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Best Documentary Movies On A Sunday Afternoon From The 2020S That Changed Cinema Forever

The Moviepiq team picked these documentary films specifically for a slow Sunday afternoon. No filler. Every film on this list earns its place for exactly this occasion.

The best documentary movies on a sunday afternoon from the 2020s that changed cinema forever. Includes Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sk...

A Sunday film should do one thing above all else: justify the afternoon. Not exciting enough to feel like you should be doing something else. Just right.

The 2020s have already produced films that will be studied for decades - lean, precise, unafraid to take audiences seriously.

The best documentaries don't just inform - they change how you see something you thought you already understood.

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me movie poster
1
2022 · ★★★★½ 8.5/10

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.

BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky movie poster
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2020 · ★★★★☆ 8.2/10

Record-shattering Korean girl band BLACKPINK tell their story - and detail the hard fought journey of the dreams and trials behind their meteoric rise.

My Octopus Teacher movie poster
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2020 · ★★★½☆ 7.9/10

After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking her movements for months on end he eventually wins the animal's trust and they develop a never-before-seen bond between human and wild animal.

Friends: The Reunion movie poster
4
2021 · ★★★½☆ 7.8/10

The cast of Friends reunites for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the hit series, an unforgettable evening filled with iconic memories, uncontrollable laughter, happy tears, and special guests.

Miss Americana movie poster
5
2020 · ★★★½☆ 7.8/10

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer, but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.

The documentaries that stay with you are the ones that refuse to simplify. They show you the mess of a real situation and trust you to sit with it.

The Social Dilemma movie poster
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2020 · ★★★½☆ 7.5/10

This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

Money Heist: The Phenomenon movie poster
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2020 · ★★★½☆ 7.4/10

A documentary on why 'Money Heist' sparked a wave of enthusiasm around the world for a lovable group of thieves and their professor.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts movie poster
8
2022 · ★★★½☆ 7.3/10

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.

American Murder: The Family Next Door movie poster
9
2020 · ★★★½☆ 7.3/10

Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.

The Tinder Swindler movie poster
10
2022 · ★★★½☆ 7.0/10

Posing as a wealthy, jet-setting diamond mogul, an Israeli conman wooed women online then conned them out of millions of dollars. Now, some victims plan for payback.

Some films don't just tell stories - they change what stories can be. These are the ones that shifted what came after them.

The best documentaries don't resolve neatly. They give you something to carry. These do that.

From the Blog

READ Movies That Changed How People See the World
READ Movies to Watch When High
READ Best Movies for a Sunday Afternoon

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