Shows like The Runner-Up (2015)
Loved The Runner-Up? Here are 21 shows with a similar feel, picked from what fans of The Runner-Up watch next and from titles with the same mix of documentary. The Runner-Up was created by Simon Chinn.
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1
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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2
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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3
History 101 (2020)
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
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4
World War II with Tom Hanks (2026)
Explores WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age, examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt, and the human cost of total war.
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5
Baseball (1994)
The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and the words of those who contributed to the game in each era. Writers, historians, players, baseball personnel, and fans review key events and…
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6
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019)
Through the prism of Jeff Goldblum's always inquisitive and highly entertaining mind, nothing is as it seems. Each episode is centered around something we all love — like sneakers or ice cream — as Jeff pulls the thread on these deceptively…
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7
Top Gear (2010)
Hosts Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara and Rutledge Wood embark on adventures as they test cars in extreme stunts, intense challenges and first-person reviews using their unique perspectives.
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8
The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy (2023)
Award-winning actor and nervous explorer Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world's most beautiful and intriguing destinations.
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9
Doctor Who Confidential (2005)
Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly…
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10
American Experience (1988)
TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.
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11
Pee-wee as Himself (2025)
A kaleidoscopic portrait told in two parts tracing the life of the imaginative artist.
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12
How Do They Do It? (2006)
An insider's look at the engineering and scientific miracles behind the things that form the modern world.
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13
Horizon (1964)
Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
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14
Agents of Chaos (2020)
This two-part documentary pulls back the curtain on Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
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15
Biography (1987)
Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since…
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16
TYSON (2026)
This gripping four-part documentary series explores the explosive life of Mike Tyson — one of the most feared and fascinating figures in sports history.
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17
The New York Times Presents (2020)
A series of standalone documentaries powered by the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time.
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18
Mysteries at the Museum (2010)
Don Wildman unearths relics from the world's greatest institutions to reveal secrets from the past. He examines each artifact to illuminate history's most incredible triumphs, sensational crimes and bizarre encounters.
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19
Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone (2022)
What it felt like to live through the collapse of communism and democracy. A series of films by Adam Curtis.
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20
The One About Matthew Perry (2026)
Told through intimate testimonies from close family and friends, this documentary event reveals the real Matthew Perry—generous, funny, vulnerable, larger than life—and the battles he fought to become the man behind the icon. A raw record…
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21
The Circus (2016)
Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are…