Can’t get enough of your documentary fix? Always looking for the next compelling true-life tale to gain some more insight into the human condition. Then you definitely need to check out this list.
From true crime to Michael Jackson to Mr. Rogers himself, here are some of the most compelling documentaries currently streaming on HBO.
Happy watching.
1. Baltimore Rising (2017)
An examination of the civil unrest that took place in Baltimore in 2015 following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, and how these types of incidents seem to play out over and over again throughout the U.S.
2. Beware the Slenderman (2016)
Two young girls attempted to murder their friend in Wisconsin in 2014 to appease a fictional online boogeyman known as “Slenderman.” A truly creepy documentary about the power of the Internet and how it can influence young minds.
3. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
A disturbing film that details the alleged abuse that took place at the hands of Arthur Friedman and his son Jesse upon students in their computer classes. The director uses the Friedman family’s home videos to follow the case and to document the family being torn apart.
4. Cries From Syria (2017)
Syria’s heartbreaking civil war is documented in this powerful film that shows an intimate, ground-level view of the devastating conflict.
5. David Bowie: The Last Five Years (2017)
Not many people knew that David Bowie had terminal cancer before he died in 2016. This documentary follows Bowie as he makes his final album, Blackstar.
6. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)
This examination of the Church of Scientology will chill viewers to the bone as it paints a portrait of a cult-like organization that uses intimidation and fear to achieve its purpose.
7. The Jinx: The Life and Times of Robert Durst (2015)
The complex story of real estate tycoon Robert Durst is studied in this disturbing film about a fascinating character who is suspected in three murders dating back to the 1980s.
8. Leaving Neverland (2019)
This recent documentary about Michael Jackson and his alleged abuse of two boys in the 1980s and 1990s is once again forcing people to reexamine the King of Pop’s complicated legacy.
9. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God (2012)
The cycle of abuse perpetrated by the Catholic church over decades comes into focus in this film as four deaf men try to expose the priest who abused them when they were boys.
10. The Memory of Justice (1976)
This 1976 film argues that atrocities committed during war have a long tradition and continued on well after World War II. In essence, the war crimes of the Nazis are not unique and many nations still commit similar atrocities, even the U.S. during the Vietnam War.
11. Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017)
A complicated relationship between a daughter and her mother that ultimately ends in the mother’s death is documented in this strange film. This pretty much sums up the meaning of “dysfunctional family.”
12. The Paradise Lost trilogy (1996, 2000, 2011)
This documentary trilogy focuses on the murder of three young boys in Arkansas in 1993 that ultimately led to the conviction of three teenagers who were imprisoned for 18 years before they were released. A story of injustice, intolerance, and mystery.
13. Tickled (2016)
This one needs to be seen to be believed. The filmmaker set out to document the world of competitive tickling and ended up finding himself in the middle of a strange real-life thriller complete with an intimidating bully.
14. When the Levees Broke (2006)
Spike Lee’s examination of the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 highlights the human tragedy that occurred in New Orleans and calls out what the filmmaker believes were constant missteps by the George W. Bush administration.
15. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
A feel-good film that traces the origins of the TV show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and explores the life of Mister Rogers himself.
These all look like great films! I can’t wait to stream them!
