Best Documentary Movies of the 1980s

1. 1
   Stop Making Sense 1984

   Directed by Jonathan Demme · Streaming on JustWatch TV Free, JustWatch TV Plus
   8.0

   8.4 · 401 votes
2. 2
   Koyaanisqatsi 1983

   Directed by Godfrey Reggio · Streaming on Pluto TV, YouTube Free, Tubi TV
   7.7

   7.9 · 808 votes
3. 3
   Isle of Flowers 1989

   Directed by Jorge Furtado
   7.7

   8.2 · 242 votes
4. 4
   Shoah 1985

   Directed by Claude Lanzmann · Streaming on Philo
   7.6

   8.2 · 228 votes
5. 5
   The Thin Blue Line 1988

   Directed by Errol Morris · Streaming on Philo, AMC Plus, AMC+
   7.4

   7.7 · 430 votes
6. 6
   For All Mankind 1989

   Directed by Al Reinert · Streaming on HBO Max, Cinemax
   7.2

   7.8 · 165 votes
7. 7
   Twenty Years Later 1984

   Directed by Eduardo Coutinho
   7.2

   8.4 · 77 votes
8. 8
   Hanna-Barbera's 50th 1989

   Directed by Marshall Flaum
   7.2

   9.1 · 48 votes
9. 9
   Sans Soleil 1983

   Directed by Chris Marker · Streaming on Kanopy, Criterion Channel
   7.1

   7.5 · 279 votes
10. 10
    Bruce Lee, the Legend 1984

    Directed by Raymond Chow · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Philo
    7.1

    7.9 · 114 votes
11. 11
    Burden of Dreams 1982

    Directed by Les Blank
    7.1

    7.6 · 158 votes
12. 12
    Talking Heads 1980

    Directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    7.0

    7.7 · 101 votes
13. 13
    Roger & Me 1989

    Directed by Michael Moore
    6.9

    7.1 · 329 votes
14. 14
    Powaqqatsi 1988

    Directed by Godfrey Reggio · Streaming on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo
    6.9

    7.2 · 192 votes
15. 15
    Streetwise 1984

    Directed by Martin Bell · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.8

    7.7 · 77 votes
16. 16
    The Times of Harvey Milk 1984

    Directed by Rob Epstein · Streaming on HBO Max, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free
    6.8

    7.3 · 128 votes
17. 17
    Chronos 1985

    Directed by Ron Fricke
    6.8

    7.5 · 91 votes
18. 18
    Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip 1982

    Directed by Joe Layton · Streaming on Tubi TV
    6.8

    7.4 · 107 votes
19. 19
    Live Aid 1985

    Directed by Vincent Scarza
    6.7

    7.8 · 56 votes
20. 20
    28 Up 1985

    Directed by Michael Apted
    6.7

    7.5 · 77 votes
21. 21
    Seven Up! 1985

    Directed by Paul Almond
    6.7

    7.2 · 114 votes
22. 22
    The Decline of Western Civilization 1981

    Directed by Penelope Spheeris · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo
    6.7

    7.2 · 120 votes
23. 23
    Making Michael Jackson's Thriller 1983

    Directed by Jerry Kramer
    6.7

    8.6 · 28 votes
24. 24
    Style Wars 1984

    Directed by Tony Silver · Streaming on Philo, The Roku Channel, Kanopy
    6.7

    7.5 · 65 votes
25. 25
    Depeche Mode: 101 1989

    Directed by D. A. Pennebaker · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.7

    8.0 · 40 votes
26. 26
    The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On 1987

    Directed by Kazuo Hara · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.7

    7.6 · 56 votes
27. 27
    Making 'The Shining' 1980

    Directed by Vivian Kubrick
    6.7

    7.1 · 120 votes
28. 28
    Prince: Sign 'o' the Times 1987

    Directed by Prince · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, The CW
    6.7

    7.5 · 60 votes
29. 29
    The Atomic Cafe 1982

    Directed by Jayne Loader · Streaming on Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
    6.6

    7.3 · 78 votes
30. 30
    Tokyo-Ga 1985

    Directed by Wim Wenders · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.6

    7.1 · 106 votes
31. 31
    Metallica: Cliff 'Em All 1987

    Directed by Doug Freel
    6.6

    7.7 · 43 votes
32. 32
    George Carlin: What Am I Doing in New Jersey? 1988

    Directed by Bruce Gowers · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free
    6.6

