Best Documentary TV Shows of All Time
The 50 highest rated documentary TV shows ever made, ranked by viewer ratings on TMDB. Only titles with a large number of votes are included, so the list reflects lasting favourites rather than passing hype.
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1
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980)
Carl Sagan covers a wide range of scientific subjects, including the origin of life and a perspective of our place in the universe.
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2
Planet Earth (2006)
David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.
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3
Planet Earth II (2016)
David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
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4
Blue Planet II (2017)
There is nowhere more powerful and unforgiving yet more beautiful and compelling than the ocean. Join us and explore the greatest yet least known parts of our planet.
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5
Our Planet (2019)
Experience our planet's natural beauty and examine how climate change impacts all living creatures in this ambitious documentary of spectacular scope.
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6
Cosmos (2014)
Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson provides clarity for the vision of the cosmos as he voyages across the universe with never-before-told stories that delve into the scientific concepts of the laws of gravity and the origins of space…
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7
Be Eternal: Champions of America (2022)
This series takes an unprecedented closeup look at Lionel Messi and the Argentine team's battle to break a 28-year title drought in 2021's Copa América.
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8
Life (2009)
David Attenborough looks at the extraordinary ends to which animals and plants go in order to survive. Featuring epic spectacles, amazing TV firsts and examples of new wildlife behaviour.
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9
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music's most iconic foursome. The series also includes – for the first time…
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10
The Blue Planet (2001)
Sir David Attenborough narrates this critically acclaimed series that dives deep into the marine environment of Planet Earth. Although two-thirds of the world's surface is covered with water, scientists know less about the oceans than they…
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11
Frozen Planet (2011)
David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.
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12
The World at War (1973)
A documentary series that gives a historical account of the events of World War II, from its roots in the 1920s to the aftermath and the lives it profoundly influenced.
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13
Prehistoric Planet (2022)
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic series from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth. Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and…
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14
The Last Dance (2020)
A 10-part documentary chronicling the untold story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty with rare, never-before-seen footage and sound from the 1997-98 championship season – plus over 100 interviews with famous figures and…
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15
The Vietnam War (2017)
An immersive 360-degree narrative telling the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told on film. Featuring testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as…
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16
Human Planet (2011)
A cinematic experience bringing you the most amazing human stories in the world. Humans and wildlife surviving in the most extreme environments on Earth.
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17
Nathan for You (2013)
Nathan Fielder uses his business degree and life experiences to help real small businesses turn a profit.
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18
Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)
Combining fact and informed speculation with cutting-edge computer graphics and animatronics effects, the series set out to create the most accurate portrayal of prehistoric animals ever seen on the screen.
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19
Mayday (2003)
Major real-life air disasters are depicted in this series. Each episode features a detailed dramatized reconstruction of the incident based on cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, as well as eyewitnesses recounts and…
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20
Money Heist: From Tokyo to Berlin (2021)
The filmmakers and actors behind "Money Heist" characters like Tokyo and the Professor talk about the emotional artistic process of filming the series.
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21
MATARIFE (2020)
Matarife, an unmentionable genocide | The series has generated great controversy in Colombia because it exposes former president Alvaro Uribe Vélez in its plot like never before.
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22
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane — both on and off the track — during each cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing.
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23
Life on Our Planet (2023)
Life's extraordinary journey to conquer, adapt and survive on Earth across billions of years comes alive in this groundbreaking nature docuseries.
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24
The Men Who Built America (2012)
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever seen. The Men Who…
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25
Beckham (2023)
With never-before-seen footage, this docuseries follows David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom.
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26
The Dinosaurs (2026)
From the first dinosaurs to the last, this epic documentary series examines their 165 million years on Earth and the forces that shaped their evolution.
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27
Tiny World (2020)
This docuseries showcases nature's lesser-known tiny heroes. Spotlighting small creatures and the extraordinary things they do to survive, each episode is filled with surprising stories and spectacular cinematography.
