Documentary TV Shows
The 60 most popular documentary TV shows right now, most watched first. Popularity is measured on TMDB and the page is rebuilt every day, so the order moves with what people are actually watching.
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1.Mayday(2003)
8.2DocumentaryDramaCrime
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 interviews with aviation experts.
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2.NOVA(1974)
7.1Documentary
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and technology, and highlights the people involved in scientific pursuits.
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3.Ancient Aliens(2010)
7.1DocumentaryMysterySci-Fi & Fantasy
Did intelligent beings from outer space visit Earth thousands of years ago? From the age of the dinosaurs to ancient Egypt, from early cave drawings to continued mass sightings in the US, each episode gives historic depth to the questions, speculations, provocative controversies, first-hand accounts and grounded…
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4.MythBusters(2003)
7.8Documentary
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 the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes,…
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5.Marvel Studios Assembled(2021)
7.2Documentary
Go behind the scenes of the shows and movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the filmmakers, cast and crew, and Marvel heroes every step of the way.
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6.Marvel Studios Legends(2021)
7.4DocumentaryAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy
Revisit the epic heroes, villains and moments from across the MCU in preparation for the stories still to come. Each dynamic segment feeds directly into the upcoming series — setting the stage for future events. This series weaves together the many threads that constitute the unparalleled Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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7.Cosmos(2014)
8.5Documentary
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 and time.
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8.How It's Made(2001)
7.7Documentary
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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9.The First 48(2004)
7.9DocumentaryDramaCrime
The First 48 follows detectives from around the country during these first critical hours as they race against time to find the suspect. Gritty and fast-paced, it takes viewers behind the scenes of real-life investigations with unprecedented access to crime scenes, autopsies, forensic processing, and interrogations.
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10.Top Gear(1978)
8.0Documentary
Motoring programme featuring reviews of and reports about cars of all types.
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11.Formula 1: Drive to Survive(2019)
8.2Documentary
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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12.Prehistoric Planet(2022)
8.3Documentary
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 skies.
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13.The Angry Video Game Nerd(2004)
7.5ComedyDocumentary
The Angry Video Game Nerd is an adult web television series of comedic retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe. The show's format revolves around his commentary and review of older, but unsuccessful video games which are deemed to be of particularly low-quality, unfair difficulty or poor design.…
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14.Explained(2018)
7.4Documentary
This enlightening series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics such as the rise of cryptocurrency, why diets fail, and the wild world of K-pop.
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15.The Dinosaurs(2026)
8.0Documentary
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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16.How the Universe Works(2010)
8.3Documentary
A users' guide to the cosmos, from the Big Bang to galaxies, stars, planets and moons: where did it all come from and how does it all fit together? A primer for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered.
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17.Planet Earth(2006)
8.6Documentary
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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18.The Movies That Made Us(2019)
7.3Documentary
These blockbusters brought us together and gave us the time of our lives. Meet the actors, directors and industry insiders who made them happen.
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19.Planet Earth II(2016)
8.6DocumentaryFamily
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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20.The World at War(1973)
8.3DocumentaryWar & Politics
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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21.The Jinx(2015)
8.0DocumentaryCrime
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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22.Adam Ruins Everything(2015)
7.5ComedyDocumentary
Host Adam Conover employs a combination of comedy, history and science to dispel widespread misconceptions about everything we take for granted.
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23.History 101(2020)
7.1Documentary
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
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24.The Universe(2007)
8.0Documentary
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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25.Ancient Apocalypse(2022)
6.7Documentary
Journalist and writer Graham Hancock travels the globe hunting for evidence of mysterious, lost civilizations dating back to the last Ice Age. He attempts to prove that a climatic event 12,000 years ago wiped out an entire civilization far more sophisticated than the simple hunter-gatherers some archaeologists…
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26.Man vs. Wild(2006)
7.1Action & AdventureDocumentary
Bear strands himself in popular wilderness destinations where tourists often find themselves lost or in danger.
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27.The Civil War(1990)
7.9DocumentaryWar & Politics
A documentary on the American Civil War narrated by Ken Burns, covering the secession of the Confederacy to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
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28.The Rehearsal(2022)
8.0ComedyDocumentary
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 single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?
