Documentary | Reality
Best documentaries concerning Western/European history and occasionally politics and current affairs.
List activity
209 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
527 titles
- StarsLaurence SpellmanNick SampsonDavid StarkeyDr David Starkey examines the history and motives that shaped the most infamous king of England. This series is beautifully researched and offers some new insights into life and times of Henry VIII.
- DirectorMark DanielsSylvie FaiveleyStarsAlain BaratonRoxanne BennettJérémie BenoîtThe Queen's Hamlet is a palace disguised as a peasant's cottage hidden in the Versailles gardens. A romantic hideaway, Marie-Antoinette conceived it as a reminder of her carefree youth in Vienna. The Revolution left it for a ruin. Now, two centuries later its renovation finally begins.
- DirectorRenny BartlettStarsNicholas AgnewHelen BradburyAdam BurtonA dramatised documentary detailing the bitter feud between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. The two Queens never met, but communicated for many years via letter. Mary's turmoil is shown, and the events which led to her destruction. Elizabeth, one of Britain's most infamous monarchs would be haunted in later year's by the death of an anointed Queen.
- DirectorThierry BinistiStarsVinciane MillereauSamuel TheisJérôme PoulyDocudrama about the life of Louis XIV nicknamed "the Sun King", the King of France who ran a glamorous court, expanded the borders of France, loved women and parties and built an incredible palace for himself - the Versailles.
- StarsDan JonesJames Oliver WheatleySteffan BojeUsing a combination of documentary and drama, historian Dan Jones tells the story of the War of the Roses - the 30 year civil war between the House of York and House of Lancaster that saw the crown change hands seven times.
- StarsLucy WorsleyNathen AminHistorian Lucy Worsley reveals how some of the biggest moments in British History are actually a concoction of fibs and stories which have been manipulated by whoever was in power at the time.
- StarsMatt AbercrombySuzannah LipscombCory PetersonThis series is challenging the public assumptions and myths surrounding the iconic Tower of London and is using original historical sources to shed new light on fascinating individual cases, gruesome executions, and notorious prisoners.
- DirectorBen MoleStarsStuart ChambersJohn GuyRobert Hutchinson
- DirectorMark FielderStarsTracy BormanJames Daybell
- StarsHelen CastorHistorian of the medieval period, Helen Castor, presents an in depth and insightful series covering England's early Queens, from the High Middle Ages with Eleanor and get daughter-in-law Eleanor of Aquitane, through the Late Middle Ages with Isabella of France and Margaret of Anjou and finishing with Lady Jane Grey, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
- StarsLucy WorsleySarah ToulalanMatthew SweetLucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, explores how the physical and mental health of our past monarchs has shaped the history of the nation.
- StarsSuzannah LipscombDan JonesCharlie ClementsA series about Henry VIII and his wives, chronicling the ups and downs in his marriages and how they shaped his reign as King and ultimately the face of Britain.
- DirectorSuzanne PhillipsStarsSuzannah LipscombTara HamlingMarc MeltonvilleThe introduction of world trade in Tudor England inadvertently introduces foreign poisonous substances. One such case is sugar and the subsequent rotting of teeth.
- StarsSuzannah LipscombEmma ConnellJack HawkinsThis two-part docudrama shows the love affair between King Henry VIII of England and his second wife, Anne Boleyn; presented by historian Dr. Suzannah Lipscomb.
- DirectorTony GregoryStarsDerren BrownSarah AlexanderJane GoldmanThe Gathering was a live stage show performed in a secret location (hidden from the audience). The audience was hand picked by Brown and included psychologists, college students, celebrities, psychics, taxi drivers, and magicians.
- DirectorTim KnightStarsDerren BrownLorraine DiFeliceAnn DruffelDerren Brown takes on a number of fake identities as he travels across the USA trying to convince people of his abilities in the area of psychic powers and the supernatural world.
- StarsDerren BrownKarol SteeleBen Ryan-SteeleIn the first programme, Derren sets up a fake pharmaceutical company which claims to have developed a drug named 'Rumyodin', with the ability to inhibit fear. In the second, Derren looks at the psychology of religious belief.
