Nonfics Is Now A Newsletter!
You may have noticed that the website has been dormant lately. This has been due to inadequate ad revenue and my unavailability to write reviews, conduct interviews, etc., for the last two years. Fort…
Christopher Campbell(Editor in Chief)
Documentaries You Need to See in March 2023
This month's new documentaries to watch at home and in theaters include the latest Oscar-nominated film by Laura Poitras.
Documentaries You Need to See in February 2023
This month's new documentaries to watch at home and in theaters include works celebrating Black History Month and profiling a millionaire dog.
‘Moonage Daydream’ Wins The Most Deserving Award Of The Year
Among this year's winners at the Cinema Eye Honors, Moonage Daydream expectedly and deservedly was recognized for Best Sound Design.
How COVID-19 Changed The Making Of ‘The Territory’
We talk to director Alex Pritz about his collaboration with the Uru-eu-wau-wau in his making of The Territory, especially after COVID-19.
All the Documentaries You Need to See in January 2023
This month's new documentaries to watch at home and in theaters include works by Joe Berlinger, the Naudet brothers, and Sierra Pettengill.
2022 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Here are some of the individual ballots submitted to the 2022 Nonfics poll of the best documentaries of the year.
The Best Documentaries of 2022
Here are the 50 best documentaries of 2022, ranked according to the results of the 10th annual Nonfics year-end poll.
What Brazil’s Presidential Election Means For ‘The Territory’
We talk to The Territory filmmaker Alex Pritz about how Bolsonaro's election inspired the documentary and how his defeat will impact the story going forward.
‘In Her Hands’ Trailer: Netflix Documentary Produced By Hillary And Chelsea Clinton
Netflix released the trailer for In Her Hands, a film executive produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton about Afghanistan politician Zarifa Ghafari.
How ‘The Territory’ Handled A Death Dilemma
Director Alex Pritz talks about the film's two most memorable moments and the challenging decision regarding one of them.
‘Fire of Love’ and ‘Good Night Oppy’ Lead Critics’ Doc Award Nominees
Other major contenders of the Critics Choice Documentary Awards this year include 'Navalny' and 'Moonage Daydream.'
How Alex Pritz Landed Darren Aronofsky To Produce His First Feature
We talk to filmmaker Alex Pritz about his award-winning first feature, The Territory, and how Darren Aronofsky became a producer of the documentary.
‘Beba’ and the Collaboration of Self
We interview Rebeca Huntt about her feature directorial debut, the extraordinary self-portrait documentary Beba.
‘Cosby’ and ‘Playboy’ Documentaries Win 2022 Critics Choice Awards
Winners of the 2022 Critics Choice Real TV Awards include the second season of Cheer and documentaries about Bill Cosby and Playboy magazine.
All the Documentaries You Need to See in June 2022
For June 2022, we spotlight programs showcasing Humphrey Jennings documentaries and LGBTQ+ films for Pride Month.
Martin Scorsese and Joe Berlinger Documentaries Nominated for Critics Choice Awards
This year's Critics Choice Real TV Awards nominees include Martin Scorsese and Malcolm Venville's 'Theodore Roosevelt' and two Joe Berlinger true-crime series.
Andrea Arnold Discusses the Empathy and the Alive-ness of ‘Cow’
We also talk about the making of Arnold's documentary debut and why it's more fun if she doesn't explain what it's about.
‘The Queen of Basketball’ and ‘Summer of Soul’ Win Best Documentary Oscars
Also a remake of a documentary won in two categories at the 94th Academy Awards.
‘Flee’ Ties the Record for Most Oscar Nominations for a Documentary!
Jonas Poher Rasmussen's animated Danish film has a chance to become the winningest documentary ever.
The 6 Best Documentaries of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival
Our six picks from this year's festival likely include some of the best documentaries of 2022 overall.
All the Documentaries You Need to See in February 2022
This month's highlights include Black History Month programming, the origin of Kanye West, and the return of 'Jackass.'
‘Fire of Love’ Recalls a Time When Scientists Were More Daring and Artistic
Sara Dosa's feature documentary chronicles the life, love, and professional passion of volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft.
‘Last Flight Home’ Moves Us by Involving Us
Ondi Timoner's most personal film documents the intentional death of her 92-year-old father and invites us to experience the sadness and the togetherness of it all alongside her and her family.
Music and Comedy Change the World at SXSW 2012
From the Doc Talk archives, here is a look at some entertaining but also politically charged documentaries of the 2012 SXSW Film Festival.
5 Must-See Human Rights Documentaries from 2012
From the Doc Talk archives, here's a list of the best documentaries that screened at the 2012 Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
Our 25 Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2022
Here are the nonfiction films we're looking forward to at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and beyond.
‘The Other Dream Team’ Review
From the Doc Talk archives, Christopher Campbell reviews the basketball documentary during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Frederick Wiseman on Shooting Nudity and Why Technique is Only 40% of Filmmaking
From the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, Christopher Campbell chats with Wiseman about 'Crazy Horse.'
2021 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Below are some of the submitted best-of lists that contributed to the 2021 end-of-year Nonfics poll (* = still unreleased in the US; ** = released in the US last year). Christopher Campbell @thefilm…
All the Documentaries You Need to See in January 2022
This month's highlights include the surprise return of 'Cheer' and a spotlight on the films of Lee Grant.
At Least One of These 15 Documentary Features Will Win an Oscar in 2022
Your guide to this year's five Oscar shortlists recognizing documentaries.
‘Flee’ Nominated for 2 Critics Choice Awards, Again
The Critics Choice Association continues to spotlight documentaries this year -- or at least one -- with two nominations for 'Flee' at its main awards.
All the Documentaries You Need to See in December 2021
This month brings the best documentary of the year to theaters and a streaming showcase of works by women filmmakers.
‘Becoming Cousteau’ and the Origin of a Legacy
Liz Garbus' documentary on the life of Jacques Cousteau is more about the present and the future than the past.
‘Space Tourists’ is More of a Postcard from Space Than a Virtual Trip
Christopher Campbell reviews Christian Frei's multi-narrative look at the commercialization of space travel.
‘Summer of Soul’ Named the Best Documentary of 2021
Questlove's first feature wins big at the 2021 Critics Choice Documentary Awards.
‘¡Vivan las Antipodas!’ Review
From True/False 2012, here's a review of Viktor Kossakovsky's inventive globe-trotting documentary.
5 Health Care Documentaries that Aimed for Impact in 2012
From the Doc Talk archives, here's a list of documentaries concerning health care that were released around the 2012 presidential election.
SXSW 2011: ‘Dragonslayer’ Review
From the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, here's a brief review of Tristan Patterson's award-winning documentary.
All the Documentaries You Need to Stream in November 2021
This month, some of the year's best nonfiction films become available on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more of your favorite streaming services.
‘Ascension’ and ‘Summer of Soul’ Lead the 2021 Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominees
It's a big year for directors making their documentary feature debut.
‘Fauci’ Shows Why Documentaries Make the Best Biographies
John Hoffman and Janet Tobias' film of Dr. Anthony Fauci stresses the importance of graphic storytelling in biographic media.
Critics Name ‘1971’ and ‘Frontline’ the Best Documentary Series of 2021
Winners of the 2021 Critics Choice Real TV Awards also include the docuseries 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' and '30 for 30.'
All the Documentaries You Need to Stream in June 2021
This month, we're highlighting LGBTQ+ documentaries and a new film about Wolfgang Puck from the director of 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi.'
HBO Leads Documentary Nominees for 2021 Critics Choice Real TV Awards
The HBO true-crime series 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark,' 'Murder on Middle Beach,' and 'The Vow,' and the Disney+ and National Geographic nature series Secrets of the Whales all received two nominations.…
How R.J. Cutler Captured the Coming of Age of Billie Eilish
The filmmaker discusses taking the verite approach for 'Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry.'
‘Collective’ Leads the 2021 Oscar Nominations for Documentaries
We highlight this year's nonfiction film Oscar nominees and where to watch them now.
The 10 Documentary Shorts on the 2021 Oscar Shortlist and Where to Watch Them
All ten of this year's ten semi-finalists are available to watch online now!
Keanu Reeves on ‘Side by Side’ and the Future of Film
From 2012, here's Christopher Campbell's interview with Keanu Reeves about producing the filmmaking film 'Side by Side.'
Wim Wenders on ‘Pina’ and Why 3D is the Future of Documentary
From 2011, Christopher Campbell interviewed Wim Wenders in promotion of his Oscar-nominated 3D documentary 'Pina'
At Least One of These 18 Documentaries Will Win an Oscar in 2021
Your guide to this year's four Oscar shortlists recognizing documentary features.
‘Misha and the Wolves’ Shares an Incredible Story About the Exploitation of an Incredible Story
From the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, we review Sam Hobkinson's astounding stranger-than-fiction documentary about a controversial Holocaust memoir.
‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ Turns Documentary on Its Head
Rodney Ascher's heady film exploring simulation theory might make you wonder if any documentary subjects are truly real.
‘Sabaya’ Spotlights a Daring Continuous Rescue Mission in the Middle East
From the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, we review a documentary about an organization that frees Yazidi women from ISIS enslavement.
‘Playing with Sharks’ Makes it a Joy to Go Back in the Water
From the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, we review the biographical documentary about legendary diver and shark expert Valerie Taylor.
COVID-19 Documentary ‘In the Same Breath’ Warns Against the Old Normal
From the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, we review Nanfu Wang's latest documentary, which chronicles the COVID-19 pandemic as only she can.
