Every year,the Oscarsbring together different audiences with a common love for entertainment, as everyone anticipates the envelopes to be opened and winners to be revealed. The Oscars category for BestDocumentaryFeature has housed many varieties of nominations throughout the decades, giving the issues and subjects of each era a chance to shine in a critical viewpoint. This subsection of the Academy Awards is perhaps one of the most important, telling the true stories deemed the most remarkable entries. These are the best documentary Oscar winners of all time, ranked.
9Man on Wire (2008)
In 1974 New York City, Philippe Petit becomesMan on Wirewhen he inserts himself into the vast space between the Twin Towers on a tightrope walk. Toying with his own life and legal standing, since the walk is clearly against the law, he believes his skill and story will be worth the danger. But of course, as a seasoned high-wire walker and artist, he pulls some performance tricks from up his sleeve. This unbelievable film brings the original ’70s source material alongside the fresh flavor of dedicated modern acting, introducing a new generation to Petit’s bold behavior.
8Free Solo (2018)
10 years afterMan on Wire’s success at the Oscars,Free Solobrought audiences back to the cliff of documentary excellence and daring expeditions. This breathtaking story is a product of National Geographic Documentary Films, and its stunning definition alone is proof of that. Alex Honnold embarks on a journey to be the first to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan free solo. Climbing in afree solo fashionrequires a single climber to forego typical safety measures like belay systems and ropes. As impossible as this feat may appear against one of the most iconic National Park landmarks, there’s a reason this documentary earned a handful of different awards.
7My Octopus Teacher (2020)
Released on Netflix in recent years,My Octopus Teacheris an intriguing look at the closeness between filmmaker Craig Foster and an octopus. In the otherworldly environment of an underwater kelp forest, viewers are swept off to South Africa to observe this unique story. The octopus becomes more than just a documentary subject – as Foster’s new buddy, she educates him on the natures of wild creatures like herself.According to Time, “While Foster documented every dive with a video camera, he did not set out with a plan to make a film.” Thankfully, though, viewers now get to experience his life-changing observations as well as a result of his curiosity.
Related:22 Best Documentary Movies of 2022, Ranked
6Broken Rainbow (1985)
Broken Rainbowfollows the story of Navajo individuals who were displacedfrom Hopi landin the Southwestern U.S. This Reagan-era disgrace required Native Americans to move from Arizona and New Mexico, disrupting the autonomy and quieting the voices of thousands. The film includes Martin Sheen’s narration and also brings up other issues that Native communities unfortunately face. As an American film, it appears extremely self-aware and serves as a positive step towards righting the wrongs done to these groups from the standpoint of capitalistic and federal “necessity.”
5I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School (1993)
I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary Schoolgave audiences a front-row seat to a school system in need and the difficult lives of the children that it reached. With a real-world connection similar to the setting ofQuinta Brunson’sAbbott Elementary, this documentary trails the educators and administrators of a low-income Philadelphia school and documents the obstacles that its students had to overcome in various areas of their lives. By Alan and Susan Raymond,I Am a Promiseearned its Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 1994, along with a collection of other well-deserved awards that spoke to the film’s necessity.
4An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Divisive and true to its title,An Inconvenient Truthamplifies Al Gore’s mission of ultimate environmental awareness. The threat of global warming has become more pressing throughout the past several decades, and this documentary seeks to emphasize its severity. Under director Davis Guggenheim, the film that audiences absorb includes sobering facts and figures as well as visual accompaniment to drive the points home. As an unforgettable piece of 2000s history and culture, Gore’s dedication to the field inspires more intentional treatment towards our planet.
3March of the Penguins (2005)
Among the list of 2000s documentaries,March of the Penguinsis one of the most memorable and more family-friendly ones to emerge from the decade. This initially French piece is narrated in the English adaptation byMorgan Freeman, telling the story of an annual adventure that showcases the dedication of penguin parents, even in the coldest conditions. Emperor penguins make their way to the territories where they create their next brood, requiring both mothers and fathers to step up to secure the survival of the chicks.March of the Penguinsis hopeful yet realistic, and appears engaging to all, echoing the feel of other beloved nature documentaries made before and after its release.
Related:The Best Nature Documentaries Streaming Right Now
2The Cove (2009)
The Coveis one of the most impactfulanimal documentariesout there today, ranking among the more memorable exposés that show audiences the depth of selfish human interference inside the natural world. Richard “Ric” O’Barry, a dolphin trainer who had a change of heart and became an activist, and Louie Psihoyos, Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society, come together to work against the violence of dolphin capture and slaughter. Taiji, Japan serves as the setting for this dark story, and the film has become an important viewing for any animal advocate.In a Vulture article, O’Barry told Bilge Ebiri, “That’s the only hope, to expose this to the world.“The Covewon Best Documentary Feature in 2010.
1Anne Frank Remembered (1995)
Winning an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 1996,Anne Frank Rememberedexpands upon the true story of Anne Frank in a biographical manner. Including the perspectives of several people who were close to her (including Miep Gies and Mary Bos), audiences are exposed to the heart-wrenching and horrific realities of what happened to the Frank family and other Jewish individuals in hiding during the Holocaust. With a narration by Kenneth Branagh and Glenn Close’s voice bringing audiences into Frank’s diary pages, the tragedy she experienced is presented in addition to her bright personality and her story’s lasting impact. In an era where Holocaust denial has somehow become acceptable to some, this film has become more and more needed.
