HBOmax
Documentary
Years

Popular Documentary Movies

War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend
HBOmax
War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend
This poignant documentary explores the unbreakable bond between multi-purpose K9s and their handlers.
War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend 2017
Banksy Does New York
HBOmax
Banksy Does New York
On October 1, 2013, the elusive street artist Banksy launched a month-long residency in New York, an art show he called Better Out Than In. As one new work of art was presented each day in a secret location, a group of fans, called “Banksy Hunters,” took to the streets and blew up social media.
Banksy Does New York 2014
Bill Maher: But I'm Not Wrong
HBOmax
Bill Maher: But I'm Not Wrong
In front of a live audience at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Emmy-nominated host of Real Time with Bill Maher performs an all-new hour of stand-up comedy. Among the topics Bill discusses in his ninth HBO solo special are: Whether the "Great Recession" is really over; the fake patriotism of the right wing; what goes on in the mind of a terrorist; why Obama needs a posse instead of the secret service; the drug war; Michael Jackson; getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan; racism; the Teabagger movement; religion; the health-care fight; why Gov. Mark Sanford will come out looking good, and how silly it is to ask "Why do men cheat?"; and why comedy most definitely didn't die when George Bush left office.
Bill Maher: But I'm Not Wrong 2010
I Am Evidence
HBOmax
I Am Evidence
The modern criminal justice system is hindered by the fact that countless rape kits remain untested in police evidence storage facilities across the United States. Only eight states currently have laws requiring mandatory testing of rape kits.
I Am Evidence 2017
The Price of Everything
HBOmax
The Price of Everything
Featuring collectors, dealers, auctioneers and a rich range of artists, including market darlings George Condo, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, this documentary examines the role of art and artistic passion in today’s money-driven, consumer-based society.
The Price of Everything 2018
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
HBOmax
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
In the nine months prior to World War II, 10.000 innocent children left behind their families, their homes, their childhood, and took the journey... to Britain to escape the Nazi Holocaust.
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport 2000
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now
HBOmax
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now
An intimate view of the women whose images have defined our sense of beauty over the past five decades. An uncensored look at many of the biggest names in modeling, the movie reveals the stories behind the magazine covers displaying these multicultural pioneers. Each woman is candidly interviewed in the studio and shares her experiences, ideas on longevity, and philosophy of life in the fashion industry. Elegant archival footage and interviews with designer Calvin Klein and agency head Eileen Ford round out this absorbing chronicle.
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now 2012
Traffic Stop
HBOmax
Traffic Stop
Breaion King, a 26 year-old African-American school teacher from Austin, Texas - is pulled over for a routine traffic stop that escalates into a violent arrest. Dashcam clips intercut with verite scenes tell a story of racism in law enforcement through the eyes of one of its victims.
Traffic Stop 2017
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
HBOmax
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one veteran dies by suicide in America every 80 minutes. While only 1% of Americans has served in the military, former service members account for 20% of all suicides in the U.S. Based in Canandaigua, NY and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Veterans Crisis Line receives more than 22,000 calls each month from veterans of all conflicts who are struggling or contemplating suicide. This timely documentary spotlights the traumas endured by America’s veterans, as seen through the work of the hotline’s trained responders. CRISIS HOTLINE captures extremely private moments, where the professionals, many of whom are themselves veterans or veterans’ spouses, can often interrupt the thoughts and plans of suicidal callers to steer them out of crisis.
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 2013
Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season
HBOmax
Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season
Universally recognized as the greatest female skier ever, Lindsey Vonn went on a remarkable journey that was defined by unexpected twists and turns and dramatic peaks and valleys in its final chapter. LINDSEY VONN: THE FINAL SEASON intimately recounts the iconic skier’s last competitive campaign while looking back on her transcendent career, from child prodigy to decorated Olympian to global superstar.
Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season 2019
Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking
HBOmax
Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking
"Wishful Drinking" is based on Fisher's memoirs of the same title. The stage adaptation had its world premiere in 2006 at the Geffen Playhouse in L.A. It later played at Berkeley Repertory before opening on Broadway in October at Studio 54. The show takes audiences on a comic tour of Fisher's messy personal life and career. The actress-writer recounts stories about her work on the "Star Wars" series as well as her relationship with her parents Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. She also discusses her much-publicized problems with alcohol and drugs.
Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking 2010
Santa Camp
HBOmax
Santa Camp
Every summer, a horde of professional Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and elves descend on a campsite in the New Hampshire woods to learn the tricks of their trade. But this year is different. The organizers, members of the one-hundred strong New England Santa Society, have decided to tackle a complicated and historic problem – the lack of diversity in the Santa industry. They enlist a Black Santa, a Santa with a disability, and a transgender Santa, each with their own surprising Santa origin story.
