Best Official Summer Olympic Documentary?
Over the past 100 years, Olympic documentaries have gained a reputation as one of the more interesting sub genres in film. A distinction earned by being chroniclers of sports history, by telling compelling stories and by attracting master directors. These films aim to capture the soul of the games, while also considering them in a broader social and cultural context. Directors Leni Riefenstahl and Kon Ichikawa are just two examples of directors who have used their Olympic opportunity to push the boundaries of filmmaking. Source: Criterion - Olympics 100 Years of Olympic Films: 1912–2012
Which official documentary about the Summer Olympic Games is the best, so far?
Discuss the topic here.
Which official documentary about the Summer Olympic Games is the best, so far?
Discuss the topic here.
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35 titles
- DirectorBreno SilveiraRio 2016 official film, "Days of Truce" is an original portrait of the Brazilian experience in hosting the Games and a powerful manifesto that explores how the Olympic values are relevant in our modern society.Official Rio 2016 Olympic documentary
- DirectorCaroline RowlandStarsJohn OrozcoHeena SidhuDavid RudishaThe Official Film of the XXXth Olympic Games to be held in London, following the stories of twelve first-time Olympians from around the world.Official London 2012 Olympic documentary
- DirectorJun GuStarsMark GriffithsA documentary covering the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.Official Beijing 2008 Olympic documentary
- DirectorBud GreenspanStarsOttavio CinquantaWill LymanJacques RoggeBud Greenspan presents this look at the 2004 Summer Games. Featured athletes include fencer Mariel Zagunis, track's Hicham El Guerrouj, softball's Lisa Fernandez, weightlifter Pyrros Dimas, swimmer Otylia Jedrzejczak and cyclists Anna and Kerrie Mears.Official Athens 2004 Olympic documentary
- DirectorAndrew SquicciariniSydney ThayerBud GreenspanStarsBob CostasStacy DragillaTommy EmmanuelA documentary covering the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.Official Sydney 2000 Olympic documentary
- DirectorBud GreenspanStarsGary Hall Jr.Michael JohnsonJackie JoynerA documentary covering the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.Official Atlanta 1996 Olympic documentary
- DirectorBud GreenspanStarsYael AradEvelyn AshfordMichael GrossOfficial Barcelona 1992 Olympic documentary
- DirectorCarlos SauraStarsDieter BaumannLarry BirdHassiba BoulmerkaA view of the Olympic Games at Barcelona, using the marathon race as the weaving thread.Official Barcelona 1992 Olympic documentary
- DirectorBud GreenspanOfficial Seoul 1988 Olympic documentary
- DirectorLee Ji-wonA documentary covering the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.Official Seoul opening and closing ceremonies Olympic documentary
- DirectorIm Kwon-taekStarsKee-chung SohnA documentary covering the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.Official Seoul 1988 Olympic documentary
- DirectorBud GreenspanStarsDavid PerryJose AbascalSaïd AouitaThe definitive photographic record of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, told "from the inside" through the lives of the participants, the words of David Perry, and the singing voice of Placido Domingo. From the opening to closing ceremonies, this unique style of storytelling shows a side of the Olympic Games not seen by television audiences.Official Los Angeles 1984 Olympic documentary
- DirectorYuriy OzerovFyodor KhitrukBoris RychkovA documentary showing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. The director was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1982.Official Moscow 1980 Olympic documentary
- DirectorJean BeaudinMarcel CarrièreGeorges DufauxStarsVasiliy AlekseevMykola AvilovGerd Bonk-The Olympic Stadium in Montreal (Canada) stands during a snowstorm into the 1976-77 winter season. As we see it, it makes us remember that the Olympic Games were there several months ago. The movie rather depicts other great stories, other than the media told: among them, we followed Soviet gymnast Nelly Kim, who fell second behind Romanian Nadia Comaneci and other stories attached to this 15 days of glory. This movie depicts the events on a human side rather than the glamorous side. It mostly ends with the moving theme done by André Gagnon and played during the marathon, an event which the runners had to face rain.Official Montreal 1976 Olympic documentary