The ‘Misha and the Wolves’ Poster Promotes a Puzzling Picture
We are thrilled to premiere the first one-sheet for one of this year's hottest Sundance documentaries.
‘Beats, Rhymes & Life’ Review: A Tribe Called Quest is Controversially and Accessibly Documented
From the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Michael Rapaport's documentary about A Tribe Called Quest.
‘The Interrupters’ Review: Steve James Does It Again
From the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Steve James' documentary about the Chicago-based organization CeaseFire.
Doc Talk: Documenting Disasters
This Doc Talk column was originally published on the now-defunct movie blog Cinematical on January 20, 2010. Many of the links from that time are no longer active, but we've attempted to keep as much …
‘Superheroes’ Review: Hilarity and Humanity Abound in this Real Life ‘Kick-Ass’
From the 2011 Slamdance Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Michael Barnett's documentary about real-life superheroes.
Ryan White on the Unexpected Ending of ‘Assassins’ and Why it Was Always a Feature
In the second part of our interview with Ryan White, we discuss the ending of his film and how it went differently than expected.
Dangerous ‘Assassins’: Ryan White on the Risks of His Geopolitical True Crime Documentary
In the first part of our interview with Ryan White, we discuss how he came onto this film and why many distributors wouldn't.
Our 25 Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2021
Here are the nonfiction films we're looking forward to at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and beyond.
‘The Life of Reilly’ Review
From 2007, Christopher Campbell reviews Barry Poltermann and Frank Anderson's record of Charles Nelson Reilly's one-man show.
‘Page One: Inside the New York Times’ is Entertaining if Insubstantial
From the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Andrew Rossi's documentary about the New York Times' Media Desk.
Do Documentaries Still Have Educational Value?
From 2011, Christopher Campbell wonders if nonfiction films can still be used for teaching -- and if they ever should have been.
2020 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Below are the submitted best-of lists that contributed to our 2020 end-of-year poll (* = still unreleased in the US; ** = released in the U.S. last year). Christopher Campbell @thefilmcynic Found…
‘Tales from the Script’ Review
From 2010, Christopher Campbell reviews the screenwriting documentary.
‘The House I Live In’ Review
From 2012, Christopher Campbell briefly reviews Eugene Jarecki's documentary about the prison industrial complex.
‘Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’ is So Funny You’ll Need to See it Twice
From the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Rodman Flender's Conan O'Brien tour documentary.
‘Into Eternity: A Film for the Future’ Review
Covering from the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Michael Madsen's eerie film about the safety of nuclear storage.
‘Dick Johnson’ Voted Best Documentary of 2020 in 8th Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
We've ranked 100 films based on votes from documentary critics and filmmakers.
‘The Sci-Fi Boys’ Review
From the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviews Paul Davids' documentary about filmmakers and effects artists who grew up as sci-fi fanboys.
‘Buena Vista Social Club’ and ‘Wattstax’ Among Documentaries Added to National Film Registry
The 2020 selections by the Library of Congress include six nonfiction films chosen for the cultural and historical significance.
‘Taxi to the Dark Side’ Review
From 2008, Christopher Campbell reviewed Alex Gibney's Oscar-winning documentary concerning the death of an innocent Afghan taxi driver.
‘Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt’ Review
From the archives, one of Christopher Campbell's very first documentary reviews, covering Margaret Brown's 2004 Townes Van Zandt documentary.
‘Life in a Day’ Review: What a Wonderful World
From the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Christopher Campbell reviewed the crowdsourced documentary produced by Ridley Scott.
Review: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s ‘The Boys of Baraka’
From 2005, here is one of the first documentary reviews by Christopher Campbell, covering one of the first documentaries by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.
Review: Jessica Yu’s ‘Protagonist’
From 2007, here is an early documentary review from Christopher Campbell of an original nonfiction feature by Jessica Yu.
Julien Temple on Future Projects, More City Films, and Biopics on The Kinks and Marvin Gaye
From the 2012 Toronto Film Festival, Christopher Campbell interviews Julien Temple.
Julien Temple on Using Film for Time Travel and Ghost Sighting
From the Doc Channel Blog archives, here's an interview with Temple about 'London: The Modern Babylon.'
‘New York Doll’ Review
From 2005, Christopher Campbell reviews the music doc about New York Dolls bassist Arthur Kane.
Should Film Reviews Avoid Criticizing a Documentary’s Subject?
From the Doc Blog archives, Christopher Campbell argues that it's improper to criticize documentary characters in a review.
When is it Okay to Laugh at a Real Person?
From the Doc Talk archives, Christopher Campbell highlights a concern regarding documentaries wanting to get laughs at the expense of their subjects.
‘Belushi’ Offers a Unique Sensory Experience of the Life of John Belushi
R.J. Cutler's impeccable archival film combines audio and visual elements to create an outstanding biography.
‘Into the Abyss’ is a Horror Documentary Based in a Texan Tragedy
From the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, a review of Werner Herzog's Death Row documentary.
‘The Other F Word’ is the Most Endearing Movie About Punks You’ll Ever See
From the Doc Talk archives, here's a brief review of Andrea Blaugrund's documentary about punk rock dads.
‘Dick Johnson is Dead’ Named the Best Documentary of the Year for 2020
The Critics Choice Association recognized Kirsten Johnson's film with two awards while also honoring 'My Octopus Teacher,' 'Mr. Soul!,' the Beastie Boys, and more.
‘I Am Greta’ Presents the Political Pageantry of a Young Climate Change Activist
Nathan Grossman follows Greta Thunberg in her work spreading awareness of climate change.
‘When I Came Home’ Review
From the archives, originally published in 2006, Christopher Campbell reviews the Iraq War vet documentary 'When I Came Home.'
‘The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends’ Review
From the archives, originally published in 2006, Christopher Campbell reviews the Iraq War documentary 'The Ground Truth.'
Experiencing the Two Nightmares of Paradise
The 2018 Camp Fire's devastation of Paradise, California, and its aftermath are depicted in two documentaries that go perfectly together.
‘The Gatekeepers’ is Important for the Stigma Against Talking-Head Documentaries
From 2013, this Doc Talk column looks at how the Oscar-nominated film tried something new.
‘Crip Camp,’ ‘Gunda’ and ‘Mr. Soul!’ Lead 2020 Critics Choice Documentary Award Nominations
Netflix leads the pack in a unique year for the entertainment industry and the world.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in August 2020
This month's additions include a feature documentary about the Paralympic Games and a docuseries on immigration with unprecedented access to ICE agents.
Review: Melvin Van Peebles Documentary ‘How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)’
A phenomenal outline of Melvin Van Peebles' prolific and varied life.
Bill Ross on the Making of ‘Tchoupitoulas’
From the archives, we interviewed one-half of the Ross brothers about their hit documentary.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in July 2020
This month's new additions include a film about a legendary, gender non-conforming, cape-wearing TV psychic, a series about Michael Jordan, and the return of 'I Am Not Your Negro.'
The Best Documentaries of 2020 So Far
Our ongoing list of the best documentaries of 2020 includes 'The Painter and the Thief,' 'Athlete A,' 'On the Record,' and more.
‘Hillary’ and ‘Frontline’ Named Critics’ Choice for Best Documentary Series
Other documentary series winners include the Netflix titles 'Cheer,' 'The Last Dance,' and 'Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.'
2020 Critics Choice Real TV Awards Nominees Include ‘Cheer’ and ‘The Last Dance’
Netflix's popular cheerleading series topped all programs with five nominations.
Double Feature: Sheep Herding in ‘Grass’ and ‘Sweetgrass’
A look back at two films, released in 1925 and 2009, that follow sheep herding migrations.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in June 2020
This month we spotlight the latest from Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, who again turn their attention on the sexual assault of young women.
The Best Documentaries on HBO MAX
The new streaming service is chock full of classic and essential nonfiction films and docuseries.
Watch: This is Not a Remake
A short documentary set during the Persian New Year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is another reminder that we're all in this together.
A Documentary Can Not Be Undone
After nonfiction films end, life goes on and change happens. But what comes next doesn't always matter for the real stories at hand.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in May 2020
This month's new additions include a gay love story, a celebration of Divine, and one of the most impactful documentaries of all time.
The Best Documentaries of the 2000s
We break up the best of the first decade of the 21st century by genre.
‘Freakonomics’ Dream Team Talks About the State of Documentary in 2010
A report from the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.
‘Berlin’ Should Be Watched at Top Volume
From 2008, a look at Julian Schnabel's concert film starring Lou Reed performing his 1973 album 'Berlin.'
The Invisible Sound Design of Archival Documentary
We talk to 'Crip Camp' sound supervisor Jacob Bloomfield-Misrach about his work giving a fuller life to the archival footage seen in the Netflix documentary.
The Best Documentaries for Kids
Not only will younger viewers enjoy these 11 titles, but they'll also learn a lot while possibly becoming nonfiction cinema fans in the process.
Betting on the Long Shot in Politics and Storytelling
Filmmakers Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance discuss how their documentary 'Slay the Dragon' wound up with a very different ending than expected.
Help Italy by Watching Documentaries
Doc Alliance is donating almost half of the purchase price on select Italian documentaries to North Italy hospitals. We recommend what to start with.
How to Stay Nonpartisan While Also Telling the Truth
'Slay the Dragon' directors Barak Goodman and Chris Durrance discuss their attempt to make an anti-gerrymandering documentary that's not politically biased.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in April 2020
This month's top documentary additions include the return of 'Senna' and a personal film about a family-run pornography shop.
What is the Funniest Documentary of All Time?
