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Best Documentary on Max, ranked by IMDb rating

256 documentary titles on Max rate 6.0+ on IMDb — the top 50 are ranked below.

Updated nightly · last refresh 2026-11-06 · minimum 1,000 IMDb votes · nothing under 6.0

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1
Planet Earth poster
Planet Earth (2006)
★ 9.4 IMDb   TV-PG · 11 episodes · Documentary
David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.
2
Blue Planet II poster
Blue Planet II (2017)
★ 9.3 IMDb   TV-G · 7 episodes · Documentary · Family
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.
3
Seven Worlds, One Planet poster
Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019)
★ 9.3 IMDb   TV-PG · 7 episodes · Documentary · Family
Millions of years ago, incredible forces ripped apart the Earth’s crust creating seven extraordinary continents. This documentary series reveals how each distinct continent has shaped the unique animal life found there.
4
The Hunt poster
The Hunt (2015)
★ 9.2 IMDb   TV-PG · 7 episodes · Documentary
This major landmark series looks in detail at the fascinating relationship between predators and their prey. Rather than concentrating on ‘the blood and guts’ of predation, the series looks in unprecedented detail at the
5
Life poster
Life (2009)
★ 9.1 IMDb   TV-G · 10 episodes · Documentary
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.
6
Dynasties poster
Dynasties (2018)
★ 9.1 IMDb   TV-PG · 9 episodes · Documentary · Family
Follow the true stories of five of the world's most celebrated, yet endangered animals; penguins, chimpanzees, lions, painted wolves and tigers. Each in a heroic struggle against rivals and against the forces of nature,
7
Planet Earth III poster
Planet Earth III (2023)
★ 9.1 IMDb   TV-PG · 8 episodes · Documentary · Family
Journeying to the far reaches of our planet, this eight part series follows some of the world's most amazing species, telling extraordinary stories that are dramatic, thrilling, funny and sometimes heart-breaking, but al
8
The Green Planet poster
The Green Planet (2022)
★ 9.1 IMDb   5 episodes · Documentary
This documentary series about plants is the first immersive portrayal of an unseen, inter-connected world, full of remarkable new behaviour, emotional stories and surprising heroes in the plant world. Planet Earth from t
9
Frozen Planet poster
Frozen Planet (2011)
★ 9.0 IMDb   TV-PG · 7 episodes · Documentary
David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.
10
Life Story poster
Life Story (2014)
★ 9.0 IMDb   TV-PG · 6 episodes · Documentary
The remarkable and often perilous story of the journey through life. It is a story that unites each of us with every animal on the planet, because we all set out on this journey from the moment we are born. For animals t
11
Nathan for You poster
Nathan for You (2013)
★ 8.9 IMDb   TV-14 · 31 episodes · Comedy · Documentary
Nathan Fielder uses his business degree and life experiences to help real small businesses turn a profit.
12
Africa poster
Africa (2013)
★ 8.9 IMDb   TV-PG · 6 episodes · Documentary
Africa, the world's wildest continent. David Attenborough takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most diverse places in the world. We visit deserts, savannas, and jungles and meet up with some of Africa'
13
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown poster
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)
★ 8.9 IMDb   TV-PG · 95 episodes · Documentary
Bourdain travels across the globe to uncover little-known areas of the world and celebrate diverse cultures by exploring food and dining rituals. Known for his curiosity, candor, and acerbic wit, Bourdain takes viewers o
14
Nature's Great Events poster
Nature's Great Events (2009)
★ 8.9 IMDb   6 episodes · Documentary
Documentary series looking at the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on our planet, showing how life responds to natural events which can dramatically transform entire landscapes.
15
Good Eats poster
Good Eats (1999)
★ 8.8 IMDb   TV-G · 265 episodes · Comedy · Documentary
Host Alton Brown explores the origins of ingredients, decodes culinary customs and presents food and equipment trends. Punctuated by unusual interludes, simple preparations and unconventional discussions, he'll bring you
16
How To with John Wilson poster
How To with John Wilson (2020)
★ 8.7 IMDb   TV-MA · 18 episodes · Comedy · Documentary
In a uniquely hilarious odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation, documentary filmmaker and self-described "anxious New Yorker" John Wilson covertly and obsessively films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers whi
17
Homicide Hunter: Lt Joe Kenda poster
Homicide Hunter: Lt Joe Kenda (2011)
★ 8.7 IMDb   TV-14 · 142 episodes · Documentary · Crime
A non-fiction investigative series of murder cases told through the personal experience of retired detective, Lieutenant Joe Kenda. Through re-enactments, discussions with investigation teams, and interviews with victims
18
Night and Fog poster
Night and Fog (1956)
★ 8.6 IMDb   TV-14 · 32m · Documentary · History
Filmmaker Alain Resnais documents the atrocities behind the walls of Hitler's concentration camps.
