Productions under the documentary tag explore various lives, or ways of living, in a non-fiction manner.
“Maxine’s Baby,” is an inspirational depiction of how Tyler Perry built a film empire, but it also glorifies Perry and gives little insight into the serious critique against some of his characters.
Sandra Itäinen and Eman Abdelhadi’s documentary “Coming Around” displays the pain and beauty of generational change and intersectionality for a Muslim gay woman.
“The Mecca of Comedy” is an intriguing look into the DC comedy scene, but it could use another edit and more comedy.
David Gelb and Disney’s “Stan Lee” is a sweet yet flawed and watered-down documentary about the Marvel creator’s life that becomes more interested in the superheroes rather than Lee himself.
“Little Richard: I Am Everything” is more than a documentary on the architect of Rock n’ Roll, but an Ivy League course, shrunk to a little over an hour and a half, about his social and musical impact.
“Blood Sex and Royalty” pursues edutainment with CW-type casting and performances mixed with actual historians to note the historical context.
In “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” we’re reminded how easily a celebrity becomes a product, as they are stripped of their humanity and spend their whole career trying to regain what it means to be a normal person.
Like a horror movie, Jackass Forever allows you a safe, vicarious experience that makes you wince, gag a little, but be so glad it’s not you in the scenario.
In this tearjerker, a son talks to his mom about the love of her life, his father.
I Didn’t See You There, in making the world the subject, not the potential person of interest, puts a lens on those who don’t realize their impact on another person’s life.
The One and Only Dick Gregory feels very much like a highlight reel that pushes the idea it wanted to either minimalize faults or that there weren’t any.
BITCHIN’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James shall be known as the definitive documentary when it comes to Rick James, for it leaves very little left to question or answer.
In Tina, we get one last goodbye from the legend who, with books, movies, and a musical about her life, wishes to move on from the past and enjoy the present and future.
Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry acts as a reminder of not only the brilliance of Eilish, but of her age, frailty, and how a small team made a world-renowned artist.
Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street is filled with nostalgia and fleshes out your childhood memories with what it took to make you smile and learn.
Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided To Go For It somehow feels like a thorough exploration of a nearly 70-year career, yet because it is Rita Moreno, you still want more!
Ariana Grande’s Excuse Me, I Love You may not be a classic concert film, but for those who miss seeing live performances, it’ll give you what you need.
“In Search of the Sanderson Sisters” is truly a labor of love with moments that remind you why Bette Midler is often associated with being camp.
I want you to imagine a documentary in which the subject goes out of their way to go against everything agreed upon and is hellbent on chaos. That’s DTF.
While Skin: A History of Nudity In The Movies is informative, it’s utter lack of perspective for people of color, beyond Pam Grier, is a HUGE oversight.
As its name, “Uncle Tom” is divisive when it shows its social conservatism, but in some of its critiques of the Democratic party, among other topics, points are made.
In “Suzi Q,” you get a profile of an innovative singer-songwriter-bandleader-multi-instrumentalist and poet: Suzi Quatro.
While no film, no matter how many voices, can fully encompass what it means to be part of any community, “Disclosure” makes for an excellent entry point into trans history in media.
Alongside present the best argument for reading the book of the same name, “Becoming” reminds and informs you why Michelle Obama broke the mold as First Lady.
In UMC’s “Behind Her Faith,” we are reminded that thanking God goes beyond the award acceptance speech and is a daily activity.
“Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts” will remind you of a time when documentaries gave you the behind the scenes look that social media snatched away.
Teslafy Me explores the life of one of the 20th Century’s greatest inventors, and a forgotten genius – partly thanks to Thomas Edison.
Fiddlin’ presents a good introduction to bluegrass music and gives you an idea of its current state and how it continues to thrive.
Part manic stand up special, as well as reflective documentary, Jenny Slate: Stage Fright gives you both the performer and the person who had to live life to write the jokes.
In Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea, Chelsea Handler shows she means well yet still operates on a limited scope of what white privilege is.
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives hones in so much on the highlights of Davis’ career that it feels like a lifetime achievement award presentation.
I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story discussing what makes a boyband fan and their love for them affected their lives.
Father the Flame is a documentary profiling Lee von Erck, a world-renowned American pipe maker, smoker, repairer, and collector, along with the men and women pipe-making artisans and collectors of pipes that he is associated with.
Chasing Perfect is a new documentary profiling internationally known automotive designer, Frank Stephenson.
Manson: Music From An Unsound Mind is a new documentary that follows Charles Manson as he pursues fame in the music industry.
In trekking from her childhood in Germany to her 90th birthday, Ask Dr. Ruth shows resiliency doesn’t have to kill your curiosity or smile.
Every legendary artist has that performance which summarizes all they were and the epitome of who and what they are. For Beyoncé it was Beychella.
Madonna and the Breakfast Club takes a rarely seen approach to fleshing out a icons career in the best way.
The Dangerous Woman Diaries feels like a throwback to all the documentaries Madonna used to do.