The 40 most popular british documentary movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Orangutan
2026 · 1h 22m · FR
Narrated by Josh Gad, journey high into the rainforest canopy of Southeast Asia where a magnificent and mysterious community filled with playful personalities lives. Witness the exhilarating action, heartwarming encounters, and a closeup look at a stunning jungle teeming with wildlife as the inquisitive adolescent orangutan Indah prepares to leave her family and venture out on her own for the first time.


Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic
2026 · 26m · UK
Featuring interviews from members of the casting, production design, costume design, and creature effects teams, follow the behind-the-scenes journey of bringing the Harry Potter books to the small screen. Find out how the new Golden Trio were found, and celebrate the commitment to detail of the artists, craftspeople, and technicians who have come together to bring the wizarding world to life.


Clown Panic
2026 · 1h 24m · UK
Revisits the bizarre nationwide hysteria of 2016, which began with reports of creepy clowns hiding near woods in South Carolina and quickly spiraled into widespread panic, school lockdowns, and police interventions across the United States. This in-depth documentary features interviews with eyewitnesses, law enforcement officials, cultural commentators, and professional clowns whose livelihoods were impacted by the craze.


Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger
2026 · 2h 3m · UK
Experience the meteoric rise of Oasis through rare footage and untold stories as the band reunites for Oasis Live '25, chronicling their journey from Manchester streets to global rock stardom.


1000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story
2025 · 1h · UK
Adult content creator Bonnie Blue announced that she’d slept with 1057 men in 12 hours. Exploring the polarising debate around Bonnie and the pornification of our society, the film follows her over the most eye-opening six months of her life.


The Last First: Winter K2
2026 · 1h 38m · US
A historic race to become the first to summit K2 in winter unravels into tragedy, exposing how ambition, ego, and the pursuit of glory can be as dangerous as the mountain itself.


Becoming Led Zeppelin
2025 · 2h 2m · UK
The individual journeys of the four members of the band, as they move through the music scene of the 1960s, playing small clubs throughout Britain and performing some of the biggest hits of the era, until their meeting in the summer of 1968 for a rehearsal that changes their lives forever.


David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
2020 · 1h 23m · UK
The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.


Hanging by a Wire
2026 · 1h 17m · UK
On a Tuesday morning in August 2023, a group of kids set off for school, climbing into a makeshift cable car for the journey across a mountain pass in northwest Pakistan. What happened next would make headlines around the world. Suddenly, 900 feet above the ground, two cables snapped, putting the teenagers in mortal danger.


Henry Moore
1951 · 26m · UK
A documentary on the work of artist Henry Moore.


The Crash
2026 · 1h 35m · UK
A teen slams her car into a building, killing her boyfriend and his friend. What seems like a tragic accident becomes a murder case.


A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough
2026 · 1h 18m · UK
Veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough tells the story of a remarkable group of gorillas, from his first encounter in the '70s to the present day.


A Toxic Love Story
2026 · 1h 31m · UK
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.


Ocean with David Attenborough
2025 · 1h 25m · US
David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.


Dead Asleep
2021 · 1h 22m · UK
Did a remorseful Randy Herman Jr. really commit a brutal murder in his sleep, or was it a convenient cover story? Exclusive access to Herman and his family, the defense and prosecution attorneys, journalists who covered the case, forensic psychiatrists and world experts in violent parasomnia (sleep-walking) give an inside look at the shocking twists and turns of the controversial crime.


Dylan Thomas
1963 · 30m · UK
An atmospheric tribute to the genius of Welsh poet and dramatist Dylan Thomas, using many of the windswept locations where Thomas himself grew up and found his inspiration. The film is hosted/presented by Richard Burton, Thomas's friend, who narrates the story and appears from time to time amidst the Welsh landscape. Burton had already appeared in Douglas Cleverdon's acclaimed BBC radio dramatization of Thomas's 'play for voices' Under Milk Wood in the 1950s and, in the early Seventies, would appear in director Andrew Sinclair's film version as First Voice. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation and National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales in 2000.


The Alpinist
2021 · 1h 33m · UK
The life of Canadian mountain climber Marc-André Leclerc as he pushes the boundaries of climbing while on an expedition to Patagonia.


McQueen
2018 · 1h 51m · UK
Alexander McQueen's rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale, laced with the gothic. Mirroring the savage beauty, boldness and vivacity of his design, this documentary is an intimate revelation of McQueen's own world, both tortured and inspired, which celebrates a radical and mesmerizing genius of profound influence.


The Year Earth Changed
2021 · 48m · UK
Never-before-seen footage shows how our living in lockdown opened the door for nature to bounce back and thrive. Across the seas, skies, and lands, Earth found its rhythm when we came to a stop.


Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition
2026 · 1h 45m · UK
With unprecedented access to the official archives and intimate recollections from the band, both current and past, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition invites fans to experience one of the most iconic journeys in music history. Spanning five decades, this electrifying documentary charts the band’s rise from the pubs of East London to the world’s biggest stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden’s uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans.


Being James Bond
2021 · 46m · UK
Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.


Earth: One Amazing Day
2017 · 1h 33m · CN
An astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world. Over the course of one single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles.


