A night in with a good documentary is a night well spent. The 25 best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video

A night in with a good documentary is a night well spent.

The 25 best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video

A night in with a good documentary is a night well spent.

By Debby Wolfinsohn

and Kevin Jacobsen

on August 2, 2025 07:09AM EDT

Iggy Pop in 'Gimme Danger'; Oppy in 'Good Night Oppy'; Robert G. Richardson in 'Time'. Credit:

Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Amazon Prime (2)

While *Fast, Cheap *&* Out of Control* is the title of a great documentary by Errol Morris, we could also apply these words to the current influx of "documentaries" flooding our screens. News flash, y'all — cutting and pasting a bunch of clips alongside a talking head and slapping on some music does not a doc make. A true documentary is a unique thing: It pulls at your heartstrings like a drama, piques your interest like a mystery, unfolds like a thriller, and yet...*it's all true.*

Here are a handful of the best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video that do all of the above and then some.

The Aristocrats (2005)

Penn Jillette and Teller in 'The Aristocrats'.

ThinkFilm Inc./Everett

An 88-minute exploration* *of a single joke, *The Aristocrats* is one part history lesson, one part hangout. The brilliant thing about Penn Jillette's passion project is how it uses a famously dirty punchline as an excuse to hang out with 100 of the funniest people on the planet, with each improvising their own version. Featuring a murderer's row of renowned comedians (including Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget, and George Carlin), this is the closest to backstage at the Comedy Store that most of us will ever get. It's a must-see for comedy nerds with strong stomachs; not to spoil the joke, but it's quite *out there*…and undeniably* *funny.

As EW's critic remarked at the time, "It's at once a comedy, a horror film, and a hilariously unsettling testament to the deepest reality of what comedians are: rim-shot madmen, driven to seek out and destroy all that's taboo." *—Debby Wolfinsohn*

Where to watch *The Aristocrats*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Directors:** Penn Jillette, Paul Provenza

Best Worst Movie (2009)

Don Packard in 'Best Worst Movie'.

Magicstone Productions

One of the best parts of being a movie nerd is sharing your obsessions, and the *Troll 2* cult is no exception. Oh, maybe you didn't realize there's a cohort of fans who watch the film together, shouting out memorable lines ("You can't piss on hospitality!") and throwing bologna sandwiches at the screen (if you know, you know). While the film itself is a mess — EW's critic mentions its "poor special effects, stilted dialog, laughable acting," and conspicuous lack of trolls — its fans include Patton Oswalt, Conan O'Brien, and members of the UCB, who hosted screenings.

Heartened by this late-in-life resurgence, Michael Paul Stephenson (who starred in the movie at age 10) set out to trace the journey of the little film that could. The result, *Best Worst Movie*, is a celebration of fandom, community, and underdogs, a sweet, rough-around-the-edges appreciation. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Best Worst Movie:* Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Michael Paul Stephenson

Blue Angels (2024)

A pilot in 'Blue Angels'.

It's your lucky day, flyboys and girls — you can now get up close and personal with the legendary pilots in this soaring documentary produced by J.J. Abrams and narrator Glen Powell. As detailed in an EW exclusive, the film was shot with IMAX cameras rigged to a helicopter, marking the first time a civilian aircraft has been permitted to fly inside the performance space known as "the box," letting the audience in on just how hair-raising some of the maneuvers were (F-18s flying within inches of each other). "It's the closest I think any of us will come to being in the cockpit with these pilots," Abrams said. "It's a remarkable thing to see." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Blue Angels*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Paul Crowder

The Booksellers (2020)

Adina Cohen, Judith Lowry, and Naomi Hample in 'The Booksellers'.

Greenwich Entertainment/Everett

If your idea of a perfect day is wandering through funky, cozy used bookstores in magnificent cities, have we got the doc for you. Yes, this film explores the world of rare book dealers, but it also serves as a wonderful, worshipful tribute to books as magical objects. The filmmakers' decision to let this smart, obsessive group of people expound on their favorite topic at length was the right one — the effect is like spending a rainy afternoon in a comfy chair in front of a fire, eavesdropping on some quality conversations. Literature-loving celeb sightings (Fran Lebowitz, Susan Orlean, Parker Posey) also add extra chapters of fun. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *The Booksellers*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** D.W. Young

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

Ron Reyes performing in 'The Decline of Western Civilization'.

Media Home Entertainment

There's nobody in Hollywood (or on the planet) quite like Penelope Spheeris. From growing up in the circus to working with Richard Pryor as a film student to preserving music history, the director has honed a distinct corner of cinema. In addition to helming *Wayne's World* and *Suburbia*, her greatest cultural impact arguably came with this documentary, an examination of L.A.'s punk scene circa 1980.

It's a jarring collection of compelling fan/musician interviews interspersed with jaw-droppingly cool concert footage of genre legends, from X to the Germs, that feels like discovering buried treasure. Spheeris wasn't just in the right place at the right time; she had the brains to recognize the importance of the movement, and the skills to capture it in all its gritty glory. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *The Decline of Western Civilization*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Penelope Spheeris

The Endless Summer (1966)

Bruce Brown surfing in 'The Endless Summer'.

Monterey Home Video

For all the times the word "iconic" is bandied about, here's a film that actually earns it. For six years, surfer/filmmaker Bruce Brown traveled the world with his 16mm camera, chasing (and surfing) the planet's most epic waves. From Africa to Australia, New Zealand to Hawaii, Brown's narration is the perfect blend of awe-struck observer and California dudebro.

Worth it for the surf soundtrack alone, Brown's gorgeous film (the sand! the sunsets! the waves!) was likely responsible for the world's obsession with "surf culture," inspiring people from all walks of life to grab a board and hang 10. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *The Endless Summer*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Bruce Brown

Ennio (2021)

Ennio Morricone in 'Ennio'.

Music Box Films/Courtesy Everett Collectionn

Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore crafted this epic-sized portrait of Ennio Morricone just one year before the latter's death. *Ennio* follows the legendary composer's prolific career from his early days as a trumpeter in the 1940s, to his celebrated work in Westerns like *The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly* (1966), to his finally winning a competitive Oscar for *The Hateful Eight* (2015). Featuring interviews with numerous collaborators and admirers in addition to Morricone himself, *Ennio* is a lovingly constructed, comprehensive look at a master's work. —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *Ennio*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Giuseppe Tornatore**

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

Jeff Skilling in 'Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room'.

Wyatt McSpadden/Magnolia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Alex Gibney emerged as one of the leading documentarians after the release of this eye-opening examination of the Enron scandal. One of the biggest news stories of the early 2000s, executives at Enron Corporation covered up widespread fraud within their company, leading to massive fallout and a declaration of bankruptcy. Gibney's Oscar-nominated documentary is swiftly entertaining and packed with illuminating information that even connects the scandal to then-President George W. Bush. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Alex Gibney

Frida (2024)

Frida Kahlo in 'Frida'.

Lucienne Bloch, Courtesy Old Stage Studios

Like its vibrant subject, *Frida* overflows with color, life, and energy. Using a variety of ways to tell her story, including animation (watching her paintings move is a lovely treat), archival clips, and what seems to be the voice of Khalo herself (Fernanda Echevarría del Rivero, reading Khalo's words), the painter's story leaps off the screen.

We don't just *watch*, we *experience* it with her — from the bus accident that resulted in a lifetime of health problems to her relationship with Diego Rivera (plus her affair with Leon Trotsky), and most of all, the joy she found through her paintings, which reflect the glorious palette of her singular life. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Frida*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Carla Gutiérrez

Generation Wealth (2018)

Various teens driving in 'Generation Wealth'. Lauren Greenfield

This isn't director Lauren Greenfield's first rodeo; she's been documenting the lives of the ruling class since the mid-'90s, from her still-influential book *Fast Forward: Growing up in the Shadow of Hollywood* to her fabulous 2012 documentary, *The Queen of Versailles.* With her reporter's instinct for story — and an artist's knack for fascinating visuals — Greenfield once again takes on the wealthy and digs deep. From oligarch's wives to ex-beauty queens, everything is filtered through her unique, often raw POV.

As EW's critic writes, "Like Greenfield's photographs, her storytelling has a distinctive style, one that feels hard to separate from the undeniable but often queasy thrill of voyeurism." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Generation Wealth*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Director: **Lauren Greenfield

Giannis: The Marvelous Journey (2024)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (far right) with teammates in 'Giannis: The Marvelous Journey'.

Courtesy of Prime Video

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the genial and mega-talented "Greek Freak," is unforgettable on the court, but his dramatic origin story is even more compelling. The future Milwaukee Bucks star was born and raised in Athens; his parents, having emigrated from Nigeria, struggled without work permits, and Giannis' young life was an often-terrifying test of survival (among other things, avoiding violent anti-immigrant groups in the streets). But then he found basketball, and with it, the ultimate way out (and up) for him and his family.

The film doesn't hold back on the hardwood action, either, spending plenty of time on the game, the league, and the team that helped turn this under-the-radar Greek prospect into an all-time great. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Giannis: The Marvelous Journey*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Kristen Lappas

Gimme Danger (2016)

Iggy Pop performing onstage at Whisky a Go Go in 1973 in Los Angeles, Calif., in 'Gimme Danger'.

Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

"Upsetting people wherever we went" is how Iggy Pop describes his time in the Stooges, one of the most groundbreaking rock bands to ever stalk the Earth. Without the Stooges, punk wouldn't exist as we know it, given how they inspired the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and many more seminal acts. And who better to tell the story of the coolest punks than another cool punk, Jim Jarmusch?

Crammed with live footage, killer photos, interviews, and eye-popping clips (Pop chatting amiably with Dinah Shore?), this documentary tries to explain the unexplainable: How a pack of Midwestern nerds (close your eyes and you'll think you're in a very loud 4-H meeting) created the nuclear explosion we're still recovering from today. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Gimme Danger*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Jim Jarmusch

Good Night Oppy (2022)

Oppy roaming in 'Good Night Oppy'. Amazon Prime Video

The human instinct to assign personalities and souls to inanimate objects reaches new heights in this documentary about the Mars Rover (a.k.a. "Opportunity"), a sophisticated machine that was built to last 90 days and ended up "living" for 15 years. Yes, it's ridiculous to cry about a lonely robotic camera cruising the red planet, so let's just say it's narrator Angela Bassett's fault. She's that good. Or perhaps the thing that's pulling at our heartstrings is the beauty of science and the spirit of exploration exemplified by the team at NASA who put this together.

*Good Night Oppy* makes a perfect double feature with Pixar's sob-fest *WALL-E, *plus a few packs of freeze-dried space ice cream and a big box of tissues. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Good Night Oppy*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Ryan White

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Grizzly Man (2005)

Timothy Treadwell in 'Grizzly Man'.

Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

If you haven't seen it, we won't spoil it, except to say if you're expecting a soothing nature documentary, this ain't it. The dark, bizarre, sometimes funny, sometimes beautiful, often troubling film is dominated by its subject, the eccentric Timothy Treadwell, who took his love of bears so far as to live with them, for months at a time, for more than a decade.

As EW's critic puts it, "What at first seems to be the deconstruction of a troubled crusader becomes an elegy on the nature of performance with Treadwell as the director's unlikely muse," going on to say "[Werner] Herzog pulls the rug out from every convention we've come to recognize as the documentary form." His famous German-accented narration guides us along an ever-worsening path, like a fairy tale gone very, very wrong. —*D.W.*

Where to watch *Grizzly Man*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Werner Herzog

Jesus Camp (2006)

A child worshipping in 'Jesus Camp'.

