Biographical Documentaries
by fergygarrett | created - 24 Feb 2014 | updated - 25 Feb 2014 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The Trials of Darryl Hunt (2006)
PG-13 | 106 min | Documentary, Crime
"The Trials of Darryl Hunt" is a feature documentary about a brutal rape/murder case and a wrongly convicted man, Darryl Hunt, who spent nearly twenty years in prison for a crime he did not... See full summary »
Directors: Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg | Stars: Evelyn Jefferson, Fred Flagler, John Reeves, Mary Anne Sheboy
Votes: 1,081 | Gross: $0.00M
2. The Armstrong Lie (2013)
R | 124 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
A documentary chronicling sports legend Lance Armstrong's improbable rise and ultimate fall from grace.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Lance Armstrong, Reed Albergotti, Betsy Andreu, Frankie Andreu
Votes: 7,894 | Gross: $0.38M
3. The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005)
PG-13 | 70 min | Documentary, Biography
Never-before-seen testimony is included in this documentary on Emmett Louis Till, who, in 1955, was brutally murdered after he whistled at a white woman.
Director: Keith Beauchamp | Stars: Mamie Till Mobley, Wheeler Parker, Simeon Wright, Ruthie Mae Crawford
Votes: 518 | Gross: $0.20M
4. Tim Tebow's Wild Rise (2012 TV Movie)
30 min | Documentary
E! examines a fascinating athlete who has transcended sports to become a full-fledged pop icon.
Stars: Kristen Aldridge, Skip Bayless, Gary Belsky, Ryan Thomas Brockington
Votes: 13
5. Tyson (2008)
R | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
A mixture of original interviews, archival footage, and photographs sheds light on the life experiences of Mike Tyson.
Director: James Toback | Stars: Mike Tyson, Mills Lane, Trevor Berbick, Cus D'Amato
Votes: 12,930 | Gross: $0.89M
6. Lenny Cooke (2013)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Lenny Cooke was the number-one ranked high school basketball player in America, but his inevitable fall from grace will forever be remembered.
Directors: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie | Stars: Lenny Cooke, Tom Konchalski, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony
Votes: 934
7.
Frontline (1983– )
Episode:
Who Was Lee Harvey Oswald?
(2003)
TV-MA | Documentary, News
Stars: Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev, J. Edgar Hoover, Lyndon B. Johnson
Votes: 26
8. Orwell Rolls in His Grave (2003)
Unrated | 84 min | Documentary
A documentary analyzing the role of the modern American media and its effects on democracy.
Director: Robert Kane Pappas | Stars: Vincent Bugliosi, Jeff Cohen, Dennis Kucinich, Charles Lewis
Votes: 1,148 | Gross: $0.02M
9. Craigslist Joe (2012)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Adventure
In a time when America's economy was crumbling and sense of community was in question, one guy left everything behind to see if he could survive solely on the support and goodwill of the 21st century's new town square: Craigslist.
Director: Joseph Garner | Stars: Joseph Garner, Kristos Andrews, Gina Keatley, Michael Kuciak
Votes: 3,845
10. George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)
Not Rated | 208 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese examines the life of musician George Harrison, weaving together interviews, concert footage, home movies and photographs.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: George Harrison, Harry Harrison, Peter Harrison, Paul McCartney
Votes: 12,623
11. Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010)
R | 118 min | Documentary
A probing investigation into the lies, greed and corruption surrounding D.C. super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cronies.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, William Branner, Melanie Sloan
Votes: 1,739 | Gross: $0.18M
12. Pecados de mi padre (2009)
Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary
Nicolas Entel's searing documentary tells the story of Pablo Escobar -- Colombian drug kingpin, murderer and family man -- through the eyes of his son, Sebastian, as well as the sons of two of Escobar's most prominent victims.
Director: Nicolas Entel | Stars: Jorge Enrique Abello, Pablo Escobar, Sebastian Marroquín, María Isabel Santos
Votes: 1,766
13. Client 9 (2010)
R | 117 min | Documentary
An in-depth look at the rise and fall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, including interviews with the scandalized, former politician.
Director: Alex Gibney | Stars: Eliot Spitzer, Alex Gibney, Hulbert Waldroup, Lloyd Constantine
Votes: 2,591 | Gross: $0.19M
14. Frame 313: The JFK Assassination Theories (2008)
Not Rated | 114 min | Documentary, Crime, History
New information and experts cover current updates on the saga that shocked America and changed history as we still have no answers to the truth.
Stars: Tom Kane, Jacqueline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Walter Cronkite
Votes: 130
15. King Kennedy (2011)
110 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME (formerly King Kennedy) tells the stories of John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King in a manner never before attempted. Using 100% archive material ... See full summary »
Director: Ronan O'Rahilly | Stars: Fidel Castro, Sam Giancana, Richard Helms, Jimmy Hoffa
Votes: 8
16. Hillary! Uncensored: Banned by the Media (2008 Video)
Not Rated | 63 min | Documentary, Crime
Director: Hank Capra | Stars: Muhammad Ali, Jennifer Aniston, Paul Anka, Dick Armey
Votes: 20
17. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
PG | 81 min | Documentary
A documentary on 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, his renowned Tokyo restaurant, and his relationship with his son and eventual heir, Yoshikazu.
