30 Thought-Provoking Documentaries from 2009 You Need to See

Cropsey

2009 • 84 min • Box office $35K

Crime, Documentary, Mystery

Two filmmakers discover that a childhood urban legend is actually true. They investigate the mystery of five missing children and the real person behind their disappearances.

6.0

6.3

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+12

Atlantiques

2009 • 16 min • Budget $38

Documentary, Drama

This short, low-fidelity film centers on a group of young Senegalese people as they contemplate the journey across the Atlantic to Europe. They share their anxieties and aspirations about what awaits them, questioning whether life in Europe will truly be…

6.0

6.2

OceanWorld 3D

2009 • 81 min • Budget $8M

Documentary

This 3-D documentary follows the incredible journey of a sea turtle as it navigates the world's oceans.

6.0

6.4

Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry

2009 • 81 min • Budget $230K

Documentary

Renowned photographer Michael Grecco travels to the AVN Awards and Convention, a major event celebrating and honoring talent in American pornography. He aims to capture the atmosphere and key figures of the convention through his lens.

5.0

4.8

17+

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Louis Theroux: A Place for Paedophiles

2009 • 59 min

Documentary, TV Movie

Louis gains access to Coalinga Mental Hospital in California, home to over 500 of America's most dangerous criminals – convicted sex offenders. Most have already served long prison sentences but are deemed too risky for release, and are instead held…

7.1

7.3

Transcendent Man

2009 • 83 min

Documentary

Director Barry Ptolemy's documentary film explores the life and debated concepts of Ray Kurzweil, a prominent figure in technology. For over thirty years, inventor and New York Times bestselling author Ray Kurzweil has been a highly regarded and often controversial…

6.7

7.1

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Fat Head

2009 • 104 min • Budget $150K

Documentary

A comedian challenges the prevailing obesity narrative by experimenting with a fast-food diet. He documents his weight loss journey, revealing that many commonly held beliefs about the causes of obesity and healthy eating are inaccurate.

6.7

6.9

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Tales from the Script

2009 • 105 min

Documentary

"Tales from the Script" is a documentary featuring interviews with Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), and many other prominent Hollywood screenwriters. The filmmakers explore…

6.5

7.1

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The Mouth of the Wolf

2009 • 78 min • Budget $30K • Box office $179K

Documentary, Drama

After serving time, a former convict returns to Genoa, the city he loves, and to the woman he loves.

6.1

6.7

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The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter

2009 • 105 min • Budget $200K

Documentary

Hollywood historian Scott Michaels guides viewers through this comprehensive documentary, featuring previously unseen autopsy reports, numerous rare photographs, original music recordings by the Manson Family, and contemporary footage of the sites where the crimes occurred. It offers the most complete…

7.2

6.5

The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

2009 • 93 min

Documentary, Music

In 2007, the iconic American duo White Stripes embarked on a Canadian tour, performing in unconventional locations like buses and cafes, as well as for Native American elders. Music video director Emmett Malloy documented the tour, capturing both the band's…

7.4

8.0

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Porno Unplugged

2009 • 105 min

Documentary

Journalist Fabian Burstein investigates the adult film industry. Beginning in Budapest, he travels west into Austria to uncover a burgeoning world. Along the way, he encounters key figures: Austrians Mick Blue, Renee Pornero, and Thomas Janisch. *Porno Unplugged* follows these…

6.3

5.8

Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City

2009 • 145 min

Music, Documentary

This past June, we played three sold-out shows at Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City, with 155,000 fans joining us over the three nights – a truly unforgettable experience. We invited Wayne Isham and a film crew to capture the…

7.9

8.5

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The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

2009 • 101 min

Documentary, Music

This film explores the complex relationship between songwriting brothers Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, collectively known as the Sherman Brothers. They achieved widespread fame and critical acclaim, winning Oscars and Grammys for their memorable songs in classic Disney…

7.3

7.7

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Crips and Bloods: Made in America

2009 • 93 min

Documentary

This film offers an intimate perspective on the Crips and Bloods gangs, exploring the circumstances behind decades of tragic violence affecting young African Americans in South Los Angeles.