This Oscar-nominated documentary dives deep into the evangelical Christian movement through the lens of the Kids on Fire School of Ministry summer camp. The film demonstrates how camp leaders preach to (some would say indoctrinate) the children on leading Christian lives through sometimes morally questionable methods, in the hope of restoring traditional conservative values in America. Despite this loaded subject matter, directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady do not take the Michael Moore approach of directly stating their point of view, choosing instead to let the audience make up its mind from the footage presented. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Jesus Camp*: Amazon Prime Video

**Directors:** Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

Judy Blume Forever (2023)

Judy Blume in 'Judy Blume Forever'. Courtesy of Sundance Institute

As the OG YA queen, Judy Blume deserves a documentary that's as good as her books, one filled with dramatic ups and downs, twists and turns, and plenty of laughter and tears. In *Judy Blume Forever,* she gets exactly that. Through telling her life story, this doc reveals a juicy tale that even her most die-hard fans might not have known.

From her time as a stay-at-home mother of two to being an outspoken, fearless pioneer writing about "real" teen topics (including frank descriptions of sex, periods, and *all *of the awkward stuff), Blume's warmth, kindness, and respect for her readers shines through like a flashlight at a slumber party. Seeing her going through boxes of hand-written letters from fans — many of whom she corresponded with, some for years — cements her status as the cool aunt we all wished we had. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Judy Blume Forever*: Amazon Prime Video

**Directors: **Davina Pardo, Leah Wolchok

The Last Waltz (1978)

Joni Mitchell and Neil Young in 'The Last Waltz'. Everett Collection

The opening title card of this documentary declares, "This film should be played loud," and we couldn't agree more. Martin Scorsese's film about the Band's "farewell" concert is a rousing time capsule of classic rock at its peak, with guest appearances by Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan, among other legends. While Scorsese's interviews with the Band about their history are interspersed, the main attraction is the concert itself. EW's critic raves, "Rarely has such electrifying energy from a live performance translated so vividly onto film." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Last Waltz*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Martin Scorsese

Lucy and Desi (2022)

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in 'Lucy and Desi'.

Amy Poehler's documentary directorial debut is as uplifting as a pep talk from Leslie Knope. Telling the tale of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (the original Hollywood power couple) in a fresh way was no easy task, but Poehler was aided by a big discovery: a box of audio tapes containing interviews with the stars. In addition to exploring their partnership (business and personal), the film provides a fascinating look at how the pair fit into — and dominated, for a time — an era of vintage Hollywood, including Ball's communist scare court appearance and the birth of Desilu studio. As the voice-over says, "At the core, it's all about unconditional love." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Lucy and Desi*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Amy Poehler

My Best Fiend (1999)

Klaus Kinski in 'My Best Fiend'.

An odd buddy pic variation that's worth it for Werner Herzog's uniquely memorable narration alone, this is a highly entertaining, slightly terrifying trip down memory lane. Herzog, known for his enigmatic films and single-minded commitment to achieving the impossible (pulling a boat over a mountain, for one) found a worthy artistic partner in the square-jawed, demonically charming, bug-eyed Klaus Kinski.

EW's critic calls this a "fascinating, rambling, love-hate documentary about their friendship and creative partnership, and in its discursive, anecdotal way it gets at the essence of one of cinema's indelible crackpots." In conclusion? "It's impossible not to be moved by the oddball purity of what Kinski and Herzog, high on their lust for extremes, achieved." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *My Best Fiend*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director: **Werner Herzog

Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters (2019)

Phil Tippett with his creations in 'Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters'.

Doppelganger Releasing

The name might not sound familiar, but his films *definitely* are. Earning Oscars for his work on *Star Wars *and* Jurassic Park* (the 3-D chess game and the dinos, respectively, to be exact), Phil Tippett's other credits include the Tauntauns in *The Empire Strikes Back*, the bugs from *Starship Troopers,* and some exceptionally cool work on *RoboCop* (building and animating the robot unit ED-209). Tippett also spent decades working on his own film, the stop-motion nightmare *Mad God*, which finally saw the light of day in 2022. The master of scary cinematic menageries has a style all his own, and watching this soft-spoken, gray-bearded artist work magic with pencils, cameras, and clay is a true inspiration. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Phil Tippett*:* Mad Dreams and Monsters:* Amazon Prime Video

**Directors:** Alexandre Poncet, Gilles Penso

The Russian Five (2018)

Still from 'The Russian Five'.