Director: David Gelb | Stars: Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono, Masuhiro Yamamoto, Daisuke Nakazama
Votes: 37,997 | Gross: $2.55M
18. The Cruise (1998)
PG-13 | 76 min | Documentary
Timothy "Speed" Levitch, an eccentric New York City tour bus guide, takes tourists around the island of Manhattan and shares an archive of beautifully distorted information about the city.
Director: Bennett Miller | Star: Timothy 'Speed' Levitch
Votes: 1,932 | Gross: $0.24M
19. More Than a Game (2008)
PG | 105 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
This documentary follows NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his talented teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Ohio and James' journey to fame.
Director: Kristopher Belman | Stars: LeBron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton
Votes: 5,662 | Gross: $0.94M
20. Tabloid (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Crime
A documentary on a former Miss Wyoming who is charged with abducting and imprisoning a young Mormon Missionary.
Director: Errol Morris | Stars: Joyce McKinney, Peter Tory, Troy Williams, Jackson Shaw
Votes: 7,280 | Gross: $0.68M
21. Semper Fi: Always Faithful (2011)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger was a devoted Marine for nearly twenty-five years. As a drill instructor he lived and breathed the "Corps" and was responsible for indoctrinating ... See full summary »
Directors: Tony Hardmon, Rachel Libert | Stars: Jerry Ensminger, Michael Partain
Votes: 144
22. The World According to Bush (2004 TV Movie)
90 min | Documentary, War
The 1000 days of George W. Bush's presidency from the 9/11 attacks to the iraqi quagmire. How a bunch of people influenced by neo-cons hawks took control of the US foreign policy.
Director: William Karel | Stars: John Ashcroft, Robert Baer, Tony Blair, Antony Blinken
Votes: 701
23. Muscle Shoals (2013)
PG | 111 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", and "When a Man Loves a Woman".
Director: Greg 'Freddy' Camalier | Stars: Rick Hall, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, Candi Staton
Votes: 4,291 | Gross: $0.70M
24. Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.
Director: Richard Press | Stars: Bill Cunningham, Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Editta Sherman
Votes: 5,670 | Gross: $1.51M
25. Mugabe and the White African (2009)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
An intimate and moving account of one family's extraordinary courage in the face of overwhelming injustice and brutality.
Directors: Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson
Votes: 981 | Gross: $0.00M
26. The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009)
TV-MA | 86 min | Documentary
A year in the life of the White family, well known for Jesco White, the star of the "Dancing Outlaw" documentary.
Director: Julien Nitzberg | Stars: J. Parker Bazzle II, Big & Rich, Ponty's Camper, Derek Wayne Castle
Votes: 5,190
27.
Different Drummer (1989–1991)
Episode:
Dancing Outlaw
(1991)
Not Rated | 29 min | Documentary
This documentary short, produced for West Virginia public TV's "Different Drummer" series, introduces us to Jesco White, a hard-living, tap-dancing Boone County resident whose repeated ... See full summary »
Director: Jacob Young | Stars: Wattie Green, Dorsey White, Jerry White, Jesco White
Votes: 547
28. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
PG-13 | 86 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock n roller, Rodriguez.
Director: Malik Bendjelloul | Stars: Rodriguez, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman, Dennis Coffey, Mike Theodore
Votes: 72,878 | Gross: $3.97M
29. When We Were Kings (1996)
PG | 88 min | Documentary, Sport
Boxing documentary on the 1974 world heavyweight championship bout between defending champion, George Foreman, and the underdog challenger, Muhammad Ali.
Director: Leon Gast | Stars: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Don King, James Brown
Votes: 19,127 | Gross: $2.79M
30. Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive (2006 TV Movie)
120 min | Documentary
Stephen Fry presents this documentary exploring the disease of manic depression; a little understood but potentially devastating condition affecting an estimated two percent of the ... See full summary »
Director: Ross Wilson | Stars: Stephen Fry, Andy Behrman, Jo Brand, Jo Crocker
Votes: 1,258
31. Crumb (1994)
R | 119 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
An intimate portrait of controversial cartoonist Robert Crumb and his traumatized family.
Director: Terry Zwigoff | Stars: Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Charles Crumb, Maxon Crumb
Votes: 21,586 | Gross: $3.17M
32. My Architect (2003)
116 min | Documentary, Biography
Director Nathaniel Kahn searches to understand his father, noted architect Louis Kahn, who died bankrupt and alone in 1974.
