Documentaries offer a greater look at the world through the perspective of someone else. They capture historic moments, movements, and people while sharing their stories on a cinematic level. The art of documentary filmmaking has dated back to 1922, and since, the approach to documentaries has evolved over time. They serve as cutting-edge and intimate forms of becoming incredibly close with seemingly inaccessible subjects. Through the means of documentaries, certain have become exposed to the public eye.
Streaming platforms elevated their own sense of exclusivity by creating content limited to in-house production. Amazon kept in stride with its direct competitors and launched a streaming service of its own: Prime Video. After the platform launched, Prime Video created a library of original content that was used to lure in a higher subscriber rate. Among its exclusive content, Prime Video released a multitude of documentaries that were designed for the platform alone. Though a high quantity of documentaries can be found on the website, these selected titles are the best from Prime Video.
Updated June 2023: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Amira Abdel-Fadil.
12 Good Night Oppy (2022)
Good Night Oppy tells the strikingly impressive story of the Mars Exploration Rover “Oppy” which was designed by scientists at NASA to explore what happens on Mars. The robotic vehicle was only supposed to be working for 90 days but much to everyone’s surprise, it ended up exploring and reporting back on Mars for 15 years.
The groundbreaking story told in this documentary intimately unveils not only her explorations on Mars but the heart-touching bonds she forged with her creators that are bound to deeply move you. Good Night Oppy is a fascinating account of what is possible and how we continue to be mesmerized by space and everything in it, from human consciousness to species, to planets, to artificial intelligence.
11 Human Flow (2017)
With the need to document the transparency of the ongoing human refugee crisis, director Ai Weiwei emphasizes the truth of the lives of those who live on the border between the United States and Mexico. Human Flow attempts to understand the extent of the refugee crisis in nations such as Greece, Afghanistan, France, Germany, Iraq, and dozens of other countries experiencing the plight of their citizens. There is a more intimate perception of the motivations and ambitions behind those seeking refuge away from their home countries while in search of human rights. Weiwei views Human Flow as a personal project, as he feels an intense connection between his own eviction from Beijing, China, and the stories of those who face similar struggles.
The documentary insists that there should be compassion shared for refugees when focusing on the main causes of migration: wars between states, ethnic conflicts, non-ethnic conflicts, and flights from repression. There is no restraint when Human Flow openly reflects on the response to refugees through misinformed mindsets or ignorant attitudes originally fueled by immoral and baseless assumptions. Human Flow tells the story of real people in real crisis and shares the uncensored truth of those whose cries for help require an answer.
10 I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
I Am Not Your Negro is a powerful tale and commentary on racism that is soul-crushing. The Oscar-nominated documentary is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished book Remember This House where he pens down the murder of three of his closest friends: Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and Martin Luther King. Even though his work remained unfinished because of his death, filmmaker Raoul Peck decided to bring his powerful activism to life. This documentary is important and everything in its fabric is eloquent, honest, evocative, and a wake-up call to humanity.
9 Wildcat (2022)
Wildcat tells the inspiring story of a British soldier after the Afghanistan war. He suffers from heavy depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. When he visits the Amazon rainforest, he meets an American scientist who connects with him and they both end up fostering a baby ocelot. The story is told honestly and takes a hard look at mental illness and the atrocities of war. It is a beautiful story of healing, of nature, and of our interconnectedness that is going to leave your heart full and your mind in awe.
8 No No: A Dockumentary (2014)
No No: A Dockumentary opens the conversation about addiction and fame from a more niche perspective: the professional sports industry. The retelling of Dock Ellis' successful career, including legendary "no no" game while high on LSD, is shared by the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher. Ellis shares the events of the game from his own point of view, permitting him to indulge in details that would have been otherwise withheld from the public.
The documentary comments on Ellis' addiction and remarks on his reputation as one of the best Major League Baseball pitchers in the 1970s. No No: A Dockumentary speculated on the perception of his standing as a public figure and as a Black athlete during the Civil Rights era.
7 One Child Nation (2019)
Traditional propaganda and the "ideal" family model are examined through a cultural lens in One Child Nation. The idea of "one child" per family in China has latched itself onto cultural and political meanings of family. Nanfu Wang and Lynn Zhang unearth the history behind the "one child policy" that was implemented across China through personal memoirs and investigative journalism.