The Greatest Night in Pop
2024 · 1h 36m · UK
On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.


35 Up
1991 · 1h 56m · UK
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.


Inside Sudan
2007 · 31m · US
"VICE travels to the most dangerous country in the world to figure out what the hell is happening in Darfur. In the video, Vice founder Shane Smith dons a djellaba and walks through the streets of Khartoum, visits a displaced persons camp filled with over 300,000 people and encounters the notorious SPLA (Sudan People Liberation Army)."


Reclaiming Amy
2021 · 59m · UK
To mark the ten year anniversary of her death, Amy Winehouse's closest family and friends reveal the truth about the music icon and the impact that her loss has had on them. With access to never-before-seen family archives and rare musical performances, this highly personal and powerful account of the life and death of one of Britain’s best-loved musicians offers a new interpretation of her life, her loves and her legacy.


Freddie
2023 · 49m
Freddie Mercury was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range - the lead singer of Queen defied the conventions of a typical rock frontman. He paved the way for many contemporary artists to have a more confident and theatrical act which indelibly shaped the next generation of pop and rock music. From working as a baggage handler at Heathrow airport to hiding his HIV diagnosis from the public until just before his death, Mercury's life was filled with adventure, publicity, and perhaps above all, a clear duality. He was both flamboyant and shy, outspoken and intensely private. The illness that claimed his life could never have defined Freddie, and now, years later, his legacy is greater than he could have ever imagined.


The Aviatrix
2015 · 1h · SD
In 1928, Lady Heath became the first person to fly solo from Cape Town to London. Eighty-five years later, Tracey Curtis-Taylor set out in a vintage biplane to fly that adventure again. Following Tracey as she retraces the journey, The Aviatrix is more than just a film about the rapture of flying – it’s a story about living life on your own terms and having the courage and determination to realise your greatest dreams.


Senna
2010 · 1h 46m · UK
The remarkable story of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, charting his physical and spiritual achievements on the track and off, his quest for perfection, and the mythical status he has since attained, is the subject of Senna, a documentary feature that spans the racing legend's years as an F1 driver, from his opening season in 1984 to his untimely death a decade later.
Horror Icon
Horror Icon
2016 · 1h · UK
FrightFest premiered this never-before-seen documentary HORROR ICON in honour of legendary genre personality David McGillivray, to celebrate the release of WORST FEARS, a collection of seven nightmare tales in the Amicus style written and produced by McGillivray, which will form part of the DVD release & was shown theatrically as part of its promotion.


9/11: Inside the President's War Room
2021 · 1h 29m · UK
Experience the events of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of President Bush and his closest advisors as they personally detail the crucial hours and key decisions from that historic day.


Shepperton Babylon
2005 · 1h · UK
A sardonic look at the dark secrets of the British Film Industry of the 1920s and 30s, where scandal and sordid behaviour was almost as rife as in Hollywood.


One Direction: This Is Us
2013 · 1h 32m · US
"One Direction: This Is Us" is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it's really like to be One Direction.


70 Up
2026 · 2h 28m · UK
Across seven decades, British viewers watched 14 children grow into adults in films broadcast every seven years. In the series' final installment – with all surviving participants now in their seventies – what do their lives tell us about Britain?


28 Up
1985 · 2h 16m · UK
Just two years away from turning 30, participants in Michael Apted's documentary series are facing serious questions of identity and purpose, wondering whether they've found their place in the world.


LCD Soundsystem: Shut Up and Play the Hits
2012 · 1h 48m · UK
An intimate portrait of Brooklyn-based electronic rock band LCD Soundsystem's then-final live show on April 2, 2011, capturing both the exuberant, three-hour farewell concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden and frontman James Murphy's introspective 48 hours surrounding it.


E-Life
2017 · 52m · UK
Computers, smart phones, and tablets are now a part of our daily lives. They have revolutionised the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we view the world. But what happens to our old phone when we upgrade? Where does our broken computer go after we throw it out? 'e-Life' explores what happens to our electrical goods when we throw them away and exposes some unpleasant (and perhaps unknown) truths about the detrimental affects e-waste has on people's health, the environment and the economy. From consumers in the UK to the recyclers in the dumps of Ghana, the documentary will follow the journey of our e-waste. We will examine current manufacturing and disposal processes and also assess the burden the boom in electronic goods is placing on global resources. 'e-Life' will be an objective portrayal of the problem of e-waste that documents the issue through carefully crafted cinematography.


21 Up
1977 · 1h 40m · UK
After another 7 year wait, director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born children from Seven Up! and 7 Plus Seven. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.


63 Up
2019 · 2h 25m · UK
Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.


My Generation
2017 · 1h 27m · UK
The vivid and inspiring story of British film icon Michael Caine's personal journey through 1960s swinging London.
British cinema spans Ealing comedies, kitchen-sink realism, Hammer horror, and the long-running national institution that is the Bond franchise. It's also functioned for decades as a production base and talent pipeline for Hollywood.
Documentary covers everything from observational vérité to essay film and true crime. The form's best work argues rather than merely records, and the last two decades of streaming demand have made it a commercial genre as much as an artistic one.