- StarsDerren BrownSteven BrosnanGilbert MartinA member of the public is given a second chance at life when mentalist Derren Brown makes him realize how important life is by tricking him into believing that a meteor has hit the earth which is now populated by zombies.
- DirectorSimon DinsellStarsDerren BrownKenneth CopelandBenny HinnDerren proves it is possible to take someone from the streets of the UK, and turn them into a faith healer in the USA. Along the way we learn how to scam people through faith healing.
- StarsDerren BrownRachel JacksonAndrew SykesDerren Brown uses deception as a skill to overcome common misbeliefs and fears of individuals.
- StarsDerren BrownVictoria BroomConnor WilliamsDerren Brown motivates and manipulates an ordinary man into taking control of his life and achieving his aspirations.
- DirectorBenjamin CaronStarsDerren BrownDerren Brown's third live stage show. The show toured throughout the U.K. In 2007-2008.
- DirectorSimon DinsellStarsDerren BrownPhilip BellJames D. BoyleIn The System, Derren Brown amazes us by being able to correctly predict the winner of horse races every time. Derren persuades a woman to place increasingly large bets with her own savings based on his picks.
- DirectorMichael MooreStarsJim AcostaRoger AilesBrooke BaldwinFilmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements.
- StarsLiam NeesonAndrew HunsickerAlexandru AldeaPope: The Most Powerful Man in History, from Glass Entertainment Group and Rearrange TV, is a six-part CNN Original Series that goes inside the Vatican to reveal the true power held by popes throughout the ages. The docuseries explores how 12 apostles became 1.2 billion Catholics today, linking recent news events surrounding the Vatican with their unexpected origins. The premiere episode, "The Rise of the Pope," examines the origins of the papacy and how Catholicism, against all odds, spread throughout Europe. Jon Hirsch, Nancy Glass, Randy Counsman, Amy Entelis and Lizzie Fox serve as executive producers.
- StarsColin TierneyDominic GreenKevin JamesThe secret agents that protected Queen Elizabeth from treason for over 40 years, through the execution of Mary Queen of Scots to the death of Queen Elizabeth, the capture of Catholic fugitive John Gerard and the infamous Gunpowder Plot.
- StarsDerren BrownStephen FryMartin KempDerren Brown demonstrates his unique powers of psychological mentalism, hypnotism, misdirection and showmanship.
- DirectorNick Gillam-SmithStarsLucy WorsleyJane SpoonerAnna WhitelockLucy Worsley gets into bed with our past monarchs to uncover the Tales from the Royal Bedchamber. She reveals that our obsession with royal bedrooms, births and succession is nothing new. In fact, the rise and fall of their magnificent beds reflects the changing fortunes of the monarchy itself.
- StarsLucy WorsleyJanet HartleySimon DixonBritish historian Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to investigate the 300-year reign of the Romanov dynasty.
- DirectorChristopher CasselStarsPhilip DaileaderKelly DeVriesBonnie EffrosThe History Channel examines the Dark Ages from the fall of the Roman Empire to the First Crusade.
- CreatorKelly LoudenbergStarsDavid BurnsBrian HutchinsonJames KonatA critical look into some true crime cases where American law enforcement made up for lack of actual physical evidence by using devious psychological tactics during interrogation in order to extract confessions from naive suspects.
- DirectorJames JonesStarsSarah ChildressWill LymanWith undercover footage and on-the-ground reporting, FRONTLINE reveals a side of Saudi Arabia that's rarely seen, and traces the efforts of men and women who are working to bring about change.
- StarsRobert LindsayRon CookJohn WaltersDrama-documentary series which describes some of the key technological achievements of the industrial age.
- StarsAaron IrvinCorey BrennanJerry TonerChronicles some of the most famous leaders of the Roman Civilization.
- StarsAnna ChancellorJan GoodmanAbel MorrisonFilmmakers gain access to the community of Rockland Ranch in the middle of the Utah desert where 14 polygamous Mormon families have created unique homes for themselves carved out of a rock-face.
- DirectorJohn ScheinfeldStarsJay SimonAcross the silvery Nile from Cairo in Egypt, in the shadow of the great pyramids, is one of the true wonders of the world. For nearly five thousand years its existence has been shrouded in mystery, controversy and uncertainty. How long has it been there? Who built it and when? Why was it built? Whose face is on it? Are there secret chambers underneath?