An intensive study of propagandism in featured artifacts leads more to the understanding of how China promoted its desire to limit a rapidly-increasing population through subliminal messaging. One Child Nation alternatively examines the lasting impact on those who were complicit with the enforced policy and argues against the destructive consequences of a one-child home. The documentary unabashedly questions the authentication for politics to determine what can constitute a family while forcibly shaping family lifestyles.
6 Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018)
Fahrenheit 11/9 shifts the conversation from blaming those in power for their actions to focusing the conversation on those who were responsible for enabling them. Hosted by Michael Moore, the Donald Trump-era documentary strays away from criticizing the deeply controversial president's behaviors, and instead, turns to accept the shame of acting as spectators. There's no negligence or excuses given for Trump's presidential choices, though audiences are challenged to understand why it was the citizens of the United States who were to assume their guilt.
Fahrenheit 11/9 speaks on the blatant declination to truly take action against Trump and exposes the American people for negligence to act on their rhetoric. The focus of the narrative is solely on Americans; there is no mention of Russian conspiracy or infiltration from the Conservative-minded parties. If anything, the documentary calls for attention to be turned over to knowing that the "liberal promise" of America is dying and that it requires Americans to be the ones to restore it.
5 Jesus Camp (2006)
Directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing paint a disturbing portrait of extreme Christianity disguised as a charismatic summer camp. Kids on Fire, located in North Dakota, insists that these summer campers are blessed with prophetic gifts, instructing them to "take back America for Christ." Three children are at the forefront of the documentary, where they are shown speaking in tongues, are taught that global warming is a theory created by conspirators, and are depicted blessing a cardboard cutout of President George W. Bush.
The children are asked to blindly put their faith in Jesus Christ while rejecting life outside of Evangelical Christian teachings. They speak definitely on their beliefs against topical societal matters, including women's rights, the LGBTQIA+, and non-Christian religious practices. Jesus Camprelies on the use of footage from the camp, which candidly captures the indoctrination of Kids on Fire.
4 The Wrecking Crew (2008)
This one is for music lovers as it explores and dives into the musical sessions and pursuits of a band known as the working crew; ones who worked as backup instrumentalists for Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Beach Boys among others. This piece of celebration of music will take you on a tour of the music business, personal interviews, great nostalgic nostalgia, and history into some of the best music of the '60s and '70s. The Wrecking Crew is the perfect behind-the-scenes look into some of the soundtracks we all know too well and adored.
3 Val (2021)
Val can be viewed more as a self-portrait of actor Val Kilmer as it follows the past, present, and future of Kilmer's life. The documentary is narrated by his son, Jack, as he illustrates his father's career with a voice that is strikingly similar to his rasp. Kilmer shares his own perspective of his self-image and his life's work, often depicted as frustrating, and is woven together by footage assembled by the actor himself.
Val promises that Kilmer is more than his past battle with throat cancer and celebrates his performance history. He views himself more as a spectator to his own history as it is retold, and he unfolds his own story. It sets aside the myths around the man and asks for Kilmer to be more understood just beyond his public image.
2 Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008)
The sense of emptiness left behind after Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's suicide in 2006 is filled by a documentary dedicated to the founder of Gonzo journalism. Johnny Depp's voice illuminates the eccentrics of Thompson's erratic lifestyle. Cornerstones in the journalist's life reignite the stories that supported Thompson's boldness. His adventures are revived with the same liveliness that permitted them to stand out with unmatched shock value.
Though the recreations of the events are exaggerated for the documentary's sake, the audio recordings that match them pop to life when recalling Thompson's most hallmark moments. Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson looks back at the failures and celebrations in the journalist's impactful career, encapsulating what made his legacy as fascinating as it was influential.
1 Dior and I (2015)
Dior and I chronicles the memoir left behind by French fashion designer Christian Dior. The autobiographical insert follows Dior's first decade of working in high fashion, and the transition of the brand from Dior to Belgian designer Raf Simons. Simons was granted leadership over Dior following the initial designer's passing in 2012, demanding that the inheritance established a name for himself within the fashion industry. Dior and I documents the becoming of an unknown fashion designer who was granted control over one of the most respected brands on an international level.
A small crew accompanied Simons throughout his first three months as Dior's lead designer, following his breakout as an amateur determined to thrive in the cutthroat world of Haute Couture. The intensity and unforgiving demand of modern fashion is condensed into an introspective examination of one brand's success.