From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest. The 30 best documentaries on Net

From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest.

The 30 best documentaries on Netflix

From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest.

By Kevin Jacobsen,

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

EW's editorial guidelines

and James Mercadante

on August 2, 2025 07:22AM EDT

Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman in 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond'; Craig Foster in 'My Octopus Teacher'; Taylor Swift in 'Miss Americana'. Credit:

Francois Duhamel/Netflix; Netflix (2)

School's out for the summer, but education is a year-round endeavor. If you're looking for something to keep those brain cells stimulated during the slower months, nothing hits the spot like a Netflix documentary. From critical darlings like *13th*, *American Factory*, and *Crip Camp, *to stories so juicy, you couldn't make them up,* *Netflix is here to educate, entertain, and ensure you have a solid fun fact at your next social event.

Ready to learn something new? Here are EW's picks for the 30 best documentaries on Netflix.

13th (2016)

A woman sitting in a chair in '13th'. Netflix

The 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but this searing documentary argues that both have only taken on different forms in the years since its adoption. The Emmy-winning work, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay, traces the systematic oppression of Black Americans following the official end of slavery in 1865, from segregation to the disproportionate targeting of minorities during the war on drugs to the prison-industrial complex, of which private contractors have benefited financially.

DuVernay tackles varied and complicated forms of corruption here, but *13th* is carefully plotted to show how each act of disenfranchisement leads to another, serving as a riveting rallying cry. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *13th*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Ava DuVernay

American Factory (2019)

Workers in a windshield factory in Dayton, Ohio, in 'American Factory'. Netflix

This first film from Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground — and winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature — is an even-handed look at the trials and tribulations of a Chinese-owned windshield factory in Dayton, Ohio. As its domestic workers are tasked with more intensive labor for lower pay, their Chinese employers experience culture shock while adjusting to the American way of life.

Told with matter-of-fact honesty, *American Factory* drew rave reviews that included EW's critic, who notes, "The heart and soul of *American Factory*, like all American factories, is never really politics of course; it's people." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *American Factory*: Netflix

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

**Directors:** Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022)

Sarma Melngailis in 'Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.'.

The New York food scene has never seen a story like Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur who was responsible for successful upscale vegan eateries like Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck. Bolstered by critical acclaim and celebrity patrons, Melngailis' stock was rising in the raw food world — until her restaurant empire was brought down by a marriage to a con man.

A scandalous story told over four episodes, *Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. *is the only documentary to include true crime intrigue, vegans on the run, and a Dominos order gone terribly wrong. If you've ever wanted to see a story in which canine immortality and meat suits feature prominently, run — don't walk — to your TV and fill up on the insanity that is the story of *Bad Vegan. —Ilana Gordon *

Where to watch *Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.*: Netflix

**Director: **Chris Smith** **

Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)

Jimmy Page in 'Becoming Led Zeppelin'.

Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection

The summer of '69 wouldn't have been the same without the formation of Led Zeppelin. The rock band missed the British Invasion, but took America by storm at the end of the '60s, becoming the number one music group by 1970, and one of the best-selling acts of all time.

*Becoming Led Zeppelin* is the band's first authorized documentary and follows the group's creation and early years together. Featuring three of the four bandmates — John Bonham died in 1980 at 32 years old, his story is presented through archival interviews — *Becoming Led Zeppelin *is music history told right. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Becoming Led Zeppelin*: Netflix

**Director: **Bernard MacMahon

**Cast:** Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant

Crip Camp (2020)

Activist Judith Heumann in 'Crip Camp'. Netflix

Following the success of *American Factory*, Higher Ground released this Oscar-nominated documentary about a New York summer camp called Camp Jened, which served as a haven for people with disabilities. Featuring footage of co-director James LeBrecht's experiences there in the early 1970s, the film demonstrates how the campers went on to fight in the disability rights movement of the late-20th century.

Balancing warmth with the urgency of its message, *Crip Camp* gives a more three-dimensional view of this marginalized community than most films, emphasizing the power of advocating for one's rights. As EW's critic writes, "Like most good storytelling, it takes care to make the political personal." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Crip Camp*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Directors:** Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Dick Johnson (left) in 'Dick Johnson Is Dead'. Netflix

Life and death are inexorably linked in this unique film by celebrated documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson (*Cameraperson*). As her father lives with dementia, Johnson stages various fictional scenarios in which he accidentally dies — from tripping down the stairs to getting hit by a falling air conditioner — which he charmingly acts out for the camera.

