Best Documentary Movies of the 1990s

1. 1
   Baraka 1992

   Directed by Ron Fricke · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home Free
   8.0

   8.2 · 729 votes
2. 2
   Paris Is Burning 1991

   Directed by Jennie Livingston · Streaming on HBO Max, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free
   7.8

   8.0 · 574 votes
3. 3
   Nirvana: Unplugged In New York 1993

   Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
   7.7

   8.7 · 148 votes
4. 4
   Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse 1991

   Directed by Fax Bahr · Streaming on YouTube Free
   7.6

   7.9 · 440 votes
5. 5
   Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M 1999

   Directed by Wayne Isham
   7.5

   8.7 · 96 votes
6. 6
   Hoop Dreams 1994

   Directed by Steve James · Streaming on fuboTV, HBO Max, The Roku Channel
   7.3

   7.6 · 347 votes
7. 7
   Lessons of Darkness 1992

   Directed by Werner Herzog · Streaming on Philo, The Roku Channel, Kanopy
   7.3

   7.8 · 167 votes
8. 8
   Microcosmos 1996

   Directed by Claude Nuridsany · Streaming on Criterion Channel
   7.2

   7.6 · 273 votes
9. 9
   When We Were Kings 1996

   Directed by Leon Gast · Streaming on HBO Max, The Roku Channel, Shout! Factory TV
   7.2

   7.6 · 264 votes
10. 10
    Buena Vista Social Club 1999

    Directed by Wim Wenders · Streaming on HBO Max, Shout! Factory TV, YouTube Free
    7.2

    7.5 · 389 votes
11. 11
    American Movie 1999

    Directed by Chris Smith
    7.2

    7.5 · 294 votes
12. 12
    Crumb 1995

    Directed by Terry Zwigoff · Streaming on The Roku Channel
    7.2

    7.5 · 299 votes
13. 13
    Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills 1996

    Directed by Joe Berlinger · Streaming on Hoopla, HBO Max
    7.2

    7.6 · 215 votes
14. 14
    Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes 1990

    Directed by Benjamín Estavillo
    7.0

    8.2 · 69 votes
15. 15
    My Best Fiend 1999

    Directed by Werner Herzog · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Kanopy
    7.0

    7.4 · 233 votes
16. 16
    The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 1992

    Directed by David Mallet · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    7.0

    8.4 · 52 votes
17. 17
    Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media 1992

    Directed by Mark Achbar · Streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla
    6.9

    7.6 · 96 votes
18. 18
    Little Dieter Needs to Fly 1997

    Directed by Werner Herzog · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, The Roku Channel
    6.8

    7.5 · 103 votes
19. 19
    The Last Days 1998

    Directed by James Moll · Streaming on Netflix
    6.8

    7.4 · 107 votes
20. 20
    The Best of the Martial Arts Films 1990

    Directed by Sandra Weintraub
    6.8

    8.8 · 30 votes
21. 21
    The Private Life of Plants 1995
    6.8

    8.4 · 37 votes
22. 22
    My Voyage to Italy 1999

    Directed by Martin Scorsese
    6.8

    7.6 · 72 votes
23. 23
    The Celluloid Closet 1996

    Directed by Rob Epstein · Streaming on The Roku Channel
    6.8

    7.3 · 123 votes
24. 24
    A Brief History of Time 1991

    Directed by Errol Morris · Streaming on HBO Max, Criterion Channel
    6.8

    7.2 · 135 votes
25. 25
    Beyond the Mat 1999

    Directed by Barry W. Blaustein
    6.7

    7.3 · 99 votes
26. 26
    Here We Are Waiting for You 1999

    Directed by Marcelo Masagão
    6.7

    8.6 · 30 votes
27. 27
    Safe Journey 1993

    Directed by Tony Gatlif
    6.7

    7.8 · 51 votes
28. 28
    35 Up 1991

    Directed by Michael Apted
    6.7

    7.6 · 60 votes
29. 29
    George Carlin: Doin' It Again 1990

    Directed by Rocco Urbisci · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free
    6.7