19
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations poster
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005)
★ 8.6 IMDb   TV-PG · 137 episodes · Documentary · Talk · Reality
Anthony Bourdain uncovers the best cuisine across the world. At each location, Tony dives headfirst into life's colorful and rich pageant, bringing his intellectual curiosity, empathy, wit and boundless appetite.
20
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy poster
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (2021)
★ 8.6 IMDb   TV-PG · 14 episodes · Reality · Documentary
Stanley Tucci travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the country’s regional cuisines.
21
The Dark Wizard poster
The Dark Wizard (2026)
★ 8.6 IMDb   4 episodes · Documentary
An unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, the world's most influential and controversial climber, base jumper and highline walker, who achieves jaw-dropping feats while battling his inner demons.
22
Billy Joel: And So It Goes poster
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (2025)
★ 8.6 IMDb   TV-MA · 2 episodes · Documentary
An expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and persona
23
The Last Alaskans poster
The Last Alaskans (2015)
★ 8.6 IMDb   35 episodes · Documentary · Reality
In 1980, the U.S. government banned new human occupation in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a protected area, home to thousands of native animals and pristine terrain spanning roughly the size of South Car
24
The Jinx poster
The Jinx (2015)
★ 8.5 IMDb   TV-14 · 12 episodes · Documentary · Crime
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
25
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts poster
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)
★ 8.5 IMDb   🍅 94%   TV-MA · 4 episodes · Documentary
Spike Lee's award-winning documentary follows the events that preceded and followed Hurricane Katrina's catastrophic passage through New Orleans in 2005.
26
We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company poster
We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company (2001)
★ 8.5 IMDb   TV-PG · 1h 18m · Documentary · War · TV Movie
Over a period of two years, Mark Cowen and his crew travelled to thirty U.S. states and ten European cities, to interview the veterans of Easy Company. The stories told by the veterans themselves, create a history of the
27
Estonia - The Discovery That Changed History poster
Estonia - The Discovery That Changed History (2020)
★ 8.5 IMDb   7 episodes · Documentary
In 1994, M/S Estonia sinks during its route from Tallinn to Stockholm. 852 people sink with the ship. For 26 years, survivors and relatives to the victims have asked one question: what truly happened to Estonia?
28
Mammals poster
Mammals (2024)
★ 8.5 IMDb   6 episodes · Documentary
The series offers fascinating insights into the most successful animal group in the world. From the tiny Etruscan shrew to the giant blue whale, Mammals will reveal the secrets of their success, and how their winning des
29
Pee-wee as Himself poster
Pee-wee as Himself (2025)
★ 8.4 IMDb   TV-MA · 2 episodes · Documentary
A kaleidoscopic portrait told in two parts tracing the life of the imaginative artist.
30
A Brutal Pact: The Murder of Daniella Perez poster
A Brutal Pact: The Murder of Daniella Perez (2022)
★ 8.4 IMDb   5 episodes · Documentary · Crime
In 1992, actress and dancer Daniella Perez was murdered by her co-star, Guilherme de Pádua and his wife, Paula Thomaz, in a cruelly premeditated crime. The untimely death of the 22-year-old, daughter of Brazilian author
31
The Sixties poster
The Sixties (2014)
★ 8.4 IMDb   10 episodes · Documentary
The space race, the cold war, "free love," civil rights and more: The decade of the 1960s shaped our history -- and changed the world. In collaboration with Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, CNN explores perhaps
32
Every Brilliant Thing poster
Every Brilliant Thing (2016)
★ 8.4 IMDb   🍅 100%   Not Rated · 1h 2m · Documentary · TV Movie
A filmed version of Jonny Donahoe’s acclaimed one-man show about depression, suicide and the lengths to which people go for those they love. Poignant and humorous, it follows a young boy who attempts to ease his mother’s
33
MythBusters poster
MythBusters (2003)
★ 8.3 IMDb   TV-PG · 272 episodes · Documentary
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 Hynem
34
Hoop Dreams poster
Hoop Dreams (1994)
★ 8.3 IMDb   🍅 98%   MC 98   PG-13 · 2h 50m · Documentary
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 suburban school well
35
My Mom Jayne poster
My Mom Jayne (2025)
★ 8.3 IMDb   🍅 100%   MC 75   TV-MA · 1h 45m · Documentary
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and comple
36
George Carlin's American Dream poster
George Carlin's American Dream (2022)
★ 8.3 IMDb   TV-MA · 2 episodes · Documentary
A look at the life and work of legendary comedian George Carlin.
