Watching the 30 Best Documentaries On Tubi TV is one of the best ways to spend your weekend. These days, everyone is a documentarian, but the best documentaries go beyond merely shooting actual life and posting it online.
They bring real-life events into perspective. They can sometimes remodel it and alter our perceptions of the world. They teach us about the people around us, and the truly successful documentaries cause us to reconsider our own perceptions of ourselves.
We, therefore bring to you the best documentaries available on Tubi.
Table of Contents
Best Documentaries Of All Times | Know What You Are Missing!
True, there are a lot of documentaries out there, whether they’re streaming on Tubi or getting Oscar’s attention. We’ve separated the must-sees from the glorified Tubi Documentaries to make it easier for you to decide what to watch.
Here are our recommendations for the best documentaries ever made. We bring to you an ample amount of options to choose from.
#1 The Imposter (2012)
The Imposter, a documentary by English documentary filmmaker Bart Layton, exposes an extraordinary story. Any storyline summary worthy of this picture must lean on the side of brevity, which is why it will be just one sentence long: this is the story of Frederic Bourdin, a serial imposter known as “The Chameleon,” who claimed to be the missing son of a Texas family at one point.
The film is so well-shot that it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fantasy at times, forcing you to remind yourself that this is, after all, real life. Expect unexpected twists and turns around every corner and incredible storytelling from real people. A 48-hour narrative written by Christopher Nolan would pale in comparison.
- Director- Bart Layton
- IMDb- 7.5/10
- Run Time- 1h 39m
- Release Date- 13 July 2012
#2 The Last Man On The Moon (2014)
The documentary The Last Man on the Moon is about astronaut Eugene Cernan, the commander of the Apollo 17 lunar landing mission in 1972. The video chronicles Cernan’s early career in the Navy, his recruiting and training as an astronaut, and his participation in three flights to space: Gemini 9A, Apollo 10, and finally Apollo 17—the final of NASA’s six Moon missions.
Cern also expresses his remorse for losing out on so much family time while gone, as well as his loss of friends. It’s a moving and inspiring story, with Cern demonstrating the courage and perseverance required to seek and achieve one’s goals.
- Director- Mark Craig
- IMDb- 7.4/10
- Run Time- 1h 34m
- Release Date- 8 June, 2014
#3 Man On Wire (2008)
The film Man on Wire is a remarkable technical marvel. You can practically hear the director instructing the cameraman on which angle to take or pondering the questions that will elicit the most emphatic responses.
However, this in no way diminishes the importance of the story told in this film. It’s a magnificent, gripping, and entertaining story. It’s one in which you feel like an insider in a world where high-stakes risks are taken both above and below the wires. Hopefully, you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, because the movie will keep you there until the very end.
- Director- James Marsh
- IMDb- 7.7
- Run Time- 1h 34m
- Release Date- 25 July 2008
#4 American Animals (2018)
This insane heist film is told in a unique way. “This movie is not based on a true story, it is a true story,” says the opening sequence.
Two friends intend to loot their local library of millions of dollars worth of priceless books. They’re motivated by money, but also by a desire to do something different from their mundane existence in Kentucky.
The movie’s central theme is the need for change, but the plot and the manner it’s portrayed never fail to be breathtakingly thrilling. Amazing actors such as Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk), Evan Peters (Kick-Ass), and others who star in American Animals; have aced their roles.
- Director- Bart Layton
- IMDb- 7/10
- Run Time- 1h 56m
- Release Date- 19 January 2018
#5 Love, Antosha (2019)
The remarkable life of actor Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Like Crazy), recounted by Nicolas Cage, begins with his birth in a Jewish Russian family in Leningrad and ends with his sudden death at the age of 27.
Anton, or Antosha as his friends and family nicknamed him, was a bright young man who began making his own films at the age of seven, took meticulous notes on Fellini films at the age of nine, and quickly learned to play the guitar.
He shot images that are still on display in museums all around the world. He lived an exceptional life, which is depicted here, but one that was far too brief.
