Documentaries watched in 2023
by xicoperez | created - 01 Jan 2023 | updated - 4 months ago | PublicThese are all of the documentaries that I have watched in 2023, in order of viewing.
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1. The Real Stonehouse (2023 TV Special)
46 min | Documentary
A biography of Labour MP John Stonehouse, concentrating on his attempt in 1974 to fake his own death by appearing to drown in the sea. Made to complement the dramatisation Stonehouse (2023) which was shown on the preceding three nights.
Director: Claire Savage | Stars: Kevin McNally, Edwina Currie, Robin Butler, Robin Hodgson
Votes: 41
2⭐
2.
BBC World News (1997– )
Episode:
QAnon: After the Storm?
(2022)
Documentary, News
It's been a year since the mobilizing power of a conspiracy theory nearly brought American democracy to its knees. Stephanie Hegarty has traveled to the US to investigate.
Stars: Stephanie Hegarty, Albert Watkins, Nick Nittoli, Kim Carpentier
5⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
3.
ITV Exposure (2011– )
Episode:
Nazi Hunters: The Real Walk-In
(2022)
Documentary, News
Director: Roger Corke | Stars: Dev Barrah, Luciana Berger, Matthew Collins, David Herman
Votes: 6
5⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
4. Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic (2012 Video)
35 min | Documentary, Short
The behind the scenes story of how "Casablanca" became an American film classic.
Director: Gary Leva | Stars: Rudy Behlmer, Alan K. Rode, William Friedkin, Ruth Myers
Votes: 68
8⭐
5. Grenfell: Scenes from the Inquiry (2022– )
Drama
Grenfell sets out to discover why the devastating fire of 14 June 2017 happened after the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, and who was responsible for the deaths of 72 people.
Stars: Daniel Betts, Sam Buchanan, Sarah Coates, Ron Cook
Votes: 11
9⭐ - I watched the full series: 2 episodes across 1 season.
6. Muhammad Ali (2021)
445 min | Documentary, Biography, History
An in-depth look at the life of boxer, Muhammad Ali, including his years as an activist and philanthropist.
Stars: Gerald Early, Todd Boyd, Salim Muwakkil, Jerry Izenberg
Votes: 1,364
9⭐ - I watched the full series: 4 episodes across 1 season.
7.
Our World (2007– )
Episode:
Fixing San Francisco
(2022)
Documentary
During the first year of the pandemic, San Francisco had more deaths from drug overdoses than Covid. In December the mayor declared a state of emergency in parts of the city.
Stars: Chesa Boudin, London Breed
2⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
8. Billie (2019)
Not Rated | 98 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Documentary on the famed jazz singer Billie Holiday.
Director: James Erskine | Stars: Linda Lipnack Kuehl, Billie Holiday, Sylvia Syms, Tony Bennett
Votes: 1,011
6⭐
9. Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy (2020 TV Movie)
76 min | Documentary, Biography
To mark the 40th anniversary of his death, friends, family, colleagues and critics provide an insight into the life of one of the greatest comedians of all time.
Director: John O'Rourke | Stars: Peter Sellers, Steve Coogan, Britt Ekland, Sinéad Cusack
Votes: 92
2⭐
10. One Deadly Weekend in America (2017)
85 min | Documentary
Feature-length documentary covering one summer weekend of gun violence across the United States, telling the stories of seven families who lives were torn apart through gun crime.
Director: Ursula Macfarlane
Votes: 97
7⭐
11.
Stacey Dooley Investigates (2009– )
Episode:
Costa del Narcos
(2020)
51 min | Documentary
Director: Almudena Garcia-Parrado Gomez-Lobo | Star: Stacey Dooley
Votes: 15
2⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
12. On the Morning You Wake (to the End of the World) (2022)
38 min | Documentary, Drama
13 January 2018, Hawaii. Media and text messages inform "ballistic missile threat to Hawaii". For 38 minutes, chaos ensues. The alert will be denied.
Directors: Mike Brett, Arnaud Colinart, Steve Jamison, Pierre Zandrowicz | Stars: Lilibet Biutanaseva, Litiana Biutanaseva, Talei Biutanaseva, Mike Brett
Votes: 65
5⭐
13. Ten Pound Poms (1997 TV Movie)
50 min | Documentary
On the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the assisted passage to Australia scheme, six 'ten pound poms', as they are popularly known, tell the moving, funny and occasionally tragic stories of their lives in Australia.
Director: Michael Davies
Votes: 10
5⭐
14.
Secret Knowledge (2013– )
Episode:
Nina Simone and Me with Laura Mvula
(2015)
Documentary
In a personal tribute, British soul singer Laura Mvula travels to New York to celebrate the Nina Simone songs that mean most to her and explore their musical roots.
