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Best Documentary Movies

of the 2020s

The 20 highest-rated documentary movies released between 2020 and 2029, ranked by IMDb score.

1

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet(2020)

8.9 IMDb96% RT72 Meta

The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild place

2

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)(2021)

8.8 IMDb

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from th

3

20 Days in Mariupol(2023)

8.6 IMDb100% RT83 Meta

As the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.

4

No Other Land(2024)

8.3 IMDb100% RT93 Meta

This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist

5

The Rescue(2021)

8.3 IMDb96% RT84 Meta

The enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.

6

Ennio(2022)

8.2 IMDb91% RT75 Meta

A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of over five hund

7

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie(2023)

8.1 IMDb99% RT78 Meta

A short kid from a Canadian army base becomes the international pop culture darling of the 1980s—only to find the course of his life altered by a stunning diagnosis. What happens when an incurable opt

8

Seaspiracy(2021)

8.1 IMDb75% RT

Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species — and uncovers an alarming global conspiracy.

9

The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo(2020)

8.1 IMDb

After the death of her daughter at the hand of her boyfriend, Marisela Escobedo began to fight for justice not only against the murderer but also against the corrupt Mexican judicial system.

10

My Octopus Teacher(2020)

8.1 IMDb93% RT82 Meta

After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking h

11

The Greatest Night in Pop(2024)

7.9 IMDb98% RT

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

12

Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry(2021)

7.7 IMDb96% RT70 Meta

This documentary offers a deeply intimate look at extraordinary teenager Billie Eilish. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler follows her journey on the road, onstage, and at home with her family as the

13

Fire of Love(2022)

7.6 IMDb98% RT84 Meta

A doomed love triangle between intrepid French scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft, and their beloved volcanoes.

14

Moonage Daydream(2022)

7.6 IMDb92% RT83 Meta

A cinematic odyssey featuring never-before-seen footage exploring David Bowie's creative and musical journey.

15

Athlete A(2020)

7.6 IMDb100% RT85 Meta

Follow the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's abuse and hear from gymnasts.

16

The Mole Agent(2020)

7.5 IMDb95% RT69 Meta

When a daughter becomes concerned about her mother's well-being in a retirement home, private investigator Romulo hires Sergio, an 83-year-old man who becomes a new resident—and a mole inside the home

17

Miss Americana(2020)

7.4 IMDb65 Meta

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer

18

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me(2022)

7.3 IMDb97% RT68 Meta

After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spa

19

BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky(2020)

7.3 IMDb94% RT66 Meta

Record-shattering Korean girl band BLACKPINK tell their story — and detail the hard fought journey of the dreams and trials behind their meteoric rise.

20

Making Squid Game: The Challenge(2023)

Go behind the scenes and witness how the "Squid Game"-inspired reality show transformed from a scripted drama to a cutthroat, nail-biting competition.

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