- StarsRoss HuguetBryan EdwardsJames J. WilsonEvery second of every day, millions of Americans are caught on security cameras. Most of them are honest citizens going about their daily lives. But a few are guilty of unspeakable crimes.
- DirectorW. Dyfrig DaviesEvidence reveals Sir Rhys ap Thomas of Wales may have dealt the fatal blow to England's King Richard III that paved the way for the Tudor monarchy.
- DirectorStuart ElliottStarsTal SimmonsMike LoadesAngela BoyleA road construction crew unearths an ancient mass grave of decapitated Viking men near Dorset, England. Archaeologists and forensic scientists examine the remains and present various theories about why the men were executed.
- CreatorAndrew SodroskiJim ClementeTony GittelsonStarsGethin AnthonyArliss HowardKelly JenretteAn in-depth look at how an FBI profiler helped track down the terrorist Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.
- StarsRaphael RowePaul ConnellyMarios El KhouryImagine being in jail. Now imagine living in a foreign country. Scary? Paul Connelly takes you inside these jails. He shows what living conditions are for the inmates, as well as the guards. You'll never look at prison the same.
- StarsSwaylee LoughnaneReece Alexander-PutinasDavid GaleaFollows incarcerated killers, who tell the story of how they ended up there.
- StarsMichael PetersonDavid RudolfRon GueretteThe high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson following the death of his wife Kathleen Peterson in 2001.
- DirectorTom JenningsDavid TillmanStarsKing Charles IIIPrincess DianaPrince HarryThis documentary uses the recordings Princess Diana made for the book that was written by Andrew Morton. In this documentary Diana narrates her life and the events that surrounded her.
- StarsSarah PaulsonSterling K. BrownNina JacobsonInside the series of the same name.
- StarsSteven AveryDolores AveryLaura NiriderFilmed over a 10-year period, Steven Avery, a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime.
- StarsRobert DurstAndrew JareckiDick DeGuerinFilmmaker Andrew Jarecki examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.
- DirectorRod BlackhurstBrian McGinnStarsAmanda KnoxMeredith KercherRaffaele SollecitoAmerican exchange student Amanda Knox is charged with the 2007 death of another student in Italy.
- DirectorKitty GreenStarsHannah CagwinAeona CruzLiv BagleyIn the months following the unsolved murder of 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey, responses were elicited from her Colorado hometown community, creating a work of art from the collective memories and mythologies the crime inspired.
- CreatorJosh AdlerStarsMatt TaibbiFisher StevensAlex GibneyA Netflix Original Series documenting various stories about exposing the greed, corruption, and crime spreading through the global economy.
- DirectorJon RichardsStarsBen AdamsBenjamin AdamsDave BibbyDerren Brown investigates the power of compliance by persuading a member of the public into believing that they have pushed someone to their death.
- DirectorJulia KnowlesJohn L. SpencerStarsDerren BrownIllusionist Derren Brown reinvents the concept of "faith healing" through a series of stunts that debunk the confines of fear, pain and disbelief.
- StarsNiall FergusonGareth ArmstrongRichard LinternNiall Ferguson takes us on a historical adventure through the ascent of money, applying fact and opinion throughout.
- DirectorRandall WrightStarsDavid HockneyMichael BovaArtist David Hockney discusses his theory that artists were secretly using optical devices such as mirrors and lenses in creating their work as early as the 15th century. Examples from Flemish and Italian art are studied as he examines how famous paintings have had their noted mysteries newly solved; he also makes comparisons to modern film and digital imagery.
- StarsMassimo MarinoniPeter GuinnessRoss KingFrom a small Italian community in 15th-century Florence, the Medici family would rise to rule Europe in many ways. Using charm, patronage, skill, duplicity and ruthlessness, they would amass unparalleled wealth and unprecedented power. They would also ignite the most important cultural and artistic revolution in Western history--the European Renaissance. But the forces of change the Medici helped unleash would one day topple their ordered world.
- CreatorScott BaileyPetro DuszaraAlain ZaloumStarsMichael Douglas CakeLiana MontoroTyrone BenskinEach episode is a crime-solution reenactment of a real murder. The actual detectives offer commentary throughout the show.
