Best Docudrama

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 biographical crime drama detailing a 1972 bank robbery in Brooklyn. The film recounts the events surrounding a Chase Manhattan branch takeover orchestrated by two men, resulting in a prolonged hostage situation. It stars Al Pacino and features a screenplay adapted from a...

Salvatore Giuliano is a 1962 Italian film directed by Francesco Rosi which details the life and death of Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano from 1943 to 1950. Employing documentary techniques, the film examines his criminal activities within the context of post-war Sicily. It was recognized in 2008...

Song of Summer is Ken Russell's 1968 BBC Omnibus film about Frederick Delius's final years and Eric Fenby's work as his amanuensis.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office is a drama series detailing the British Post Office scandal. Hundreds of subpostmasters faced wrongful prosecution related to errors within the Horizon computer system, resulting in accusations of theft and fraud. The ITV production aired over four days beginning January...

A Man Escaped, directed by Robert Bresson, portrays a man’s attempts to escape from Montluc prison in wartime France. The narrative is adapted from the memoir of André Devigny, a French Resistance member imprisoned by German forces during World War II. The film depicts a meticulously planned and exe...

Mayday is a Canadian documentary series that investigates aviation disasters including crashes, hijackings, and bombings. The program employs re-enactments and CGI alongside interviews with experts and survivors to analyze these events. Investigations focus on the circumstances surrounding each inci...

Boys Don’t Cry is a 1999 biographical drama depicting the life of Brandon Teena, a trans man in Nebraska. He sought connection and identity but became the target of violence following actions by acquaintances. The film portrays his tragic story as documented through a dramatization of real-life even...

Elizabeth R was a six-part BBC television drama serial depicting Queen Elizabeth I, played by Glenda Jackson. Broadcast between February and March 1971 across multiple international channels including PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, the series has been repeatedly shown since its initial airing. It was mo...

In Cold Blood depicts the events surrounding the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. The film portrays the investigation into the crime by law enforcement and explores the backgrounds of the perpetrators, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock. It is based on Truman Capote’s non-fiction...

United 93 portrays the events surrounding United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11th attacks. The film focuses on the passengers' efforts to thwart a hijacking, resulting in the plane’s crash, and depicts the responses of government personnel and air traffic control. It highlights the final...

Bloody Sunday is a 2002 docudrama depicting the events of “Bloody Sunday” in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1972. The film was produced by Granada Television and initially screened at the Sundance Film Festival before broadcast on ITV and limited cinema showings. It presents a dramatized account of the...

The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025) examines the Red Crescent’s involvement following the death of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab at the hands of the Israel Defense Forces during the Gaza invasion. This docudrama, a Tunisian-French co-production, features performances by Saja Kilani and other...

The film chronicles the ordeal of Aron Ralston, who became trapped in Bluejohn Canyon, Utah, following a rockfall on April 26, 2003. James Franco portrays Ralston as he attempts to self-amputate his arm to survive the isolated situation. The production was a joint British and American effort involvi...

The Wrong Man is a 1956 film based on the real-life case of Christopher Emmanuel Balestrero, as detailed in Maxwell Anderson’s book and a Life magazine article. The movie portrays an individual falsely accused of a crime, exploring the legal proceedings surrounding his arrest and subsequent charges....

Hillsborough is a 1996 ITV docudrama written by Jimmy McGovern about the 1989 stadium disaster; it won BAFTA's Best Single Drama award.

The Queen examines the conflict within the British monarchy following Princess Diana’s death in 1997. The film portrays differing opinions between the royal family and figures like Tony Blair and Prince Charles regarding public mourning and Diana’s status. Complexities arise from media coverage, pro...

The Story of the Weeping Camel, released in 2004, depicts a family’s efforts within the Gobi Desert to rescue a young white Bactrian camel. Directed and written by Byambasuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni, the film portrays a situation involving a calf separated from its mother. It is a docudrama explori...

First They Killed My Father chronicles the experiences of a young Cambodian girl, Loung, during the Khmer Rouge era in 1975. The film portrays her transformation into a child soldier and the displacement of her family as they navigate the regime’s policies. It is based on the memoir of Loung Ung, de...

Death of a Princess is a 1980 British drama-documentary by Antony Thomas, notable for sparking Saudi diplomatic pressure over its Princess Mishaal story.

10 Rillington Place is a 1971 British crime docudrama by Richard Fleischer about John Christie and the wrongful execution of Timothy Evans.

The Road to Guantanamo is a 2006 British docudrama by Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross about the Tipton Three's detention by the U.S.

Kneecap is a biographical film chronicling the formation of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The movie features the band members portraying themselves alongside a cast including Josie Walker and Michael Fassbender. It explores the trio’s emergence within the local musi...

In Two Minds is a 1967 BBC Wednesday Play by David Mercer and Ken Loach, notable for its R. D. Laing-influenced portrayal of schizophrenia treatment.

The Missiles of October is a 1974 ABC docudrama about the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, starring William Devane as John F. Kennedy.

Io capitano is a 2023 drama film directed by Matteo Garrone. The screenplay was collaboratively developed by Garrone alongside several other writers. It’s a cinematic work focusing on the experiences of a young boy navigating challenging circumstances.

The House of Saddam is a British miniseries exploring the life and dictatorship of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Created by BBC Television and HBO Films, it portrays his ascent to power and the eventual consequences of his regime. The series offers historical insight into a controversial period marke...

The Boston Strangler is a 1968 film depicting the investigation surrounding the unsolved murders attributed to Albert DeSalvo, portrayed by Tony Curtis. The story follows police investigators John Bottomly and Phil DiNatale as they pursue a suspect based on a true crime case detailed in a 1966 book....

And the Band Played On chronicles the early investigation into the AIDS epidemic’s origins within the United States military. Based on Randy Shilts' book, the teleplay details a significant period of research involving personnel at multiple locations. The film features a broad range of actors portra...

Citizen X is a 1995 HBO crime docudrama about the hunt for Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, directed by Chris Gerolmo from The Killer Department.