What may sound morbid in writing is actually a bittersweet meditation on the stigma surrounding death and a daughter's special way of bonding with her dad before it's too late. Come for the absurdly planned schemes, stay for, as EW's critic observes, "the immeasurable love between [the film's] maker and its muse." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Dick Johnson Is Dead*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Kirsten Johnson

Disclosure (2020)

Lilly Wachowski in 'Disclosure'. Ava Benjamin Shorr/Netflix

Similar to the 1995 landmark film *The Celluloid Closet* — which discusses LGBTQIA+ representation on screen — this documentary narrows in on depictions of trans characters in Hollywood. From problematic movies such as *The Crying Game* and *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* to groundbreaking shows like *Orange Is the New Black* and *Pose*, *Disclosure* deftly tracks the evolution of trans acceptance and how far we still have to go.

While the footage often speaks for itself, the value of this documentary comes from real-life actors and artists discussing how those cultural depictions shaped not only the societal perception of trans people but also how they view themselves. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Disclosure*: Netflix

**Director:** Sam Feder

Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (2022)

People holding up photos of those who died in a Boeing plane crash in 'Downfall: The Cast Against Boeing'.

Boeing used to be the pride of American manufacturing, but now the company's name is synonymous with safety failures. *Downfall: The Case Against Boeing* goes deep into how pressure from Wall Street corrupted the company's safety culture, ultimately leading to two crashes of Boeing MAX 737 planes in October of 2018 and March of 2019.

Boeing refused to be involved in the making of the film, but the project does an excellent job of breaking down how desire to keep the company's stock price high led Boeing to knowingly fail pilots and passengers. *—I.G.   *

Where to watch *Downfall: The Case Against Boeing*: Netflix

**Director: **Rory Kennedy** **

Found (2021)

Lily, Chloe, and Sadie in 'Found'. Everett Collection

The effects of China's one-child policy are explored through the stories of three adopted American teenage girls in this rousing documentary. Each is adopted from China and come to discover they're cousins, leading them to explore their ancestry.

What makes *Found* fascinating is in how it allows for multiple perspectives from the cousins — one feels perfectly at home in America, while another is hoping that reconnecting with her roots will provide some resolution. It also makes room to honor the caretakers who house orphaned children and the sensitive nature of the adoption process. Have tissues nearby when watching. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Found*: Netflix

**Director: **Amanda Lipitz

Four Daughters (2023)

A group of women from 'Four Daughters'.

Well-deserving of its Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature, *Four Daughters *is a Tunisian film that mixes traditional documentary practices with fictionalized moments to create a cinematic project unlike anything else in the genre. The four daughters in question belong to Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian mother who lost two of her four children when they were radicalized by the Islamic State and moved to Libya.

Performers stand in for the two eldest siblings, and Tunisian and Egyptian actress Hend Sabry plays Olfa, but interviews with the real-life Olfa and her two youngest daughters are also heavily featured. A film about mothers and daughters as told through one family's traumatic story, *Four Daughters *is affecting, creatively structured, and deeply memorable. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Four Daughters*: Netflix

**Director: **Kaouther Ben Hania** **

Fyre (2019)

Ja Rule and Billy McFarland in 'Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened'.

The extravagant 2017 deserted island musical festival never took place, but it did manage to land organizer/scammer Billy McFarland a prison sentence and inspire two documentaries. At least as far as Emmy nominations are concerned, Netflix's *Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened *is the superior option, providing a comprehensive look at the events that led to the festival's formation and subsequent downfall.

