It's that time of the year when we look back at the best of 2020 -- the silver lining to the past 12 months. This time, we're paying due respect to the best documentaries and docuseries of the year. For those cooped up at home during stay-at-home and lockdown orders, these have left us shell-shocked and taught us what real struggle looks like.
From "Gunda" and "Time" to "Dick Johnson is Dead" and "Athlete A," here's our list of the 20 best documentaries/ docuseries that took our breaths away.
10. "Circus Of Books" - The documentary chronicles the journey of Karen and Barry, who earned their livelihood by running a gay bookstore in West Hollywood. The couple never told anyone about the shop, not even their daughter Rachel, the director of the film. According to Rachel, the movie is a "tribute" to the iconic "Circus of Books" store and the LGBTQ+ community. Photo by Netflix/Circus of Books1. "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" - Now, the entire world knows about Jeffrey Epstein and the horrendous things he did. The docuseries gave a glimpse of how Epstein and his confidante Ghislaine Maxwell allegedly lured girls for their benefits. However, the series is more about the courageous ladies who came forward to tell their terrifying ordeal to the world.
The statements given by Maria Farmer, Annie Farmer, Virginia Roberts Giuffre and many others who survived the abuse from Epstein, makes this series an uncomfortable watch, but a necessary one. Truly, a masterpiece in its own right.Photo by Netflix/Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich2. "Dick Johnson Is Dead" - No one has ever dared to make a documentary about their dying father and turn it into an inventive project which is emotional and funny at the same time. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Kirsten Johnson, stages his father's (Dick Johnson) death in comical ways to help them both face the inevitable.
It is one of the most acclaimed documentaries in recent times and was awarded the Best Documentary accolade at the 2020 Critics Choice Documentary Awards. It is a wise film that is filled with love and appreciation of a daughter preparing to lose her father. Be prepared to cry your heart out.Photo by Netflix/Dick Johnson Is Dead3. "Athlete A" - Tackles one of the biggest scandals in sports history, the documentary tells the brave story of athletes such as Maggie Nichols, Rachel Denhollander and many others who came out with their terrifying stories of sexual harassment at the hands of Larry Nassar, the U.S. Gymnastics team doctor. The courage these ladies showed while demanding justice for themselves make this movie a compelling watch. Nichols, Denhollander and Jamie Dantzscher were recently awarded the Most Compelling Living Subjects of a Documentary at this year's Critics Choice Documentary Awards.Photo by Netflix/Athlete A4. "The Social Dilemma" - There have been many documentaries about social media and its disadvantages, but the issue has never been tackled like it is in "The Social Dilemma." The film not only shows how social media influences you, it also shows you how these big corporations are training your mind to see what they want you to see. Some scenes would give you goosebumps while some will make you realize how big tech companies are making your data their cash-cow. Watching this documentary will make you want to deactivate your social media handles as soon as possible. Photo by Netflix/The Social Dilemma5. "Rising Phoenix" - At the time, when the whole world was going through a pandemic and everything seemed so bleak, "Rising Phoenix" gave us the much-needed joy through the awe-inspiring stories of eight para-Olympians who defied the odds with their determination and perseverance. The film is a roller-coaster ride that made us laugh, cry and cheer for all the athletes who have ruled the world with their impeccable skills. Backed by Prince Harry, the 105-minute movie is exhilarating to the core. Photo by Netflix/Rising Phoenix, HTYT Stories/Rising Phoenix6. "Tiger King" - The entire world was left shell-shocked when "Tiger King" dropped on Netflix. The character, the storylines, and the exploration of big cat breeding made this such a bizarre yet captivating docu-series. The film's central character, Joe Exotic, a mad man who owns dozens of big cats and wants to make a fortune out of it. However, things take a u-turn when an activist named Carole Baskin comes in his way to free the animals. Every character is multi-layered and captured beautifully in this unnerving film. "Tiger King" is one of the most-watched documentaries of 2020 and deserves all the applause for its uniqueness.Photo by Netflix/Tiger King7. "Beastie Boys Story" - The film follows the amazing journey of the rap-rock band Beastie Boys, who achieved a ton of success throughout the 90s and early 2000s. The best part of this documentary is that it doesn't only tell the world about their music, it also shows the friendship between the members and why they decided to change their genres despite being really successful in the genre of hardcore punk. Directed by Oscar-winning writer Spike Jonze, the documentary is an endearing trip through time. Photo by Apple TV+/Beastie Boys Story8. "John Lewis: Good Trouble" - The film explores the life of one of the most influential social activists and politician Rep. John Lewis, who fought for civil rights, voting rights, and immigration throughout his life.It features interviews from political figures like Bill & Hilary Clinton, Elijah Cummings, Stacey Abrams, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Cory Booker, and Ilhan Omar, who tell the world why Lewis was such a motivational person in the history of U.S. politics. There are moments where people would be reaching for tissues while watching the movie. Photo by CNN Films/John Lewis Good Trouble, ACG Studios/John Lewis: Good Trouble, Time Studios/John Lewis: Good Trouble9. "Crip Camp" - Hailed as Netflix's triumph of disabled representation, "Crip Camp" is an inspiring tale of teens with disabilities attending "Camp Jened" in the summer of 1971. The camp, which was set up for teens with disabilities, became a breeding ground for young activists who would go on to become important members of the disability rights movement. Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the documentary defines what it means to call a movie "inspiring."Photo by Netflix/Crip Camp20. "The Test" - This year saw a boom in sports documentaries and "The Test" was surely one of those that kept our hearts pumping with enthralling sequences. The docuseries follows the Australian Cricket Team going through turmoil after three of its key players were banned for one year after tampering with the ball while playing an international fixture in 2018. The series offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a new unit crawled its way to the top after a series of unfortunate events. Even if you are not a fan of cricket, you'll appreciate how the entire team tried to rebuild its tarnished image from the scratch and take back the throne which belonged to them for a long, long time. Photo by Amazon Prime Video/The Test11. "Miss Americana" - Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the biggest artists of all time and in "Miss Americana," the multiple Grammy Award-winning artist gives an all access pass to everything she's gone through behind the scenes -- from struggling with self image to falling in love. The documentary not only shows a star who is self-critical and grown-up, but also gives fans a close-up glimpse of the her values and beliefs. Taylor's straightforward, candid narration makes the movie even more interesting and highly accessible for the viewers.Photo by Netflix/Miss Americana12. "McMillion$" -
An ex-cop turned security officer unravels the details of McDonald's monopoly game scam that took place in the 90s. All the winners of the game were interviewed by various publications at the time, but none of them was the actual winner. The real winner turned out to be a rogue police officer named Jerome Jacobson, who had connections to the mob. He smuggled tickets and won $24 million in illegal winnings. The series is a genuinely crazy story of greed, deceit and scamming. The series is a must-watch for its riveting storyline and characters.Photo by HBO/McMillion$13. "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez" - Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old boy from Palmdale, California, was physically abused and brutally killed by his parents in 2013. The docuseries features interviews from journalists, and attorneys Jon Hatami and Scott Andrew Yang who covered and fought the case in Los Angeles. The series unflinchingly shows all the gruesome details of the abuse and the murder, detailing how kids suffer the most if any one of the parents turns out to be abusive. And if you wanna know how disturbing it was to film the series, the director Brian Knappenberger stated that during the two years of the production, producers kept a therapist on call because of the unsettling nature of the content. Photo by Netflix/The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez14. "The Last Dance" - The spectacular documentary which follows the life of legendary NBA player Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team is nothing short of a dream come true for all the sports lovers. It is a comprehensive look at the legacy and the inner turmoil of one of the most influential sports teams of all time. If you love Basketball and wonder why Jordan is considered the best to ever play, then this series is highly recommended.Photo by ESPN/The Last Dance15. "On The Record" - Following the accounts of more than 20 women, the film centers on the allegations of sexual assault against Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons. The documentary is a spine-tingling exposé on the music industry and how women of color still struggle to come out with their stories despite the 'Me Too' movement. It also features interviews of various women, including Drew Dixon, Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Hines, Jenny Lumet and Alexia Norton Jones, who have reportedly been victimized by Simmons. The music-mogul has vehemently denied all the allegations.Photo by Warner Max/On The Record16. "David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet" - David Attenborough's magical voice mixed with beautiful visuals - what more would you need for a successful and inspiring documentary? The newest project from the iconic broadcast journalist and a famed naturalist maps how earth's bio-diversity has depleted over the years and how it is going to get worse if the world doesn't take a stand on the issue of climate change. The thought-provoking documentary is a testament to how humans have abused mother nature for profit.Photo by Netflix/David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet17. "Boys State" - The documentary follows "Boys State," an annual event that happens in certain cities across the U.S. The event allows the youth to explore the mechanics of the American government and politics. The film follows a thousand teenage boys from Texas attending the summer leadership program to build a representative government.
The project strikingly depicts the political divisions in the country and how it is managing to take roots in the younger generation. It recently won the Best Political Documentary accolade at the 2020 Critics Choice Documentary Awards.Photo by A24/Boys State18. "Gunda" - How often does the world get to see what animals do in their daily lives? Quite rarely. However, "Gunda" tackles the topic accurately and shows why it is important for the world to know about their needs. Based on the daily life of a pig, two cows and a one-legged chicken, the documentary takes time to sink in and makes the case for animal rights in the simplest way possible. Oscar-winner and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix is attached to the project which is considered to be a front-runner for next year's Academy Awards.Photo by Louverture Film/Gunda19. "Time" - The extraordinary journey of a woman named Fox Rich, fighting hard to have her husband released early from an unreasonable prison sentence will surely leave you teary-eyed. Shot in black and white, director Garrett Bradley beautifully captures the power of Black female courage. The title aptly suits the source material because the project shows how Fox fought the 20-year battle to get justice for her husband and the entire Black community.Photo by Amazon Prime Video/Time
