When I think documentaries, I only think of Netflix. I’ve been researching what documentaries are on the other streaming platforms to see what’s actually worth adding to my watchlist. Turns out there are several award winning and critically acclaimed documentaries included with Amazon Prime Video. I’ve ordered them by highest IMDb score below along with a short synopsis.
More best documentaries to watch:
Documentaries and Docuseries on Disney+ ~ Documentaries & Non Fiction On Apple TV+ ~ Documentaries on Sky Documentaries ~ Football Documentaries ~ Sports Documentaries On Netflix ~ Documentaries On Netflix
Gleason (2016) – IMDb score 8.4
For Fans Of: Life Itself, Dear Zachary, The Theory of Everything
Critically acclaimed and winner of multiple awards including the Critics’ Choice Documentary Award, this deeply moving film follows former NFL player Steve Gleason’s life after an ALS diagnosis, capturing resilience, fatherhood, and legacy.
The Internet’s Own Boy (2014) – IMDb score 8.0
For Fans Of: Citizenfour, The Social Dilemma, Terms and Conditions May Apply
Winner of the Writers Guild of America Award and a Sundance favourite, this powerful documentary explores the life and tragic death of internet activist Aaron Swartz, raising urgent questions about justice and digital freedom.
The Day After Trinity (1980) – IMDb score 8.0
For Fans Of: Oppenheimer, The Fog of War, Command and Control
Academy Award–nominated and widely influential, this haunting reflection on the birth of the atomic bomb offers rare insight into physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s moral reckoning.
The Best of Men (2012) – IMDb score 8.0
For Fans Of: The Theory of Everything, The Paralympic Story, Hawking
Winner of a BAFTA, this celebrated drama-documentary tells the inspiring story of Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, whose work with spinal injury patients led to the founding of the Paralympic Games.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005) – IMDb score 8.0
For Fans Of: Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Amy, Searching for Sugar Man
Winner of the Sundance Directing Award, this haunting portrait of cult musician Daniel Johnston explores the intersection of mental illness and creative genius.
The Dissident (2020) – IMDb score 7.9
For Fans Of: Navalny, The Great Hack, The Killing of Jamal Khashoggi
Nominated for a BAFTA and widely acclaimed, Bryan Fogel’s gripping exposé investigates the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the global implications of surveillance and authoritarianism.
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981–1998) – IMDb score 7.9
For Fans Of: American Hardcore, Punk: Attitude, Sound City
A seminal, critically revered trilogy that captures the raw energy and cultural impact of punk, metal, and underground music scenes across decades.
Good Night Oppy (2022) – IMDb score 7.8
For Fans Of: Apollo 11, The Mars Generation, The Farthest
Winner of multiple Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, this heartwarming and visually stunning film chronicles NASA’s Mars rover Opportunity and its unexpected 15-year journey.
Valley Uprising (2014) – IMDb score 7.8
For Fans Of: Free Solo, The Dawn Wall, Meru
A definitive, award-winning chronicle of Yosemite’s climbing counterculture, blending archival footage with thrilling tales of rebellion and risk.
Häxan (1922) – IMDb score 7.6
For Fans Of: The Witch, Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
A landmark in documentary and horror cinema, this surreal silent-era film remains critically enduring for its bold exploration of witchcraft and hysteria.
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched (2021) – IMDb score 7.6
For Fans Of: Horror Noire, In Search of Darkness, Mark Cousins’ Story of Film
Winner of multiple awards, this scholarly and visually rich documentary offers the most comprehensive look at folk horror cinema ever assembled.
The Endless Summer (1966) – IMDb score 7.6
For Fans Of: Step Into Liquid, Riding Giants, Dogtown and Z-Boys
An iconic, genre-defining surfing documentary that follows two surfers chasing summer around the globe — a cultural touchstone for generations.
Tina (2021) – IMDb score 7.4
For Fans Of: Whitney, Amy, What’s Love Got to Do with It
Winner of a Primetime Emmy and Peabody Award, this intimate portrait of Tina Turner blends archival footage and candid interviews to celebrate her resilience and legacy.
City of Ghosts (2017) – IMDb score 7.4
For Fans Of: For Sama, The Cave, Restrepo
Peabody-winning and BAFTA-nominated, this harrowing documentary follows citizen journalists risking their lives to expose ISIS atrocities in Raqqa.
Crime After Crime (2011) – IMDb score 7.4
For Fans Of: The Central Park Five, Time: The Kalief Browder Story, For Life
Winner of multiple festival awards, this powerful legal documentary follows two lawyers fighting for justice for Deborah Peagler, imprisoned for defending herself against abuse.
The Brandon Teena Story (1998) – IMDb score 7.4
For Fans Of: Boys Don’t Cry, Disclosure, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
Winner of two Berlin International Film Festival awards, this harrowing account of Brandon Teena’s life and murder laid the groundwork for broader LGBTQ+ awareness.
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (2003) – IMDb score 7.4
For Fans Of: De Palma, The Kid Stays in the Picture, Visions of Light
Critically acclaimed and widely referenced, this definitive chronicle of 1970s Hollywood charts the rise of maverick directors who reshaped American cinema.
Frida (2002) – IMDb score 7.3
For Fans Of: Coco, The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera: Revolutionary Artist
An acclaimed biopic of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, blending surrealism, politics, and passion with vivid visual storytelling.
Somm: Into the Bottle (2015) – IMDb score 7.3
For Fans Of: Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Chef’s Table, A Year in Burgundy
A high-quality entry in the acclaimed Somm series, this documentary uncorks the history, technique, and obsession behind the world’s finest wines.
Gimme Danger (2016) – IMDb score 7.2
For Fans Of: The Filth and the Fury, Muscle Shoals, The Velvet Underground
Critically praised, Jim Jarmusch’s tribute to Iggy Pop and The Stooges captures the raw power and chaos of proto-punk history.
Super Size Me (2004) – IMDb score 7.2
For Fans Of: Food, Inc., Fed Up, That Sugar Film
Academy Award–nominated and culturally influential, Morgan Spurlock’s fast-food experiment exposed the health risks of processed eating with humour and shock.
No Manifesto: A Film About The Manic Street Preachers (2015) – IMDb score 6.9
For Fans Of: Pulp: A Film About Life, Blur: No Distance Left to Run, The Punk Singer
A well-received, fan-led documentary tracing the evolution of the Manic Street Preachers from political punk to arena rock.
The Program (2015) – IMDb score 6.5
For Fans Of: Icarus, Stop at Nothing, Lance
A dramatized exposé of Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal, this critically acclaimed film reveals the dark side of competitive cycling.
More best lists on Amazon Prime Video: