Paramount+
Documentary
Years

Popular Documentary Movies

Sid & Judy
Paramount+
Sid & Judy
Explore the dramatic career and personal struggles of the talented and tragically short-lived entertainer Judy Garland through rare concert footage, never-heard-before voice recordings and personal photos.
Sid & Judy 2019
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
Paramount+
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
In 1971, director Melvin Van Peebles turned the figure of the black hero in US cinema upside down with Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: the story of the making of a seminal movie that initiated the Blaxploitation movement, a short-lived but highly influential sub-genre in the years that followed.
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood 2022
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s)
Paramount+
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s)
Elizabeth is an archive-based documentary film about the Queen. A celebration. A truly cinematic mystery-tour up and down the decades: poetic, funny, disobedient, ungovernable, affectionate, inappropriate, mischievous, in awe. Funny. Moving. Different. The Queen as never before.
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s) 2022
Sisters with Transistors
Paramount+
Sisters with Transistors
Think of early electronic music and you’ll likely see men pushing buttons, knobs, and boundaries. While electronic music is often perceived as a boys' club, the truth is that from the very beginning women have been integral in inventing the devices, techniques and tropes that would define the shape of sound for years to come.
Sisters with Transistors 2021
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me
Paramount+
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me
The untold and ultimately inspiring story of legendary singer, Teddy Pendergrass, the man poised to be the biggest R&B artist of all time until the tragic accident that changed his life forever at the age of only 31.
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me 2018
Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah
Paramount+
Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah
Follows Wynonna Judd's life as she continues with her next chapter after Naomi Judd's passing.
Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah 2023
The Go-Go's
Paramount+
The Go-Go's
As the first all-female band to play their instruments, write their songs and have a No. 1 album, The Go-Go’s made history. Underpinned by candid testimonies, this film chronicles the meteoric rise to fame of a band born in the LA punk scene who became a pop phenomenon.
The Go-Go's 2020
Becoming King
Paramount+
Becoming King
An emotional portrait of David Oyelowo’s journey to play legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage and intimate home videos, Becoming King is a story of faith, friendship and a destiny fulfilled.
Becoming King 2024
General Magic
Paramount+
General Magic
A tale of how the great vision and epic failure of General Magic, the "greatest dead company in Silicon Valley", changed the lives of billions.
General Magic 2019
Belushi
Paramount+
Belushi
Using previously unheard audiotapes recorded shortly after John Belushi’s death, director R.J. Cutler’s documentary feature examines the too-short life of the once-in-a-generation talent who captured the hearts and funny bones of devoted audiences.
Belushi 2020
The Last Laugh
Paramount+
The Last Laugh
A stand-up comedian on the verge of breakout success must make a terrible choice when he discovers a murderer on the loose in the theater where he's about to perform his biggest show.
The Last Laugh 2020
Personality Crisis: One Night Only
Paramount+
Personality Crisis: One Night Only
A portrait of musician David Johansen from Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi featuring a live performance at Café Carlyle in New York City, where he performs as Buster Poindexter singing the Johansen songbook, along with new and archival interviews.
Personality Crisis: One Night Only 2022
I Am Richard Pryor
Paramount+
I Am Richard Pryor
The life story of Richard Pryor (1940-2005), the legendary performer and iconic social satirist who transcended racial and social barriers with his honest, irreverent and biting humor.
I Am Richard Pryor 2019
Iverson
Paramount+
Iverson
Iverson is the ultimate legacy of NBA legend Allen Iverson, who rose from a childhood of crushing poverty in Hampton, Virginia, to become an 11-time NBA All-Star and universally recognized icon of his sport. Off the court, his audacious rejection of conservative NBA convention and unapologetic embrace of hip hop culture sent shockwaves throughout the league and influenced an entire generation. Told largely in Iverson's own words, the film charts the career highs and lows of one of the most distinctive and accomplished figures the sport of basketball has ever seen.
Iverson 2014
Mad Hot Ballroom
Paramount+
Mad Hot Ballroom
Eleven-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing and reveal pieces of themselves and their world along the way. Told from their candid, sometimes humorous perspectives, these kids are transformed, from reluctant participants to determined competitors, from typical urban kids to "ladies and gentlemen," on their way to try to compete in the final citywide competition.
Mad Hot Ballroom 2005
Under the Volcano
Paramount+
Under the Volcano
The story of George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat and the island that changed music forever.
Under the Volcano 2021
Fade to Black
Paramount+
Fade to Black
An intimate look at hip-hop artist Shawn Carter, Jay-Z, revealing the multiple Grammy Award winning artist as never before, from his background and rise to fame to the recording of his last album. The film chronicles the legendary concert of Jay-Z's performance at Madison Square Garden in November 2003. In an unprecedented event, a hip-hop artist sold out an arena in only two hours. Nearly one year later, fans and artists alike still reflect on this monumental musical night. The event was a spectacular culmination of Jay-Z's recording career prior to his self-proclaimed retirement from solo performing. Yet this one night also defined a musical generation, showcasing the evolution and reach of the world's most popular music genre. Guest performers included Jay-Z's closest friends and music industry colleagues: Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly, Foxy Brown, Pharrell, and Questlove and The Illadelphonics along with appearances by hip hop icons Damon Dash.
Fade to Black 2004
The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard
Paramount+
The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard
Join the big cats as we get up close and personal with their journeys through growing pains, adulthood, survival struggles and unfamiliar territories. These seven films follow the lives of some of the most formidable feline predators - lions, leopards, tigers and cheetahs in intimate detail.
The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard 2020
Attica
Paramount+
Attica
Follows the largest prison uprising in US history, conducting dozens of new interviews with inmates, journalists, and other witnesses.
Attica 2021
76 Days
Paramount+
76 Days
Raw and intimate, this documentary captures the struggles of patients and frontline medical professionals battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan.
76 Days 2020
Ready for War
Paramount+
Ready for War
Andrew Renzi’s heartfelt and hard-hitting documentary sheds light on the lives of three of the estimated thousands of immigrants who volunteer for service in the American military, yet find themselves deported from the US once their tours of duty are over.
Ready for War 2019
The One and Only Dick Gregory
Paramount+
The One and Only Dick Gregory
This revealing portrait of comedian, activist, pop-culture icon and thought leader Dick Gregory documents his many personal reinventions throughout the decades, from celebrity to civil rights hero and beyond, while hearing from the incredible entertainers who have been inspired by his blueprint.
The One and Only Dick Gregory 2021
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Paramount+
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Coming 50 years after the release of Space Oddity, the 90-minute film explores the Bowie before Ziggy Stardust, following the period from 1966 when he changed his name from David Jones to Bowie. It includes footage from the BBC Archives including footage of a BBC audition in 1965 of David Bowie and the Lower Third, which included a performance of Chim-Chim-Cheree and Baby That's A Promise.
David Bowie: Finding Fame 2019
Hot For My Name
Paramount+
Hot For My Name
Esther goes home to Skokie, Illinois to understand why her unique relationship with her parents motivated her to become a comedian. Documentary footage is intercut with stand-up, giving audiences a hilarious look into her origin story.
Hot For My Name 2020
Long Hot Summers: The Story of The Style Council
Paramount+
Long Hot Summers: The Story of The Style Council
The story of the band that Paul Weller formed after The Jam split up in 1982, with insight from key members, collaborators and fans.
Long Hot Summers: The Story of The Style Council 2020
My Psychedelic Love Story
Paramount+
My Psychedelic Love Story
An examination of the notorious high priest of LSD Timothy Leary through the eyes of his famed lover Joanna Harcourt-Smith.
My Psychedelic Love Story 2020
Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain
Paramount+
Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain
A smoke-filled journey across the lives and the careers of the groundbreaking, genre-defying Hip Hop group, Cypress Hill. Their unique sound, influenced by their Latin roots and West Coast upbringing, was built on a movement rooted in true authenticity: from cultivating the flower, to smoking it, to rapping about it, their influence is forever burned into the musical landscape of Hip Hop as they continue to stay relevant after 30 years.
Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain 2022
The Day Hitler Died
Paramount+
The Day Hitler Died
The story of Hitler’s final hours told by people who were there. This special features exclusive forgotten interviews, believed lost for 65 years, with members of Hitler’s inner circle who were trapped with him in his bunker as the Russians fought to take Berlin. These unique interviews from figures such as the leader of the Hitler Youth Artur Axmann and Hitler’s secretary Traudl Junge, have never before been seen outside Germany. Using rarely seen archive footage and dramatic reconstruction, this special tells the story of Adolf Hitler’s final days in his Berlin bunker.