- DirectorJacob LaMendolaStarsTasha BoggsJuan CatalanMelissa CatalanWhen Juan Catalan is arrested for a murder he didn't commit, he builds his case around raw footage from the popular TV show, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000).
- DirectorTed BraunStarsWilliam AckmanDouglas M. BrooksWilliam CohanWriter/director Ted Braun follows controversial hedge fund titan Bill Ackman as he puts a billion dollars on the line in his crusade to expose Herbalife as the largest pyramid scheme in history.
- DirectorAlex GibneyStarsJohn BeardTim BeldenBarbara BoxerA documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall.
- DirectorCharles FergusonStarsMatt DamonGylfi ZoegaAndri Snær MagnasonTakes a closer look at what brought about the 2008 financial meltdown.
- 2012–7.2 (127)TV EpisodeDirectorSam TaplinStarsSamuel WestTracy BormanSiobhan ClarkeProgram about Henry VII's royal palace Hampton Court.
- StarsRobert BartlettThe story of England's longest ruling dynasty, starting with Henry II and ending with Richard III.
- StarsDavid StarkeyMichelle BunyanImogen SlaughterThe life of Queen Elizabeth I of England
- DirectorIan LeeseStarsAndrew Graham-DixonGiuseppe PallantiJean-Pierre IsboutsBehind the enigmatic smile, the Mona Lisa remains a mystery, fuelling endless speculation.
- StarsJoann FletcherChris NauntonGlenn GodenhoJoann Fletcher presents the extraordinary story of Ancient Egypt, from its beginnings to the great pyramid builders and on, to the last of the pharaohs.
- StarsSuzannah LipscombJoe CrowleyGary HeronIn this fascinating new series, Bloody Tales goes beyond the British Isles to seek out Europe's most grisly periods to discover the mysterious true stories behind some of history's most infamous tales.
- StarsDavid StarkeyTony CottrellGerard HaylingA history of the English Crown from AD 400 to today.
- DirectorCrystal MoselleStarsMukunda AnguloNarayana AnguloSusanne AnguloConfined in an apartment from a New York housing project, the six Angulo brothers learned everything they know about the world through watching films and spend their time reenacting their favorite movies with intricate homemade costumes.
- DirectorHeidi EwingAlex GibneySeth GordonStarsJames RansoneTempestt BledsoeMorgan SpurlockA collection of documentaries that explores the hidden side of human nature through the use of the science of economics.
- DirectorPhil GrabskyStarsJuliet StevensonDavid DawsonLeif Ove AndsnesIn a quest to discover new insights into Fryderyk Chopin, the man and his musical genius, Grabsky traveled the globe over four years recording performances by world-class musicians and interviewing respected historians and musicologists.
- StarsLucy WorsleySarah KayIvan DayThis 3-part documentary traces the British Regency Era, from Parliament passing The Regency Act of 1811, due to King George III's mental incapacity, to his 1820 demise.
- StarsKenneth ClarkIan RichardsonRonald LaceySir Kenneth Clarke walks through the ages exploring the glorious rise of civilization in Western man.
- CreatorBernard VaillotAndre BarroGreg GransdenStarsJonathan ArisStephen BogaertJohn CoxDramatized reconstruction of real-life air disasters, along with interviews with aviation experts and eyewitnesses.
- StarsTerry JonesPeter BarberFaye GetzTerry Jones hosts this series that looks at the real facts about the Middle Ages and its roots.
- StarsLyall B. WatsonMichael SheenJames D'ArcyA docu-drama covering the rise and the fall of the Roman world, including the establishment of strong individual rule by Julius Caesar and the rebuilding of Rome under Nero.
- StarsDan JonesDragos OniseiAdina EadyDocudrama series with author Dan Jones. It follows the period from control freak king Henry II to the tyrant king Richard II.
- StarsStefan Ashton FrankJoy ReidenbergOnyeka NubiaA series exploring the history, archaeology and truths behind legendary creatures such as vampires, cyclops, sea monsters, and dragons.
