ropes or safety gear. The filmmakers discussed openly how they worried about filming a climb that could have been fatal.
What is a good documentary for families?
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Planet Earth II and My Octopus Teacher suit most families, although some predator scenes may upset younger children. Apollo 11 is another good choice for older kids interested in space.
Did Hoop Dreams win an Oscar?
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No. Hoop Dreams was not nominated for Best Documentary Feature, which caused a major controversy and led to changes in how the Academy selects documentaries. It was later added to the US National Film Registry.
Free Solo is the best documentary to start with for most viewers, but every film here shows what the form can do, from Apollo 11's archive footage to the decades-spanning ambition of Hoop Dreams. Mix a nature series with a sports or music film, and you will quickly understand why so many people now prefer the best true story documentaries to fiction.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
Written by
Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