A film that put event organizer Andy King on the map as the poster boy for hard-working employees, *Fyre *is fascinating, exasperating, and one of the ultimate tales of scamming gone wrong. Directed by Chris Smith (also of *Bad Vegan* fame), *Fyre *is an entertaining romp through early influencer culture. *—I.G.   *

Where to watch *Fyre*: Netflix

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

**Director: **Chris Smith** **

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The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)

The dozens of recording artists who participated in singing 'We Are the World,' as documented in 'The Greatest Night in Pop'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Remember that cringeworthy moment when Gal Gadot and a gaggle of celebs sat in their respective lavish homes and recorded a sing-a-long to John Lennon's "Imagine" during the start of the COVID pandemic? Well, let's rewind to 1985, when 46 music legends responded to a crisis and produced a hit that made a *real* impact.

Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, artists including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross united Avengers-style in A&M studio to record "We Are the World" — a chart-topping anthem that raised more than $80 million to combat famine in Africa, clinched four Grammys (including Record of the Year and Song of the Year), and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. If you ever wished to be fly on the wall during that historic night of music-making, turn to this Netflix documentary that spoon-feeds you archival footage, revelatory firsthand accounts, and plenty of nostalgia.* —James Mercadante*

Where to watch *The Greatest Night in Pop*: Netflix

**Director:** Bao Nguyen

Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)

Beyoncé (center) in 'Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé'. Netflix

This Grammy-winning documentary — written, directed, produced by, and starring Beyoncé — is more than just a concert film: It's an experience unto itself. Following the superstar's journey conceiving of and performing her headlining concert at Coachella in 2018, *Homecoming* is as much a tribute to Black artistry as it is a celebration of Queen B and her loyal BeyHive.

Edited with razor-sharp precision to deliver the best possible experience, the film also devotes time to the Black artists and leaders who inspire the singer between showcasing her own personal challenges with motherhood, all while trying to get physically and emotionally prepared for the performance. But it's the main event, now affectionately referred to as "Beychella," that'll have you revisiting this doc again and again in all its resplendent glory. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé*: Netflix

**Director: **Beyoncé

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)

Jim Carrey dressed as Andy Kaufman for his role in 'Man on the Moon' in 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond'. Netflix

There's method acting, and then there's what Jim Carrey did to play Andy Kaufman in 1999's *Man on the Moon*. Having stayed in character as the avant-garde comedian throughout the entirety of the shoot, Universal Pictures effectively buried the behind the scenes B-roll for the actor's own benefit. This documentary unearths the footage, with present-day Carrey commenting on the effect of trying to mirror his comedy idol so intensely.

EW's critic calls the film "an enthralling look at the artistic process," especially in its depiction of an A-lister at the height of his box-office powers who's able to get away with anything and everything. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond*: Netflix

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

**Director:** Chris Smith

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)

A woman from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints being interviewed in 'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'.

Courtesy of Netflix

When did serving as a religious leader turn into a quest to have sex with as many underage girls as possible? That's the question *Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey* attempts to answer in its four-episode docu-series centered on Warren Jeffs, former head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This documentary draws you in as it explores the philosophies and teachings of the FLDS, Jeffs'  rise to power, the many girls forced to become wives and mothers before their time, and the families torn apart by his misdeeds. —*Diedre Johnson*

Where to watch *Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey*: Netflix

**EW grade: **A– (read the review)

**Directors: **Rachel Dretzin, Grace McNally** **

Miss Americana (2020)

Taylor Swift in 'Miss Americana'.

Courtesy of Netflix

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour inspired one of the biggest pop culture conversations of 2023, but even as Swift proved over and over why she's one of the best in the business, it's worth traveling back in time a few years to a period when her reputation was on the line and much less respect was afforded to her work. *Miss Americana *allows Swift the chance to get truly vulnerable, scrubbing away her strategically crafted image to reveal the human being behind the lyrics.

Taylor opens up about her struggles with feuds and fame, her issues with disordered eating, her political frustrations, and ultimately, the responsibility she feels towards her fans, her music, and her legacy. A film for Swifties, music lovers, and anyone interested in learning more about one of the most successful artists working today, *Miss Americana *will, as EW's reviewer writes, make "you wish you'd seen more of this Taylor a long time ago." *—I.G.*

Where to watch *Miss Americana*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director: **Lana Wilson** **

**Cast: **Taylor Swift ** **

My Octopus Teacher (2021)

Craig Foster and an octopus in 'My Octopus Teacher'.

