Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
by NePerfectionist | created - 2 months ago | updated - 2 months ago | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The 1619 Project (2023)
Approved | 61 min | Documentary, History
Connects the centrality of slavery in history with an unflinching account of brutal racism that endures in so many aspects of American life today.
Star: Nikole Hannah-Jones
Votes: 1,712
2. The U.S. and the Holocaust (2022)
TV-14 | 398 min | Documentary, History
Explores America's response to the Holocaust, and how it challenged the ideals of democracy.
Stars: Peter Coyote, Daniel Mendelsohn, Peter Hayes, Deborah Lipstadt
Votes: 1,586
3. Dear Mama (2022– )
TV-MA | 65 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A documentary series which follows the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur and his mother, the Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur.
Stars: Mike Tyson, Gloria Cox, Snoop Dogg, Jamal Joseph
Votes: 1,542
4. Secrets of the Elephants (2023)
TV-PG | 161 min | Documentary, Adventure
Elephants have long been a source of wonder and mystery with their rich emotional lives and almost supernatural ways of navigating the world.
Stars: Natalie Portman, Paula Kahumbu, Joyce Poole
Votes: 471
5. The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
PG-13 | 156 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
In January 1969, The Beatles set out to write and record new songs for their first live show in more than two years, culminating in an impromptu concert atop their Savile Row studio.
Votes: 28,148
6. 100 Foot Wave (2021– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Sport
Follows the decade-long odyssey of big-wave pioneer Garrett McNamara who, after visiting a small fishing village in Portugal, helped push the sport beyond the realm of imagination.
Stars: Garrett McNamara, Nicole McNamara, Andrew Cotton, Cj Macias
Votes: 2,792
2
7. Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (2022)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, Music
Follows the life of Kanye West, in an intimate portrait as he builds his way from singer to businessman and becomes a global brand.
Stars: Ye, Naeem Ghefari, Kid Cudi, Justin Bieber
Votes: 11,112
8. We Need to Talk About Cosby (2022)
TV-MA | 47 min | Documentary, Biography
Writer/director W. Kamau Bell's exploration of Bill Cosby's descent from "America's Dad" to convicted sexual predator. Comedians, journalists and survivors have a candid, first of its kind conversation about the man, his career and crimes.
Stars: W. Kamau Bell, Jelani Cobb, Doug E. Doug, Godfrey
Votes: 2,688
9. The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022)
TV-MA | 66 min | Documentary, Biography
After he's shot in 1968, Andy Warhol begins documenting his life and feelings. Those diaries, and this docuseries, take a peek behind his persona.
Stars: Bill Irwin, Jeffrey Deitch, Jessica Beck, Bob Colacello
Votes: 2,707
10. Secrets of the Whales (2021)
TV-PG | 191 min | Documentary, Adventure
Filmed across three years in 24 locations, the 4-part event series it's a profoundly personal saga, venturing deep into the world of whales to reveal life and love from their perspective.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, James Cameron, Brian Skerry, Nan Hauser
Votes: 944
11. Pretend It's a City (2021)
TV-14 | 29 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
Wander the New York City streets and fascinating mind of wry writer, humorist and raconteur Fran Lebowitz as she sits down with Martin Scorsese.
Stars: Fran Lebowitz, Martin Scorsese, Michael Alexis Palmer, Alec Baldwin
Votes: 8,588
12. Allen v. Farrow (2021)
TV-MA | 64 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A look behind the years of sensational headlines to reveal the private story of the accusation of sexual abuse against Woody Allen involving his 7-year-old daughter with Mia Farrow.
Stars: Mia Farrow, Fletcher Previn, Dylan O'Sullivan Farrow, Casey Pascal
Votes: 7,857
13. City So Real (2020)
TV-14 | 341 min | Documentary
A modern, multifaceted look at the city of Chicago.
Votes: 296
14. The Last Dance (2020)
TV-MA | 49 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Led by Michael Jordan, the 1990s Chicago Bulls establish themselves as one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
Stars: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, David Aldridge
Votes: 152,424
15. Tiger King (2020–2021)
TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.
Stars: Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, John Reinke, Jeff Lowe
Votes: 87,049
16. McMillions (2020)
TV-14 | 57 min | Documentary, Crime, History
A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents involved.
Stars: Chris Graham, Doug Mathews, Amy Murray, Janet Pellicciotti
Votes: 9,212
17. Hillary (2020)
TV-MA | 63 min | Documentary, Biography
A 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.
