Some of the greatest moments in cinematic history are scenes of non-fiction.
The 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics
From a profile of boxer Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef, the best documentaries capture real-life phenomena in a larger-than-life fashion.
From a profile of boxing legend Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef
Here are the 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics:
50. "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" (2014)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 79%
Summary: "
49. "The Overnighters" (2014)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
48. "The Look of Silence" (2015)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
47. "When We Were Kings" (1996)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 93%
Summary: "
46. "Bill Cunningham New York" (2011)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
45. "Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time" (2002)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
44. "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" (2005)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 86%
Summary: "
43. "Nostalgia for the Light" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
42. "We Were Here" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 86%
Summary: "A deep and reflective look at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco and how individuals rose to the occasion during the first years of this unimaginable crisis."
41. "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 85%
Summary: "
40. "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara" (2003)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 93%
Summary: "John F. KennedyLyndon JohnsonRobert McNamara
39. "Cobain: Montage Of Heck" (2015)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 81%
Summary: "Kurt CobainNirvana
38. "This Is Not a Film" (2012)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 69%
Summary: "
37. "The Invisible War" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
36. "Last Train Home" (2009)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
35. "Sound City" (2013)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
34. "The Act Of Killing" (2013)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 85%
Summary: "
33. "Iris" (2015)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 80%
Summary: "
32. "Capturing the Friedmans" (2003)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
31. "How to Survive a Plague" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 83%
Summary: "
30. "The Interrupters" (2011)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 82%
Summary: "
29. "Waltz with Bashir" (2008)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
28. "Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr." (1999)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 86%
Summary: "
27. "Citizenfour" (2014)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 87%
Summary: "Edward Snowden
26. "Afghan Star" (2009)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 76%
Summary: "
25. "Hoop Dreams" (1994)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
24. "Amy" (2015)
Critic score: 94%
User score: 87%
Summary: "my Winehouse."
23. "Waste Land" (2010)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
22. "Project Nim" (2011)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
21. "The Square (Al Midan)" (2013)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
20. "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" (2017)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 85%
Summary: "Debbie ReynoldsCarrie FisherTodd Fisher
19. "Spellbound" (2002)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 83%
Summary: "
18. "Seymour: An Introduction" (2015)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 80%
Summary: "
17. "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
16. "The Missing Picture" (2014)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 76%
Summary: "
15. "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (2009)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
14. "Inside Job" (2010)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 91%
Summary: "
13. "Deliver Us from Evil" (2006)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 89%
Summary: "Oliver O'Grady
12. "Jodorowsky's Dune" (2014)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
11. "Kedi" (2017)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 85%
Summary: "
10. "Murderball" (2005)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
9. "Blackfish" (2013)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
8. "Tower" (2016)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
7. "Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 88%
Summary: "Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan."
6. "Weiner" (2016)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 83%
Summary: "An examination of disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's mayoral campaign and today's political landscape."
5. "The Last Waltz" (1978)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 94%
Summary: "A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band."
4. "20 Feet From Stardom" (2013)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 82%
Summary: "
3. "Life Itself" (2014)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 89%
Summary: "Roger Ebert
2. "Man on Wire" (2008)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 87%
Summary: "Philippe Petit
1. "I Am Not Your Negro" (2017)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 84%
Summary: "