Director: Kath Pick | Stars: Laura Mvula, Nina Simone
4⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
15. Unvaccinated (2022)
63 min | Documentary
Covid-19 is on the rise again in the UK. After multiple lockdowns and more than 197,000 deaths, experts are warning we're now entering a fifth wave of the pandemic. So why are around four ... See full summary »
Directors: Emily Coddling, Eddie Hutton-Mills, Afi Khan | Stars: Hannah Fry, Raj Arora, Luca Barbarossa, Vicky Borman
Votes: 45
5⭐
16. Remembering Sunset Song: In Conversation... Vivien Heilbron & Moira Armstrong (2022 TV Special)
11 min | Documentary, Short
Vivien Heilbron and Moira Armstrong looks back on the BBC Scotland drama series Sunset Song (1971).
Stars: Vivien Heilbron, Moira Armstrong
7⭐
17.
Arena (1975– )
Episode:
Screen Goddesses
(2012)
59 min | Documentary
Documentary about the early female movie stars: Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe - immortal goddesses made by Hollywood to reign over the silver screen.
Director: David M. Thompson | Stars: Elizabeth McGovern, Theda Bara, Brigitte Bardot, Ingrid Bergman
Votes: 72
2⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
18. Portillo's State Secrets (2015– )
30 min | Documentary
Michael Portillo unearths previously classified documents from The National Archives, discovering fascinating facts about Britain's past.
Stars: Michael Portillo, Jonathan Walker
Votes: 15
3⭐ - I watched the full series: 10 episodes across 1 season.
19. The Real Spies Among Friends (2022 TV Movie)
47 min | Documentary, History
Documentary telling the real story of the Cambridge Spies - subject of the drama series A Spy Among Friends.
Director: Nick Tanner | Stars: Roger Allam, Helen Fry, David Haig-Thomas, Harold Rickett
Votes: 39
4⭐
20. I don't even like apple pie (1989 TV Special)
50 min | Documentary
In a rare television interview, Doris Day looks back over her successful acting and singing career, and recalls happy memories of working with Rock Hudson, James Cagney, Clark Gable and James Garner.
Stars: Doris Day, Christopher Frayling, James Cagney, Jack Carson
7⭐
21. Christopher Eccleston Remembers... Our Friends in the North (2022 TV Special)
12 min | Documentary, Short
Christopher Eccleston looks back on the iconic drama series Our Friends in the North (1996).
Star: Christopher Eccleston
7⭐
22. Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story (1987)
360 min | Documentary, History
The history of the major Golden Age of Hollywood film company, RKO Pictures.
Stars: Edward Asner, Ginger Rogers, Linwood G. Dunn, Pandro S. Berman
Votes: 185
9⭐ - I watched the full series: 6 episodes across 1 season.
23. The Rise and Fall of Timex Dundee (2019)
Documentary
This documentary looks back at the 1993 strike against proposed layoffs at Timex's Camperdown Factory that had run for 47 years.
Director: Andy Twaddle | Star: Pauline Turner
Votes: 115
5⭐
24.
Scene by Scene (1997–2003)
Episode:
Rod Steiger
(2000)
Documentary, Talk-Show
Rob Steiger talks to Mark Cousins about his celebrated roles in On the Waterfront, Dr Zhivago and In the Heat of the Night, and shares anecdotes about James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.
Director: Mark Cousins | Stars: Mark Cousins, Rod Steiger
9⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
25. Hoop Dreams (1994)
PG-13 | 170 min | Documentary, Drama, Sport
A film following the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional.
Director: Steve James | Stars: William Gates, Arthur Agee, Emma Gates, Curtis Gates
Votes: 28,016 | Gross: $7.83M
5⭐
26. The Age of Stupid (2009)
Not Rated | 92 min | Documentary, History, News
A future archivist looks at old footage from the year 2008 to understand why humankind failed to address climate change.
Director: Franny Armstrong | Stars: Pete Postlethwaite, Jehangir Wadia, Alvin DuVernay, Layefa Malini
Votes: 4,702
8⭐
27. Litvinenko - The Mayfair Poisoning (2022 TV Movie)
47 min | Documentary
Documentary detailing events surrounding the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. Airing in conjunction with the ITV drama Litvinenko, this is the real story of a murder inquiry and a shocking radiation health emergency.
Director: John Holdsworth | Stars: Patricia Hodge, Marina Litvinenko
Votes: 69
2⭐
28.
Scene by Scene (1997–2003)
Episode:
Janet Leigh
(2000)
Documentary, Talk-Show
Director: Mark Cousins | Stars: Mark Cousins, Janet Leigh
8⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
29. Siân Phillips Remembers... How Green Was My Valley (2022 TV Special)
10 min | Documentary, Short
Siân Phillips looks back on the iconic drama series How Green Was My Valley (1975).
