A first date movie needs to do several things at once: be engaging enough to talk about, not so intense it kills the mood, and ideally leave you both with something to say when the credits roll.
The 2020s have already produced films that will be studied for decades — lean, precise, unafraid to take audiences seriously. reveal truths that fiction can only approximate.
The best documentaries don't just inform — they change how you see something you thought you already understood.
An intimate look at America's favourite neighbor and the life, lessons, and legacy of Fred Rogers.
Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's El Capitan.
An in-depth look at the US prison system and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality.
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock musician Rodriguez.
What makes a documentary essential viewing is specificity. These films don't deal in generalities — they follow real people making impossible choices in real moments.
A look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring, and illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City's World Trade Center's twin towers in 1974.
When Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his project into a geopolitical thriller.
A documentary film about the 1965-66 Indonesian mass killings, in which former paramilitary leaders are challenged to re-enact their killings.
Backup singers discuss their careers and relationships with the stars they support.
Michael Moore explores the culture of guns and violence in the United States.
An ending is everything. It's the last thing you carry with you. These films understand that — and they make it count.
After watching a great documentary, the world looks slightly different. That's not a small thing.