Santa Camp 2022
Studs Terkel: Listening to America
HBOmax
Studs Terkel: Listening to America
For over 60 years, Studs Terkel elevated the voices and experiences of everyday Americans through his skillful interviews on radio, in books and on TV. This documentary takes a fond and illuminating look back at one of America's most influential authors and media personalities whose curiosity about people never dimmed over the course of a long and brilliant career.
Studs Terkel: Listening to America 2009
Koran by Heart
HBOmax
Koran by Heart
In this 80-minute documentary, three 10-year-old children leave their native countries to participate in one of the Islamic world’s most famous competitions, a test of memory and recitation known as The International Holy Koran Competition. Up against much older students, these youngsters have committed the 600 pages of the Koran to memory, and will put their skills to the test before the elite of the world’s Muslim community in Cairo, Egypt. In the midst of this intense international competition, the three young competitors –two boys from Senegal and Tajikistan, and one girl from the Maldives – face uncertain futures at home, as they are caught between fundamentalist and moderate visions of Islam. The children discuss their recitation techniques – with accompanying, completely improvised melodies – and talk about their nerves and excitement as they finally compete before a panel of judges.
Koran by Heart 2011
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes
HBOmax
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes
The life and times of Muhammed Ali shown through the lens of his numerous appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The film features new interviews with Dick Cavett, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Larry Merchant, as well as archival material from the Cavett Show.
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes 2018
Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections
HBOmax
Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections
In advance of the 2020 Presidential election, Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections takes a deep dive into the weaknesses of today's election technology, investigating the startling vulnerabilities in America's voting systems and the alarming risks they pose to our democracy.
Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections 2020
We Are Not Done Yet
HBOmax
We Are Not Done Yet
Follows veterans and active-duty service members from varied backgrounds who come together to combat their traumas through the written word in a USO-sponsored arts workshop at Walter Reed National Military Hospital.
We Are Not Done Yet 2018
Ballet 422
HBOmax
Ballet 422
The film shadows Justin Peck, wunderkind choreographer of the New York City Ballet, as he undertakes the Herculean task of creating the company’s 422nd original piece. Following the creative process from its embryonic stages to its highly anticipated premiere, BALLET 422 is a powerful celebration of the skill and endurance of New York’s most talented dancers—as well as those who remain hidden in the wings.
Ballet 422 2014
We Met in Virtual Reality
HBOmax
We Met in Virtual Reality
Filmed entirely inside the world of virtual reality (VR), this immersive and revealing documentary roots itself in several unique communities within VR Chat, a burgeoning virtual reality platform. Through observational scenes captured in real-time, in true documentary style, the film reveals the growing power and intimacy of several relationships formed in the virtual world, many of which began during the COVID-19 lockdown, while so many in the physical world were facing intense isolation.
We Met in Virtual Reality 2022
Ferrell Takes the Field
HBOmax
Ferrell Takes the Field
A documentary that follows Will Ferrell as he takes the field in five Major League Baseball training games, playing all nine positions for ten different teams in a single day.
Ferrell Takes the Field 2015
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals
HBOmax
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals
An exploration of the fierce rivalry between NBA superstars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson during their decade of dominance.
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals 2010
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn
HBOmax
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn
Legendary and controversial attorney Roy Cohn was a power broker in the rough and tumble world of New York City business and politics. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s top counsel during investigations into Communist activities in the 1950s, Cohn is also known for being Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, fixer and mentor.
Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn 2019
Escape from Kabul
HBOmax
Escape from Kabul
Unfolding over 18 monumental days in August 2021, this deeply immersive and emotional documentary combines never-before-seen archival footage from those on the ground at the airport with exclusive interviews with people who were there throughout the period, including Afghan citizens attempting to flee, U.S. Marines tasked with managing the evacuation, and Taliban commanders and fighters who had recently taken the city.
Escape from Kabul 2022
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
HBOmax
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
This rockumentary-style presidential portrait shows how Jimmy Carter reinvigorated a post-Watergate America—with the music of the counterculture, including the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Jimmy Buffett.
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President 2020
An Apology to Elephants
HBOmax
An Apology to Elephants
Elephants are among the most majestic and intelligent creatures on Earth--but for hundreds of years, they have suffered at the hands of humans. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this documentary short traces our long history with elephants and explores the many problems that arise when they are brought to live in captivity in zoos and circuses.
An Apology to Elephants 2013
Twist of Faith
HBOmax
Twist of Faith
A man confronts the trauma of past sexual abuse as a boy by a Catholic priest only to find his decision shatters his relationships with his family, community and faith.
