The Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video (November 2024)

There’s one thing actually charming about watching a real story play out in entrance of you. In contrast to a fictional narrative, documentaries don’t have neatly tied-up endings, and there’s no assure of what’s to return. In summation: they really feel like a extra correct illustration of what the world is able to: good and evil, nurturing and abandoning. Typically, a documentary offers a strategy to dive deep right into a story that hasn’t been totally explored beforehand, possibly even to get solutions to long-existing questions as soon as and for all. Right here, we current among the finest documentaries on Prime Video, with choices for all curiosity teams, from the standard true crime to the exploration of a long-forgotten band to woman energy.

For extra suggestions, try our record of the best movies on Prime Video, documentaries on Netflix, or documentaries on Hulu.

Disclaimer: These titles can be found on US Prime Video.

Editor’s notice: This text was up to date November 2024 to incorporate Sizzling Potato: The Story of the Wiggles.

‘Sizzling Potato: The Story of the Wiggles’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.0/10

Directed by Sally Aitken, Sizzling Potato: The Story of the Wiggles is a biographical music documentary that chronicles the story of the Australian kids’s music group, The Wiggles. The movie recounts how the group began with 4 buddies — Anthony Discipline, Murray Prepare dinner, Greg Web page, and Jeff Fatt — who recorded a one-off album within the early Nineties. Towards all odds, they turned a world music phenomenon that has impressed a number of generations of kids. Sizzling Potato: The Story of the Wiggles premiered in October 2023 and has earned near-universal acclaim from critics and followers. Presenting a complete take a look at the group’s origins and evolution over the many years, the documentary movie delivers a wholesome dose of nostalgia for longtime followers of the group and a healthful, inspiring expertise for individuals who is probably not acquainted with them. Tasteful and heartwarming, Sizzling Potato is an enchanting peek behind the scenes of what may be the one most profitable kids’s music act in historical past.

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‘I Am: Celine Dion’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.9/10

Canadian balladeer Celine Dion is a titan of vocals who can’t be tied down to 1 style, and I Am: Celine Dion is a documentary that dives head-first into her life to discover her legacy, her course of, and her battle with a neurological illness. Dion provides followers a view into her recording periods and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the meticulousness that goes into planning her spectacular reveals. These excessive highs are contrasted with a uncooked and susceptible look into the hidden struggles she goes by whereas managing her Stiff-Particular person Syndrome. This movie is each a celebration of her profession and an inspirational reminder that one’s passions may help one by their darkest instances.

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‘Lucy and Desi’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Capturing the highs and the lows of the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lucy and Desi is a documentary achieved with care by Amy Poehler. Ranging from their early days as a brand new couple in Hollywood by the peak and loopy of I Love Lucy to the top of their lives, the documentary is an trustworthy take a look at one in every of TV’s favourite {couples}. From their very own private struggles to the struggles they confronted within the trade, notably Desi as a Cuban residing in America, Lucy and Desi by no means leans into sensationalism or melodramatics, as an alternative it depends on the star energy of its topics to propel the doc ahead. With audio clips straight from Lucy and Desi, it is an intimate take a look at their lives, one which humanizes them past their tv personas. For lovers of Lucy and Desi, this can be a cannot miss. — Therese Lacson

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‘Judy Blume Eternally’ (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Judy Blume Eternally is an ode to the writer who broke the principles and empowered generations of younger individuals. The documentary options interviews with followers in addition to the trailblazer herself as she displays on her journey. Captured by administrators Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the movie honors the way in which Blume’s books allowed readers to discover ideas of sexuality, adolescence, and alter with out shying away from criticism and censorship. Judy Blume Eternally welcomes celebrities like Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, and Lena Dunham to share the impression a single prolific novelist has had on their lives, careers, and understanding of themselves. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Wildcat’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.7/10