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29.Penn & Teller: Bull!(2003)
7.6ComedyDocumentary
This daring original series stars postmodern bad boys of magic Penn & Teller as they question many of our culture's most cherished and widely held beliefs. From the truth about palm readings and TV psychics to the reality behind Feng Shui and Ouija boards, the archly comic masters of misdirection host this…
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30.Through the Wormhole(2010)
7.6Documentary
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 creator? These questions have been pondered by the most exquisite minds of the…
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31.Seven Deadly Sins(2008)
7.7Documentary
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 nature, their opposing virtue, and their corresponding punishment.
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32.Sex, Explained(2020)
6.6Documentary
From the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.
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33.The Last Dance(2020)
8.3Documentary
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 basketball’s biggest names.
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34.Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer(2019)
7.6CrimeDocumentary
A twisted criminal's gruesome videos drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that pulls them into a dark underworld.
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35.Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak(2020)
6.9Documentary
In this docuseries, meet the heroes on the front lines of the battle against influenza and learn about their efforts to stop the next global outbreak.
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36.Tiger King(2020)
6.9DocumentaryCrime
A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.
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37.Making a Murderer(2015)
7.8DocumentaryCrime
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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38.The Walking Dead: Origins(2021)
7.7Documentary
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 interviews and narrations from the actors that portray these iconic characters,…
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39.Our Planet(2019)
8.5DocumentaryFamily
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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40.Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich(2020)
7.0CrimeDocumentary
Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses.
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41.Cosmos: A Personal Voyage(1980)
8.7Documentary
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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42.The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez(2020)
7.4DocumentaryCrime
A boy’s brutal murder and the public trials of his guardians and social workers prompt questions about the system’s protection of vulnerable children.
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43.1000 Ways to Die(2009)
7.7DocumentaryComedy
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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44.Welcome to Earth(2021)
7.6Documentary
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 spectacles of the planet.
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45.The Beatles: Get Back(2021)
8.4Documentary
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 in its entirety – The Beatles' final performance at London's Savile Row.
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46.Life(2009)
8.4Documentary
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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47.The Blue Planet(2001)
8.4Documentary
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 do about the surface of the moon. This limited series travels from various…
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48.Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes(2019)
7.5DocumentaryCrime
A unique look inside the mind of an infamous serial killer with this cinematic self-portrait crafted from statements made by Ted Bundy, including present-day interviews, archival footage and audio recordings from death row.
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49.Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel(2021)
6.9DocumentaryCrimeMystery
The notorious Cecil Hotel grows in infamy when guest Elisa Lam vanishes. A dive into crime's darkest places.
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50.The Story of God with Morgan Freeman(2016)
7.4Documentary
Morgan Freeman presents his quest in order to find how most religions perceive life after death, what different civilizations thought about the act of creation and other big questions that mankind has continuously asked.
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51.Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer(2021)
7.5DocumentaryCrimeMystery
Beneath the sunlit glamour of 1985 L.A. lurks a relentlessly evil serial killer. In this true-crime story, two detectives won't rest until they catch him.
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52.Blue Planet II(2017)
8.6DocumentaryFamily
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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53.Rise of Empires: Ottoman(2020)
7.5DocumentaryWar & PoliticsAction & Adventure
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.
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54.Unsolved Mysteries(2020)
7.7DocumentaryDramaMystery
Real cases of perplexing disappearances, shocking murders and paranormal encounters fuel this gripping revival of the iconic documentary series.
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55.Nathan for You(2013)
8.2ComedyDocumentary
Self-proclaimed business expert, writer, director and comedian Nathan Fielder helps real small businesses turn a profit with marketing tactics that no ordinary consultant would dare to attempt. From driving foot traffic to an off-the-strip souvenir shop by using Hollywood flair and a Johnny Depp impersonator, to…
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56.Wild Wild Country(2018)
7.7DocumentaryCrime
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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57.Undertaker: The Last Ride(2020)
7.4DocumentaryDrama
The anticipated WWE Network docuseries will look back on The Undertaker’s storied WWE career and place a focus on the ongoing challenges the wrestling legend appears to have with a career beginning to near it's end.
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58.Frozen Planet(2011)
8.4Documentary
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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59.Down to Earth with Zac Efron(2020)
7.7Documentary
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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60.Haunted(2018)
6.9Documentary
Real people sit down with friends and family to share terrifying true stories from their past, re-created through chilling re-enactments.
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