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Best Documentary Movies

of the 1990s

The 10 highest-rated documentary movies released between 1990 and 1999, ranked by IMDb score.

1

Baraka(1992)

8.5 IMDb85% RT

A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.

2

Hoop Dreams(1994)

8.3 IMDb98% RT98 Meta

Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white

3

Paris Is Burning(1991)

8.2 IMDb98% RT82 Meta

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx H

4

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse(1991)

8.1 IMDb100% RT95 Meta

A chronicle of the production problems — including bad weather, actors' health, war near the filming locations, and more — which plagued the filming of Apocalypse Now, increasing costs and nearly dest

5

Crumb(1995)

8 IMDb95% RT93 Meta

This movie chronicles the life and times of R. Crumb. Robert Crumb is the cartoonist/artist who drew Keep On Truckin', Fritz the Cat, and played a major pioneering role in the genesis of underground c

6

When We Were Kings(1996)

7.9 IMDb100% RT83 Meta

It's 1974. Muhammad Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Foreman is ten years younger and the heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himsel

7

Microcosmos(1996)

7.9 IMDb97% RT87 Meta

A documentary of insect life in meadows and ponds, using incredible close-ups, slow motion, and time-lapse photography. It includes bees collecting nectar, ladybugs eating mites, snails mating, spider

8

My Best Fiend(1999)

7.8 IMDb78% RT70 Meta

A film that describes the love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, the deep trust between the director and the actor, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to

9

American Movie(1999)

7.8 IMDb94% RT84 Meta

American Movie documents the story of filmmaker Mark Borchardt, his mission, and his dream. Spanning over two years of intense struggle with his film, his family, financial decline, and spiritual cris

10

Buena Vista Social Club(1999)

7.6 IMDb92% RT81 Meta

In this fascinating Oscar-nominated documentary, American guitarist Ry Cooder brings together a group of legendary Cuban folk musicians (some in their 90s) to record a Grammy-winning CD in their nativ

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