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, *My Octopus Teacher *is a story of relationships, as told by a filmmaker who bonds with an octopus. Craig Foster spent a year free-diving and following an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, and the bond he develops with the animal as she invites him into her underwater life helps to inform and transform his relationships with his fellow humans — especially his son.

It takes a talented production team to make a movie about sea creatures feel like an important story about humanity, but this crew pulls it off, creating a piece of art that is affecting, educational, and inspiring. *—I.G.* * *

Where to watch *My Octopus Teacher*: Netflix

**Directors: **Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed** **

**Cast: **Craig Foster, Tom Foster** **

The Only Girl in the Orchestra (2023)

Orin O'Brien in 'The Only Girl in the Orchestra'.

Courtesy of Netflix

In 1966, there were 104 members of the New York Philharmonic: 103 men and one woman. The woman's name is Orin O'Brien, and she was hired by Leonard Bernstein to play double bass. As the first woman invited to perform in the orchestra, O'Brien's incredible story as a pioneer within classical music was captured by her niece, filmmaker Molly O'Brien, and won the Best Documentary Short at the most recent Oscars. The film is only 35 minutes long, but it packs a punch, allowing O'Brien to reflect on her love of craft and 55-year career with the Philharmonic, which ended when she retired in 2021. *—I.G.*

Where to watch *The Only Girl in the Orchestra*: Netflix

**Director: **Molly O'Brien

**Cast: **Orin O'Brien

Race to the Summit (2023)

An alpinist on the face of a mountain in 'Race to the Summit'.

Fans of *Free Solo *will find new heights to explore in *Race to the Summit*. This sports and climbing documentary chronicles the rivalry between alpinists Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold as both climbers race to secure the fastest times on their ascents up the Swiss Alps' great north faces.

As with all climbing documentaries, non-climbers will struggle to understand what drives a person to risk their life like this, but the film's stunning vistas and the athletes' dedication to their sport needs no explanation. Viewers with fears of heights may want to steer clear, however: These shots are guaranteed to raise your heart rate and take your breath away. *—I.G.* * *

Where to watch *Race to the Summit*: Netflix

**Directors: **Nicholas de Taranto, Götz Werner** **

**Cast: **Dani Arnold, Alex Honnold, Ueli Steck

Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)

Joan Baez and Bob Dylan in 'Rolling Thunder Revue'. Netflix

Martin Scorsese blurs the line between fiction and reality in this glimpse into Bob Dylan's eponymous 1975 tour. The director blends archival footage with modern interviews from those who were in the singer's circle, including Joan Baez and Sam Shepard, as well as from fictional characters, played by the likes of Sharon Stone and Michael Murphy. This fluid style pays tribute to Dylan's 1978 film *Renaldo and Clara*, which also combines documentary footage and fictional vignettes.

While your enjoyment may vary depending on your tolerance for experimentation, EW's critic writes, "The Rolling Thunder Revue was Dylan's personal magical mystery tour — and in Scorsese's hands, there's no shortage of magic or mystery." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Rolling Thunder Revue*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Martin Scorsese

Shirkers (2018)

Sophia Siddique Harvey and Sandi Tan in 'Shirkers'. Netflix

Anyone who's ever had their artistic dreams dashed will resonate with the plight of Sandi Tan, who directs this underrated gem. In 1992, Tan and her friends made an independent film in Singapore called *Shirkers*, but their mentor, Georges Cardona, made off with the footage and disappeared. Decades later, the movie finally resurfaced thanks to Cardona's ex-wife, who mailed it to Tan following his death. This documentary follows the filmmaker's decision to repurpose her once-lost project as she processes her adviser's devastating betrayal.

Deeply personal and inventive, *Shirkers* is a testament to creativity, with Tan telling EW that, "After every screening, people are vibrating with wanting to [create something of their own]. If we can carry that energy throughout the world when people are watching the film, then I've succeeded beyond my wildest dreams." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Shirkers*: Netflix

**Director:** Sandi Tan

The Social Dilemma (2020)

Tristan Harris, Sandy Parakilas, and Roger McNamee in 'The Social Dilemma'. Everett Collection

"I always felt like, fundamentally, it was a force for good," says Alex Roetter, former head of engineering for Twitter in this incisive documentary. "I don't know if I feel that way anymore." *The Social Dilemma* dives deep into the manipulation tactics of sites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Instagram to keep users hooked and the negative consequences that result — from the spread of misinformation to depression and suicide.