- StarsMichael ScottRosie WylesEdith HallClassicist Dr Michael Scott presents a three-part series looking at the power, influence and history of Ancient Greece, particularly Athens, through the prism of one of its most important cultural spaces - the theatre.
- StarsLeif AndersSam MercurioKarl OtterThe historical drama details the Roman military campaigns against the barbarians. It shows how continuous wars depleted resources, a key factor in the fall of the Empire.
- StarsMonica LewinskyKen StarrLucianne GoldbergA series of exclusive interviews and archival footage examining Bill Clinton's political scandal of the 1990s and its lasting influence in the United States.
- StarsKevin SpaceyMahershala AliTim NaftaliNotable US Presidential election races throughout American history are examined.
- StarsHillary ClintonJennifer PalmieriAmy ChozickA look at the life and work of Hillary Rodham Clinton, interweaving biographical chapters of her life with behind-the-scenes footage from her 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.
- DirectorAlex WinterStarsBastian ObermayerKatrin LanghansFrederik ObermaierA documentary feature film about the biggest global corruption scandal in history, and the hundreds of journalists who risked their lives to break the story.
- DirectorJanet TobiasStarsLarry BrilliantJohn ConnorDecontee DavisUnseen Enemy is a feature-length documentary about the threat of epidemics in the 21st century and what we can do to fight them.
- DirectorLaura PoitrasStarsEdward SnowdenGlenn GreenwaldWilliam BinneyA documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden.
- DirectorFriedrich MoserStarsWilliam BinneyJesselyn RadackKirk WiebeHow a group of NSA code-breakers had a chance of preventing 9/11.
- StarsJohn AikenGeorgie GardnerMel SchillingEight singles, chosen by clinical physiologist John Aiken, neuropsychotherapist Dr. Trisha Stratford and psychologist Sabina Read, come to find themselves looking for love on a TV show.
- DirectorAlan LoweryJohn PilgerStarsJohn PilgerStuart EwenMelvin GoodmanThought-provoking documentary on war propaganda: how governments manipulate the facts and how most media let them get away with it.
- DirectorAlex GibneyStarsAlex GibneyElizabeth HolmesDan ArielyThe story of Theranos, a multi-billion dollar tech company, its founder Elizabeth Holmes, the youngest self-made female billionaire, and the massive fraud that collapsed the company.
- DirectorMichael MooreStarsMichael MooreCharlton HestonMarilyn MansonFilmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.
- StarsOliver StoneAlan ShearmanJim WardOliver Stone 's re-examination of under-reported events in American history.
- DirectorKarim AmerJehane NoujaimStarsBrittany KaiserDavid CarrollPaul-Olivier DehayeThe Cambridge Analytica scandal is examined through the roles of several affected persons.
- DirectorJohn MaggioStarsGary AckermanSteve BannonBen BernankeAs the 2008 financial crisis loomed, frantic efforts to save the US from economic collapse happened in secret. VICE News explores the untold stories of powerful people leading the way.
- DirectorGeorge KunhardtPeter W. KunhardtTeddy KunhardtStarsJoe BidenDavid BrooksGeorge W. BushIn-depth look at the life of John McCain, from his time as a POW in Vietnam to his three decades of service in the US Senate.
- DirectorJames TobackStarsMike TysonMills LaneTrevor BerbickA mixture of original interviews, archival footage, and photographs sheds light on the life experiences of Mike Tyson.
- DirectorPeter W. KunhardtStarsKenan AkanselSaul BishtSusie Buffet Jr.The legendary investor started out as an ambitious, numbers-obsessed boy from Nebraska and ended up becoming one of the richest and most respected men in the world.
- DirectorJustin PembertonStarsMichael DouglasVanessa RedgraveRonald ReaganBased on Thomas Piketty's No. 1 New York Times Bestseller, Capital in the Twenty-First Century explores one of the most important and controversial subjects of our time: wealth, and who gets a share of the dividends.
- DirectorLeon GastStarsMuhammad AliGeorge ForemanDon KingBoxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
- DirectorDaniel J. ClarkStarsMark K. SargentPatti SargentHannalore Gerling-DunsmoreMeet real Flat Earthers, a small but growing contingent of people who firmly believe in a conspiracy to suppress the truth that the Earth is flat.