- Director- Garret Price
- IMDb- 8.1/10
- Run Time- 1h 32m
- Release Date- 2 August 2019
#6 Motherland (2017)
The Philippines’ Fabella Hospital is visibly overburdened and understaffed, and while having some of the lowest pregnant delivery rates in the country, it is still out of reach for the majority of its patients. Because of this, it’s been labeled the world’s busiest maternity hospital, and Ramona Diaz’s cinéma-vérité film Motherland aims to depict its never-ending bustle of activity.
The documentary is informative and ultimately heartwarming because, despite the problems the characters experience, they are always depicted with warmth and sympathy. We don’t keep a strict or stylistic distance from them; instead, we move with them as they laugh, befriend one another, worry about their babies, curse their partners, and eventually leave.
Indeed, the film is a land of mothers, filled first and foremost with their true stories.
- Director- Ramona S. Diaz
- IMDb- 7.1/10
- Run Time- 1h 34m
#7 Fifi Howls From Happiness (2014)
This fascinating documentary follows the enigmatic Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess, whose work resembles that of Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali. However, unlike his European peers, Mohassess’ work has been largely destroyed. Some were created in the aftermath of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, but the majority were created by the artist himself.
He went into exile after the revolution. His whereabouts were unknown for 40 years until an Iranian filmmaker based in Paris tracked him down in a hotel in Rome.
Director Mitra Farahani mentions early in the film that Mohassess died half an hour after one of their filming sessions.
The urgency of their discussions, Mohassess’ genius and relationship to his art, and the uniqueness of his life’s unknown story all contribute to this being more than just another documentary. It’s a work with incalculable historical significance.
- Director- Mitra Farahani
- IMDb- 7.6/10
- Run Time– 1h 36m
- Release Date- 2 October 2014
#8 There Are No Fakes (2019)
The film begins with Kevin Hearn, a member of the band Barenaked Ladies, discovering that a painting by renowned Canadian Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau is a forgery. When he sues the collector from whom he purchased it, he begins a series of investigations that reveal a story that becomes increasingly dark: drug selling, organized crime, addiction, sexual abuse, and bizarre personalities (reminiscent of Tiger King).
Behind it all, There Are No Fakes is about the exploitation of Indigenous people in Canada in general, not just Indigenous art.
- Director- Jamie Kastner
- IMDb- 7.4
- Run Time- 1h 53m
- Release Date- 29 April 2019
#9 Angry Inuk (2016)
Angry Inuk, like all great documentaries, is about a lot more than its slogan. On the surface, it appears to be about how anti-sealing activity has harmed Inuit communities since the 1980s, leading to the worst rates of hunger and suicide in the “developed” world.
But it’s also about the Canadian government’s complicity. Because their income is founded on crushed seals, the Inuit must accept oil and uranium mines in the Arctic.
Angry Inuk is also against animal rights organizations like Greenpeace’s unscrupulous behavior: seals aren’t on the endangered species list, yet NGOs focus on them since they bring in money.
It’s a vexing film, but one that’s vitally necessary. One that isn’t about how horrible Canada’s history is, but about how Canada is currently harming the Inuit.
- Director- Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
- IMDb- 7.6/10
- Run Time- 1h 25m
- Release Date- 2 May 2016
#10 Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (2011)
Jiro, an 85-year-old Japanese chef, his Michelin-starred restaurant in the Tokyo subway, and his eager sons are the subjects of this fascinating documentary. While the film is purportedly about sushi – and believe me, you’ll learn a lot about it and see some incredibly stunning photos of the raw-fish creations – the weight of tradition, the beauty of a labor of love, devotion, and the relationship between father and son carry the film’s emotional momentum.
This is a must-see film.
- Director- David Gelb
- IMDb- 7.8/10
- Run Time- 1h 21m
- Release Date- 9 March 2012
#11 I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
This film dives deep into the American subconscious and racial history in a striking and vivid (re-)introduction to Black philosopher, author, and social critic James Baldwin. It relates the tale of “the negro” in America, based on a book Baldwin began to write about the legendary assassinations of three of Baldwin’s friends: Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Before he died in 1987, he wrote roughly 30 pages. Raoul Peck, a Haitian filmmaker, and activist took up the idea and turned it into a film, earning him an Academy Award nomination.
I Am Not Your Negro, narrated by none other than Samuel L. Jackson, celebrates Baldwin’s genius, distinctive eloquence, and the purity of his spirit as a human being.
