30 Must-See Documentaries and Shorts from 2015 That Will Surprise You

Only the Dead

2015 • 78 min

Documentary

This film follows journalist Michael Ware's seven-year experience reporting the Iraq War. We see the war through his eyes as he covers the complexities of this major conflict. The movie explores how the war affects both those who report on…

7.4

7.6

17+

Stream on

Sharknado: Feeding Frenzy

2015 • 78 min

Documentary

What started as a typical science fiction monster story has unexpectedly become a major cultural phenomenon, with the potential to become globally popular.

4.8

4.1

14+

Stream on

+19

Dream/Killer

2015 • 107 min

Documentary, Crime

In 2005, 20-year-old Ryan Ferguson was wrongly convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison. *Dream Killer* chronicles his father Bill's decade-long fight to prove Ryan's innocence. The film features a cast of memorable characters, including District Attorney Kevin Crane,…

6.8

7.4

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Sugar Coated

2015 • 91 min

Documentary

This film details the uncovering of how the American sugar industry deliberately manipulated scientific research to conceal evidence suggesting sugar's harmful effects.

7.3

7.4

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Star Wars: Greatest Moments

2015 • 88 min

Documentary, TV Movie

Alex Zane ranks the 20 greatest moments in Star Wars history, as determined by a public vote. The list features insights from well-known fans alongside the actors and filmmakers who created the iconic space opera.

7.0

6.0

Dawg Fight

2015 • 109 min

Documentary

In a rough neighborhood outside of Miami, young men fight in unsanctioned matches in backyards to make money and gain respect.

6.4

6.3

Batkid Begins

2015 • 87 min

Family, Documentary

In November 2013, the world rallied to fulfill a five-year-old leukemia patient's wish to become Batman for a day. "Batkid Begins" explores the story behind this remarkable event, which became a widespread and overwhelmingly positive news phenomenon.

6.5

7.1

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The Russian Woodpecker

2015 • 80 min

Documentary, History

Amidst revolution and war in Ukraine, a man who survived the Chornobyl disaster uncovers a disturbing secret. He is then faced with a difficult choice: risk everything to reveal this secret and become involved in the fight for change.

6.3

6.7

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Champs

2015 • 86 min

Documentary

This documentary explores the world of boxing through the perspectives of three legendary champions: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins.

6.5

7.2

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Mr. Gaga

2015 • 100 min

Documentary

This is the story of Ohad Naharin, the celebrated choreographer and artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company. He is an artistic genius who revolutionized modern dance.

7.5

Ferrell Takes the Field

2015 • 49 min

TV Movie, Comedy, Documentary

This entertaining documentary follows comedian Will Ferrell as he passionately attempts to play all nine positions in baseball for ten different teams, all in one day. The film captures his challenges and successes as he undertakes this ambitious feat. Ferrell’s…

6.0

5.9

14+

Stream on

Prophet's Prey

2015 • 101 min

Crime, Documentary

Amy Berg's film exposes the sexual, financial, and emotional abuse inflicted upon women and children by Warren Jeffs, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

7.4

7.2

14+

Stream on

Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot

2015 • 64 min

Documentary

This exclusive look behind the scenes reveals the creative process of a beloved summer camp comedy that launched the careers of many now-famous actors.

6.4

7.0

Quay

2015 • 8 min • Box office $51K

Documentary

In 2015, Christopher Nolan assembled a collection of short films by the surrealist animators the Quay Brothers for a touring 35mm presentation. The films—"In Absentia" (2000), "The Comb" (1991), and "Street of Crocodiles" (1986)—are accompanied by a short documentary showing…

6.0

6.3

I Am Your Father

2015 • 83 min

Documentary

David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader's iconic mask for three decades, is now eighty years old and largely forgotten. A dedicated group of Star Wars fans uncover the reasons for his apparent neglect by Lucasfilm and resolve to restore…

6.6

6.5

Amy

2015 • 128 min • Box office $23M

Documentary, Music

This documentary chronicles the life of Amy Winehouse, a supremely gifted singer whose career was tragically cut short. It follows her journey from adolescence, where her vocal talent was evident, through her rise to fame and subsequent struggles with alcohol…

7.6

7.8

17+

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The Seven Five

2015 • 102 min

Documentary

Michael Dowd was the most corrupt police officer in New York City's history. During the 1980s, while on duty in Brooklyn, he engaged in theft and drug dealing.

