There are many genres of movies that resonate with audiences, but the public’s relationship with documentaries continues to evolve in fascinating ways. Documentaries have spent a lot of time as a more niche style of cinema, but thanks to the prevalence of streaming services and other modern trends, there are now more mainstream documentaries than ever before. Documentaries can deconstruct an endless variety of subject matter, but sometimes the most interesting material specifically relates to the art of cinema, moviemaking, and the behind-the-scenes drama that sometimes consumes a movie’s production.
Documentaries with a direct focus on cinema can also provide enlightening insight into some of the industry’s most enigmatic directors and talent. There are even occasions when these film-centric documentaries hit harder than the very movies that they’re designed to analyze.
10 Hearts Of Darkness Shows That Film Production Can Be Its Own War
Apocalypse, Now is a classic piece of cinema and one of Francis Ford Coppola’s defining films and most definitely his most difficult of productions. Hearts of Darkness chronicles the destructive nature of Coppola’s perfectionist attitude and how it consistently pushes the movie past its budget and stretches out its shooting schedule.
It’s an honest and unflinching look at Coppola while in the heat of this chaos and it makes it all the more incredible that Apocalypse, Now actually turns out to be a good film and not just a messy ode to hubris.
9 Jodorowsky's Dune Is A Beautiful Glimpse Into What Could Have Been
Presentation is everything in a documentary and even though Jodorowsky’s Dune takes a very simple talking-head approach, it’s still an enlightening movie just because of the grandiose ambition of the vision that’s on display. Jodorowsky is a phenomenal filmmaker, but someone that’s only made a handful of movies.
This documentary details his extensive and glorious plans to bring Frank Herbert’s Dune to life before David Lynch’s cinematic adaptation. It’s full of passionate individuals and stunning production art that does justice to Jodorowsky’s bold dream.
8 Lost In La Mancha Turns Terry Gilliam Into His Own Cinematic Don Quixote
Terry Gilliam is one of the most fascinating filmmakers of this generation and even when his movies are misfires there are typically still memorable visuals and bold ideas on display. For the longest time, Gilliam’s passion project was The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
Lost in La Mancha is a brilliant tribute to Gilliam's creativity and dedication to his craft that elegantly juxtaposes the eccentric director as his own Quixotic figure. What’s even more beautiful is that there’s a documentary follow-up, He Dreams of Giants, that unpacks Gilliam’s successful attempt to make his movie. It’s the perfect companion piece.
7 Full Tilt Boogie Gives A Raw Look Into Rodriguez & Tarantino’s Creative Process
Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are two knowledgeable and competent filmmakers that push an inspirational DIY aesthetic to their earliest movies. From Dusk 'Till Dawn pairs the two together for an unconventional crime and horror hybrid with vampires.
Full Tilt Boogie follows Rodriguez and Tarantino every step of the way while the film's production gets carefully documented on camera. The open and forthcoming energy to everyone that's spoken to is very refreshing and the movie does tackle conflict that arises during production and doesn't only portray the glamorous side of the movie's production.
6 The Kingdom Of Dreams & Madness Demystifies The Iconic Hayao Miyazaki
Animation has come a tremendous way over the past decade and certain studios like Studio Ghibli consistently turn out magical and impressive movies. There are many people involved with bringing Studio Ghibli’s masterpieces to life, but Hayao Miyazaki has been turned into a legendary figure due to his meticulous and unconventional attitude to animation and filmmaking, in addition to his repeated claims of retirement.
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness puts Miyazaki under the magnifying glass in a refreshing way and highlights the human inside. It’s a beautiful look into not only how Ghibli operates, but Miyazaki’s respect for the craft.
5 Final Cut Looks At The Pros & Cons Of Heaven’s Gate’s Excess
Michael Cimino won over audiences and critics with The Deer Hunter, but his follow-up movie, Heaven's Gate, remains one of Hollywood's most curious disasters. Cimino's authoritarian directing style combined with reshoots, a ballooning budget, and negative press seemed to sink Heaven's Gate before it was even released.
The film's reputation has changed somewhat in more recent years and Final Cut: The Making And Unmaking Of Heaven’s Gate explores this unique phenomenon. The most interesting thing about the compelling documentary is that it's put together for the TLC network.
4 Easy Riders, Raging Bulls Honors Cinema’s Most Important Era
The film industry continues to march forward, but it's essential to have an understanding and knowledge of the past and the big films that have helped shape the industry. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is a 2003 documentary that examines the pivotal period of the 1960s and '70s in Hollywood where American movies like The Godfather, Chinatown, Jaws, Star Wars, Taxi Driver, and became more established new archetypes.
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls doesn't exactly reveal any secrets that film fans may not already know, but it's still a passionate look into an iconic era of film.
3 Making The Shining Provides A Rare Look Into Stanley Kubrick’s Creative Process
At only 35 minutes long, Making the Shining is the shortest documentary included here, but it manages to convey a feature film's worth of information in its sparse runtime. Stanley Kubrick is notorious for his particular approach to filmmaking and he's not one to provide an unrestricted look into his process or deconstruct his movies in interviews.
Vivian Kubrick, Stanley's daughter, gets the unique privilege to document her father's work on The Shining. Making the Shining is a strong and personal look into one of cinema's most inscrutable directors.
2 Burden Of Dreams Proves That Passion & Determination Can Make Dreams Come True
Werner Herzog is the type of filmmaker that throws everything into his movies and it's why they often resonate in such a visceral manner. Les Blank's Burden of Dreams details Herzog's troubled production with his 1982 movie, Fitzcarraldo.
Herzog's feud with Klaus Kinski is well documented, but Burden of Dreams offers a much deeper look into their tension. Much like with Hearts of Darkness, Burden of Dreams excels as a celebration of cinema because, despite all of this ire and animosity, Herzog and his team still finish production.
1 Best Worst Movie Celebrates The Love & Community Around The Schlocky Troll 2
There are a number of movies that experience a strange second wind as they become cult classics or fall into the "so bad, it's good" category. These movies can build such an unlikely community behind them and that's what Best Worst Movie is all about.
The documentary is centered around Troll 2, but it focuses on the fandom and love for the strange horror oddity rather than a look into the cheap film's production. Best Worst Movie does an excellent job to highlight the power of cinema and how something silly can still capture audiences and inspire creativity.