30 Must-See Documentaries and Shorts from 2015 That Will Surprise You
30 titles
In a world where visual storytelling continues to evolve and push boundaries, documentaries have emerged as an essential platform for exploring the most compelling human experiences. Our list of the Top 30 Documentary Films of 2015 is a testament to this trend, showcasing a diverse collection of stories that delve into the heart of our society. From the jaw-dropping spectacle of Sharknado: Feeding Frenzy to the intimate portrayal of dreams in Dream/Killer, each film offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with our world in a fresh and captivating way. So, join us as we explore these extraordinary documentaries, and remember that sometimes the most thrilling adventures can be found right here on Earth.
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Only the DeadMovie · 2015 · 78m · DocumentaryThis 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 it and those living within it, revealing the human cost of war. It's a look at the difficult realities of the Iraq War and the impact on people.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.4 - 2
Sharknado: Feeding FrenzyMovie · 2015 · 78m · DocumentaryWhat started as a typical science fiction monster story has unexpectedly become a major cultural phenomenon, with the potential to become globally popular.IMDb 4.1TMDB 4.8 - 3
Dream/KillerMovie · 2015 · 107m · Documentary, CrimeIn 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, witness Chuck Erickson, and Chicago attorney Kathleen Zellner. It offers a look at both the failings and potential strengths of the justice system.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.8 - 4
Sugar CoatedMovie · 2015 · 91m · DocumentaryThis film details the uncovering of how the American sugar industry deliberately manipulated scientific research to conceal evidence suggesting sugar's harmful effects.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.3 - 5
Star Wars: Greatest MomentsMovie · 2015 · 88m · Documentary, TV MovieAlex 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.IMDb 6.0TMDB 7.0 - 6
Dawg FightMovie · 2015 · 109m · DocumentaryIn a rough neighborhood outside of Miami, young men fight in unsanctioned matches in backyards to make money and gain respect.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.4 - 7
Batkid BeginsMovie · 2015 · 87m · Family, DocumentaryIn 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.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.5 - 8
The Russian WoodpeckerMovie · 2015 · 80m · Documentary, HistoryAmidst 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.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.3 - 9
ChampsMovie · 2015 · 86m · DocumentaryThis documentary explores the world of boxing through the perspectives of three legendary champions: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Bernard Hopkins.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.5 - 10
Mr. GagaMovie · 2015 · 100m · DocumentaryThis 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.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 11
Ferrell Takes the FieldMovie · 2015 · 49m · TV Movie, Comedy, DocumentaryThis 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 enthusiasm is clear as he tackles each position with humor and determination. The documentary offers a close look at Major League Baseball training games, revealing the physical demands of the sport and providing insight into the lives of athletes and coaches.
Through this high-energy challenge, the film explores themes of perseverance and pursuing one's dreams, all while delivering plenty of laughs for baseball fans and anyone else.IMDb 5.9TMDB 6.0 - 12
Prophet's PreyMovie · 2015 · 101m · Crime, DocumentaryAmy 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.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.4 - 13
Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet HotMovie · 2015 · 64m · DocumentaryThis exclusive look behind the scenes reveals the creative process of a beloved summer camp comedy that launched the careers of many now-famous actors.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.4 - 14
QuayMovie · 2015 · 8m · DocumentaryIn 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 the brothers at work in their London studio.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.0 - 15
I Am Your FatherMovie · 2015 · 83m · DocumentaryDavid 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 his recognition – believing this is their final chance.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.6 - 16
AmyMovie · 2015 · 128m · Documentary, MusicThis 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 and drug addiction.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.6 - 17
The Seven FiveMovie · 2015 · 102m · DocumentaryMichael 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.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.3 - 18
Call Me LuckyMovie · 2015 · 106m · Comedy, DocumentaryCALL 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. However, beneath Crimmins’ tough exterior and fondness for alcohol was deep-seated anger rooted in years of childhood abuse. This rage eventually fueled his activism, taking him from comedy clubs and television to the world of politics.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.0 - 19
My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding RefnMovie · 2015 · 58m · DocumentaryThis 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.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.4 - 20
Bitter LakeMovie · 2015 · 135m · DocumentaryThis experimental documentary examines Saudi Arabia's complex ties with the United States and how those relationships influenced the conflict in Afghanistan.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.6 - 21
Soaked in BleachMovie · 2015 · 100m · Music, Drama, DocumentaryTwenty 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 Courtney Love and amplified by global media. These narratives fostered widespread belief in Cobain's self-inflicted death, a belief now challenged by revelations that expose the origins of those narratives as falsehoods, prompting renewed doubt about what truly happened.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.0 - 22
He Named Me MalalaMovie · 2015 · 87m · DocumentaryThis 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 the United Nations.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.7 - 23
Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own WordsMovie · 2015 · 116m · Documentary, HistoryThis 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.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.1 - 24
What Happened, Miss Simone?Movie · 2015 · 101m · Music, DocumentaryThis 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.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.4 - 25
Under the SunMovie · 2015 · 110m · DocumentaryThis 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 director secretly filmed moments beyond the script. The staged displays of vibrant celebration stand in stark contrast to the family’s ordinary, and somewhat surreal, daily existence.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.2 - 26
Deep WebMovie · 2015 · 89m · DocumentaryDeep 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 black market Silk Road. With exclusive access to the Ulbricht family, the film examines how the pioneers of the Deep Web and Bitcoin now find themselves at the center of a struggle for control over a future deeply connected to technology, where our digital freedoms are at stake.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.8 - 27
Where to Invade NextMovie · 2015 · 121m · Documentary, ComedyTo explore what the United States could gain from other countries, Michael Moore journeys to several nations, observing their approaches to various issues.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.2 - 28
Cartel LandMovie · 2015 · 100m · Drama, DocumentaryIn 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 52-mile desert region called Cocaine Alley – Tim "Nailer" Foley, a veteran, commands Arizona Border Recon, a small paramilitary group dedicated to preventing the Mexican drug wars from spreading into the United States.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 29
Hitting the ApexMovie · 2015 · 138m · DocumentaryThis 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 speeds exceeding two hundred miles per hour. The film also reveals the deep connection between the riders, their teams, and the devoted fans who fuel the passion of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.IMDb 8.1TMDB 7.7 - 30
TaxiMovie · 2015 · 81m · Comedy, DramaA 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, mounted on the dashboard of his mobile studio, captures a humorous and poignant portrait of Iranian life during this taxi journey.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.0