    7.4 · 54 votes
33. 33
    U2: Rattle and Hum 1988

    Directed by Phil Joanou
    6.6

    7.1 · 81 votes
34. 34
    Homework 1989

    Directed by Abbas Kiarostami · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.6

    7.5 · 45 votes
35. 35
    George Carlin: On Campus 1984

    Directed by Steven J. Santos · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free
    6.5

    7.4 · 49 votes
36. 36
    The Killing of America 1981

    Directed by Sheldon Renan
    6.5

    7.2 · 63 votes
37. 37
    George Carlin: Playin' with Your Head 1986

    Directed by Rocco Urbisci · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free
    6.5

    7.4 · 48 votes
38. 38
    Imagine: John Lennon 1988

    Directed by Andrew Solt · Streaming on Howdy
    6.5

    7.0 · 91 votes
39. 39
    Let's Get Lost 1988

    Directed by Bruce Weber · Streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla, Kino Film Collection
    6.5

    7.2 · 54 votes
40. 40
    Prince and the Revolution: Live 1985

    Directed by Paul Becher
    6.5

    8.6 · 18 votes
41. 41
    Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe 1980

    Directed by Les Blank · Streaming on Kanopy, Criterion Channel
    6.5

    7.0 · 74 votes
42. 42
    An Evening with Robin Williams 1983

    Directed by Don Mischer
    6.5

    7.3 · 44 votes
43. 43
    The Dark Glow of the Mountains 1985

    Directed by Werner Herzog · Streaming on fuboTV, Philo, Pluto TV
    6.5

    7.6 · 32 votes
44. 44
    Mur Murs 1982

    Directed by Agnès Varda · Streaming on Criterion Channel
    6.4

    7.4 · 36 votes
45. 45
    Shake! Otis at Monterey 1987

    Directed by D. A. Pennebaker · Streaming on HBO Max, Criterion Channel
    6.4

    7.4 · 35 votes
46. 46
    Jimi Plays Monterey 1987

    Directed by D. A. Pennebaker · Streaming on HBO Max, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free
    6.4

    7.5 · 31 votes
47. 47
    The Blue Planet 1982

    Directed by Franco Piavoli
    6.4

    7.7 · 26 votes
48. 48
    The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years 1988

    Directed by Penelope Spheeris · Streaming on fuboTV, Philo, The Roku Channel
    6.4

    6.8 · 88 votes
49. 49
    The Architecture of Doom 1989

    Directed by Peter Cohen
    6.4

    7.4 · 33 votes
50. 50
    We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song 1985

    Directed by Tom Trbovich · Streaming on The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Night Flight Plus
    6.4

    8.4 · 16 votes

Smart score = (votes × rating + 82 × 6.03) ÷ (votes + 82): the TMDB rating, pulled toward the catalog average as if every film had 82 extra average votes.

1. 1
   Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi 1983

   Directed by Robert Guenette
   6.4

   8.8 · 13 votes
2. 2
   Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever 1983

   Directed by Don Mischer
   6.4

   8.7 · 12 votes
3. 3
   Terrorists in Retirement 1985

   Directed by Mosco Boucault · Streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla, OVID
   6.3

   8.8 · 10 votes
4. 4
   SSS 1989

   Directed by Marina Abramović
   6.3

   8.5 · 12 votes
5. 5
   David Bowie: Glass Spider 1988

   Directed by David Mallet
   6.4

   8.4 · 13 votes
6. 6
   The Charles Bukowski Tapes 1985

   Directed by Barbet Schroeder · Streaming on Philo
   6.3

   8.6 · 11 votes
7. 7
   Deaf 1986

   Directed by Frederick Wiseman · Streaming on Kanopy
   6.3

   8.5 · 11 votes
8. 8
   SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back 1980

   Directed by Robert Guenette
   6.3

   8.2 · 13 votes
9. 9
   Schindler 1983

   Directed by Jon Blair · Streaming on Britbox
   6.3

   8.0 · 15 votes
10. 10
    Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson 1986

    Directed by Laurie Anderson
    6.3

    8.2 · 12 votes