Gunpowder & Sky/Courtesy Everett

This wildly entertaining documentary centers on a niche subject — the hiring of five Russian athletes to compete on the Detroit Red Wings hockey team in the '90s — and turns it into a universal story. The film showcases General Manager Jimmy Devellano's inspired idea to have star hockey players from the Soviet Union defect to America, which proves more difficult than once imagined, given tensions between the countries. The decision has a profound effect on the team and the community, leading to them winning the Stanley Cup in 1997. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *The Russian Five*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Joshua Riehl**

Sunshine Hotel (2001)

Nathan Smith in 'Sunshine Hotel'.

This compelling doc about the last "flophouse" on Skid Row (NYC's the Bowery) takes viewers inside a seldom-seen world, a hotel where a 4' x 6' room with a chicken-wire ceiling (amenities include a light bulb, locker, and bed) goes for $10 a night.

Gracefully and honestly narrated by the longtime manager, Nathan Smith (who died of cancer the year after the film was released), *Sunshine Hotel *won several awards along with critical praise. Smith's obituary in *The New York Times* described him as a rock, a man who got along with everybody, whether he was handing out toilet paper, answering the single phone, or learning Yiddish so he could speak to some of the oldest residents. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Sunshine Hotel*: Amazon Prime Video

**Director:** Michael Dominic

Super Size Me (2004)

Morgan Spurlock (left) getting his blood pressure taken in 'Super Size Me'. Tracy Boulian

While any time's a good one to watch this indie classic, the 2024 passing of Morgan Spurlock (director, star, and test subject) may move it up the priority rewatch list. Tune in to remember Spurlock's wit and willingness to "go there," stuffing his face with Big Macs and fries until his body rebels, calling out America's love affair with fast food in the process.

Following in the personality-driven documentary tradition of Michael Moore (albeit with a decidedly less politically inflammatory schtick), Spurlock made such a farce of the portion-size upselling McDonald's was famous for, the company *got rid of* *the very sizes* that gave this film its name. Of course, McDonald's denied the doc had anything to do with it, so let's chalk it up to a super-sized coincidence. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Super Size Me*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** N/A (read the review)

**Director:** Morgan Spurlock

Time (2020)

Sibil Fox Richardson and Robert G. Richardson kissing in 'Time'.

A story that's heartbreakingly familiar — an imprisoned father missing out on his children's lives — gets pulled into sharp focus in a documentary EW's critic says "gracefully addresses the looming issues of mass incarceration, race, and justice in America without ever feeling preachy."

Shot in luminous black and white with a gorgeous score, this intimate film earned Garrett Bradley the 2020 Sundance Documentary Prize for Directing, making her the first Black woman to win. Bradley's portrayal of this family's desperate fight to reunite creates something, according to our critic, that's "as urgent and beautifully human as almost anything on screen this year." *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Time*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Garrett Bradley

Val (2021)

Val Kilmer in 'Val'.

Far from a typical celebrity bio documentary, this collage-style piece about the life of Val Kilmer is something special indeed. Narrated by old home movies (Kilmer filmed everything) and his son (a vocal twin), the film paints a picture of a unique life. And while the reason for the unorthodox format is tragic — throat cancer stole his ability to speak — the effect is magic. Kilmer's filming habit — capturing everything from his SoCal childhood to his time at Juilliard to the sets of *Top Gun* and *Batman* — plus appearances by fellow stars (young Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, an imposing Marlon Brando) creates a compelling scrapbook.

As EW's critic writes, "The result is undoubtedly a canny mediation on the vagaries of fame, but it feels more intimate and essential than that: a lifetime of searching and self-regard distilled, somehow, into a state of grace." This personal documentary is all the more poignant now — Kilmer died of pneumonia on April 1, 2025. He was 65. *—D.W.*

Where to watch *Val*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** B+ (read the review)

**Directors:** Leo Scott, Ting Poo

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