The doc features various talking heads from former employees of these social media sites, who explain their companies' insidious practices. Additionally, the film presents a dramatization of an average family of five to demonstrate social media addiction in various forms. After watching *The Social Dilemma*, which presents its thesis in sobering fashion, it will be hard not to think twice before mindlessly scrolling Facebook or Instagram again. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Social Dilemma*: Netflix

**Director:** Jeff Orlowski

"Sr." (2022)

Robert Downey Sr. in ''Sr.''. Everett Collection

Before Robert Downey Jr. became one of the faces of mainstream cinema, there was his counterculture filmmaker father. Robert Downey Sr. made a name for himself in the independent cinema scene in the '60s and '70s, directing a series of anti-establishment films. His life is profiled in this moving documentary, delving into his unconventinal career and his relationship with his son.

Downey Jr. — one of the producers on *"Sr."* — unpacks family traumas and shares his remembrances of his father throughout the doc. The film serves as a deeply personal tribute from a son to a father, and a loving eulogy, as Downey Sr. died in 2021 from complications of Parkinson's disease. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *"Sr."*: Netflix

**Director:** Chris Smith

Take Care of Maya (2023)

Maya Kowalski in 'Take Care of Maya'.

In early 2015, Jack and Beata Kowalski scoured the Internet and consulted countless doctors to solve the mystery behind their 9-year-old daughter Maya's debilitating chronic pain, among other symptoms. Relief finally came with a diagnosis of advanced complex regional pain syndrome, which could be treated with ketamine. However, the trajectory of their lives took a tragic turn when a visit to the ER at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital led to accusations of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, triggering a false imprisonment of Maya for three months without proper care.

Exposing the shortcomings within the American healthcare and child welfare systems, *Take Care of Maya* renders a brutal cautionary tale where the Kowalskis — including now-17-year-old Maya — share their raw, gut-wrenching testimonies as they seek justice against the institution that tore their family apart. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Take Care of Maya*: Netflix

**Director:*** *Henry Roosevelt****

The Tinder Swindler (2022)

Cecilie Fjellhoy, Ayleen Charlotte, and Pernilla Sjöholm in 'The Tinder Swindler'. Joshua Wilks/Netflix

This Emmy-nominated documentary describes how con artist Shimon Hayat posed as a jewelry mogul on Tinder and scammed millions of dollars out of women who believed him to and fell for his charms. *The Tinder Swindler* was so timely that, when it debuted last year, Hayut was still very much on the loose and duping more unsuspecting victims out of their cash. That is, until he was banned from the app after the revelations presented here.

This documentary doubles as a cautionary tale for those swiping right and hoping to find their soulmate, showing just how easily one can get tricked into believing their date is who they say they are. —*D.J.*

Where to watch *The Tinder Swindler*: Netflix

**Director:** Felicity Morris

To Kill a Tiger (2023)

A young woman sits with her back to the camera in 'To Kill a Tiger'.

One of the best documentaries to premiere in 2022, *To Kill a Tiger *is a Canadian film that tells the story of one family's fight for justice for their 13-year-old after news of her rape becomes public in their small village in India. Emotional, educational, and deeply personal, the film was nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 2024, and cleaned up on the film festival circuit in 2023. Executive produced by Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and the poet Rupi Kaur, among others, *To Kill a Tiger *is a necessary film with an important message, told and packaged with bravery and compassion by director Nisha Pahuja.** ***—I.G*

Where to watch *To Kill a Tiger*: Netflix

**Director: **Nisha Pahuja** **

Virunga (2014)

A gorilla and one of the workers fighting to protect the endangered primates in 'Virunga'. Netflix

The Oscar-nominated documentary *Virunga* is one of the prime examples of a documentarian shifting perspectives dramatically to follow the more interesting story. Filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel set out to document the preservation efforts of workers at the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park to protect endangered gorillas. Shortly into filming, a rebellion by the military group M23 took place in the region, adding further dimension to Einsiedel's original plan.

The doc explores the impact of the rebellion on the park, in addition to the exploits of a British oil company hoping to drill in the area. Unfolding with earned dramatic tension, *Virunga* is urgent and powerful in its message of mankind's destruction on natural environments, while giving us heroes worth rooting for. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Virunga*: Netflix

**Director:** Orlando von Einsiedel

What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)

Nina Simone in 'What Happened, Miss Simone?'. Netflix

Netflix is home to numerous documentaries about celebrities and artists, but few have led a life as fascinating as Nina Simone's. The iconic jazz blues singer — responsible for definitive versions of such classics as "Feeling Good," "I Put a Spell on You," and "Sinnerman," as well as originals like "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" — was an outspoken activist during the civil rights movement, infusing progressive messages into her music and risking her own career to stand up for what she believed in.

While EW's critic notes that "No medium could ever quite contain the multitudes of Ms. Nina Simone," this documentary is an "excellently clear-eyed primer" nonetheless, one that will have you searching for her virtuosic performances on YouTube for hours on end. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *What Happened, Miss Simone?*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A– (read the review)

**Director:** Liz Garbus

Will & Harper (2024)

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in 'Will & Harper'.

*Saturday Night Live* launched Will Ferrell's comedy career and turned castmates and co-writers into lifelong pals. Ferrell's nearly 30-year friendship with one of the show's former head writers changed one day when he received an email stating that said writer was transitioning to live as a woman.

*Will & Harper* follows Ferrell and comedy writer Harper Steele as the two embark on a road trip across America to better understand their new dynamic and explore this next phase in their friendship. A buddy comedy unlike any you've seen before, *Will & Harper* is an ongoing conversation about show business, platonic relationships, and living one's authentic life in modern America. Since leaving *SNL*, Ferrell has taken on dramatic roles, but never has he been more human and honest than in this prescient and funny documentary. *—I.G*

Where to watch *Will & Harper*: Netflix

**Director: ** Josh Greenbaum

**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Harper Steele

Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015)

Someone waving Ukraine's flag in 'Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom'. Everett Collection

Released seven years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, *Winter on Fire* follows a Ukrainian fight of a different kind. The visceral documentary centers on the Maidan Uprising of 2013 and 2014, which began after a free-trade deal with the European Union fell through at the last minute, with then-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych making a deal with Russia instead.

Through immersive on-the-ground footage, *Winter on Fire* tracks protestors from peaceful demonstrations to violent confrontations with police as people from all walks of life fight against a government preventing them from moving forward as a nation. The galvanizing documentary earned an Oscar nomination, and director Evgeny Afineevsky released a companion film in 2022, *Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom*, which chronicles the Russian invasion. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom*: Netflix

**Director:** Evgeny Afineevsky

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The 30 best documentaries on Netflix

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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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Source: "AOL Movies"

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August 02, 2025

The 25 best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video

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Ruvé McDonough thanked the entertainment industry and said, &34;The right people found Neal and put him in the right place.&34; Neal McDonough and his wife walk

Ruvé McDonough thanked the entertainment industry and said, "The right people found Neal and put him in the right place."

Neal McDonough and his wife walk back what he said about Hollywood turning on him: 'No, it didn't'

Ruvé McDonough thanked the entertainment industry and said, "The right people found Neal and put him in the right place."

By Raechal Shewfelt

Published on August 1, 2025 08:21PM EDT

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Ruvé and Neal McDonough at the 'Homestead' premiere in Los Angeles. Credit:

Paul Archuleta/Getty

Neal McDonough would like a second take.

After making headlines for saying on a recent podcast that Hollywood "completely turned on me" for refusing to kiss anyone other than his wife, the veteran actor and his better half walked back those remarks in a joint interview with TMZ.

"We want to say thank you, Hollywood," Ruvé McDonough said, expressing gratitude for her husband's success in showbiz. "I don't like how people are saying that Hollywood turned its back on Neal. No, it didn't. The right people found Neal and put him in the right place. We want to say thank you, Hollywood. We want to continue doing incredible films with Neal, giving the right messages. We don't want to say Hollywood turned. Guided us to where we are is what Hollywood did, and we want to say, 'Thank you, Hollywood.'"**

'Yellowstone' actor Neal McDonough says Hollywood turned on him for refusing to kiss costars

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Neal, whose screen credits include popular shows like *Yellowstone* and *Suits*, agreed. "Everyone talks about that stuff that happened all those years ago," he said. "If it weren't for that, we wouldn't be here. Those were stepping stones, and it made our relationship closer."