Twist of Faith 2004
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It!
HBOmax
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It!
'Insecure' star Yvonne Orji celebrates her Nigerian-American upbringing in her debut HBO comedy special, which intersperses her stand-up with documentary footage of a trip to Nigeria.
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! 2020
The Apollo
HBOmax
The Apollo
The history of New York City's Apollo Theater in Harlem is given the full treatment.
The Apollo 2019
Baghdad ER
HBOmax
Baghdad ER
Produced and directed by 11-time Emmy Award-winner Jon Alpert, this 64-minute verite documentary takes an unforgettable look inside the 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), the U.S. Army's premier medical facility in Iraq and former site of one of Saddam Hussein?s elite medical facilities. Shot over two months in the summer of 2005, the film puts a human face on the war's cold casualty statistics, as doctors and nurses fight to save the lives of wounded soldiers who are Medevaced (helicoptered) in a numbingly routine basis.
Baghdad ER 2006
Life According to Sam
HBOmax
Life According to Sam
Progeria is a rare, fatal genetic condition that causes accelerated aging in children; its young victims rarely live past 13. This moving documentary explores the remarkable world of Sam Berns and the relentless pursuit of a treatment and cure by his parents (both doctors) to save their son from the disease.
Life According to Sam 2013
John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls
HBOmax
John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls
In-depth look at the life of John McCain, from his time as a POW in Vietnam to his three decades of service in the US Senate.
John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls 2018
Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden
HBOmax
Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden
An espionage tale from inside the CIA's long conflict against Al Qaeda, as revealed by the remarkable women and men whose secret war against Osama bin Laden started nearly a decade before most of us even knew his name.
Manhunt: The Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden 2013
It's a Hard Truth Ain't It
HBOmax
It's a Hard Truth Ain't It
"It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It" is a companion piece to "O.G.", a narrative drama also directed by Madeleine Sackler. It is co-directed by thirteen men incarcerated at the Pendleton Correctional Facility in Pendleton, Indiana. Given unprecedented access to a maximum security prison, filmmaker Madeleine Sackler worked with a group of inmates to tell their own stories, giving rise to this collaborative, intimate documentary project.
It's a Hard Truth Ain't It 2018
Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr.
HBOmax
Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr.
Robert De Niro, Sr., was a celebrated painter obscured by the pop-art movement. His life and career are chronicled in the artist's own words by his contemporaries and, movingly, by his son, the actor Robert De Niro.
Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr. 2014
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
HBOmax
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
A history of anti-Asian racism and yellowface in Hollywood after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack.
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood 2019
The Scheme
HBOmax
The Scheme
The revealing, no-holds-barred tale of Christian Dawkins, convicted in federal court in the biggest criminal case in collegiate sports history, a criminal enterprise that infiltrated college basketball teams and funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to steer recruits to prominent athletic programs.
The Scheme 2020
3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets
HBOmax
3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving November 2012, four boys in a red SUV pull into a gas station after spending time at the mall buying sneakers and talking to girls. With music blaring, one boy exits the car and enters the store, a quick stop for a soda and a pack of gum. A man and a woman pull up next to the boys in the station, making a stop for a bottle of wine. The woman enters the store and an argument breaks out when the driver of the second car asks the boys to turn the music down. 3½ minutes and ten bullets later, one of the boys is dead. 3½ MINUTES dissects the aftermath of this fatal encounter.
3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets 2015
The Swamp
HBOmax
The Swamp
A look behind the curtain of Washington politics following three "renegade" Republican Congressmen as they bring libertarian and conservative zeal to champion the President’s call to “drain the swamp.”
The Swamp 2020
Coma
HBOmax
Coma
Four young Americans who've each suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury emerge from their comas at a New Jersey medical facility. Their eyes may be open, but now the real challenge for each of the patients, their families, their doctors and their therapists begins. Brain healing isn't predictable, we're told, and certainly is not guaranteed. So with each 'major' step forward that is observed (opening one's eyes, bending a thumb upon command, vocalizing a word, answering a question correctly) comes a sense of jubilant relief and hope from the families of these patients, but as we soon see, the more a patient progresses, the more difficult things can be for all involved. Moments of faith & hope contrast with disappointments & frustrations, moments of confidence with moments of doubt. It's difficult to watch, and unimaginable to have to ever live through.
Coma 2007
15 Minutes of Shame
HBOmax
15 Minutes of Shame
Monica Lewinsky and filmmaker Max Joseph (Catfish) examine the human price of public shaming and cyber-harassment, profiling people who have experienced them first-hand - while investigating the bullies, bystanders, and experts in between.
15 Minutes of Shame 2021