- DirectorMilos FormanKon IchikawaClaude LelouchStarsVasiliy AlekseevNikolay AvilovValery BorzovEight film artists from different countries are given carte blanche to make a collection of short documentaries on the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, offering unexpected, original and often humorous perspectives.Official Munich 1972 Olympic documentary
- DirectorAlberto IsaacStarsEnrique LizaldeRoberto MoralesMexican former Olympic swimmer Alberto Isaac's record of Mexico 68 is a celebration not of national achievement, but of individual heroism. This thoughtful and comprehensive film bristles with offbeat moments and yields iconic images.Official Mexico 1968 Olympic documentary
- DirectorNobumasa KawamotoSuketaru TaguchiStarsHirohitoEmpress KojunYoshinori SakaiA documentary covering the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. It consists primarily of footage edited from the documentary TOKYO OLYMPIAD, directed by Kon Ichikawa.Official Tokyo 1964 Olympic documentary
- DirectorKon IchikawaStarsAntonio AmbuGary AndersonGerry AshworthKon Ichikawa examines the beauty and rich drama on display at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, creating a record of observations that range from the expansive to the intimate.Official Tokyo 1964 Olympic documentary
- DirectorRomolo MarcelliniStarsLivio BerrutiAbebe BikilaRalph Boston142 minutes of the film speak of events and athletes that have characterized the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.Official Rome 1960 Olympic documentary
- DirectorLouis GueguenA documentary about French marathon runner Alain Mimoun at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.Official Melbourne 1956 Olympic Marathon documentary focused on marathoner, Alain Mimoun
- DirectorRené LucotStarsFrançois PérierVoitto HellsténVeikko KarvonenThe official filmed record of the 1956 Olympic Games in Australia.Official Melbourne 1956 Olympic documentary
- DirectorPeter WhitchurchStarsViktor AgeyevPyotr BreusIvo CipciA documentary covering the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.Official Combined Melourne-Stockholm 1956 Olympic documentary
- A documentary covering the equestrian events of 1956 Olympic Games in Stockholm.Official Stockholm 1956 Olympic documentary
- DirectorHolger HarrivirtaStarsMatti TamminenDocumentary footage from the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.Official Helsinki 1952 Olympic documentary
- DirectorHannu LeminenStarsReino PalmrothPaavo NurmiPart two of the official film of XV Olympics in Helsinki 1952.Official Helsinki 1952 Olympic documentary Part Two
- DirectorHannu LeminenStarsCarl-Erik CreutzReino PalmrothUsko SantavuoriPart one of the official film of XV Olympics in Helsinki 1952.Official Helsinki 1952 Olympic documentary Part One
- DirectorCastleton KnightStarsTed HusingBill SternHarold AbrahamsDocumentary on the 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad. They were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England.Official London 1948 Olympic documentary
- DirectorLeni RiefenstahlStarsSheigo AraiJack BeresfordRalf BerzsenyiThe document of the 1936 Olympics at Berlin, orchestrated as Nazi propaganda.Official Berlin 1936 Olympic documentary Part Two
- DirectorLeni RiefenstahlStarsDavid AlbrittonArvo AskolaJack BeresfordThe document of the 1936 Olympics at Berlin.Official Berlin 1936 Olympic documentary Part One
- A documentary on the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.Official Amsterdam 1928 Olympic documentary
- DirectorWilhelm PragerA documentary on the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.Official Amsterdam 1928 Olympic documentary
- DirectorJean de RoveraA documentary on the 1924 Olympic Game in Paris.Official Paris 1924 Olympic documentary
- DirectorJean de RoveraA documentary on the Olympic games of ancient Greece, made during the 1924 games.Official Paris 1924 historical Olympic origins documentary
- DirectorAdrian WoodStarsGeorg AbergBenjamin AdamsPlatt AdamsNewly restored and assembled by the International Olympic Committee, The Games of the V Olympiad Stockholm, 1912 (Stockholm 1912) is the earliest comprehensive moving-image record of the modern Olympic Games that survives today.Official Stockholm 1912 Olympic documentary
- DirectorNaomi KawaseFollows Japanese director Naomi Kawase as she directs the official film of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, giving a message that goes beyond the physical exploit to mark souls, with her style and all her subtlety.Official Tokyo 2020 Olympic documentaries
Part 1 & 2
Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side A (2022)
Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side B (2022)
added 15 July 2022