Looking for a burst of inspiration get your new year (or any new phase of your life) started on the right foot? Fiction may provide a great, symbolic escape, but sometimes what you really need is to see real people doing the extraordinary or facing insurmountable odds and still having something beautiful to say about it. So don't listen to any naysayers who might dismiss documentaries as boring; some of the greatest stories of human perseverance and wonder come from these little-known nonfiction accounts. Here, we've gathered the best of these true stories that might just help you realize what you're capable of.
100 Inspirational Documentaries to Watch Now
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100.
That Peter Crouch Film (2023)
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Strictly for football movie completionists and fans of the title athlete, That Peter Crouch Film is about as basic a sports documentary as they come, with a straightforward mix of talking heads interviews and archival footage. There's not much to be learned about the sport and its inner workings here, even for a football newbie, and one could argue that Crouch's story doesn't necessarily have the drama needed for a film of his own. Still, it's refreshing to have somebody as unassuming as Crouch at the center; even he doesn't seem convinced that his story is special, but his humility and sense of humor make it easy to root for him. It'd be hard to blame any footballer for taking an opportunity like this to become sentimental about their own career, but Crouch treats his success simply as a product of hard work and a bit of luck.
Our staff rating: 6/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Abbey Clancy, Harry Redknapp, Jack Whitehall, Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard, Sven-Göran Eriksson
Director: Benjamin Hirsch
99.
Becoming King (2024)
As emotional and personal as it is, Becoming King is just too dewy-eyed and close to the source to have any bearing on those who are not all that interested in learning about the immersion process a Hollywood actor goes through. Jessica Oyelowo admittedly has an interesting story on her hands: that of her husband David Oyelowo (whose name literally means “respect the king”) fulfilling his seven-year dream of playing Martin Luther King, Jr. His journey is a combination of grit, talent, and what appears to be fate and destiny, and it is nothing short of inspiring, especially for aspiring actors. But there is an inherent bias in depicting this story as magical and heroic, without the thorny nuances other more distant filmmakers might’ve included. For one, it barely tackles class and race, and when it does, the discussions are short, superficial, and only in service to the real conflict of the documentary, which is whether or not Oyelowo achieves his acting dreams. It feels shortsighted in the way some passion projects can be, bolstered by limited funds and even fewer eyes to critique it. It’s well-meaning and personal, and it can serve as a helpful resource to those who want to know how to get into the industry. But for the general viewer, the documentary offers little more than standard information on the actor and his breakthrough film.
Our staff rating: 6.5/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo, Martin Luther King Jr.
Director: Jessica Oyelowo
98.
Race to the Summit (2023)
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Pushing an already extreme activity even further beyond its limits, Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold have became the world champions of speed climbing—a variation of the sport that places much greater importance on direct competition over communing with nature. It's fascinating to hear what drives Steck and Arnold to courting death like this, and to see how their vastly different backgrounds and processes have still made them equals in the field. The documentary eventually runs out of ideas, however, as it clumsily shifts tones leading into its last third, and concludes abruptly without much synthesis of everything that had come before. It's still a worthwhile adventure whether or not one is into climbing; it's just disappointing that this story of such a unique rivalry settles into a more generic rhythm by the end.
Our staff rating: 6.6/10
Genre: Action, Adventure, Documentary
Actor: Dani Arnold, Ueli Steck
Director: Götz Werner, Nicholas de Taranto
97.
Black Barbie (2024)
Black Barbie is at its best when director Lagueria Davis keeps the story as personal and political as possible. The first half of the documentary is a necessary history lesson about the impact toys have on our racial consciousness, which charmingly ties into Davis’ aunt’s own experience as one of the first Black staff members over at Mattel. Davis then intercuts colorfully set-up talking heads with equally charming scenes of stop-motion Barbies. But if only the entire documentary would just be as realized and focused as this half. The rest, unfortunately, are scattered pieces that never tie into a cohesive whole. At one point, the documentary morphs into a Mattel mouthpiece, and at another, it’s a straightforward roundtable analysis with little to no editing. The quirky flourishes and personal anecdotes that colored the early parts of the documentary are few and far at this point, making it feel ultimately half-baked.
Our staff rating: 6.6/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Gabourey Sidibe, Hayley Marie Norman, Misty Copeland, Shonda Rhimes, Virginia Watson
Director: Lagueria Davis
96.
Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023)
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As one of the most recognizable and successful NBA players in the world today, Stephen Curry certainly doesn't need a documentary to persuade anyone else about his talent and the legacy he's already created in basketball. This definitely robs Underrated of some of its urgency, knowing that the Golden State Warrior has the luxury of ruminating on his victories and failures from a place of comfort. Still, the film's decision to focus on a young Curry before reaching the height of his powers allows us to watch these long stretches of game time through a different emotional lens. His is a classic underdog story that's probably far more common among players in the league, but it's still entertaining to be able to track his growth from game to game.
Our staff rating: 6.7/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Ayesha Curry, Bob McKillop, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Patrick Ewing, Reggie Miller, Sonya Curry, Stephen Curry
Director: Peter Nicks
95.
Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi (2024)
What does a highly successful 20-year-old musician have to say about life and the industry? As we learn from Laroi, a lot apparently. Throughout this film, which documents his rapid rise from hopeful Aussie to international star, Laroi shares observations that are at turns earnest, endearing, and self-aware. Unfortunately, these likable traits aren’t enough to make Kids Are Growing Up staple viewing beyond Laroi’s fanbase. If you’re not part of the club, you might find it hard to grasp the necessity of this production at all. Though pleasantly intimate and amusingly animated, there is nothing innovative nor insightful about it. The Australian leg of his origin story seems to have been largely skipped, as are some parts of his musical process. And though it's the most interesting part about him, the documentary doesn't focus too much on him being a prodigy. Laroi is talented to be sure, but this documentary seems like a premature attempt at capturing him in his presumed prime. As a result, the filmmakers betray a lack of confidence in Laroi's future, even though it's clear it'll burn brighter than ever.
Our staff rating: 6.8/10
Genre: Documentary, Music
Actor: Juice WRLD, Justin Bieber, Katarina Demetriades, Lil Bibby, Omer Fedi, Post Malone, The Kid LAROI
Director: Michael D. Ratner
94.
Trouble the Water (2008)
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Nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary feature. On the day before Hurricane Katrina, a young aspiring rap singer in the 9th Ward turns her new video camera on herself and her neighbors. She keeps shooting as the water rises, neighbors struggle to rescue each other, people panic and flee. Weeks later she returns to her neighborhood and records the death and decay left behind. Raw and real, worth watching.
Our staff rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: George W. Bush, Julie Chen, Julie Chen Moonves, Michael Brown, Ray Nagin, Shepard Smith
Director: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin.
93.
The Interrupters (2011)
This documentary is about a unique program in Chicago called CeaseFire whose sole aim is to stop violent deaths in poor urban areas. CeaseFire is staffed by ex-gang members and ex-convicts who try to intervene in conflicts in their community, particularly those that may escalate into extreme violence or death. In these neighborhoods though, violent conflict can result from something as minor as someone making a funky comment about someone else’s shoes. This makes total success for a project like CeaseFire nearly impossible. It is not a totally depressing film though as the program and its practitioners are all pretty amazing, and director Steve James (who made Hoop Dreams) has unparalleled access to these struggling communities.
Our staff rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Amanda Palmer, Ameena Matthews, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Steve James, Tio Hardiman
Director: Steve James
92.
Fastest (2011)
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A documentary that reveals just how insane the men that compete in the MotoGP are. It follows Valentino Rossi, one of the best riders of all-time if not the best, in a very pivotal season for him, 2010-2011. An in depth look into his competitiveness but also his passion for the sport and for the machines in it, it's the kind of portrait that will make you feel you know the subject in person. And when it's not focused on Rossi, it becomes a a real-life thrill fest of bike-mounted cameras of riders going at it at 200+mph. A must-watch for gear-heads and uninitiated fans alike that plays with the idea that "if you want to win it all...you have to risk it all".
Our staff rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Andrea Dovizioso, Ben Spies, Casey Stoner, Colin Edwards, Dani Pedrosa, Ewan McGregor, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Simoncelli, Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi
Director: Mark Neale
91.
The Overnighters (2014)
On one side, this is a look at the real-life efforts of local North Dakota Pastor Jay Reinke to provide shelter for Oil-working migrants in his Church for the course of well over two years – he ends up calling this The Overnighters Program. On another, it is the story of more than a thousand people living the broken American Dream, the pastor’s concerned, sensible neighbors, his well-meaning attempts backfiring, and all that’s in between. The Overnighters is an engaging, if not highly-aware, award-winning documentary that feeds on altruism, hope of redemption, and their ideal truth about the nature of human existence.
Our staff rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Actor: Jay Reinke, Keegan Edwards
Director: Jesse Moss
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