The Day Hitler Died 2015
Wings for Wheels: The Making of 'Born to Run'
Paramount+
Wings for Wheels: The Making of 'Born to Run'
What can be said about Born To Run that hasn't already been said or written over the years? The album took Springsteen from punk to rock star, from rags to riches, from boy to man, educating his crowd in lessons of love, broken dreams and cars. This documentary details the making of the album and covers everything from the pressure that Springsteen was working under to produce a hit album for Columbia Records to working with the band in the studio to achieve the sound he wanted for the album. Finally the "Hype" of Springsteen that threatened to overtake the value of the album and the artist is also discussed. Featuring vintage footage and new interviews, it's a marvelous glimpse into the creation of one of the top ten albums of all time. There are also three performances from 1973 recorded in Los Angeles-"Spirit in the Night" "Wild Billy's Circus Story" and "Thundercrack".
Wings for Wheels: The Making of 'Born to Run' 2005
The End of the Storm
Paramount+
The End of the Storm
Featuring exceptional access to Liverpool Football Club, this is the gripping inside story of the club’s 2019/20 Premier League winning season, set against the context of their global fan base waiting for 30 years of disappointment and near misses to come to an end.
The End of the Storm 2020
George Michael: A Different Story
Paramount+
George Michael: A Different Story
It follows Michael's life from joining Wham! in 1981, to the present-day covering his career as a solo artist including personal and professional gain and loss. The film is a British venture produced by Aegean Films with Gorilla Entertainment Limited serving as distributor.
George Michael: A Different Story 2004
The 26th Street Garage: The FBI's Untold Story of 9/11
Paramount+
The 26th Street Garage: The FBI's Untold Story of 9/11
The story of ingenuity, teamwork and determination of the FBI in desperate moments after the 9/11 attacks, when they had to evacuate their New York headquarters, and transformed a greasy automotive garage into a new command center.
The 26th Street Garage: The FBI's Untold Story of 9/11 2021
NYC Point Gods
Paramount+
NYC Point Gods
An in-depth look at the legendary point guards of New York City who honed their craft and developed their legendary showmanship in the 1980s and ’90s. The documentary spotlights the ascent of Rafer Alston, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, God Shammgod, Kenny Smith, Rod Strickland and Dwayne “Pearl” Washington in the midst of a cultural renaissance.
NYC Point Gods 2022
Sheryl
Paramount+
Sheryl
An intimate story of song and sacrifice—musically gifted superstar Sheryl Crow navigates an iconic yet arduous musical career battling sexism, ageism, depression, cancer, and the price of fame, before harnessing the power of her gift.
Sheryl 2022
Loudmouth
Paramount+
Loudmouth
Josh Alexander’s Loudmouth documents the winding road that is Al Sharpton’s life story as an iconic activist and spiritual leader.
Loudmouth 2022
Anastasia
Paramount+
Anastasia
Russian activist Anastasia Shevchenko was kept under house arrest for two years for speaking out against the government. During that time, her young special-needs daughter died alone, away from her mother's touch.
Anastasia 2022
Macho: The Hector Camacho Story
Paramount+
Macho: The Hector Camacho Story
A hard-hitting look at the rise, fall and untimely death of one of boxing's most colorful champions. Hector Camacho's dynamic speed, footwork and power made him a fighter to be reckoned with, but it was his flamboyance and showmanship that ushered in a new era in boxing. The film chronicles his epic battles inside the ring, his struggles with addiction outside of it and the mystery of the double homicide that claimed his life. It's an unflinching portrait of a fighter who transcended the sport but ultimately couldn't defeat his own demons.
Macho: The Hector Camacho Story 2020
Basketball County: In the Water
Paramount+
Basketball County: In the Water
This documentary film examines how NBA star Kevin Durant’s hometown of Prince George’s County, Maryland, has recently produced more elite basketball players than anywhere else in the world.
Basketball County: In the Water 2020
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché
Paramount+
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché 2021
V-Day: Volcanic Planet
Paramount+
V-Day: Volcanic Planet
Earth is a volcanic planet, with over 1,400 active giants spread across the globe. But what would happen if all of them were to erupt at once? From rivers of lava, towering ash clouds, and pyroclastic flows to tsunamis and super-sized climate change, we explore the powerful volcanic forces that fascinate today's scientists. Join us as we conduct a thrilling thought experiment with leading volcanologists that reveals the inner workings of some of the world's most magnificent volcanoes.
V-Day: Volcanic Planet 2020