Wildcat is a uncooked journey into the Amazon directed by Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh. After being medically discharged, Harry Turner, a younger English veteran, travels to a distant and scenic space in an try and relaxation, recharge, and recuperate from PTSD. Whereas exploring the Amazon jungle, Turner meets scientist Samantha Zwicker and a child ocelot who modifications his life. Wildcat is greater than a nature documentary, because it explores the interconnectivity of the planet. With a riveting story, attractive landscapes, and tons of cat content material, Wildcat is a superbly inspiring and touching movie about therapeutic. – Yael Tygiel

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‘The Sound of 007’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Revolving round an iconic franchise just like the James Bond sequence, The Sound of 007 permits filmmaker Mat Whitecross to discover the historical past behind among the most memorable film theme songs. The Sound of 007 is a journey for the senses, touring by generations of music, starting with the genesis of Dr. No’s unforgettable theme from the 1962 movie. That includes interviews from actors of the franchise, together with Daniel Craig, The Sound of 007 additionally shines a highlight on No Time To Die’s Academy Award-winning tune from fashionable music maven Billie Eilish. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Good Night time Oppy’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) narrates Good Night time Oppy, the documentary movie from Ryan White that reveals an unimaginable true story of power, smarts, and convictions. Good Night time Oppy spends time with NASA engineers and scientists as they create the lovely exploration rover named Alternative, which was despatched on a three-month mission to Mars, solely to outlive for 15 years. That includes interviews with NASA staff, in addition to footage from the unique mission, Good Night time Oppy dives into the far reaches of our photo voltaic system with an uplifting message and thrilling journey. – Yael Tygiel

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‘Dior and I’ (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Following the creation of Raf Simons’ first high fashion assortment as the brand new inventive director on the iconic model, Dior and I reveals each the challenges and triumphs of working within the fascinating, high-pressure world of excessive trend. Along with giving us an unique take a look at actually breathtaking designs, the documentary permits us to satisfy the individuals who make all of it potential. Runway followers are positive to be immediately captivated by the portrait of Simons and his workforce in addition to perception into the traditions of this distinctive enterprise. – Taylor Gates

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‘Technology Wealth’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 46% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Technology Wealth had the distinguished honor of being the opening evening documentary on the 2018 Sundance Movie Pageant – and for good purpose. It explores an age-old query that all of us nonetheless battle to reply: Can cash purchase happiness? The overall consensus is, in fact, no, nevertheless it’s way more sophisticated than that, and this documentary reveals it. Behind the entire glitz and glamour, there’s a bleak, melancholic tone that pervades. Come for the luxurious – the designer garments, mansions, and jets – and keep for the riveting character research of the world’s ultra-wealthy. – Taylor Gates

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‘Expensive Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father’ (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.5/10

A gut-wrenching story that tries to supply a person’s son the chance to find who his dad was after his brutal homicide. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne paperwork the lifetime of his finest pal, Andrew Bagby, after his homicide, making an attempt to piece collectively the clues that result in his dying whereas additionally celebrating Andrew’s life. Expensive Zachary is beloved among the many true-crime documentary neighborhood for being trustworthy, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. Kuenne scrapbooks Andrew’s life in a manner that solely a finest pal can, and the documentary finally pushed a lawmaker to introduce “Zachary’s Invoice” to the Parliament of Canada, serving to to guard kids in bail hearings and custody disputes. For these taken with true crime, this one cannot be missed. Out there by Amazon Prime subscription. — Therese Lacson

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‘Lorena’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Lorena particulars a completely stunning story of a 1993 assault. This four-part docuseries follows the lives of Lorena and John Bobbitt. Lorena was arrested after she reduce off her husband John’s penis. Lorena accused John of home violence and marital rape, and, unsurprisingly, the story quickly turned consumed by the information media. Directed by Joshua Rofé, Lorena investigates the case and the media storm that turned the story into the butt of many jokes. The docuseries makes use of archive footage to shine a highlight on the shameful protection of the case and may depart you feeling pissed off and enlightened. — Therese Lacson

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‘The Imposter’ (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10

How does a con man on the age of 20 idiot a complete household into pondering he’s their lacking 13-year-old son? Bart Layton paperwork the compelling 1997 case of Frédéric Bourdin in The Imposter. The Imposter begins as a story in regards to the lacking case of Nicholas Barclay nevertheless it quickly dives into Bourdin’s life as a con man, revealing how he was capable of goal the weaknesses of households and play on their desperation together with his manipulation. Layton’s documentary is an thrilling piece of labor as a result of he speaks not solely to the Barclay household however to Bourdin himself in regards to the con and the way he was capable of pull all of it off.