6.6

6.8

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+13

This Is It

2009 • 111 min • Budget $60M • Box office $261M

Music, Documentary

This film features interviews, rehearsal footage, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his highly anticipated, sold-out concert series in London.

7.2

Stream on

Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup

2009 • 99 min

Documentary, Drama, History

Following the Bush administration, a new focus on transparency has led to the potential release of previously undisclosed information about the events surrounding 9/11. This documentary features new footage and interviews, presenting a range of evidence – both familiar and…

6.3

7.1

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Good Hair

2009 • 95 min

Documentary, Comedy

Chris Rock delivers a hilarious and insightful look at hair and its significance in the Black community. The film explores how hairstyles affect Black people's lives – from their careers and finances to their relationships and sense of self. It…

6.6

6.9

13+

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The September Issue

2009 • 90 min • Box office $6M

Documentary

This documentary follows Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, as she organizes the 2007 fall fashion issue. It details her behind-the-scenes work in preparing the magazine.

6.5

7.0

13+

Stream on

+11

Talhotblond

2009 • 83 min

Documentary, Thriller

This is the true story of a love triangle that unfolds entirely online. Deception in the digital world escalates to murder, as a teenage woman known as 'talhotblond' uses online personas to attract men. The film reveals a disturbing true…

6.6

6.8

17+

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The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

2009 • 86 min

Documentary

"The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia," produced by Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine for MTV and Dickhouse Productions, documents Jesco White, a famous outlaw, and his unusual family in the Appalachian mountains. The Whites face legal troubles alongside…

6.7

7.1

17+

Stream on

The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button

2009 • 175 min

Documentary

This documentary chronicles the creation of David Fincher's 2008 film, *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*. It details the film's journey from being considered by various directors in the 1990s, through its production in New Orleans during 2006 and 2007,…

6.9

7.5

The Yes Men Fix the World

2009 • 87 min

Documentary

THE YES MEN FIX THE WORLD is a comedic true story about two unconventional political activists. They go undercover as high-ranking corporate officials to infiltrate major business conferences, where they stage outlandish pranks.

7.0

7.5

Objectified

2009 • 75 min

Documentary

This film explores the intricate connection between us and the things we make – examining the world of design and the individuals who shape it.

7.1

7.0

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The Shock Doctrine

2009 • 82 min

Documentary

This film examines the concept of "disaster capitalism," inspired by Naomi Klein's theory that modern capitalism thrives on crises like natural disasters, wars, and terrorism to gain power.

7.1

7.6

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Best Worst Movie

2009 • 93 min

Documentary, Comedy

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the movie *Troll 2* (1990), charting its path from being widely considered one of the worst films ever made to achieving a devoted following as a beloved cult classic.

7.1

7.2

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+12

Iron Maiden: Flight 666

2009 • 113 min

Documentary, Music

Flight 666 follows Iron Maiden during the early part of their historic Somewhere Back In Time World Tour. The film documents their 50,000-mile journey across five continents, capturing 23 concerts in just 45 days. It provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access, showcasing…

7.8

8.3

The Cove

2009 • 92 min • Box office $1M

Documentary

"The Cove" recounts the remarkable true story of a dedicated team of filmmakers and freedivers who secretly entered a secluded cove in Japan to expose a disturbing and dangerous truth. Their startling findings revealed a much larger, more troubling reality.

7.9

8.4

13+

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+13

I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

2009 • 39 min

Documentary

John Cazale appeared in just five films – *The Godfather*, *The Conversation*, *The Godfather: Part II*, *Dog Day Afternoon*, and *The Deer Hunter* – all of which were nominated for Best Picture. Despite this remarkable filmography, he is largely unknown…

6.9

7.7

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Capitalism: A Love Story

2009 • 128 min • Budget $20M • Box office $17M

Documentary, History

Michael Moore returns to his signature focus: how powerful corporations negatively affect the daily lives of Americans – and, by extension, people everywhere.

7.1

7.4

17+

Stream on