Get the full list of '50 Documentaries to See Before You Die'

I suggest adding "zeitgeist addendum", it is a very good documentary.

Watch me : "TROM : The Reality Of Me" http://www.videoneat.com/documentaries#1184/trom-the-reality-of-me

Ethos: A Time for Change. Koch Bros Exposed. The War You Don't See.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston?

What...Earthlings is not in there?

I just saw "For the Bible Tells Me So" It was so powerful. Definitely a
'must see before you die" documentary!

www.forthebibletellsmeso.org

Two mistakes in the list, for me, are Capturing the Friedmans (about a pedophile) and "One Day in September," the most one-sided look at an act of political violence that I have ever seen. The film, about the attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics, doesn't explore why the Palestinians kidnapped the athletes. Israelis are innocent victims, and the Palestinians evil terrorists. A viewer would never guess that Israel had been razing Palestinian villages. Contrast this to the excellent film, Bus 174, which spends half of its time investigating the history and motivation of a man who holds hostage the passengers on a bus.

If there is anything I hate in documentaries, it is dishonesty. In his comments about "Capturing the Friedmans," the director implies that the evidence was quite ambiguous, and the film presents it as such until near the end, when the viewer realizes that he has been deceived. In his comments about "One Day in September," the director, Kevin MacDonald, actually says that his film is objective, fair and balanced. I suppose Fox News has given new meanings to these terms. The production values of the film, though, were excellent; with an honest exploration of the issues that motivated the crime, it could have been one of the outstanding documentaries of all time, instead of a one-dimensional effort that doesn't deserve to be in the conversation.

All movies on that list are good, but I'm surprised I don't see any of those great documentaries:

- Baraka, Ron Fricke, 1992
- Titicut Follies, Frederick Wiseman, 1967
- To Be and to Have (Être et avoir), Nicolas Philibert, 2002
- Of Whales, the Moon and Men (Pour la suite du monde), Pierre Perreault, 1963

Most of the movies on the list are great choices, but I think a few of them are not, such as An inconvenient Truth, wich is a film that had a great social impact but as a movie and as a piece of art, it has nothing special or particularly interesting, still it is ranked at 8.

I hope someone here can help. Someone has changed the "50 Documentaries to see before you die" wikipedia. They have listen some lame documentary in place of Hoop Dreams in the #1 spot. Don't know where else to put this.

#1 of all time: Grey Gardens!
couple of my favorites you didn't mention:
I like to kill flies
Wild and Wonderful Whites (of West Virginia)
Valentino
Born into Brothels

What about King Gimp? 1999 Oscar Award winning documentary...

Oh man, so many good ones, but what about Born Into Brothels? That is one of my favs...also, After Stonewall. Guess you can't please everyone.

I gave "Beyond Beats and Rhymes" to my college student sons and eight of their friends for Christmas last year, and it was the most popular gift I gave since they outgrew Hotwheels. This important doc by Byron Hurt explores misogyny and homophobia in hip-hop music. Hurt asks the important questions about who is benefiting when music becomes a vehicle for teaching and reinforcing oppression.

I would add Sicko. Will Current be running the whole list in the near future?

I can not see the film, but the tvc. Why?

you forgot one of my faves, The Times of Harvey Milk

I LOVE most of these documentaries, but was annoyed that Current never attributed "the 50 must-see documentaries" in the broadcast... according to who exactly? Morgan Spurlock, Current TV, IMDB ratings, or overall gross profit? A bit irresponsible for a news program in my opinion. Great idea (which is typical for Current)... and almost successfully executed (also typical). Wish they would have shown all 50 docs in their entirety on the network. It screamed for it to happen.

Why is part 5/5 never aired on tv? I have yet to see this segment of 50 docs.

"Control Room"

Undeniable that "Fat Head" should be in the list but no surprise that it isn't, hey Spurlock. Totally shredded any credibility that "Supersize Me" aspired to and should be in the list for the public benefit and as a future reference as to how the FDA and USDA meatheads (and Spurlock) got it SO wrong!

"Microcosmos" was really cool, too!

Also "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea" was quite good and interesting as well.