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‘Tales We Inform’ (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Sarah Polley crafts among the finest documentaries of the 2010s with the alluring Tales We Inform. The movie is autobiographical as Polley explores the secrets and techniques of her family and analyzing her mother and father in all their complicated humanity. It’s a surprising work of memoir and reminiscence with some stunningly inventive approaches to unwinding the story of her parentage. This clearly wasn’t a simple story for Polley to inform, however she bravely strikes ahead with a daughter’s love and a filmmaker’s eye. The movie’s solely draw back is that after you end, you’ll want that Polley would preserve tackling documentaries as a result of she clearly is a grasp of the format. – Matt Goldberg

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‘Val’ (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.6/10

What if you happen to devoted your life to performing after which illness took that away from you? What would you be left with? Would it not simply be your physique of labor or would you yearn to maintain creating it doesn’t matter what? That is the attractive query on the middle of the beautiful Val Kilmer documentary, Val. Whereas the documentary does discover a few of Kilmer’s most notable cinematic work together with Prime Gun, Batman Eternally, The Doorways, and others because of the wealth of video footage Kilmer took through the years, the guts of the movie is the place Kilmer is now after having his voice ravaged by throat most cancers. Fairly than a easy story of perseverance, we get Kilmer’s personal phrases by his movies and narration offered by his son Jack Kilmer, who sounds lots like his father. Val is a singular take a look at an actor who by no means actually craved film stardom however as an alternative inventive expression and the way that expression carries on after tragedy. – Matt Goldberg

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‘Time’ (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Time is the astonishing chronicle of Fox and Rob Wealthy, who have been convicted of armed theft, and whereas Fox was given a diminished sentence, Rob was sentenced to sixty years. By means of house video footage and Garrett Bradley’s work, we see Fox persevering to free her husband and the daddy of her kids from a system that delights within the mass incarceration of black males. What Time does so astonishingly nicely is it reveals how these draconian sentences punish not solely the convicted, however everybody round them. There’s a ripple impact, and to say, “Don’t do the crime if you happen to can’t do the time,” is a glib and heartless manner to have a look at how a justice system ought to function. Whereas Fox’s campaign is at instances inspiring, it’s additionally damning in the direction of a system and a rustic that will behave in such a callous method within the first place. – Matt Goldberg

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‘The Witness’ (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.0/10

In 1964 Kitty Genovese was murdered in Kew Gardens, Queens as 38 individuals witnessed her screams with out taking motion. Over 50 years later, it’s a narrative that also haunts New York and stands as a reminder to take motion. The Witness focuses drastically on Kitty’s youthful brother Invoice Genovese, who additionally acted as govt producer, and was 16 on the time of Kitty’s homicide. He goes over headlines, trial transcripts, and police information to find out precisely what occurred that day so a few years in the past. It’s an emotional and highly effective story about life, household, and dying.

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‘One Youngster Nation’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.5/10

You could be vaguely conscious of China’s “One Youngster” coverage that ran from 1979 to 2015, however Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang’s harrowing documentary delves into the wide-reaching ramifications of the coverage. The excessive price of totalitarianism yields a nation of people that felt they’d no alternative however to undergo the federal government’s cruelty in favor of a coverage that was created out of concern of over-population. Whereas some could argue that it was a essential evil, One Youngster Nation seems at how a lot evil needed to occur, from mass infanticide to compelled sterilization to child trafficking to household separation. As Wang factors out, whereas some may even see this as the other of America the place abortions are largely outlawed versus carried about by the federal government, it’s simply other ways of the federal government depriving ladies of autonomy over their our bodies. It might be comforting to think about the one-child coverage as one thing that occurred “over there” and “prior to now”, however One Youngster Nation makes its ramifications fast and unforgettable. – Matt Goldberg

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