The reframing came in the wake of Neal appearing on the *Nothing Left Unsaid* podcast and saying that he'd been fired from an unnamed TV show after refusing to film an intimate scene with a costar.

"When I wouldn't do it, and they couldn't understand it, Hollywood just completely turned on me," he said. "They wouldn't let me be part of the show anymore. And for two years, I couldn't get a job, and I lost everything you could possibly imagine. Not just houses and material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity, everything."

Kevin Costner and Neal McDonough on 'Yellowstone'.

Emerson Miller/Paramount Network

He also explained what had been behind his decision. "I always had in my contracts that I wouldn't kiss another woman on screen," he said on the podcast. "My wife didn't have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem. I was like, 'Yeah, I don't want to put you through it. I know we're going to start having kids, and I don't want to put my kids through it.'"

The couple now share five children, whom they also mentioned in their joint interview. "If they were to see Dad kissing another woman, it would hurt them," Ruvé said. "When Neal swears on film, which he rarely does, we would tell our kids when they were younger, 'Oh, no, that's a dub, that's a voiceover. Dad did not say S-H-I-T,' because we don't swear."

***Sign up for **'s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.***

She also reiterated their good fortune, saying, "We cannot explain and express how blessed we are, how happy we are. Everything that's going on, talking about how Hollywood dissed Neal and whatnot — no. Everything that's happened has brought us closer to where we are now."

Neal's other screen credits include TV's *Band of Brothers*, *Arrow, Desperate Housewives,* and* The Flash*, plus films like *Minority Report* and *The Last Rodeo*. He costarred in the latter film with his wife.**

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August 01, 2025

Neal McDonough and his wife walk back what he said about Hollywood turning on him: 'No, it didn't'

Ruvé McDonough thanked the entertainment industry and said, &34;The right people found Neal and put him in the right place....

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Jimmy Kimmel erects L.A. billboard endorsing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for Emmy instead ...

The move comes two weeks after Colbert's CBS show was canceled. Jimmy Kimmel erects L.A. billboard endorsing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for Emmy instead

The move comes two weeks after Colbert's CBS show was canceled.

Jimmy Kimmel erects L.A. billboard endorsing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for Emmy instead of his own show

The move comes two weeks after Colbert's CBS show was canceled.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Published on August 1, 2025 09:41PM EDT

Leave a Comment

Jimmy Kimmel says he's voting for 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to win an Emmy. Credit:

Jimmy Kimmel is telling everyone that he wants Stephen Colbert's *Late Show* to win an Emmy this year, even though his own *Jimmy Kimmel Live* is also nominated for the same award.

The comedian has rented a billboard, at the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards in West Hollywood, on which he declares, "I'm voting for Stephen."

Stephen Colbert hosts 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' in 2023.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS/Getty

The nominees in the category of Outstanding Talk Series this year are Colbert, Kimmel, and *The Daily Show* on Comedy Central. Though Colbert's show has been nominated for 33 Emmys in all, across various categories, since 2017, it's never won.

EW has reached out to reps for Colbert and Kimmel for comment.

Kimmel's show of support comes two weeks after Colbert announced on-air that CBS' *Late Show* franchise, which David Letterman began in 1993, will end next year.

The network said its decision to pull the plug on the franchise was "purely a financial one" and that it wasn't "related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount." It continued, "We are proud that Stephen called CBS home," officials said in a statement. "He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television."**

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Critics, however, have called out the timing of the announcement, which came in the same month that Paramount Global, the parent company of Colbert's network, agreed to pay $16 million to President Donald Trump over an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on *60 Minutes* in November.

Trump has long disliked late-night hosts' jokes about his administration and, since the cancellation, has said that he's hearing "a strong word" that Kimmel will be canceled next, then *The Tonight Show*'s Jimmy Fallon.**

***Sign up for **'s free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.***

But Trump has denied that he was behind the decision to end Colbert.