7.3

7.6

17+

Stream on

+11

Call Me Lucky

2015 • 106 min

Comedy, Documentary

CALL ME LUCKY is an inspiring, triumphant, and darkly funny look at Barry Crimmins, a highly influential comedian known for his sharp wit and outspoken political views. During the 1970s and 80s, he nurtured many of today's leading stand-up performers.…

7.0

7.5

Stream on

+11

My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

2015 • 58 min

Documentary

This documentary, directed by Liv Corfixen, the wife of Nicolas Winding Refn, chronicles the production of Refn's 2013 film, *Only God Forgives*. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process.

6.4

6.5

13+

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Bitter Lake

2015 • 135 min

Documentary

This experimental documentary examines Saudi Arabia's complex ties with the United States and how those relationships influenced the conflict in Afghanistan.

7.6

8.1

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Soaked in Bleach

2015 • 100 min

Music, Drama, Documentary

Twenty years after Kurt Cobain's death, ruled a suicide by gunshot, the film explores alternative possibilities. While the official story suggests suicide, emerging evidence raises questions about the Seattle Police Department's swift conclusion and the role of misinformation spread by…

7.0

7.3

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He Named Me Malala

2015 • 87 min • Box office $2M

Documentary

This film examines the circumstances surrounding the Taliban's attack on Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who became an advocate for girls' education. It follows the events leading up to the attack and details the immediate aftermath, culminating in her address to…

6.7

7.0

13+

Stream on

Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words

2015 • 116 min

Documentary, History

This is a personal and compelling look at the remarkable life and career of Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982). A young woman from Sweden, she rose to become one of the most acclaimed actresses in film history.

7.1

7.4

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What Happened, Miss Simone?

2015 • 101 min

Music, Documentary

This film follows Nina Simone's life, from her early talent as a child pianist to becoming a celebrated musician and a powerful voice for social change. It's presented through her own recollections.

7.4

7.6

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Under the Sun

2015 • 110 min

Documentary

This film chronicles a year in the life of an average Pyongyang family whose daughter is selected to participate in the Day of the Shining Star celebration (Kim Jong-il's birthday). Though the North Korean government intended a propaganda film, the…

7.2

7.4

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Deep Web

2015 • 89 min

Documentary

Deep Web offers an inside look at one of the most significant digital crime stories of the decade: the arrest of Ross William Ulbricht, the 30-year-old entrepreneur convicted of being "Dread Pirate Roberts," the creator and operator of the online…

6.8

6.9

17+

Stream on

+10

Where to Invade Next

2015 • 121 min • Box office $3M

Documentary, Comedy

To explore what the United States could gain from other countries, Michael Moore journeys to several nations, observing their approaches to various issues.

7.2

7.5

17+

Stream on

Cartel Land

2015 • 100 min • Box office $1M

Drama, Documentary

In Michoacán, Mexico, Dr. Jose Mireles, a respected local doctor known as "El Doctor," leads a popular movement against the Knights Templar, a brutal drug cartel that has plagued the area for years. Simultaneously, in Arizona's Altar Valley – a…

7.2

7.3

17+

Stream on

Hitting the Apex

2015 • 138 min • Budget $1M

Documentary

This documentary explores the lives of six of the greatest motorcycle racers in history, and the outcomes that defined their careers at the highest level of the sport. It examines the immense risks and rewards inherent in pursuing victory at…

7.7

8.1

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Taxi

2015 • 81 min

Comedy, Drama

A yellow taxi navigates the lively streets of Tehran, picking up a diverse group of passengers. As they ride, each candidly shares their opinions with the driver – none other than filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who is also filming. Panahi's camera,…

7.0

7.3

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