Stars: Hillary Clinton, Jennifer Palmieri, Amy Chozick, Peter Baker
Votes: 2,690
18. Our Planet (2019–2023)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
Explores and unravels the mystery of how and why animals migrate, showing some of the most dramatic and compelling stories in the natural world through spectacular and innovative cinematography.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 51,305
19. Hostile Planet (2019)
TV-14 | 47 min | Documentary
A look at the world's harshest landscapes and the animals that have adapted to live there.
Stars: Bear Grylls, Cong Liu
Votes: 939
20. Wild Wild Country (2018)
TV-MA | 67 min | Documentary, Crime
When Osho, the world's most controversial guru, builds an Utopian city deep in the Oregon country, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.
Stars: Ma Anand Sheela, Philip Toelkes, Jane Stork, George Meredith
Votes: 35,138
21. Blue Planet II (2017)
TV-G | 52 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns to the world's oceans in this sequel to the acclaimed documentary filming rare and unusual creatures of the deep, as well as documenting the problems our oceans face.
Stars: David Attenborough, Peter Drost, Roger Munns, Roger Horrocks
Votes: 46,703
22. The Defiant Ones (2017)
TV-MA | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
"The Defiant Ones" examines the partnership between Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre - one the son of a Brooklyn longshoreman, the other straight out of Compton - and their leading roles in a chain of transformative events in contemporary culture.
Stars: Stevie Nicks, Bono, Dr. Dre, Tom Petty
Votes: 15,682
23. The Fourth Estate (2018)
TV-MA | 243 min | Documentary, History
A look at how The New York Times covered President Trump's controversial first year in office.
Stars: Dean Baquet, Elisabeth Bumiller, Maggie Haberman, Jeremy Peters
Votes: 822
24. Planet Earth II (2016)
TV-G | 50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough returns with a new wildlife documentary that shows life in a variety of habitats.
Stars: David Attenborough, Chadden Hunter, Gordon Buchanan, Elizabeth White
Votes: 158,414
25. The Keepers (II) (2017)
TV-MA | 62 min | Documentary, Crime, Mystery
A seven-part docuseries about the unsolved murder of a nun and the horrific secrets and pain that linger nearly five decades after her death.
Stars: Gemma Hoskins, Abbie Schaub, Virginia Anzengruber, Jean Hargadon Wehner
Votes: 25,081
26. Making a Murderer (2015–2018)
TV-14 | 60 min | Documentary, Crime
Filmed 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.
Stars: Steven Avery, Dolores Avery, Laura Nirider, Allan Avery
Votes: 102,911
27. Chef's Table (2015–2019)
TV-MA | 50 min | Documentary, Biography
Chef's Table goes inside the lives and kitchens of six of the world's most renowned international chefs. Each episode focuses on a single chef and their unique look at their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary heaven.
Stars: Massimo Bottura, Ruth Reichl, Francis Mallmann, Bill Buford
Votes: 17,043
3
28. The Seventies (2015)
42 min | Documentary, History
A documentary series focusing on the ongoing Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, evolving music industry, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the sexual revolution, and the rise of foreign and domestic terrorism.
Stars: Douglas Brinkley, Rick Perlstein, Chris Connelly, Dan Rather
Votes: 1,495
29. Woman with Gloria Steinem (2016– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary
At the intersection of violence and stability, of progress and oppression, are women. Gloria Steinem guides us to the women who are shaping not just their own future, but ours too.
Stars: Gloria Steinem, Alice Speri, Monica Dogra, Michelle de Swarte
Votes: 75
30. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015–2024)
TV-14 | 45 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime
Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.
Stars: Robert Durst, Andrew Jarecki, J. Patrick Burns, Dick DeGuerin
Votes: 51,794
31. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (2014)
TV-14 | 114 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary that weaves together the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics.
Stars: Peter Coyote, George F. Will, Geoffrey C. Ward, Doris Kearns Goodwin
Votes: 2,652
32. The Sixties (2014)
42 min | Documentary, History
Interviews and archival footage focusing on the politics, music, technical advancements, drugs and the "free love" movement of the 1960s.
Stars: John Heilemann, Tim Naftali, Robert Dallek, Dan Rather
Votes: 1,641
33. Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies (2015)
345 min | Documentary
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Siddhartha Mukherjee, this three-part series tells the complete story of cancer, from its first description in an ancient Egyptian scroll to the ... See full summary »
Stars: Edward Herrmann, Terrence Howard
Votes: 395
34. Years of Living Dangerously (2014–2016)
TV-PG | Documentary
From the damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy to the upheaval caused by drought in the Middle East, this groundbreaking documentary event series provides first-hand reports on those affected by, and seeking solutions to, climate change.