Grey Gardens,Dear America:Letters home from Vietnam,The Source,The Rape of Europa,Searching for the Wrong-eyed Jesus,The Leader his driver and the driver's wife,Blind Spot:Hitler's Secretary,Chasing Sound:The Les Paul Story,Capturing the Friedmans,Paper Clips,Easy Riders Raging Bulls,Joan Rivers:A Piece of Work,Religulous,Chevolution,Grass,Story of the Weeping Camel,Who the F**k is Jackson Pollock - Just a few overlooked gems that are must sees

I would have put Gasland much higher mainly due to the continuing importance of the film today. It's message is more urgent than ever.

Why Spike Lee 's documentary ''Four Litte Girl was not on the list.

As a worker in the American Auto industry and our plant is being closed in Dec 2011 I thought this documentary would have been in the top 50.

http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-last-truck-closing-of-a-gm-plant/index.html
It was nominated in 2010 for a Oscar.

Loved the series. I'm working my way through the list of the ones I haven't yet seen. What I love about these kind of rankings is there are always differences of opinion. As for me, I would add "Paper Clips". This story of a small, poor, rural school's quest to teach diversity is beautifully told. It should be shown in every school in America.

I amend my post of a handful of days ago. Although they show 8 people judging the films on the "Behind the Scenes: How the 50 documentaries were selected" on this website, they only credit six judges in the credits after each episode. I think that's pretty underhanded to show 8 people in the "how" video as if 8 people were making the decisions when it was really only 6. You're using the same irresponsible -ournalism tactics as Fox News when you do things like that.

Whenever I see any of these 10/50/100 best lists, especially in the area of sports accomplishments for example, I am curious about the apparent inherent skewing of the results to the recent past. I glanced at the list here, and at a few pages of the comments, and I was surprised not to see one of the greatest and historic documentaries of all not mentioned. It inspired many to enter documentary journalism, and moved a nation. Introduced by the majestic last part of the Doppio Movimento movement of Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring - as were all of the original CBS Reports - Edward R. Murrow's Harvest of Shame

Im quite surprised that Farenheit 9/11 wasn't in the top ten. Besides that, this has given me a huge list of movies that I need to see :)

i'm shocked at how many of these i haven't seen. i like The Bridge about golden gate suicides. and though The History Channel should be in quotations, i really enjoyed World War 2 in HD. the first ww2 doc i've ever really watched.

Great list. I've been re-watching a few older documentary series that you might want to consider as well.
1. 'Cosmos' by Carl Sagan
2. 'The Ascent of Man' by Jacob Bronowski
3. 'The Day the Universe Changed' by James Burke
4. 'The Power of Myth' by Joseph Campbell.
Although all of these documentaries are from 70's and 80's, they still are timelessly brilliant in their insight on human nature, culture, religion, and our place in the universe. These have all had a great influence on me over the years and I recommend them all very highly.

"The Origin of AIDS" based on the book The River by Ed Hooper. It's next to impossible to find a DVD copy but definitely worth viewing the full 90 minute documentary (free on-line) and should be viewed by everyone. It is as much about the possible origins of the AIDS epidemic as it is about the blatant disregard of the scientific community to determine if the hypothesis is true and the overwhelming disregard of animal life and human safety.

I don't agree with Current TV's decision to be the lone provider of a list of only 100 documentaries from the last 25 years that the panel of only 8 people then had to whittle down to 50 and then rank. That's like saying "Let's pick the best rock-and-roll songs you should hear before you die. Oh, by the way, we're only going to give you a list of 100 to pick from, and those songs are only from last 25 years." They're not even going back to cinema verite in the '50s. I agree with Maureen Ryan that Woodstock should be on the list. As well, The Battle of Algiers (1966) is ranked as the 120th greatest movie of all time--let along documentary--by the film magazine Empire. I agree with Thomas Kent about Why We Fight by Eugene Jarecki. Heck, even if one is limiting oneself to the past 25 years, I'm surprised Visions of Light--a film about the history of cinematography--didn't make the list. The biggest slight for me, though, is that Hearts of Darkness isn't on the list. It's a documentary about the making of the film Apocalypse Now, and it's better than the original movie which is held in such high critical regard. I also think two Frontline documentaries should be on the list: The Dark Side--about the Bush Administration's machinations to get us into the Iraq War--and The Meth Epidemic, about crystal meth amphetamine in the '80s and '90s.