Director: Nathaniel Kahn | Stars: Edmund Bacon, Edwina Pattison Daniels, Balkrishna Doshi, Frank Gehry
Votes: 3,320 | Gross: $2.75M
33. An Unreasonable Man (2006)
Not Rated | 122 min | Documentary, Biography
A look at the career of consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
Directors: Henriette Mantel, Steve Skrovan | Stars: Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, Howard Zinn, Eric Alterman
Votes: 1,767 | Gross: $0.18M
34. Cutie and the Boxer (2013)
R | 82 min | Documentary, Biography
This candid New York love story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband's assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own.
Director: Zach Heinzerling | Stars: Ushio Shinohara, Noriko Shinohara, Alex Shinohara, Ethan Cohen
Votes: 4,736 | Gross: $0.20M
35. Mark Twain (2001 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 212 min | Documentary, Biography
A biographical film about the acclaimed American humourist and author.
Director: Ken Burns | Stars: Keith David, Kevin Conway, Philip Bosco, Blythe Danner
Votes: 1,113
36. Thomas Jefferson (1997– )
180 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A biographical film about The United States' influential and profoundly enigmatic Founding Father.
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Waterston, Michael Potts, Ossie Davis
Votes: 813
37. The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off (2004 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary
A year ago, 36-year-old Jonny Kennedy died. He had a terrible genetic condition called Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) - which meant that his skin literally fell off at the slightest ... See full summary »
Director: Patrick Collerton | Stars: Edna Kennedy, Jonny Kennedy, Nell McAndrew
Votes: 427
38. Sarah Palin: You Betcha! (2011)
Unrated | 91 min | Documentary
Nick Broomfield goes in pursuit of Sarah Palin, interviewing her family and friends, for a decidedly unauthorized perspective on this growing force in American politics.
Directors: Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill | Stars: Sarah Palin, Nick Broomfield, Barbara Adams, Chuck Heath
Votes: 860 | Gross: $0.01M
39. Sex: My British Job (2013)
Not Rated | 63 min | Documentary
Nick Broomfield met Hsiao Hung Pai, a journalist who was working for the Guardian, when making his feature film 'Ghosts' (about the Morecambe Bay Chinese Cockle Pickers ). As an experiment ... See full summary »
Director: Nick Broomfield | Stars: Nick Broomfield, Hsiao-Hung Pai
Votes: 419
40. Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder (2011 TV Movie)
Documentary
Director: Christian Trumble | Star: Paul Thornley
Votes: 19
41. The War Room (1993)
PG | 96 min | Documentary, History
A documentary of the Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign and the organization who ran it.
Directors: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker | Stars: James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Heather Beckel, Paul Begala
Votes: 4,431 | Gross: $0.90M
42. Grey Gardens (1975)
PG | 95 min | Documentary, Comedy, Drama
Meet a mother and daughter, high-society dropouts, reclusive cousins of Jackie O., managing to thrive together amid the decay and disorder of their East Hampton, NY, mansion, making for an eerily ramshackle echo of the American Camelot.
Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer | Stars: Edith Bouvier Beale, Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Brooks Hyers
Votes: 15,263 | Gross: $0.03M
43. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
Director: Banksy | Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Votes: 68,805 | Gross: $3.29M
44. The Tillman Story (2010)
R | 94 min | Documentary, Biography, Mystery
Chronicles the life of the late Pat Tillman, who walked away from a multimillion-dollar contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals in 2002 to join the Army but died from friendly fire in Afghanistan.
Director: Amir Bar-Lev | Stars: Pat Tillman, Josh Brolin, Mary Tillman, Russell Baer
Votes: 5,431 | Gross: $0.80M
45. You're Gonna Miss Me (2005)
91 min | Documentary, Music
Documentary about rock pioneer Roky Erickson, detailing his rise as a psychedelic hero, his lengthy institutionalization, his descent into poverty and filth, and his brother's struggle with their religious mother to improve Roky's care.
Director: Keven McAlester | Stars: Byron Coley, Paul Drummond, 13th Floor Elevators, Don Erickson
Votes: 1,093 | Gross: $0.00M
46. Jupiter's Wife (1995)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary, Biography, Mystery
Michel Negroponte, a documentary filmmaker, meets Maggie one day in Central Park. Maggie claims to be married to the god Jupiter and the daughter of actor Robert Ryan. Michel gets to know ... See full summary »
Director: Michel Negroponte | Stars: Maggie Cogan, Katina Commings
Votes: 249
47. Biography (1987– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The life stories of various historical figures and celebrities are told.
Stars: Jack Perkins, Peter Graves, Harry Smith, Robert J. Thompson
Votes: 2,087
48. A President to Remember (2008)
90 min | Documentary
A documentary combining rare personal footage and well-known archive footage of President John F. Kennedy.
Director: Robert Drew | Stars: Alec Baldwin, Jacqueline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Hubert H. Humphrey
Votes: 62
49. Sean O'Casey: Under a Coloured Cap (2005 TV Movie)
81 min | Documentary
This film paints a fascinating portrait of Sean O'Casey: controversial playwright and one of the great figures of the Irish literary renaissance. Narrated and directed by Shivaun O'Casey - ... See full summary »
Director: Shivaun O'Casey
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