A discussion of the nonfiction films that make us laugh.
Watch: Getting Coronavirus Tips from D-List Celebrities
Benjamin Berman's follow-up to 'The Amazing Johnathan Documentary' is titled 'The Follow-Up,' and it's a very dark satire for our times.
Moviegoing as an Act of Protest
A look back 10 years ago, when going to see Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam's 'The Sun Behind the Clouds' meant solidarity with Tibet.
‘Project Nim’ Review
From the archives, a look at the first great documentary of 2011.
How ‘Crip Camp’ Immerses Us in a Movement
We interview filmmakers Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht about the making of their new Netflix documentary.
Why the Netflix Documentary ‘Crip Camp’ Needed Such a Bold Title
Filmmakers James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham discuss the necessary irreverence of their new film and the name that they gave it.
The True Wild Animals of ‘Tiger King’
Netflix's documentary series presents a menagerie of untamable characters.
Watch: Reexamining Freud for the #MeToo Movement
Director Kate Novack ('The Gospel According to André') folds history on itself with this concise collage of a short film honoring "Dora" and all women.
The 50 Best Documentaries to Watch on OVID
We recommend 50 favorites from one of the best documentary streaming outlets, including many by McElwee, Akerman, and Marker.
Watch: The Great Toilet Paper Panic of 1973
Brian Gersten presents a short documentary about the time Johnny Carson created a run on grocery stores for bathroom tissue.
Where to Watch the Best Documentaries Online
Your guide to where to find classic and must-see new nonfiction films streaming free or with a subscription.
Amy Berg on ‘West of Memphis’ and Adding to What ‘Paradise Lost’ Started
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker discusses her film investigating the Robin Hood Hills child murders and working with producer Peter Jackson.
Watch: Life in the Time of Coronavirus
Junting Zhou documented his experience while visiting his family in Guangzhou, China, during the COVID-19 crisis.
‘Persistence of Vision’ is a Must-See Documentary for Fans of Animation
Kevin Schreck's documentary chronicles the history of how Richard Williams lost control of his pet project, 'Arabian Knight.'
‘We Will Forget’ Follows a Doomsday Prophet to “The End”
Watch a short documentary about Robert Fitzpatrick, a man who predicted the end of the world would occur in 2011.
The Best Documentaries Streaming on Hulu This March
We recommend what to watch on the streaming service, including many of last year's best films, some of them also recent Oscar nominees.
‘With the Marines at Tarawa’ Presents War Coverage Worth Fighting For
A celebration of the 1945 Oscar winner for Best Documentary (Short Subject).
Lucien Castaing-Taylor on ‘Leviathan’ and Pushing Documentary Forward
Another interview from the Documentary Channel archives.
Dawn Porter on the Importance of the 6th Amendment and Courtroom Access
From the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Dawn Porter discusses her documentary 'Gideon's Army.'
The Best Documentary Opening Scenes of All Time
These films hook us immediately, for better or worse.
The Greatest Crime Documentaries of All Time
These exceptional films focus on true cases of murder, drugs, identity theft, art forgery, kidnapping, and the mishandling of justice.
The Best Documentaries on Netflix in March 2020
This month's top documentary additions include 'Crip Camp,' from executive producers Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
Our 25 Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2020
Our guide to the best-sounding nonfiction films we've heard about coming out this year.
‘Honeyland’ Makes History With Dual Oscar Nominations
This is the first time a film has been nominated in both the feature documentary and foreign language film categories.
Listen to 3 Oscar Contenders for Best Original Song
One-fifth of this year's semi-finalists come from documentaries.
2019 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Here is how everybody voted.
‘Apollo 11’ Voted Best Documentary of 2019 in 7th Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
100 films ranked from the votes of critics and filmmakers.
This Year’s Oscar Shortlisted Documentary Shorts and Where to Watch Them
9 out of the 10 are available to stream online right now.
One of These 15 Documentaries Will Win the Oscar in 2020
Your guide to this year's Oscar shortlist for Best Documentary Feature and where to watch all the contenders.
What Might Have Been the Golden Globe Nominees for Best Documentary of 2019?
The HFPA doesn’t honor nonfiction anymore, but if they did…
Michael Apted on ’63 Up’ and the Past, Present, and Future of the ‘Up’ Series
With the latest installment of the 'Up' documentaries in theaters, the director gets personal about his 55-year involvement in the landmark project.
The Documentary the Royal Family Doesn’t Want You to See
The hidden 1969 film 'Royal Family' is receiving a lot of attention now thanks to 'The Crown.'
‘Waking Sleeping Beauty’ is a Captivating History of Disney’s Comeback
Disney chronicles its own return to prominence courtesy of 'Beauty and the Beast' producer Don Hahn.
‘Apollo 11’ Named the Best Documentary of the Year
The Critics Choice Association recognized the Moon-landing film with five awards while also honoring Peter Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Frederick Wiseman, and more.
Lauren Greenfield on the Bait and Switch of ‘The Queen of Versailles’ and the Importance of Good Cinematography
Also: the tease of schadenfreude, the film’s relationship to reality TV, knowing when to end an ongoing story, and more.
‘The Battle of Midway’ is the Best American Propaganda Film of All Time
John Ford's film was one of the first to win in the newly created Oscar category for Best Documentary in 1943.
‘Leaving Neverland’ and ‘Our Planet’ Win Top Awards at Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Oscar-winning documentary 'Free Solo' won seven Emmy Awards, including those honoring directing, cinematography, and editing.
The Short Documentary You Need to Watch With ‘American Factory’
The new Netflix feature documentary is essentially a sequel to an Oscar-nominated film from 2009.
Why Amazon Alexa is Infiltrating Hulu Documentaries
Both 'Ask Dr. Ruth' and 'The Amazing Johnathan Documentary' begin the same way. Even if accidental, the semi-trend has significance.
‘For Sama’ Review: A Letter to a Daughter About Her Parents
Waad al-Kateab shares her family's experiences holding out in Aleppo in this harrowing documentary.
‘Free Solo’ and ‘Our Planet’ Lead 2019 Primetime Emmy Nominations in Documentary Categories
This year's Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature is now up for seven Emmys.
Composer Jeff Beal on the Soundscape of ‘The Biggest Little Farm’
The Emmy-winning composer also discusses how the documentary form found him and shares some favorite documentary scores.
‘Our Planet’ and ‘Conversations with a Killer’ Among Critics’ Choice Real TV Award Nominees
The two Netflix documentary series received multiple nominations from the Broadcast Television Journalists Association for the inaugural event.
‘Drunk History’ Has Become a Major Influence on Documentaries
Nonfiction films taking a humorous approach in their storytelling are mimicking the Comedy Central series' lip-synced reenactment technique.
The New Cinema Made from the Old: Archival Documentaries on the Rise
Some of the best documentaries in recent years consist almost entirely of vintage material.
50 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Hulu This March
This month's new additions include Oscar winner 'Free Solo' and fellow box office hit 'Three Identical Strangers.'
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This March
This month's new additions to Prime Video include the latest documentary by Alex Winter and one of the films parodied in the new season of 'Documentary Now!'
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This March
This month's list includes Oscar winner 'Period. End of Sentence,' a divisive Errol Morris film, and a portrait of the last man on the Moon.
10 Essential Documentaries About Love
From showcases of young love to partners mourned, these films span a wide range of styles in their deconstruction of the romantic.
The 2019 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts Reviewed and Ranked
Short-form Academy Award nominees are now in theaters and will be availableon VOD later this month.
‘Gaza’ Puts Normalcy Into Perspective
Garry Keane and Andrew McConnell brilliantly but heartbreakingly show us what everyday life is like in the Gaza Strip.
‘Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool’ is a Proper Beginning
Stanley Nelson offers a rich introductory portrait of the jazz legend, whose life story is history.
‘Midnight Family’ Rings Alarms About Public and Private Healthcare
Luke Lorentzen's documentary about a family-operated ambulance service presents an emergency situation of its own regarding the ethical dilemmas of Mexico City's healthcare system.
Anton Yelchin Documentary ‘Love, Antosha’ is Something to Cherish
Garret Price's film is not just a tribute to the late actor. It's also a posthumous gift from Yelchin himself.
‘Sea of Shadows’ is Mexico’s Answer to ‘The Cove’
Director Richard Ladkani and producer Leonardo DiCaprio re-team with 'The Ivory Game' investigator Andrea Crosta to try to save the vaquita.
‘Midnight Traveler’ is a Powerfully Personal Look at a Family on the Run
Hassan Fazili, Fatima Hussaini, and their children chronicle their escape from Afghanistan and pursuit of asylum in this uniquely intimate nonfiction road movie.
‘Stieg Larsson’ Reminds Us That We Need Passionate Journalism
Before he found posthumous fame as the author of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,' Stieg Larsson's mission in life was to expose the rise of right-wing extremism.
Love and Death in Palermo: ‘Shooting the Mafia’ Captures a Compelling Artist
Kim Longinotto's portrait of Sicilian photographer Letizia Battaglia celebrates the powers of love and art in contrast to the intimidating force of the Cosa Nostra.
‘The Disappearance of My Mother’ is All About Appearances
Former fashion icon Benedetta Barzini reluctantly receives the documentary treatment courtesy of her filmmaker son.
‘RBG’ Leads 2019 Oscar Nominations for Documentaries
In addition to being nominated for Best Documentary Feature, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg film is in contention for Best Original Song.
Killer Mike Does His Best Morgan Spurlock in ‘Trigger Warning’
The Netflix series works best when the Run the Jewels rapper is front and center.