Stars: Thomas Friedman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, America Ferrera, Ian Somerhalder
Votes: 826
35. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
TV-PG | 43 min | Documentary
An exploration of our discovery of the laws of nature and coordinates in space and time.
Stars: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Christopher Emerson, Keythe Farley, Piotr Michael
Votes: 128,827
36. The World Wars (2014)
TV-14 | 270 min | Documentary, History, War
A look at both World Wars and what the biggest names in history did during each war and the time in between.
Stars: Maximilian Klas, Ian Beyts, Jacopo Rampini, Jonathan Hartman
Votes: 2,422
37. Vice (2013–2021)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary, News
Documentary series featuring startling, groundbreaking stories from around the world.
Stars: Shane Smith, Gianna Toboni, Thomas Morton, Ben Anderson
Votes: 4,380
38. The Men Who Built America (2012)
TV-14 | 37 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan. Their names are part of history and synonymous with the American dream. These men transformed every industry they touched: oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobiles, and finance.
Stars: Campbell Scott, H.W. Brands, Mark Cuban, Donny Deutsch
Votes: 4,582
39.
American Experience (1987– )
Episode:
The Abolitionists: Part 1
(2013)
TV-PG | 54 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The stories of the major figures of the pre-American Civil War political movement to eliminate slavery.
Director: Rob Rapley | Stars: Oliver Platt, T. Ryder Smith, Carol Berkin, Lois Brown
Votes: 123
40. Through the Wormhole (2010–2017)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
Hosted by Morgan Freeman, Through the Wormhole will explore the deepest mysteries of existence - the questions that have puzzled mankind for eternity. What are we made of? What was there ... See full summary »
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Sean Carroll, Michio Kaku, Kip Thorne
Votes: 18,434
41. Frozen Planet (2011–2012)
TV-PG | 33 min | Documentary
Focuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic.
Stars: David Attenborough, Alec Baldwin, Chadden Hunter, Michael Kelem
Votes: 33,009
42. The Weight of the Nation (2012– )
TV-PG | Documentary
To win we have to lose. HBO shines a bright light on America's obesity epidemic in this multi-part, multi-platform project that looks at causes, symptoms and treatments for the problem...... See full summary »
Stars: Larry Dwyer, Cindy Roach, Gerald Berenson, Peter Katzmarzyk
Votes: 180
43.
American Masters (1985– )
Episode:
Woody Allen: A Documentary
(2011)
Not Rated | 192 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A documentary on Woody Allen that trails him on his movie sets and follows him back to Brooklyn as he visits his childhood haunts.
Director: Robert B. Weide | Stars: Woody Allen, Letty Aronson, Marshall Brickman, Josh Brolin
Votes: 5,286
44. 30 for 30 (2009– )
TV-G | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A collection of documentary films focused on sports.
Stars: Brent Musburger, Chuck D, Larry Bird, William C. Rhoden
Votes: 5,550
3
45. Pioneers of Television (2008–2019)
TV-PG | 55 min | Documentary, History
A documentary series focusing on the legends that helped launched TV and left lasting impression on sitcoms, talk shows, variety shows and game shows in television's early years.
Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Phyllis Diller, Betty White, Florence Henderson
Votes: 254
2
46. Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (2010)
Documentary, History
The history of Hollywood film from the medium's invention to the birth of the New Hollywood in 1970.
Stars: Christopher Plummer, Daniel Selznick, Gregory Orr, Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Votes: 408
47. The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009)
690 min | Documentary, History
The history of the U.S. National Parks system, including the initial ideas which led to the world's first national parks and the expansion of the system over 150 years.
Stars: Peter Coyote, William Cronon, Dayton Duncan, Shelton Johnson
Votes: 1,950
48. Life (2009)
TV-G | 43 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, Roger Munns
Votes: 42,829
49. Monty Python: Almost the Truth - The Lawyer's Cut (2009)
54 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary on the history on British comedy group Monty Python. Features interviews with the five surviving members plus other comedians and artists whose careers they have influenced.
Stars: Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam
Votes: 1,902
50. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Adventure, Reality-TV
Anthony Bourdain, chef, writer, traveler, visits places all around the world sampling various foods.
Stars: Anthony Bourdain, Tom Vitale, Zamir Gotta, Todd Liebler
Votes: 7,893
3
51. This American Life (2007–2012)
TV-14 | 22 min | Documentary
An anthology of true stories pertaining to various themes are illustrated.
Stars: Ira Glass, Milo Finch, Chris Partyka, Barbara Beneville
Votes: 626
2
52. Planet Earth (2006)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary, Family
A documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenborough.