Baldwin’s criticisms are as pertinent today as they were 50 years ago, which is a terrible reality. As a result, this film serves as a stark reminder of how far America still needs to travel. An enthralling experience!
- Director- Raoul Peck
- IMDb- 7.9/10
- Run Time- 1h 33m
- Release Date- 3 February 2017
#12 Tomorrow (2015)
When Mélanie Laurent (Breathe, Inglorious Basterds) was pregnant with her son, she learned of research that claimed human civilization will fall by 2050 due to climate change. She was concerned, as are many soon-to-be parents, about what it means to bring a child into a world where that is a scientific prediction.
Instead of despairing, she decided to develop a film about finding solutions. She documented how human ingenuity is preventing the situation from escalating while traveling the world with an activist buddy. The film visits ten countries to look for answers on five different levels: agricultural (food), energy, economy, education, and democracy.
- Director- Cyril Deon
- IMDb- 8/10
- Run Time- 1h 58m
#13 Sunday Beauty Queen (2016)
Sunday Beauty Queen begins with a simple yet astounding fact: Hong Kong has approximately 190,000 Filipina domestic workers. They toil for six days a week, with only short breaks in between, yet on Sundays, their one day off, they chose to participate in a glamorous beauty competition.
The pageant is more than just a performance; it is a source of joy and relief for migrant workers who, despite earning substantially more overseas than at home, face a slew of issues, including discrimination, loneliness, and underemployment. Because of the strict laws in the Philippines and Hong Kong, some aid workers are compelled to go into hiding, unsure of who will defend them at any given time.
The film’s director, Baby Ruth Villarama, deserves credit for making the film feel both critical and celebratory of the migrant experience. She exposes the flawed system that compels these women to escape their homeland, but she also emphasizes the humanism that keeps them going. As a result of this delicate balance, we have a story that is as warm and exacting as any ancient house.
- Director- Baby Ruth
- IMDb- 8/10
- Run Time- 1h 35m
- Release Date- 7 October 2016
#14 Spitfire (2018)
Spitfire is a silent documentary that explains the story of the legendary plane that younger audiences may only recognize from movies like Dunkirk or Darkest Hour. It was made to commemorate the British Royal Air Force’s centenary.
It includes stunning images of the last remaining planes in operation flying over the British shoreline, as well as recollections from living pilots and a reminder of the important role this jet previously played. It appears to be an attempt to record and archive not only the plane’s significance, but also the relevance of the plane’s pilots, who were mostly young youngsters with minimal training but, over time, learned essential lessons from warfare.
A must-see for aviation buffs and an excellent choice for everyone searching for a relaxing film.
- Director- David Fairhead
- IMDb- 7.5
- Run Time- 1h 39m
- Release Date- 9 July 2018
#15 Deliver Us From Evil (2006)
Deliver Us From Evil is a timely and tough documentary that chronicles an interview with a Catholic pedophile. In addition, the video depicts his victims, their coping mechanisms, and their lives, as well as the lengths to which the Catholic Church went to cover up and support widespread child rape.
While the video is at times difficult to see, it illuminates the dark corners of human conduct, forgiveness, sin, and religion in a way that is both challenging and accessible.
- Director- Amy Berg
- IMDb- 7.9
- Run Time– 1h 41m
- Release Date- 12 September 2014
#16 Pavarotti (2019)
A biopic is only as huge as the central character, and what a character Pavarotti was. The opera singer who rose to fame after coming from humble beginnings in Modena, Italy, oozed joy and had a positive attitude on life.
Even as the attention he’ll eventually draw wears him down, he maintains his positivism and commitment to his art. If, like me, you had no idea who Pavarotti was or how influential he was, this documentary about his life and work will be even more fascinating.
- Director- Ron Howard
- IMDb- 7.5/10
- Run Time- 1h 54m
- Release Date- 7 June 2019
#17 Magnus (2016)
Magnus Carlsen, the current world champion who became a chess grandmaster at the age of 13, is the subject of this English-language Norwegian documentary. Magnus’ elevation was hampered greatly by multiple crises of self-confidence and the inability to cope with pressure at a young age, which may seem hard to believe.