Good list....I'm proud to say I've seen a bunch of these. I'd include some of Adam Curtis' work with the BBC, including "The Century of the Self," "The Trap," and "All Watched over by Machines of Loving Grace." Granted, it's a different network, so they're probably copyright restrictions and whatnot, but those would be my 51, 52, and 53.

Lost Sparrow is part of PBS Independent lens and is wonderful. It will break your heart. I believe it is a must see!

This can't be a credible list if Supersize me is at number 5 and Fahrenheit 9/11 features anywhere on it.

Why aren't there any documentaries by John Pilger? He's made probably the best documentaries I've ever seen. Have a look at his website. You can watch them all for free

Also, there are none by Louis Theroux.

These are in no particular order:

1. Standard Operating procedure - Errol Morris (better than taxi to the dark side)
2. The most dangerous man in America: Daniel Elsberg and the Pentagon
Papers (Watch it after the Fog of War. They go really well together)
3.The War you don't see - John Pilger (A look at war time journalism)
4. Year Zero: The silent death of Cambodia - John Pilger
5. Stealing a Nation - John Pliger (How the people of Diego Garcia were treated)
6. Hell's Angel - Christopher Hitchens (A Really good look at the myth of Mother
Teresa's saintliness).
7. Marjoe - Marjoe Gortner (An interesting look at the business and scam
artistry of evangelical preaching)
8. Earthlings - Shaun Monson and narrated by Joaquin Pheonix (A shocking
film about the way we exploit animals).
9. Ultra Zionists - Louis Theroux
10. The city addicted to crystal meth - Louis Theroux

Watch and let me know what you think

Would have love to see The Yes Men...

Missing many women made documentaries. Harlan County USA, The Corporation, Right Feeling Wrong, and Chenyvl Heart. Very disappointed Harlan County was not on list - it is ranked fifth out of 100 on another top documentary list.

"Hot Coffee" (2011) Susan Saladoff
"Nostalgia for the Light" (2010) Patricio Guzmán Lozanes
"Winnebago Man" (2009) Ben Steinbauer
"American Casino" (2009) Leslie Cockburn
"Young@Heart" (2008) Stephen Walker
"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (2008) Sacha Gervasi
"Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" (2008) Christopher Bell
"The English Surgeon" (2007) Geoffrey Smith, Music by Nick Cave
"Manda Bala" (Send a Bullet) 2007 Jason Kohn
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007) Alex Gibney
"Chicago 10: Speak Your Peace" (2007) Brett Morgen
"The U.S. vs. John Lennon" (2006) David Leaf

And much more non US documentaries.

I've seen at least 8 of these select documentaries. I really want to see The Fog of War. It looks absolutely fascinating. There are many other documentaries not on the list, but you can't list all of the. There were several education based documentaries that have been produced and in the theaters withing the past 5 years. One for sure is "The Providence Effect" (a school on the west side of Chicago) and "Waiting for Superman". Both very good and interesting.

To answer the question "How many have you seen?" 6 before the series aired and one after, GasLand. I'm going to watch Man on Wire next week as my way of privately remembering the 10th anniversary of 9/11/2001.

For me, the important thing is not how the documentaries are ranked, but the reminder of how important documentaries are to informed debate in this country.

I would have liked to have seen The World According to Monsanto here. Also don't think Madonna rates as a documentary.

oh come on now morgan...seems this list is a bit biased...where is "fathead"? you know the documentary the refutes your "supersize me"? and putting yourself in the fifth spot? seriously how "fair" does that come off?? you should have left yourself out!

others that should have been included: "pray the devil back to hell", "the union", "what if cannabis cured cancer" and "food matters"...

'The Panama Deception' should have a spot on the list and 'Unforgivable Blackness'.