"Everybody is saying that I was solely responsible for the firing of Stephen Colbert from CBS, '*Late Night"* he wrote on social media. "That is not true! The reason he was fired was a pure lack of TALENT, and the fact that this deficiency was costing CBS $50 Million Dollars a year in losses — And it was only going to get WORSE!"

At the same time, Kimmel and *The Daily Show*'s Jon Stewart are among those who have come to Colbert's defense, with their words and even cameos on his show.

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Jimmy Kimmel erects L.A. billboard endorsing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for Emmy instead ...

The move comes two weeks after Colbert's CBS show was canceled. Jimmy Kimmel erects L.A. billboard endorsing The Late Show w...

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Director Akiva Schaffer cowrote the song, &34;My Sweet Beth,&34; which Neeson sings as a tribute to Pamela Anderson's character. Liam Neeson's Naked Gun end cre

Director Akiva Schaffer co-wrote the song, "My Sweet Beth," which Neeson sings as a tribute to Pamela Anderson's character.

Liam Neeson's Naked Gun end credits song was a last-minute 'surprise addition'

Director Akiva Schaffer co-wrote the song, "My Sweet Beth," which Neeson sings as a tribute to Pamela Anderson's character.

By Gerrad Hall

Gerrad Hall is an editorial director at **, overseeing movie, awards, and music coverage. He is also host of the the *Awardist* podcast, and cohosts EW's live Oscars, Emmys, SAG, and Grammys red carpet shows. He has appeared on *Good Morning America*, *The Talk*, *Access Hollywood*, *Extra!*, and other talk shows, delivering the latest news on pop culture and entertainment.

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Published on August 1, 2025 08:50PM EDT

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Pamela Anderson as Beth and Liam Neeson as Frank in 'The Naked Gun'. Credit:

Frank Masi/Paramount

Pamela Anderson isn't the only one showing off their singing chops in *The Naked Gun*.

Liam Neeson steps behind the mic — his first time, apparently, in a professional recording studio, as he says mid-song — for the end credits track "My Sweet Beth." The ballad is a tribute from his character, Frank Drebin Jr., to a "very special lady," as he sings: Anderson's Beth Davenport. Over the course of the film, the two strike up a relationship as he investigates her brother's death.

The tune, director Akiva Schaffer reveals to **, was a "last-minute idea." He was preparing to show a final edit of the movie to some 90 friends and family members — but one thing was missing.

"I always knew I needed to do something in the credits, and finally we were picture-locked and we were in the edit room and I just [recorded the song] into my laptop, put it in the movie, and two hours later we screened it and it did really well," he explains. "Then I replaced [my vocals] with Liam… I'm very pleased that we got that in at the buzzer, that we snuck in there."

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Tickling their funny bone: See 'The Naked Gun' stars Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson's cover shoot photos

Neeson says it was indeed a "surprise addition" — one final gag he was down for.

"I thought, *yeah, sure*," the actor recalls. "It's not supposed to be Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett, so we had a bit of fun with it."

How can one not with lyrics like: "Beth, ooooh / Top-shelf curves, and brains to boot / And boots that would top my brain's top-10 list / Aboot boots, and the curvy brains that bought them / Also, breasts / My sweet Beth."**

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson in 'The Naked Gun'.

Paramount Pictures

If the silly lyrics weren't enough, Frank becomes distracted during the recording session — reminiscent of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross' "Endless Love" — playing around on the bass drum and guitar he finds in the music studio.

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"My Sweet Beth" isn't the first time Neeson has sung for a movie — he also did in 1986's *Duet for One*.

"Much to my embarrassment, I sang to Julie Andrews," he says. "I played Julie Andrews' lover, and I'm a third-rate British club singer. I sang Tom Jones' classic 'Green Green Grass of Home' in front of Julie Andrews. Terrified, f‑‑‑ing, terrified."**

Listen to Neeson sing "My Sweet Beth" above.

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Source: "AOL Movies"

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Source: Astro Blog

Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

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August 01, 2025

Liam Neeson's Naked Gun end credits song was a last-minute 'surprise addition'

Director Akiva Schaffer cowrote the song, &34;My Sweet Beth,&34; which Neeson sings as a tribute to Pamela Anderson'...

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