‘Fyre’ and ‘Fyre Fraud’ Should Be Watched as a Package Deal
Hulu and Netflix both have new documentaries about the failure of the Fyre Festival. They're best watched together or else not at all.
‘Hale County This Morning, This Evening’ Wins Top Award at Cinema Eye Honors
'Minding the Gap' and 'Free Solo' won the most awards at this year's big event honoring nonfiction filmmaking.
Our 25 Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2019
Documentary releases aren't often known well in advance, so we've done our best to highlight the best films we've heard about coming out this year.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This January
This month's new recommendations include 'Fahrenheit 11/9,' 'The Act of Killing,' 'Tchoupitoulas,' and Frederick Wiseman's 'Ex Libris: The New York Public Library.'
2018 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Here is how everybody voted.
‘Minding the Gap’ Voted Best Documentary of 2018 in 6th Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
120 films ranked from the votes of 50 critics and filmmakers.
The 10 Oscar Shortlisted Documentary Shorts and Where to Watch Them
Seven of the 10 documentaries are streaming online now.
One of These 15 Documentaries Will Win the Oscar
Your guide to this year's Oscar shortlist for Best Documentary Feature and where to watch all the contenders.
5 Documentaries Newly Added to the National Film Registry and Where to Watch Them
This year's nonfiction selections include Peter Davis' Oscar winner 'Hearts and Minds' and D.A. Pennebaker's concert film 'Monterey Pop.'
Alex Winter Shares His Favorite Documentaries
We talk to the 'Panama Papers' director about his love for documentaries and a bunch of specific nonfiction films he highly recommends.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This December
This month's additions include another classic music doc, a couple of Oscar nominees, and a drug-filled Christmasy story.
What Might Have Been the Golden Globe Nominees for Best Documentary of 2018?
The HFPA doesn’t honor nonfiction anymore, but if they did…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This December
This month's most notable addition is an adaptation of John Grisham's nonfiction book 'The Innocent Man.'
‘America to Me’ is Important For Us All
We review the first five episodes of Steve James' necessary high school docu-series, which deals with the issue of racial equity.
50 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Hulu This November
We have just one additional recommendation this month, but it's a big one. RBG, the biographical documentary about US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that just won the Critics' Choice Docume…
‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is the Critics’ Choice for Best Documentary
'Free Solo' and 'The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling' were also big winners at the 3rd annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.
‘Minding the Gap’ Ties the Record for Most Cinema Eye Honors Nominations
Other big titles include 'Bisbee '17,' 'Shirkers,' and 'Hale County This Morning, This Evening.'
‘Distant Constellation’ Doesn’t Connect
Shevaun Mizrahi has made a personal film showcasing a handful of residents of a Turkish retirement home, but like many works of art, it's not for everyone.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This November
This month's list includes the greatest Thanksgiving documentary of all time.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This November
New additions this month focus on Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, Pixar, Johnny Cash and the most famous sushi chef in the world.
Exclusive: Instagram Culture Documentary ‘Social Animals’ Announces Digital Debut
The acclaimed documentary is out on video in December. The film also has a cool new poster for you to share on your own social media accounts.
‘Shirkers’ and ‘America to Me’ Among First Wave of Cinema Eye Nominees
Nominees have been announced for the Audience Choice, Heterodox, and two broadcast program awards, while the short film shortlist and crop of recognized "Unforgettable" subjects were also unveiled.
‘Monrovia, Indiana’ Stresses the Bubble of Small Town America
Is Frederick Wiseman putting us through the biggest waste of time or the most poignantly political film of the year? Yes.
‘On Her Shoulders’ Presents the Political Pageantry of a Human Rights Activist
Alexandria Bombach ('Frame by Frame') follows Nadia Murad in her work spreading awareness of the Yazidi genocide.
‘Bisbee ’17’ and ‘Minding the Gap’ Among 2018 Gotham Awards Nominees
Winners will be announced on November 26th.
‘The Price of Everything’ Frames an Abstract View of the Art World
The latest from Oscar nominee Nathaniel Kahn ('My Architect') is a documentary masterpiece about Poons, Koons, dots, and balloons.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This October
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for "free" this month.
Michael Moore to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
The BFCA and BTJA will honor the 'Fahrenheit 11/9' director at this year's Critics' Choice Documentary Awards on November 10th.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This October
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.
50 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Hulu This Month
Plus a handful of Showtime original documentaries.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Fandor This October
More than 125 years worth of nonfiction film classics.
‘306 Hollywood’ Magically Upgrades a Life Less Extraordinary
Elan and Jonathan Bogarin make a marvelous debut with this fanciful yet unfeigned portrait of their grandmother.
‘Fahrenheit 11/9’ is Kindling for Where Kindliness Has Failed
Michael Moore's latest covers Trump, the Parkland school shooting, the water crisis in Flint, and the impending demise of democracy in America.
‘The Truth About Killer Robots’ Brings a Daunting Message From the Future
Maxim Pozdorovkin ('Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer') delivers a fascinating but unfocused look at the threat of robots on our lives and livelihood.
‘Heartbound’ Shows the Strains of a Longterm Commitment
Janus Metz and Sine Plambech continue to follow the stories of Thai women who migrated to Denmark for marital bliss.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This September
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.
The Act of History: ‘Bisbee ’17’ is an Extraordinary Play on the Past as Present
Robert Greene explores a town's travesty in a way that will have you thinking differently about historical reenactment.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This September
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.
50 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Hulu This Month
Thanks to 'Minding the Gap' and 'Crime + Punishment,' it's finally time to do this.
‘John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection’ is an Extraordinary Lie
Julien Faraut's film of Gil de Kermadec's film of McEnroe in his prime treats the tennis pro as the wild beast he was.
‘Do You Trust This Computer?’ Should Be Seen as Soon as Possible
Chris Paine changes his focus from electric cars to the future of AI and why we should welcome our inevitable robot overlords.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This August
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.
‘November 13: Attack on Paris’ is an Affecting Step-By-Step Account of a Tremendous Tragedy
The Naudet Brothers document another tragedy involving terrorism, this time focusing on tales of survival.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This August
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This July
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.
‘Ugly Delicious’ Reminds Us That We’re All Foodies
David Chang’s latest program is as accessible and enjoyable as documentary series get.We don’t review a lot of cooking shows on Nonfics. Maybe never before. There are so many of them, and a lot are go…
‘Tell Them We Are Rising’ is More Than a Simple History Lesson
Stanley Nelson’s film about historically black colleges and universities shows the true importance of education.
The 2018 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts Reviewed and Ranked
Short-form Academy Award nominees hit theaters this week.Among the thousands of documentary shorts released and screened at festivals last year, only five could be nominated for an Academy Award. Fort…
Animal Rights Film ‘Kangaroo’ Jumps All Over the Place
The Australian documentary poorly presents a complex issue.Who knew Australians were so divided on kangaroos? The national icon is beloved as a symbol and despised as an entity. For those of us unawar…
Watch: Anxiety Leads to Drama in ‘Dina’ Clip
Check out the award-winning documentary now on home video.
Netflix Attempts to Cater to Both Foodies and True Crime Junkies With ‘Rotten’
Documentary ReviewThe episodic series unfortunately satisfies neither.There’s a big difference between true crime and issue films. True crime focuses on singular incidents involving a minimal scope of…
2017 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Now you can see how everybody voted.Below are the 31 submitted best-of lists that contributed to our 2017 end-of-year poll.Christopher CampbellFounding Editor, Nonfics(See longer list at Thrillist)1. …
What Might Have Been the Golden Globe Nominees for Best Documentary of 2017?
The HFPA doesn’t honor nonfiction anymore, but if they did…Out of all the reasons not to take the Golden Globes seriously, my first choice is the fact that they’re still one of the only major movie aw…
‘Jane’ and ‘Ex Libris’ Among 15 Films on the Best Documentary Feature Oscar Shortlist
Only one-third of these titles will be nominated for an Academy Award.Congratulations to the 15 documentary features shortlisted for the Oscar this week. The Academy announced the titles advancing to …
12 Docs of Christmas
From the jolly to the depressing, here are the essential nonfiction holiday films.
‘Cocaine Prison’ is a Compelling Character-Driven Portrayal of Bolivian Prison Life
The documentary is also shocking in its sunny disposition.
‘Spettacolo’ is a Lifeless Film About Live Theater in a Small Italian Town
The director of ‘Marwencol’ gives us a behind-the-scenes ticket to the Teatro Povero di Monticchiello.An early review of Spettacolo suggests the film is decades too late in showcasing the small Tuscan…
‘Whose Streets’ is a Powerful Documentary That Excites as it Enlightens
Sabaah Folayan and Sabaah Jordan give us an insider’s experience of the Ferguson protests.
