swap_horiz The Central Park Five Alternatives

1

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst

This six-part HBO documentary series chronicles the bizarre life and suspected crimes of Robert Durst, a real estate hei...

New York Crime True Crime Real Estate

9.5 Brilliant

2

O.J.: Made in America

O.J.: Made in America is a five-part 2016 documentary series produced for ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 initiative. The film pre...

Movie United States 2010S

9.4 Excellent

3

Making a Murderer

This Netflix docuseries follows the case of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man convicted of murder after previously being exo...

Complex Long Form Netflix Crime

9.2 Excellent

4

The Look of Silence

The Look of Silence is Joshua Oppenheimer's 2014 documentary in which an Indonesian optometrist confronts men involved i...

History Indonesia Justice 2010S

8.8 Great

5

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's 2017 PBS series, notable for combining American, North Vietnamese, South...

Series War Vietnam Ken Burns

8.8 Great

6

The Staircase

The Staircase is Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series on Michael Peterson's trial, notable for its long-form vie...

Trial Crime Series 2000S

8.2 Great

7

Capturing the Friedmans

Capturing the Friedmans is Andrew Jarecki's 2003 documentary on a Long Island family abuse case, notable for using exten...

Archive Family Crime 2000S

8.1 Great

8

The Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl is Ken Burns's 2012 PBS documentary about the 1930s environmental disaster on the Great Plains and the fam...

History Series Environment Ken Burns

8.1 Great

9

Country Music

Country Music is Ken Burns's 2019 PBS documentary series tracing the American genre from Southern roots to national comm...

Music Series Country Ken Burns

8.1 Great

10

America to Me

America to Me is Steve James's 2018 documentary series following students, families, and staff at Oak Park and River For...

Education Series School Race

8.1 Great

11

The Imposter

The Imposter is Bart Layton's 2012 documentary about Frederic Bourdin, notable for recounting a Frenchman's claim to be...

Family Mystery Crime Identity

8.0 Great

12

LA 92

LA 92 is a 2017 documentary on the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, notable for using archival footage without contemporary in...

Archive Los Angeles Race 2010S

8.0 Great

13

Prohibition

Prohibition is a 2011 PBS documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick about America's ban on alcohol, its political roots,...

History Series America Ken Burns

7.8 Good

14

Into the Abyss

Into the Abyss is Werner Herzog's 2011 documentary on a Texas capital-murder case, notable for examining crime, punishme...

Crime Justice 2010S Death Row

7.6 Good

15

Dirty Money

Dirty Money is a Netflix documentary series launched in 2018, with episodes investigating corporate fraud, corruption, a...

Business Netflix Crime Series

7.6 Good

16

Strong Island

Strong Island is Yance Ford's 2017 documentary about his brother's 1992 killing, notable as an Oscar-nominated personal...

Family Crime Justice Race

7.6 Good

17

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Hale County This Morning, This Evening is RaMell Ross's 2018 documentary portrait of Black life in Hale County, Alabama,...

Place Race Essay 2010S

7.6 Good

18

Baseball: The Tenth Inning

Baseball: The Tenth Inning is Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's 2010 continuation of Baseball, covering the sport from the 199...

Series Baseball Ken Burns 2010S

7.6 Good

19

Whose Streets?

Whose Streets? is a 2017 U.S. documentary by Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis about the Ferguson uprising after Michael Br...

Activism Protest Race 2010S

7.1 Good

20

22 July

22 July is a dramatic documentary examining the 2011 Norway attacks. It portrays the events surrounding the bombing and...

Drama Crime Historical Movie

7.0 Good