    7.7 · 54 votes
30. 30
    Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows 1998

    Directed by Paul Jay · Streaming on Brew, Plex, Plex Channel
    6.7

    7.5 · 63 votes
31. 31
    Portishead: Roseland New York 1998

    Directed by Dick Carruthers
    6.7

    8.2 · 36 votes
32. 32
    Black Hawk Down 1997

    Directed by Chris Mills
    6.7

    7.5 · 67 votes
33. 33
    42 Up 1999

    Directed by Michael Apted
    6.7

    7.6 · 57 votes
34. 34
    Peter Gabriel: Secret World Live 1994

    Directed by François Girard · Streaming on Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.7

    8.7 · 26 votes
35. 35
    Waco: The Rules of Engagement 1997

    Directed by William Gazecki · Streaming on Kanopy, YOW.tv
    6.7

    7.6 · 56 votes
36. 36
    One Day in September 1999

    Directed by Kevin Macdonald · Streaming on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo
    6.7

    7.3 · 81 votes
37. 37
    Roger Waters: The Wall - Live in Berlin 1990

    Directed by Ken O'Neill · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.7

    7.9 · 41 votes
38. 38
    Jim Carrey: Unnatural Act 1991

    Directed by Michael French
    6.6

    7.5 · 59 votes
39. 39
    The Godfather Family: A Look Inside 1990

    Directed by Jeff Werner
    6.6

    7.8 · 43 votes
40. 40
    Blue 1993

    Directed by Derek Jarman · Streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex
    6.6

    7.2 · 87 votes
41. 41
    Pearl Jam: MTV Unplugged 1992

    Directed by Joel Gallen
    6.6

    8.4 · 27 votes
42. 42
    Alice in Chains: MTV Unplugged 1996

    Directed by Joe Perota · Streaming on Qello Concerts by Stingray
    6.6

    8.7 · 23 votes
43. 43
    Goin' Down to South Park 1999

    Directed by Richard Spiller
    6.6

    9.1 · 19 votes
44. 44
    Making "The Matrix" 1999

    Directed by Josh Oreck
    6.6

    7.4 · 58 votes
45. 45
    Hype! 1996

    Directed by Doug Pray · Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Hoopla
    6.6

    7.4 · 59 votes
46. 46
    Vajont 9 ottobre '63 1997
    6.6

    9.3 · 17 votes
47. 47
    George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy 1997

    Directed by Rocco Urbisci · Streaming on Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, Tubi TV
    6.6

    8.0 · 32 votes
48. 48
    Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie 1995

    Directed by Peter Kuran
    6.6

    7.2 · 69 votes
49. 49
    Les yeux dans les Bleus 1998

    Directed by Stéphane Meunier
    6.6

    7.5 · 46 votes
50. 50
    Dream of Light 1992

    Directed by Víctor Erice
    6.5

    7.3 · 55 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
   Godzilla, King of the Monsters 1998
   6.4

   9.2 · 12 votes
2. 2
   The World According to Tippi 1997

   Directed by Christian Crye
   6.4

   9.0 · 13 votes
3. 3
   In the Name of God 1992

   Directed by Anand Patwardhan · Streaming on OVID
   6.4

   8.7 · 14 votes
4. 4
   Nirvana: Live and Loud 1993

   Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
   6.4

   8.9 · 11 votes
5. 5
   Selena Live! The Last Concert 1995
   6.4

   8.4 · 16 votes
6. 6
   Super Speedway 1997

   Directed by Stephen Low · Streaming on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV
   6.4

   8.8 · 11 votes
7. 7
   Nirvana: Live at the Paradiso 1991

   Directed by Bram van Splunteren
   6.3

   8.5 · 11 votes
8. 8
   Yanni: Live at the Acropolis 1994
   6.3

   8.4 · 11 votes
9. 9
   The Making of 'The Frighteners' 1998

   Directed by Peter Jackson
   6.3

   8.5 · 10 votes
10. 10
    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic 1990

    Directed by Jack Haley Jr.
    6.3

    8.3 · 11 votes