‘Dolores’ Offers a Timely Lesson in Mexican-American Studies
Dolores Huerta finally gets a documentary of her own.Joe Arpaio never appears on screen in Dolores, but he’s there in spirit, particularly in the final act when Dolores Huerta is seen as the catalyst …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This July
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This MonthBecause people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.‘Chasing Coral’ (Netflix)One perfect double feature is ruined this month, as Ga…
‘Nobody Speak’ Draws Disturbing Parallels Between Hulk Hogan and President Trump
Brian Knappenberger’s latest documentary involving the Internet is his most concerning yet also his least satisfying.Freedom of the press is a hot topic right now, particularly as the White House is f…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This Month
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.‘Approaching the Elephant’This month, we have to say goodbye to Ross McElwee’s Bright Leaves, which is a shame because it went so well wit…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This June
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This MonthBecause people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.As it turns out, the docs we mentioned last month as having positive buzz are a…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This Month
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.Finally, the second installment of Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky’s Paradise Lost trilogy is being made available on Amazon Prime, joini…
How ‘Casting JonBenet’ Commits a Documentary Sin to Make a Good Point
Kitty Green’s unique new film is positively problematic.The word “meta” is being used a lot to describe Casting JonBenet, and of course it is a meta documentary but so are most. The less boring way to…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This May
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This MonthBecause people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.There are not many documentaries added to the Netflix 100 this month. Only the …
‘Born in China’ is a Dull Mix of Familiar Nature Documentary Conventions
The latest from Disneynature is a huge disappointment.Disney’s current run of nature documentaries has never been known for its originality. The first release from Disneynature, itself a brand begun t…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This Month
If you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.‘Only the Young’Five excellent documentaries were added to Amazon Prime over the past month, including the nonfiction teen movie Only the …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This April
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.This month brings a kind of special event to Netflix with the release of the new documentary miniseries Five Came Back. Because it’s abou…
The 5 Must-See Documentaries of the 2017 DOC10 Film Festival
You’ll want to watch all 10 films, but these are our favorites.The Islands and the WhalesChicago’s DOC10 Film Festival is more of a showcase. All of its curated titles are screened only once, and noth…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This MarchIf you’re a Prime member, you’ve got plenty to watch for free.Six of the documentaries on our list are no longer available free with Prim…
‘The Last Laugh’ is a Smart Contemplation of Taboos and Comedy
Making Holocaust jokes in the Age of Milo.
‘Midsummer in Newtown’ and the Difficulty of Reviewing Certain Documentaries
It’s not personal. But it will often look that way.One of the biggest problems with documentary criticism is the reviews that go after what a film is about rather than how it’s about it. Criticism can…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This February
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.Paris is Burning is back on Netflix! That’s so excited I just had to lead with it. We love the movie and were happily recommending it to …
Oscar Nominees for Documentary Short Comment on the Muslim Ban
Nominated film The White Helmets is directly effected by the order.The White HelmetsWhen the Oscar nominees were announced last week, a notable theme was evident in the category for Best Documentary (…
Slamdance Winner ‘Strad Style’ Satisfactorily Showcases Its Subject
Some characters are worth following no matter the film quality.
‘Quest’ Chronicles a Dramatic Coming of Age During the Obama Years
Jonathan Olshefski’s debut is incredibly timely and timeless.I hate to be the guy who compares Jonathan Olshefski’s Quest to Boyhood, if only because I’m the guy who tells people if they like Boyhood …
‘Rumble’ is a Necessary But Disappointing Film About Native Americans in Pop Music
Catherine Bainbridge follows up Reel Injun with similar good intentions.If “Native Americans in pop music” makes you think of the guy in the headdress in the Village People, then you need to see Rumbl…
O.J.: Made in America Has a Good Shot at Becoming the Longest Oscar Winner
And 10 other documentaries were nominated today, too.The nominees for the 89th Academy Awards were announced this morning, and as hoped, O.J.: Made in America was included among the contenders for Bes…
‘School Life’ Offers Enrollment in Joy
We could tell immediately this would be one of our favorite documentaries of the year.
‘Trophy’ Could Change Your Mind About Big-Game Hunting
An excellent documentary tracks a very complex industry.
‘The Workers Cup’ Spotlights a Human Rights Issue Within a Sports Film
Or maybe it’s the other way around?
46 Promised Remakes of Documentaries That Still Haven’t Happened
Some of them never will happen, and that’s for the best.It has been almost two years since the last time I went through the slate of documentary remakes in the works, so this is long overdue. The thin…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This January
Because people say there are no good movies on Netflix anymore.A new year has arrived, and with it Netflix has introduced some more great documentaries to its streaming library. And will add a few mor…
The 10 Most Anticipated Documentaries of 2017
New works by Wiseman, Walker, James and more.NOBODY SPEAK: HULK HOGAN, GAWKER AND TRIALS OF A FREE PRESSIt’s not easy to make a most anticipated documentaries of the year list. Fiction films are easy …
Watch The Event, In Comparison and More Documentaries For Free This Week
The best of Doc Alliance is streaming free for the last time.One of the best documentaries of 2016, Sergei Loznitsa’s The Event, is again available to stream for free on the Doc Alliance website. Sadl…
2016 Nonfics Poll Submissions
Now you can see how everybody voted.CamerapersonChristopher CampbellFounding Editor, Nonfics1. Cameraperson2. O.J.: Made in America3. Kate Plays Christine4. Weiner5. Under the Sun6. Zero Days7. 13th8.…
O.J.: Made in America Voted the Best Documentary of 2016 in 4th Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
101 nonfiction releases ranked by critics and pros.The previous three years we conducted this poll of critics, filmmakers, and other documentary industry folk, we saw a clear winner from a mile away. …
Paris is Burning Among 34 Nonfiction Films Added to the National Film Registry
The 2016 Library of Congress doc picks and where to see them.Each year, the Library of Congress selects 25 American films to add to the National Film Registry, and today we received announcement of th…
What Might Have Been the Golden Globe Nominees for Best Documentary of 2016?
The HFPA doesn’t honor nonfiction anymore, but if they did…The Golden Globes have now gone 40 years without an award for best documentary, the last winner being 1976’s Altars of the World. Since then,…
Best Documentary Feature Oscar Shortlist: What Films You Need to See and Where to See Them
This year’s shortlist for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Almost all of the 15 semi-finalist titles are must-see films, many are among my favorites of the year an…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This December
Compared to last month, there aren’t a lot of additions to the Netflix 100 listing for December. Morgan Spurlock’s Rats, surprisingly one of my favorite docs of the year (read my review at Film School…
‘O.J.’ and ‘13th’ Won Big at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards
Last night was the inaugural Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, which I was proud to be a part of, and it was a wonderful night for makers and lovers of nonfiction film. We honored D.A. Pennebaker an…
‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River’ Is Unforgettable, So Why Is It So Damn Sad?
A few days ago, the Cinema Eye Honors announced this year’s list of “The Unforgettables,” the most memorable documentary subjects of the year. It’s a shame that Jo Byeong-man and Kang Kye-yeol are not…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This November
Netflix continues to add a lot of great new docs of their own to their streaming service, and that combined with the return of a number of favorites plus a grouping of World War II classics adds up to…
10 Short Documentaries Named to 2016 Oscar Shortlist, Including 5 Now Streaming
The Academy of Arts and Sciences has unveiled the 2016 shortlist of 10 finalists in contention for the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. And half of them are available to stream online right now. The …
‘Gleason’ Maintains a Brilliant Balance of Tears and Laughter
Despite what the headline may have you thinking, Gleason is not a comedy. Not at all. But it does have a good amount of laughs for a documentary chronicling a man’s deteriorating health from ALS. Dire…
‘Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang’ is an Endearing Portrait of an Explosive Artist
Any documentary about an artist needs to show you his or her work and make you appreciate their craft, even if you don’t have a taste for what they do. That’s the minimum of expectation for a film lik…
‘13th,’ ‘Gleason’ and ‘OJ: Made in America’ Lead Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards Nominees
This year, the Broadcast Film Critics Association and Broadcast Television Journalists Association join together for the inaugural Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. I am honored to be a part of the …
Danny Glover Shares His 6 Favorite Documentaries to Stream Online
Danny Glover is best known as an actor, in such movies as The Color Purple, The Royal Tenenbaums and the Lethal Weapon series, but he’s also a great humanitarian. And as a result of his social conscie…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This October
Netflix may not be holding onto a lot of their classic documentaries — Hoop Dreams is gone again! — but this fall they’re adding a handful of very good originals. This week sees the debut of Ava DuVer…
‘City of Gold’ is a Toothsome Film on the Criticism of Culture and the Culture of Criticism
We review the 2015 documentary about the iconic Los Angeles-based food critic Jonathan Gold.
‘The Lovers and the Despot’ is a Gripping True Story of Movie Stars, Secret Spies and Kim Jong-il
The Lovers and the Despot is the kind of documentary that tends to be praised for being “like a spy thriller.” As in its story plays out like one in a fiction film. Maybe this doc will receive that co…
Watch Wrestling Documentary ‘Face to Face’
If you ever want to become acquainted with the documentary scene of another part of the world, Doc Alliance is your best friend. And this month they’re set on sharing with us the nonfiction cinema of …
Cinema Eye Honors Announce 2017 Short Documentary Shortlist
We’re still four months away from the 2017 Cinema Eye Honors, but the contenders for the nonfiction awards are already being shortlisted. Some of them, anyway. This week, Cinema Eye announced 10 semi-…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This September
This month we only had to say goodbye to one documentary on the Netflix 100: Samsara. It’s too bad, but maybe you can find it on the big screen somewhere someday, which is a preferred experience for t…
‘Kate Plays Christine’ Plays With Form in Ways Rarely Seen in American Documentary
Kate Plays Christine marks a monumental leap for filmmaker Robert Greene (Actress). And for American documentary, as well. I don’t know for certain that I love it, and I don’t think I like the ending,…
Watch ‘State of Play’
With the Summer Games now over, it’s time for Olympics lovers to turn their focus to Pyeongchang, where the next Winter Games will take place in 2018. But that’s a while to wait, so for now we can tak…
Watch Sergei Loznitsa’s ‘The Event’
This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the August Coup, a failed coup d’état attempt in the Soviet Union just months before the communist country’s collapse. In honor of the occasion, we are proud…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This August
This month we’ve added three essential documentaries to the Netflix 100 list, all of them from last decade. First there’s Davis Guggenheim’s Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth, which is a worthy film…
‘Miss Sharon Jones!’ Makes It Through Alive and Triumphant
From 2016, we review Barbara Kopple's film of the titular frontwoman for The Dap-Kings and her battle with cancer.
The 20 Best Documentary Trailers of the Last 20 Years
Earlier this month, IndieWire posted a list called The 20 Best Trailers of the Last 20 Years. Sadly, and surprisingly, there wasn’t a single documentary on it. So, I felt it my duty to offer a supplem…
‘Zero Days’ is Alex Gibney’s Most Thrilling, Chilling and Fulfilling Film in Years
In late 2009, an unprecedented cyber-attack caused the destruction of about 1000 centrifuges at an Iranian nuclear facility. The culprit was malware software that affected the computer system controll…
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You Should’ve Been the Other Essential Biography Film of the Year
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady are masters of a certain kind of observational documentary. They especially shine above all the gimmicky exposition films out there, never more apparently than with the an…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This July
While not as terrible a loss as we had last month, July brings five significant departures from our list of recommended documentaries on Netflix. Actually, there are more films associated with two of …
The Only Point of Jessica Yu’s ‘Misconception’ Is the One In Disappointment
All great artists have the occasional failure, and unfortunately the Oscar-winning documentarian Jessica Yu has another one with Misconception. The filmmaker best known for In the Realms of the Unreal…
‘Nuts!’ is an Off-the-Wall Documentary About the Citizen Kane of Medical Quackery
Penny Lane's film about notorious charlatan John Brinkley is pretty crazy.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This June
This is another bad month for documentary-loving Netflix subscribers. A good amount of great films have expired from streaming, but only one doc has been added that I can vouch for and recommend. That…
‘No No: A Dockumentary’ Covers All the Bases for a Great Biographical Film
Jeff Radice's documentary about the legendary pitcher Dock Ellis strikes out visually but is still worth a watch.
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This May
Five great documentaries have been added to Netflix this month, including one that has been here before, Oscar nominee Dirty Wars. The others are new to the streaming service and include some of our f…
‘The Last Man on the Moon’ is a Down to Earth Documentary About a Lesser-Known Hero
Mark Craig profiles the lesser-known astronaut Gene Cernan in this fascinating documentary.
‘How to Build a Time Machine’ Trailer
been looking forward to this documentary, the latest from Beauty Day director Jay Cheel, for a long time. Now How to Build a Time Machine is about to make its debut at Hot Docs, and there’s this new …
Watch the Classic Dutch Documentary ‘The Voice of the Water’
The latest curated event from our friends at Doc Alliance is called “Sail the Documentary Waters!” and there are some really great films available through this program. This week, they’re able to offe…
‘Welcome to Leith’ Chronicles a Complex Conflict Between a Hate Group and a Group of Haters
The heroes of the documentary Welcome to Leith are a handful of white supremacists. That’s not to say they’re presented as the “good guys” in the lens of the filmmakers, though it’s also not always cl…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This April
Eight recent documentaries we’re excited about are new to Netflix Watch Instantly, so they lead off this month’s incarnation of the Netflix 100. Two of them, Finder’s Keepers and Stray Dog were on our…
Watch Zelimir Zilnik’s ‘Logbook_Serbistan’
This week’s special event program at Doc Alliance is called “The Search for Freedom,” and it’s a selection of five fairly new titles screening at this year’s One World Romania, an annual human-rights …
‘Fastball’ Trailer
Weekly premiered the above new clip for the new baseball documentary Fastball, and it’s very appropriate that this film on pitching is narrated by Bull Durham and Field of Dreams star Kevin Costner. …
‘Hillary’s America’ Trailer
a new documentary from Dinesh D’Souza (2016: Obama’s America) just in time for the election, and this time its focus is on Hillary Clinton. Will that be embarrassing if Bernie Sanders gets the nomina…
‘Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures’ Trailer
off its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures has a fresh new trailer ahead of its HBO premiere. The biographical documentary about photographer Robert Ma…
Watch Czech Lion Winner ‘Lean a Ladder Against Heaven’
Over the weekend, the Czech Lion Awards (the Czech Republic’s Academy Awards) were held in Prague, and the honor of best documentary film went to Jana Sevcikova’s Lean a Ladder Against Heaven. And we …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This March
It may not have won the Oscar, but The Look of Silence is now streaming on Netflix, and of course that means it’s been added to our Netflix 100 list. While the exposure from an Academy Awards spotligh…
Gianfranco Rosi’s ‘Fire at Sea’ to Be Distributed by Kino Lorber
Distributor Kino Lorber has picked up North American rights to the latest film by Gianfranco Rosi, Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare). The documentary just won the top prize (Golden Bear) at the Berlin Film Fe…
‘Becoming Mike Nichols’ Presents an Enjoyable Conversation About the Director’s Early Years
In a way, Becoming Mike Nichols isn’t much more than the equivalent of an Inside the Actor’s Studio episode for directors. And yet it’s still far more enjoyable and focused than a lot of biographical …
Documentary Filmmaker Aaron Aites Needs Our Help to Stay Alive
I first met Aaron Aites and his partner, Audrey Ewell, in 2011 when they asked me to participate in an early preview of footage compiled for their crowdsourced film 99% — The Occupy Wall Street Collab…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime This February
With Amazon competing heavily with Netflix for the market for streaming content, as well as with the rest of the independent film world for acquisitions (see Amazon and Netflix’s activity at Sundance …
Documentary Classics: ‘Crazy Love’ May Be the Best Valentine’s Day Movie Ever
The following post was originally published on the Documentary Channel Blog on February 14, 2013. At six years old, it may seem too soon to call Crazy Love a classic. But I’ve always stressed t…
‘Trapped’ Trailer
Porter’s Trapped is one of the docs we didn’t get a chance to see during Sundance, but it’s still one our most anticipated of the year. Especially after it won a Special Jury Prize for Social Impact …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This February
Only two classic documentaries on our Netflix 100 list expired this month, Man on Wire and Kurt & Courtney. However, there is another, Jesus Camp, which leaves the streaming service on February 21…
‘The Blackout Experiments’ is a Terribly Ineffective Nonfiction Horror Film
I can’t help but be curious about any documentary programmed in the “midnight” section of a film festival. I’m always looking for works of nonfiction that try out different forms, and a lot of these k…
The Most Important Discussion of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Begins With a Short
If there’s one theme that immediately stands out in this year’s Sundance Film Festival program, it’s gun violence. Not the way it was in the 1990s when every indie wanted to be a Quentin Tarantino mov…
Our 15 Most Anticipated Documentaries at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival traditionally kicks off the year in nonfiction cinema. While its fiction (narrative) programs can be hit or miss, the documentaries are always worth paying attention to. Mos…
‘The Look of Silence,’ ‘Cartel Land’ and Lady Gaga Are Among the Documentary Oscar Nominees
The nominees for the 2016 Academy Awards were announced this morning, and there are actually more documentaries nominated than usual. No, we didn’t see Amy recognized for editing nor is there another …
The 15 Best Documentaries of 2015
This was not a poor year for nonfiction cinema, though it may have seemed that way because of what was most popular. Not everyone likes to see so many music documentaries flooding the market, even if …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This January
It’s a new year, and with it comes changes to the Netflix 100. These aren’t specific to 2016, however, just the usual handful of titles dropped and handful of titles added, most of them dependent on w…
‘The Look of Silence’ Voted the Best Documentary of 2015 in 3rd Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll. Most of the contributors to this feature are critics and/or editors and/or journalists. There are also some film festival programmers and filmmakers in…
Watch ‘The People Vs. George Lucas’ Free Before You See ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
For those of us who are fans of both documentary and Star Wars, Alexandre O. Philippe’s The People Vs. George Lucas is an essential film. This Wednesday evening, I’m excited to be moderating an online…
‘Finders Keepers’ Maintains a Brilliant Balance of Comedy and Tragedy
Clay Tweel is a name that should be known to any documentary fan. After serving as an associate producer on Seth Gordon’s The King of Kong, he went on to direct his first feature, the surprisingly sha…
‘The Look of Silence’ and Lady Gaga Among Critics’ Choice Documentary Nominees
Nominees for the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards were announced this morning, and I’d like to share the results relevant to this site. I know it probably seems random to highlight these particular …
What Might Have Been the Golden Globe Nominees for Best Documentary of 2015?
The last time the Golden Globes gave out an award for best documentary was in 1977, when Lew Ayres’s Altars of the World won. The category has been retired for longer than I’ve been alive (I was born …
Best Documentary Feature Oscar Shortlist: What Films You Need to See and Where to See Them
As requested by readers, here is a ranking of the 15 films shortlisted for the next Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in order of what’s most essential viewing (this isn’t necessarily a ranking of be…
‘Almost There’ is an Almost Perfect Portrait of an Artist
It’s not often that I’m glad a documentary loses my interest. Almost There is a film that benefits from having a few sluggish spots, because they allow for the sudden changes and pickups that follow t…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This December
This month saw more essential films added to Netflix Watch Instantly than leave, though there were some sad departures of the expired variety. As we warned last month, Leviathan was indeed one of them…
Oscar Shortlist for Documentary Feature Includes ‘Amy’ and ‘We Come as Friends’
The competition for the next Oscar for Best Documentary Feature is heating up. This year’s 15 titles shortlisted for the award have just been unveiled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Scien…
‘Amy’ Employs Paparazzi Footage As the Villain to Amy Winehouse’s Damsel in Distress
This Oscar-winning documentary presents an interesting but sometimes troubling relationship between the film's footage and its subject.