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28
The Jinx (2015)
Robert Durst, scion of NY's billionaire real-estate family, has been accused of three murders but has evaded justice for over 30 years. Durst speaks in this true crime series, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities.
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29
The Universe (2007)
From the planets to the stars and out to the edge of the unknown, history and science collide in a wondrous yet deadly adventure through space and time.
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30
The Rehearsal (2022)
With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Nathan Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life's biggest moments by "rehearsing" them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a…
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31
Arnold (2023)
This intimate docuseries follows Arnold Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life and career, from bodybuilding champ to Hollywood icon to politician.
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32
Making a Murderer (2015)
Filmed over 10 years, this real-life thriller follows a DNA exoneree who, while exposing police corruption, becomes a suspect in a grisly new crime.
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33
MythBusters (2003)
MythBusters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The show's hosts, special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, use elements of…
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34
Welcome to Wrexham (2022)
Documentary series tracking the dreams and worries of Wrexham, a working-class town in North Wales, UK, as two Hollywood stars (Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds) take ownership of the town’s historic yet struggling football club.
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35
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022)
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to his gruesome crimes in unguarded interviews, offering an unsettling view into a disturbed mind.
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36
The Walking Dead: Origins (2021)
The Walking Dead: Origins is a series of specials exploring the journeys of the series' most celebrated characters. Each episode charts the story of the zombie apocalypse from the point of view of a single character and features new…
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37
The Girl (2016)
A young woman who was part of the guerrilla group is now seeking a better life in the city. She wants to study medicine, to heal rather than harm, but she will face a challenge, because being part of outlaw groups always has consequences.
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38
Apocalypse: World War I (2014)
Colorized historical footage in ascending order of World War 1. Not only the relatively known Flanders and France battles, but also the generally unknown Italian-Austrian, German-Polish-Russian, Japanese-German, Ottoman Empire- Allied and…
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39
An Idiot Abroad (2010)
An Idiot Abroad is a British travel documentary television series broadcast on Sky1 and Science, as well as spin-off books published by Canongate Books, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and starring Karl Pilkington. The ongoing…
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40
Seven Deadly Sins (2008)
The series traces the history of the seven deadly sins, how they became part of religious doctrine, and looks at historical figures who have been the worst perpetrators of each. Each of the seven sins is explored, from their origins and…
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41
Wild Wild Country (2018)
When a controversial cult leader builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal.
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42
1000 Ways to Die (2009)
The science of living and the randomness of death are combined with a dash of Darwinism. Forensic experts, pathologists, toxicologists, herpetologists, and other experts offer eloquent explanations of mortality.
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43
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)
Discover the untold story of the toxic and abusive environment inside '90s kids' TV. Hear harrowing accounts from former child stars and crew who probe the balance of power in the industry and reveal an era that inflicted lasting wounds…
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44
Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020)
Actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a travel show that explores healthy, sustainable ways to live.
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45
Through the Wormhole (2010)
Hosted by Morgan Freeman, Through the Wormhole explores the deepest mysteries of existence - the questions that have puzzled mankind for eternity. What are we made of? What was there before the beginning? Are we really alone? Is there a…
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46
Unsolved Mysteries (2020)
Real cases of perplexing disappearances, shocking murders and paranormal encounters fuel this gripping revival of the iconic documentary series.
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47
How It's Made (2001)
Have you ever wondered how the products you use every day are made? How It's Made leads you through the process of how everyday products, such as apple juice, skateboards, engines, contact lenses, and many more objects are manufactured.
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48
World War II in Colour (2009)
World War II In Colour is a 13-episode television documentary miniseries recounting the events of World War II narrated by Robert Powell. The show covers the Western Front, Eastern Front, and the Pacific War. It is on syndication in America…
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49
Welcome to Earth (2021)
Will Smith whose curiosity and wonder is positively infectious—is guided by National Geographic Explorers traveling to different corners of the world to get up close and personal with the weirdest, most unusual, dangerous and thrilling…
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50
The Staircase (2004)
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial. In 2001, author Michael Peterson was arraigned for the…