Stars: Sigourney Weaver, David Attenborough, Nikolay Drozdov, Thomas Anguti Johnston
Votes: 220,447
53. Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America (2006)
441 min | Documentary, History
Ten acclaimed documentary filmmakers offer a fresh, compelling look at 10 pivotal moments in American history and their often unforeseen repercussions.
Stars: Mark Riccadonna, David Nasaw, Michael L. Colosimo, Geoffrey Roecker
Votes: 52
54. Deadliest Catch (2005– )
TV-PG | 55 min | Documentary, Adventure, Reality-TV
A documentary series chronicling the real-life high-sea adventures of the Alaskan crab fishermen. This is the most deadly profession in the world.
Stars: Mike Rowe, Sig Hansen, Keith Colburn, Jake Anderson
Votes: 9,213
5
55. Broadway: The American Musical (2004)
360 min | Documentary, Music
A six-part documentary about the Broadway musical
Stars: Julie Andrews, Stephen Sondheim, John Lahr, Tommy Tune
Votes: 385
56. Dinner for Five (2001–2005)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Talk-Show
Actor/Director Jon Favreau hosts an evening with four Hollywood friends (four different people or combinations of people each episode), who casually discuss the craft of acting and the business of celebrity over dinner.
Stars: Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Peter Berg, Kevin James
Votes: 956
57. Cold Case Files (1999– )
TV-MA | 44 min | Documentary, Crime
Cold Case Files shows how timing, persistence and high-tech police work combine to catch people who have slipped through the cracks for decades.
Stars: Bill Kurtis, Dave Reichert, Kathy Mills, Melvyn Foster
Votes: 1,913
2
58. The Blues (2003)
770 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary series about the origin and history of The Blues.
Stars: B.B. King, Ike Turner, Pinetop Perkins, Dick Waterman
Votes: 1,251
1 (+1: The Soul of a Man)
59. The Soul of a Man (2003)
103 min | Documentary, Biography, History
The dramatic tension in the blues between the sacred and the profane by exploring the music and lives of three of director Wim Wenders's favorite blues artists.
Director: Wim Wenders | Stars: Chris Thomas King, Keith B. Brown, James Hughes, David F. Hughes
Votes: 938
60. E! True Hollywood Story (1996– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Biography
Documentary series exploring a topic, headline, or person that became the ground zero for a revolution in culture; told by the people who were on the front lines of the story.
Stars: Phil Crowley, Chip Bolcik, Beng Spies, Ken Baker
Votes: 1,256
2
61. Antiques Roadshow (1997– )
TV-G | Reality-TV
Collectors discover that they can turn trash into treasure, thanks to the appraisal skills of the show's specialists in antiques and fine art; Mark L. Walberg hosts.
Stars: Mark L. Walberg, Simeon Lipman, Nicholas D. Lowry, Coral Peña
Votes: 1,343
62. Jazz (2001)
108 min | Documentary, History, Music
A survey of the musical form's history and major talents.
Stars: Keith David, Wynton Marsalis, Gary Giddins, Delroy Lindo
Votes: 2,499
63. Behind the Music (1997–2021)
TV-14 | Documentary, Biography, Music
Musical artists, their careers, their highs, their lows and everything in between are profiled and interviewed.
Stars: Jim Forbes, David Wild, Alexander Milas, Eddie Trunk
Votes: 1,664
4
64. New York: A Documentary Film (1999–2003)
600 min | Documentary, History
Exploration of New York City's rich history as a complex and dynamic city that has played an unparalleled role in shaping the nation and reflecting its ideals.
Stars: David Ogden Stiers, Kenneth Jackson, Mike Wallace, Mike Wallace
Votes: 1,120
65. American Masters (1985– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Documentary series focusing on great American artists and personalities.
Stars: Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich, Tony Bennett, Dick Cavett
Votes: 1,173
19 (+1)
66. The Awful Truth (1999–2000)
30 min | Documentary
Activist film director Michael Moore hosts a show where he continues his crusade to expose wrongdoing by the high and mighty.
Stars: Michael Moore, Jay Martel, Gideon Evans, Karen Duffy
Votes: 2,259
67. American Experience (1987– )
TV-PG | 120 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A series showcasing documentaries on American history.
Stars: David McCullough, David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, Oliver Platt
Votes: 2,206
4 (+ 1: The Abolitionists)
68. 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
13
69. Inside the Actors Studio (1994– )
TV-PG | 65 min | Talk-Show
Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their craft.
Stars: James Lipton, Ellen Burstyn, Elena Kobylina, Bradley Cooper
Votes: 5,464
12
70. Discover Magazine (1996–2001)
Documentary
Stars: John Geiger, Owen Beattie, Francisco C. Torres, John Carozza
Votes: 14
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