Maybe the list should be expanded to the top 100 documentaries to see before you die. Other favorites besides the ones I already listed are Sicko, the Tunnel Dwellers (so sad that there was a woman crying that she wanted a home with a shower - Al Gore's rich enough - maybe he can do a follow-up and give her a paid apartment with a shower in perhaps a low cost city), Maxed Out, Bush's War, OutFoxed, No End in Sight and the list goes on.

I believe that Harlan County USA (the documentary on Kentucky Mine Workers on Strike), the documentary on the strike in Rochester MN at the Hormel Plant, and the documentary The Cove, the documentary called "Which Way Home?" about children escaping to the U.S. should have been included in the top 50 list.

Where was the "the cove", "lake of fire", "until the light takes us", "this film is not yet rated", "waiting for superman", "helvetica"? Still enjoyed the list... Thanks for consuming a quarter of my day away...

#41 The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters should be MUCH higher on the list! It's one of the best movies of all time! :)
#37 Inside Job should be higher as well. In fact, if ever there were a MUST SEE documentary, Inside Job is it!

The Parking Lot Movie, although not very direct or political, is an excellent social documentary for a thinking audience. Definitely in my personal Top 10.

The List is great. What about American Movie and Beyond the Mat? How about Surfwise, Rising Son, Stoked, Bloods and Crips Made in America, Riding Giants

Whats that doc about the married couple where the husband blinds the wife but they're still together? What about Woodstock?

I can't believe for a second that "The Cove" did not make the cut.

what about Food Matters and The Beautiful truth, The Gerson Miracle. It's time to share alternate natural methods of treating illness.

One glaring omission: 'The Endless Summer'. Top 10 even, otherwise, pretty rock solid list.

I guess I feel some vindication that Dear Zachary is noted as a "Wild Card" pick above on the white board.

Liked the list but,the problem is e-mailing the list to a friend of mine.

how can you consider "Madonna's truth or dare" document-fiction a most see documentary before dying! Are you serious?

Sorry, but i lost all faith in you guys after seeing number 8 on your list. It has been proven that there is 9 fundamental flaws in this doc and Al Gore wont respond to or ignores any questions regaurding the flawed info in his Doc. To put a documentary proven to be this inaccurate that high on the list means either you dont know or dont care about the truthfullness of the content that is show on you channel. shame on you.

So I don't have a beef in general with the list, but I'm not sure about Fahrenheit 9/11. Won the Oscar, yadda yadda. But IMHO, Sicko and Capitalism: A Love Story are both better in the telling. Sicko actually had me crying by the end.

I do admit, I have not seen a lot of these. Although, I find it telling that Super-Size Me was in the top 10. I guess when you're the one picking them...

Links would be nice but great list

Ehhh.....There's a few that I feel deserve a place on the list much more than a few that have a place on the list. I guess the question is: "What is the criteria these films are being ranked on as 'must-sees'?"

A great list. I would certainly add "In Debt We Trust" by Danny Schecterl "Maxed Out" by James Scurlock; "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein and "The World According to Monsanto"

I would add "No End in Sight"

One that I felt should have been there was " What's the matter with Kansas" Otherwise It was well done. Well done Mr Spurlock.

You missed "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki far better than Fahrenheit911 IMHO

This, I agree, is one of the programs I look forward to watching each week. Morgan has done an excellent job. An outside shot at making the top 10 is "Growing up Grizzly." I loved that show. Anyone else? Anyway, it makes my top 10. Thank you Mr. Spurlock.

Well three should-be "locks" for the top ten are "Hoop Dreams", "An Inconvenient Truth," and,,,wait for it...Morgan's own "Super Size Me."

Another I don't see on the list yet but ought to be is "The Thin Blue Line." Michael Moore already has a couple on the list but I wouldn't be surprised to see another one. Perhaps Roger and Me?

Thank you Morgan Spurlock and Curremt TV. This has been such an informative and interesting series. I hope to see much more from you Mr. Spurlock keep up the great documentaries.

How do we actually _see_ the 50 Documentaries to See Before We Die? Shouldn't this show be more accurately titled "People Talking About the 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die"?

This has been a great series. I can't wait to see the last 10 tonight. This is great programming, Current!

Excellent, Morgan is an awesome, authentic host. Really enjoyed this.