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Leads Independent Spirit Award Documentary Nominees
Nominees for the 31st annual Film Independent Spirit Awards were announced this week, and as usual nonfiction works are limited to their own specific categories, but at least there are two of them. Al…
‘The Look of Silence’ and ‘Cartel Land’ Lead Nominees For the 9th Annual Cinema Eye Honors
The Cinema Eye Honors have announced the nominees for their 9th annual nonfiction film awards, the winners of which will be named on January 9, 2016. Here they are:Outstanding Achievement in Nonfictio…
10 Best Documentaries About New York City
New York City is often romanticized in the movies. These films show us the real Big Apple.
‘Captivated’ is the Best True Crime Documentary In Years
We’re seeing a minor trend lately of documentaries nostalgically revisiting criminal cases of the 1990s, some of them acknowledging that it was the early days of cable news and reality television, and…
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This November
More classic documentaries and other nonfiction favorites have expired from Netflix Watch Instantly in the past month, the most notable being Martin Scorsese’s concert film The Last Waltz. Two other l…
10 Short Documentaries Named to 2015 Oscar Shortlist, Including ‘Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah’
The Academy of Arts and Sciences has unveiled the 2015 shortlist of 10 finalists in contention for the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Among them are films with heavy subjects, including rape, murde…
The Next Oscar Winner for Best Documentary Feature Is One of These 124 Films
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the 124 titles submitted this year for qualification for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. Below is the full list of nonfiction films acc…
‘Back to the Future’ Fandom Documentary ‘Back in Time’ Is Too Much, Too Late
It would seem like this week was the perfect time to debut Back in Time, the crowdfunded documentary focused on the Back to the Future movies and their fans. Wednesday was “Back to the Future Day,” an…
You Can Now Support Nonfics Through Patreon
Hello, Nonfics readers! I would like to invite you to be a patron of Nonfics through Patreon. We are looking to move away from advertisement-based funding to reader-supported funding. We think that in…
2015 Gotham Award Nominees Include ‘Approaching the Elephant’
The nominees for the 25th annual IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards were announced this morning, and among the nonfiction films recognized are Approaching the Elephant — one of my favorite documentari…
‘In Jackson Heights’ Trailer
the new blurb-filled trailer for In Jackson Heights, the latest from Frederick Wiseman. Here’s a very brief synopsis via Zipporah Films:Frederick Wiseman’s 40th documentary IN JACKSON HEIGHTS is abou…
‘Living With Lincoln’ Details Peter Kunhardt’s Ancestry in His Own Words
Peter Kunhardt has produced a number of documentaries with similar titles — Gloria: In Her Own Words; JFK: In His Own Words; Teddy: In His Own Words; Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words — and now he’s ge…
‘Janis: Little Girl Blue’ Trailer
Little Girl Blue is a new documentary on Janis Joplin from Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) and producer Alex Gibney (Magic Trip) with narration by Cat Power. Here’s the offic…
These Three Documentaries Are Contenders for the Best Foreign Language Oscar
It’s always great to see nonfiction films nominated for Oscars outside the ten specifically designated documentary slots. One of the other categories where they can occasionally be found is Best Forei…
‘Particle Fever’ Perfectly Captures an Exhilarating Time for Science
I’ve been asked not to review Particle Fever, which is currently screening at the New York Film Festival under the Applied Science umbrella of its Spotlight on Documentary program. The reason bein…
R.I.P., Chantal Akerman (1950–2015)
Chantal Akerman, the brilliant Belgian director best known for the feminist film classic Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, has died suddenly at age 65. She made that masterpiece wh…
‘Batkid Begins’ Is Obviously Adorable and Heartwarming From Start to Finish
Kurt Kuenne’s best-known film is Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, which is famous for being possibly the most gut-wrenching documentary of all time. He made a lot of people weep with …
100 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This October
As expected, there was a terrible purge of great documentaries from Netflix Watch Instantly this month, thanks to the streaming service losing its deal with Epix. That loss combined with the expiratio…
‘Hitchcock/Truffaut’ Trailer
a trailer for Kent Jones’s Hitchcock/Truffaut, which is currently playing the fall festival circuit before hitting theaters on December 2, first in NYC, followed quickly by Los Angeles and then a nat…
Bill and Turner Ross on ‘Western’ and Documenting the Modern Frontier
With Les Blank gone, I now consider Bill Ross and Turner Ross to be our finest documentarians of Americana, albeit in a style all their own. First they gave us 45365, a small-town symphony depicting a…
‘Back In Time’ Trailer
documentary on the legacy and fandom of Back to the Future has shaped out to be better than I’d initially anticipated. Here’s the official gist of Back in Time:The documentary film Back in Time is, a…
Michael Moore’s ‘Where To Invade Next’ Teaser Trailer
Moore has a new movie, Where to Invade Next, and this teaser doesn’t give us a clue as to what it’s actually about. So, here’s the synopsis from the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival catalog:M…
‘Deep Web’ is a Fine Addition to the Internet-History Cinematic Universe
I have nothing negative to say about Alex Winter’s Deep Web, except maybe that the title is a bit misleading. The documentary is not about the Deep Web so much as a small section of it. It’s about the…
150 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This September
Netflix is continuing to lose great documentary titles, and it’s not adding as many essentials as it used to. Is this service going downhill? Maybe, and the big news that it’s ended its longtime deal …
Now On DVD: ‘That Sugar Film’ Is a Flashy Remake of ‘Super Size Me’ Focused On Sugar Consumption
More than 11 years following the release of Super Size Me, documentary filmmakers around the world are still copying Morgan Spurlock’s concept. The latest is Australian actor Damon Gameau (best known …
10 Documentaries to Get You Ready for the First Day Back to School
Spotlighting student life and the education system.
Now On Blu-ray: ‘Lambert & Stamp’ is a Valuable Visualization of an Oral History of the Managers of The Who
The success of any music act is obviously dependent on their having hit songs, but it’s the story behind a band that makes them truly notable. The Who might have slipped out some popular tunes at thei…
Fred Armisen Shares His Favorite Documentaries to Stream Online
When famous people aren’t giving Nonfics their documentary recommendations directly, they’re using them to guest-curate collections over at SundanceNow Doc Club. And we’re happy to share their lists o…
Seth Meyers Shares His Favorite Documentaries to Stream Online
When famous people aren’t giving Nonfics their documentary recommendations directly, they’re using them to guest-curate collections over at SundanceNow Doc Club. And we’re happy to share their lists o…
Bill Hader Shares His 6 Favorite Documentaries to Stream Online
When famous people aren’t giving Nonfics their documentary recommendations directly, they’re using them to guest-curate collections over at SundanceNow Doc Club. And we’re happy to share their lists o…
12 Movies Based On Nonfiction Comic Books
Not all comic book movies are about superheroes or fantastical made-up stories.
‘The Nightmare’ is a Different Kind of Scary Documentary
There are plenty of scary documentaries. Most of them have to do with scary subject matter, such as the threat of nuclear weapons (Peter Watkins’s The War Game and Lucy Walker’s Countdown to Zero …
‘The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin’ is a Necessary Introduction to the Virtual Currency
This isn’t quite a review of The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, because I’ve already done a capsule review of the documentary, back during this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, for Movies.com. Since then,…
150 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This August
Rather than update our original list of the Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. And to…
What Is the Difference Between “Reality Series” and “Documentary Series”?
The question of distinction between “reality” TV series and “documentary” TV series (or “docu-series”) has been asked for many years. At least since early 2008, when a member of the DBSTalk forum perf…
When Great Documentaries Have Very Limited Appeal and That’s Okay
Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein are in the business of making documentaries about maternity. Beginning with their collaboration on Epstein’s 2008 feature The Business of Being Born, which tackles a rather…
Netflix Earns Its First Nominations for News & Documentary Emmys
While the Primetime Emmys get all the prestige, it’s the News & Documentary Emmys that interest us more here at Nonfics. There are more awards given to nonfiction films, of course, but also the br…
‘Going Clear,’ ‘Citizenfour,’ ‘The Jinx’ and ‘The Amazing Race’ Among Nonfiction Emmy Nominees
The 2015 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced today, and here are just the contenders in the nonfiction (documentary and reality programs) categories:Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Pro…
Viral Videos Are Rendering Checkbook Documentaries Obsolete
Ten years ago, one of the hottest nonfiction films in America was a “checkbook documentary” titled Born Into Brothels. Checkbook documentary is my term for any documentary that, especially at film fes…
‘Web Junkie’ is a Terribly Inadequate Film About Internet Addiction
We joke about Internet addiction in the West. We lovingly called our BlackBerrys “CrackBerrys” when we still used BlackBerrys. We make movies about literally falling in love with our smartphones. But …
150 Must-See Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This July
Rather than update our original list of the Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. And to…
‘The Overnighters’ Is a Brilliantly Snowballing Drama of the Human Condition
Small towns are a big deal these days, particularly for documentaries focusing on the disappearance of that part of America. But most of those films are focused on places that are shrinking, where pov…
‘Evaporating Borders’ is a Wise and Incisive Tour of the Soul of Cyprus
One of my top five undistributed documentaries of 2014 is finally hitting theaters in limited release today, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to give Evaporating Borders another look and properly revie…
Filmmakers: Get 25% Off Your 2016 Atlanta Film Festival Submission Fee Through Nonfics
This is a bit short notice for anyone looking to submit by tomorrow’s Earlybird Deadline, but we’ve just partnered with the Atlanta Film Festival to provide our film-making readers with a discount cou…
Frederick Wiseman’s ‘National Gallery’ is a Masterpiece of Impression
Wiseman’s most reflexive work to date is naturally all about ways of seeing.