Star: Siân Phillips
5⭐
30. Trips Money Can't Buy with Ewan McGregor (2001 TV Movie)
60 min | Documentary
Survival expert Ray Mears takes Ewan McGregor the chance to go on a trek of a lifetime. They go deep into the Honduran jungle in search of a lost civilisation.
Director: Ben Southwell | Stars: Ewan McGregor, Chris Begley, Ray Mears
Votes: 40
6⭐
31.
Scene by Scene (1997–2003)
Episode:
Donald Sutherland
(2001)
Documentary, Talk-Show
With roles in M*A*S*H (1970), Klute (1971) and Klute (1971), Donald Sutherland made his name in some of the outstanding films of the seventies. He has remained one of Hollywood's most ... See full summary »
Director: Mark Cousins | Stars: Mark Cousins, Donald Sutherland
8⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
32. The Two Escobars (2010)
104 min | Documentary, Biography, Sport
A look at how the lives of Colombian footballer Andres Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar were intertwined, alongside the mysterious events that led to Andres' murder in 1994.
Directors: Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist | Stars: María Ester Escobar, Francisco Maturana, Alexis García V., Jaime Gaviria Gómez
Votes: 2,201
7⭐
33. Michael Dobbs Remembers... House of Cards (2022 TV Special)
11 min | Documentary, Short
Michael Dobbs looks back on the iconic drama series House of Cards (1990).
Star: Michael Dobbs
3⭐
34. The Real George Michael: Portrait of an Artist (2023)
94 min | Documentary
This is by far the most definitive feature documentary of George Michael's amazing life, told candidly by fellow musicians and other friends who loved and respected him.
Director: Simon Napier-Bell | Stars: George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Tom Robinson, Amanda Harcourt
Votes: 381
5⭐
35. The Readiness Is All: The Filming of Hamlet (1997 TV Special)
39 min | Documentary
Director: Patrick Reams | Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Neil Farrell, Nicholas Farrell, Tim Harvey
7⭐
36. Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song (2023)
TV-PG | 12 min | Documentary, Short, Biography
Chronicling the final Beatles song and its journey to completion, Peter Jackson and his team bring The Fab Four's career full-circle with Now and Then.
Director: Oliver Murray | Stars: George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Beatles
Votes: 651
8⭐
37.
Talking Pictures (2013– )
Episode:
Orson Welles: Talking Pictures
(2013)
Documentary
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by the legendary Hollywood actor and director Orson Welles, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Stars: Sylvia Syms, Orson Welles
Votes: 9
8⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
38. Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution with Howard Goodall (2017 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary, Music
With visually striking elements and never-heard-before recording session outtakes, award-winning composer and music historian Howard Goodall looks back at the creation and ongoing influence of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".
Director: Francis Hanly | Stars: Howard Goodall, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr
Votes: 310
8⭐
39. The Beatles & the BBC (2023 TV Special)
67 min | Documentary, Music
A look back at some key moments that saw the BBC document The Beatles' journey, including such songs as She Loves You and All You Need Is Love.
Stars: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Votes: 13
8⭐
40.
Talking Pictures (2013– )
Episode:
Robert Redford: Talking Pictures
(2014)
Documentary
The career of Robert Redford, one of the big screen's greatest heartthrobs, is examined in this exploration of the BBC archives, with rarely seen interviews showing that he was always much more than just a pin-up.
Stars: Robert Redford, Sylvia Syms
5⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
41.
Talking Pictures (2013– )
Episode:
Charlton Heston: Talking Pictures
(2013)
Documentary
A retrospective look at television appearances made over the years by Oscar winning Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, capturing the milestones and highlights of his life and career.
Stars: Charlton Heston, Sylvia Syms
6⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
42.
Talking Pictures (2013– )
Episode:
Bette Davis: Talking Pictures
(2013)
Documentary
Some of Hollywood legend Bette Davis' television appearances and interviews are looked back upon. She talks of her life and career.
Stars: Bette Davis, Michael Parkinson, Sylvia Syms, Terry Wogan
Votes: 60
8⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
43.
Talking Pictures (2013– )
Episode:
Great British Comedies
(2015)
Documentary
Sylvia Syms looks back on the great British comedy stars who over the years have had cinema audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.
Stars: Sylvia Syms, Dirk Bogarde, Graham Chapman, John Cleese
Votes: 6
4⭐ - I only watched this episode. All of the episodes are standalone documentaries.
44. The Man Who Cycled the Americas (2010)
Documentary, Adventure
Mark Beaumont attempts to journey Alaska, USA to Ushuaia, in southern Argentina, cycling the length of the Rockies and Andes.
Stars: Bill Paterson, Mark Beaumont
Votes: 8
2⭐ - I watched the full series: 3 episodes across 1 season.
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