37
Hard Knocks poster
Hard Knocks (2001)
★ 8.3 IMDb   TV-MA · 102 episodes · Documentary · Reality
An inside look at NFL training camps. From the top coaches to the rookies trying to make the team, Hard Knocks showcases what it takes to be in the NFL.
38
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays poster
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays (2014)
★ 8.3 IMDb   TV-MA · 1h 58m · Comedy · TV Movie · Documentary
In 700 Sundays, legendary comedian and actor Billy Crystal tells the stories of his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood. The Tony Award-winning show is a funny and p
39
Celtics City poster
Celtics City (2025)
★ 8.3 IMDb   9 episodes · Documentary
Containing extensive, never-before-seen archives and more than 80 interviews of past and present Boston Celtics legends, this series chronicles the history, cultural impact, and extraordinary tale of the NBA's winningest
40
In the Eye of the Storm poster
In the Eye of the Storm (2024)
★ 8.3 IMDb   TV-14 · 22 episodes · Documentary · Drama
This series reveals recent natural disasters as they happened in real-time through footage captured by eyewitnesses who found themselves in the wrong place at the right time and boldly held up their camera phones to capt
41
Paris Is Burning poster
Paris Is Burning (1991)
★ 8.2 IMDb   🍅 98%   MC 82   R · 1h 18m · Documentary · History
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 Harlem drag-ball scen
42
Harlan County U.S.A. poster
Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
★ 8.2 IMDb   🍅 100%   MC 80   PG · 1h 43m · Documentary
A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.
43
The Times of Harvey Milk poster
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
★ 8.2 IMDb   🍅 96%   Not Rated · 1h 30m · Documentary
Harvey Milk was an outspoken human rights activist and one of the first openly gay U.S. politicians elected to public office; even after his assassination in 1978, he continues to inspire disenfranchised people around th
44
Hearts and Minds poster
Hearts and Minds (1974)
★ 8.2 IMDb   🍅 90%   MC 68   R · 1h 52m · Documentary · War
Many times during his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson said that ultimate victory in the Vietnam War depended upon the U.S. military winning the "hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. Filmmaker Peter Davis uses Johnso
45
River Monsters poster
River Monsters (2009)
★ 8.2 IMDb   59 episodes · Documentary · Action & Adventure · Reality
Extreme angler Jeremy Wade is on the hunt for fish with a taste for human flesh. This rip-roaring ride mixes action and adventure with mysteries, edge-of-the-seat chase and a battle of wills between man and nature.
46
David Byrne's American Utopia poster
David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)
★ 8.2 IMDb   🍅 97%   MC 93   TV-14 · 1h 45m · Music · Documentary
A filmed version of David Byrne's Broadway show, a unifying musical celebration that inspires audiences to connect to each other and to the global community.
47
Conan O'Brien Must Go poster
Conan O'Brien Must Go (2024)
★ 8.2 IMDb   7 episodes · Documentary · Comedy
Conan O'Brien visits new friends he met through his podcast, "Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan," where he dives deep with listeners from across the country and the world.
48
Expedition Unknown poster
Expedition Unknown (2015)
★ 8.2 IMDb   TV-PG · 166 episodes · Documentary · Reality · Action & Adventure
The adventures of Josh Gates as he investigates unsolved iconic stories across the globe.
49
Wheeler Dealers poster
Wheeler Dealers (2003)
★ 8.2 IMDb   281 episodes · Reality · Documentary
Experienced car dealer Mike Brewer is joined by multi-talented mechanics in a monumental motoring mission: to find and restore iconic cars to later sell for a profit at their LA-based shop. In the series, Mike has the ch
50
SmartLess: On the Road poster
SmartLess: On the Road (2023)
★ 8.2 IMDb   TV-MA · 6 episodes · Documentary
Hop on the road with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes as they take us on an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the sold-out live tour of their wildly successful podcast, “SmartLess.” Traveling from city to cit

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