Now On DVD: ‘Red Army’ and the Awkwardness of Difficult Subjects
Not every documentary has to call attention to its own craft. Although nonfiction cinema is always reflexive, there are films that get away with more heightened meta-ness while others drown in their o…
150 Necessary Documentaries Streaming on Netflix This June
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
Sebastian Junger on ‘Which Way is the Front Line From Here?’ and the Work and Legacy of Tim Hetherington
This interview was originally published on the Documentary Channel blog on April 18, 2013.This Saturday marks the second anniversary of Tim Hetherington’s death. The Oscar-nominated co-director of Res…
‘Concerning Violence’ is a Stunning, Startling Film on African Decolonization
Look through any list of the greatest nonfiction books of all time and you’ll find few that have been made into movies, especially those that aren’t biographies. Most of them don’t involve stories in …
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This May
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
‘Tales of the Grim Sleeper’ Review: Nick Broomfield Bounces Back By Holding Back
I used to offer a disclaimer when recommending Nick Broomfield documentaries, noting that I believe him to be a genius filmmaker but acknowledge that he’s also an acquired taste. This isn’t something …
The 7 Best Documentaries About Earth
Get to know your home!
5 Documentaries About the Environment That Will Surprise You
As April leaves us with this one last day, it’s appropriate to end the month’s theme of environmentalism with a look at films that very well could change your mind about something regarding alternativ…
12 Must-See Films About Environmental Disasters
From 2014, this list looks at great films about terrible tragedies for Mother Earth.
37 Promised Remakes of Documentaries That Still Haven’t Happened
Hollywood loves to remake documentaries because “directors of docs are allowing so much drama to be put into their stories that you experience them like a narrative.” That’s a ridiculously redundant r…
Watch the Original Short Version of ‘Just About Famous’ for Free
There’s a fun documentary hitting VOD next week titled Just About Famous. It’s your typical convention profile, but the attendees are all celebrity impersonators, so it’s almost like you’re watching a…
‘Orion: The Man Who Would Be King’ Trailer
a huge fan of Jeanie Finlay’s The Great Hip Hop Hoax, her latest music doc, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King, has been one of my most anticipated for a while. You can see my post on its Indiegogo cam…
Interview: Paul Almond on Starting the ‘Up’ Series and Watching It Grow for Half a Century
This interview was originally published on the Documentary Channel Blog on January 10, 2013. Almost 50 years ago, Canadian filmmaker Paul Almond, while employed by Granada Television in the UK, int…
Susan Sarandon Shares Her 8 Favorite Documentaries to Stream Online
The Oscar-winning actress is a big fan of documentaries.
The Special Ironies and Uncomfortable Complexity of Robert Greene’s ‘Actress’
We review the documentary focused on Brandy Burre, an actress best known for her role on the TV series 'The Wire.'
How to Set a Documentary in the Future
In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the final spirit that visits Ebenezer Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This spirit shows Scrooge visions of a future, if not the future. Mainly th…
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This April
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
11 Best Mockumentaries
This list goes to 11.
Bruce Sinofsky Memorial Planned for May 5th
We lost one of the finest, most notable members of the documentary community last month when Bruce Sinofsky died of complications from diabetes on February 21. His legacy is tremendous, and the filmma…
‘The Thin Blue Line’ as Detective Film
This essay was written by Christopher Campbell in December 2010 (before the founding of Nonfics) for a Master’s film studies class at NYU.
‘The Staircase’ and Errol Morris Criterion Discs Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
Albert Maysles Tribute and ‘Approaching the Elephant’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
‘Remote Area Medical’ and ‘Common Threads’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
R.I.P.: Albert Maysles (1926–2015)
We lost one of the most important documentarians of all time last night, and he deserves a post. I don’t have the words to do Albert Maysles’s life, work, influence and legacy justice. I don’t have an…
‘Actress’ and ‘That Gal…Who Was In That Thing’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This March
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
10 Great Women’s History Films to Watch This or Any Month
Get to know pioneers in politics, civil rights, comedy, and more.
‘Kung Fu Elliot’ and a Bunch of Nick Broomfield Films Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
‘Citizenfour,’ ‘The Overnighters’ and ‘Life Itself’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
What Is Your Favorite Documentary Love Story?
This post was originally published on the Documentary Channel Blog on February 14, 2012.I can’t immediately think of any genuinely romantic documentaries nor many nonfiction films that follow love sto…
Current Oscar Nominee ‘Joanna’ Tops This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
10 Important Films Documenting Black History in the Making
Nonfics is now a newsletter! Please support documentary criticism by subscribing here: nonfics.substack.com. Two weeks ago we brought you a list of 10 great black history films, all of them doc…
Exclusive: ‘Antarctic Edge: 70° South’ Trailer
another expedition to the end of the world and encounter the next important climate change documentary with Antarctic Edge: 70° South, for which we’re happy to premiere this new trailer. The document…
‘The Jinx’ and ‘The Overnighters’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
10 Great Black History Films to Watch This Or Any Month
Nonfics is now a newsletter! Please support documentary criticism by subscribing here: nonfics.substack.com. It’s February, and that means it’s Black History Month again. Naturally, a site devo…
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This February
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
‘Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers’ and ‘The House I Live In’ Top This Week’s Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
Exclusive: Minimalist Poster for ‘The Russian Woodpecker’ Teases a Disturbing Tale
Another word for minimalism is essential, and that’s fitting because The Russian Woodpecker has a minimalist poster design and is also an essential film. The powerful documentary, directed by Chad Gra…
The 10 Best Sundance Documentaries of All Time
In 2015, we looked back at 30 years worth of programming to name our favorites of the festival.
‘The Belovs’ and Oscar Nominee ‘White Earth’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
10 Most Memorable Nonfiction Movie Moments of 2014
This list is coming out much later than it did last year. The longer it’s taken me to compile and post, though, the more I’ve come to be sure of what movie moments I remember strongest and most fondly…
‘The Salt of the Earth’ and ‘White Earth’ Among the Documentary Oscar Nominees
Today’s announcement of the Oscar nominations brought some deep feelings from yours truly. My favorite doc of 2014, one that I’d been sure was the frontrunner for the win, let alone a nomination, was …
‘Evolution of a Criminal’ and ‘Vessel’ Top This Week’s Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
Cinema Eye Honors Dominated By ‘Citizenfour,’ ‘20,000 Days on Earth’ and ‘Boyhood’
The 8th annual Cinema Eye Honors were held last night, and Citizenfour was the big winner with four awards, including the top prize for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking. 20,000…
‘Boyhood,’ ‘Visitors’ and ‘Marjoe’ Top This Week’s Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
‘Sepideh’ and ‘Life Itself’ Each Nominated for Two Awards by the Georgia Film Critics Association
As a member of the Georgia Film Critics Association, it is my duty and honor to share the nominations for our 2014 awards. While I’m a bit disappointed that no documentaries are up for Best Picture, I…
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This January
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…
The 14 Best Documentaries of 2014
2014 is the year documentaries began to take over. At least this seemed to be the case. The most acclaimed fiction film of the year, Boyhood, has primarily been praised for its nonfictional element of…
‘Life Itself’ and ‘What Now? Remind Me’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
‘The Overnighters’ Voted the Best Documentary of 2014 in 2nd Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll
Welcome to the 2nd Annual Nonfics Year-End Poll. We’re not going to continue calling it a “critics poll” because (just as we did last year) we’ve invited non-critics to take part. Most of the contribu…
Holocaust Docs ‘Into the Arms of Strangers’ and ‘V-E +1’ Among National Film Registry Additions
This year’s crop of 25 additions to the National Film Registry includes a wide variety of musicals, war movies, teen comedy, stoner comedy, animation, horror, Western, indie, experimental, early works…
‘Expedition to the End of the World’ and ‘The Sheik and I’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
What Might Have Been Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Documentary of 2014?
What Might Have Been Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Documentary of 2014?Another year of Golden Globes nominations, another year of documentaries being excluded from this prominent awards even…
‘Regen,’ ‘1989’ and ‘Party Monster’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
Guide to All the Sundance 2015 Documentary Competition Titles, With Trailers Where Available
The 28 titles in the 2015 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Competitions were announced last week — 16 in the U.S. program and 12 in the World section. I think this crop sounds even better than last …
‘Monkey Kingdom’ Trailer
next Disneynature film takes us to Sri Lanka to watch some anthropomorphized langur monkeys living in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. As always with this brand, the new documentary, by Mark Linfield…
Oscar Shortlist for Documentary Feature Includes ‘The Internet’s Own Boy’ and ‘The Kill Team’
This year’s 15 titles shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature were announced today, and there aren’t a whole lot of surprises. Sure, I’m disappointed that there’s once again no …
Drew Associates Classics and ‘Kids for Cash’ Top This Week’s Nonfics Home Picks
Most people don’t get to see documentaries until they arrive on a home video platform of some kind, whether it’s DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, iTunes, TV, Netflix streaming, etc. Join us every Tuesday for a look…
The 100 Most Necessary Documentaries to Stream on Netflix This December
Rather than update our original list of the 100 Best Documentaries on Netflix whenever a film expires or is added, we’d like to post a new version each month to keep things tidy and less confusing. An…