Magnus (2016), the movie strives to offer a thorough image of the prodigy, featuring home footage and interviews with everyone from his opponents to the champion himself. However, critical elements such as an explanation for a sudden change in temperament, and maybe more crucially, an explanation for Magnus’ chess skill, are missing.
His methods and approaches are mostly attributed to intuition, but the film fails to explain how this intuition manifests itself in the game.
- Director- Benjamin Ree
- IMDb- 7.1/10
- Run Time- 1h 18m
- Release Date- 2 September 2016
#18 Zero Days (2016)
Zero Days is a highly interesting and brilliant documentary regarding the Stuxnet computer virus. The docu-film contains several exclusive interviews of cyber professionals from all around the world. The virus was initially named “Olympic Games” by the people who created it. Stuxnet is a one-of-a-kind virus, it not only feeds off the host but it quickly duplicates itself the moment it is implanted.
The US and Israeli governments used the virus to deliberately damage centrifuges inside Iran’s Natanz nuclear power plant. Zero Days showcase numerous interesting facts about the Stuxnet virus. The docu-film also exposes how this virus can be used in future wars among developed nations or countries with Nuclear weapons.
The most important message in this docu-film is that cyber warfare is an urgent threat and is a part of our reality. People should be more aware of it and talk about it, as global security is vital.
- Director- Alex Gibney
- IMDb- 7.7
- Run Time- 1h 56m
- Release Date- 8 July 2016
#19 The Look Of Silence (2015)
Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look Of Silence is another enthralling and captivating documentary film that focuses on the Indonesian Genocide of 1965 and 1966. The military government at that time in Indonesia systematically carried out mass killings. Almost one million members of the communist party were murdered. Oppenheimer directed another docu-film called The Act of Killing, which mainly dealt with the culprits of the genocide. But The Look of Silence focuses on the victims.
The documentary film showcases a number of interviews with the people who are relatives, family members or friends of the victims. The military killed a large number of people in various ways, and some were extremely brutal. The docu-film captures every little detail in the best way possible.
The documentary is phenomenal and provocative as it takes a dig at the legacy of historical mass killings and propaganda. It’s a highly recommended docu-film, especially for people who are fond of world history.
- Director- Joshua Oppenheimer
- IMDb- 8.3
- Run Time- 1h 43m
- Release Date- 17 July 2015
#20 Rivers And Tides (2001)
Rivers And Tides is a documentary about a British artist, Andy Goldsworthy. He is a photographer, sculptor, and environmentalist who is widely known for his unique artworks. The most interesting thing about Goldsworthy is that his artworks are specific to the natural location he creates them in and only use natural materials that are available in that specific place.
Goldsworthy can be very well called a solitary wanderer, who lives in the moment, without caring and wondering about what comes next. He does not use any fancy tools or equipment to create his artwork but only his bare hands. This particular docu-film helps us in understanding him as a person and an artist and also captures a number of his famous artworks. Thomas Riedelsheimer’s Rivers And Tides studies Goldsworthy’s brilliant ideas and craft. It also sheds light on his journeys and the places he visited.
- Director- Thomas Riedelsheimer
- IMDb- 7.9
- Run Time- 1h 30m
- Release Date- 7 March 2002
Here Are Some More Fascinating Documentaries On Tubi TV!
| Name of the Documentary | Director | Rating |
| Blackfish, 2013 | Gabriela Cowperthwaite | 8.1 |
| Disclosure, 2020 | Sam Feder | 8.2 |
| Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story, 2020 | Nate Adams and Adam Carolla | 7.8 |
| Scheme Birds, 2019 | Ellen Fiske and Ellinor Hallin | 7.1 |
| Rewind, 2019 | Sasha Joseph Neulinger | 7.9 |
| Touching the Void, 2003 | Kevin Macdonald | 8 |
| The Wrecking Crew, 2008 | Denny Tedesco | 7.7 |
| Welcome to Chechnya, 2020 | David France | 7.9 |
| Under the Sun, 2015 | Vitaliy Manskiy | 7.4 |
| Born in Evin, 2020 | Maryam Zaree | 7.1 |
Final Words
You need to look no further if you’re looking for a documentary watch to sweep you off your feet. Tubi brings to you the ultimate bests of all times.