Documentary from the 2020s: the best movies
24 documentary films from the 2020s, ranked by audience rating. The best of the decade, and it still holds up tonight. Updated September 25, 2026
Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience leads with 9,1 out of 10, ahead of Break the Silence: The Movie (9,1). Ratings range from 8,2 to 9,1. All were released between 2020 and 2026.
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Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience
Featuring the global K-Pop sensation Stray Kids and a live performance from their record-breaking world tour, alongside exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and intimate interviews with the band, Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience is an epic concert film that gives fans both a spectacular front-row seat and unique access to their favourite band.
Break the Silence: The Movie
K-pop sensation BTS embark on their 2019 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' Tour, as the seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before.
Morat: Balas Perdidas
Morat, the band with the highest amount of tickets sold in LATAM and Spain in the past years offered an unforgettable concert on December 15th at Wizink Center in Madrid as a final clasp of its mythical "Balas Perdidas Tour". They went through the greatest hits that they have been harvesting year after year consolidating them as an icon on the Pop Scene.
Rite Here Rite Now
Whether you’re a devoted disciple looking to relive treasured memories of the GHOST live spectacle or among the curious uninitiated, RITE HERE RITE NOW will put you right there: putting your phones down and living in the moment—as a shadow of uncertainty looms—completely spellbound and in the thrall of this bombastic yet intimate cinematic portrait of GHOST.
The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo
After the death of her daughter at the hand of her boyfriend, Marisela Escobedo began to fight for justice not only against the murderer but also against the corrupt Mexican judicial system.
BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage - LA
Purple colors the city of Los Angeles, as BTS brings their "Permission to Dance" concert to SoFi Stadium for the first time in two years. In a stadium radiating anticipation and cheer, splendid performances from "On" to "Permission to Dance" glorify the stage that now comes to life on screen. Be united once again by the power of music.
Thriller 40
Forty years after the release of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ the best-selling album of all-time, director Nelson George takes fans back in time to the making of a pop masterpiece, featuring never-before-seen footage and candid interviews.
Emicida: AmarElo - It's All for Yesterday
Between scenes from his concert in São Paulo's oft-inaccessible Theatro Municipal, rapper and activist Emicida celebrates the rich legacy of Black Brazilian culture.
A Child of My Own
Desperate for a baby and burdened by family and societal expectations, a woman fakes a pregnancy and gets tangled in a crime.
Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition
With unprecedented access to the official archives and intimate recollections from the band, both current and past, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition invites fans to experience one of the most iconic journeys in music history. Spanning five decades, this electrifying documentary charts the band’s rise from the pubs of East London to the world’s biggest stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden’s uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans.
Rubius X
On the 10th anniversary of the publication of his first video on the Internet, "Rubius X" is a documentary that deals with the origin, motivation and secrets behind Rubius, one of the most followed Spanish content creators in the world. A review of the history of a pioneer, the icon of a whole generation, who represents like few others the revolution of the new digital media.
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
An intimate concert film, in which Taylor Swift performs each song from her album 'folklore' in order, as she reveals the meaning and the stories behind all 17 tracks for the very first time.
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.
Heroes: Silence and Rock & Roll
An exploration of the rise of Héroes del Silencio, the seminal 1980s Spanish rock band anchored by Enrique Bunbury.
Ozzy: No Escape from Now
Ozzy Osbourne faces his identity and mortality after his world stops. Dealing with health issues and Parkinson's, he questions if he can perform again while music remains his life's cornerstone.
Muchachos
Using home videos from fans from across the globe and never-before-seen drone footage obtained during the victory parade in Buenos Aires, on streets dyed white and sky blue. The film invites viewers to immerse themselves in the world's most football obsessed nation, Argentina, to relive the emotional rollercoaster that was the country’s 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar and the record breaking celebrations that followed.
BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas
Join RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook in this special cinematic cut, re-edited and remixed for the big screen. Watch new close-up angles and a whole new view of the entire concert, BTS Yet To Come in Busan. Featuring hit songs from across the group's career, including "Dynamite," "Butter" and “IDOL," plus the first concert performance of "Run BTS" from the group’s latest album Proof.
Squid Game: Making Season 2
From set designs to character arcs, get exclusive cast and director interviews on how Season 2 of the globally most-watched series was brought to life.
Racionais MC's: From the Streets of São Paulo
Armed with music and a message, influential hip-hop group Racionais MC's turned their street poetry into a powerful movement in Brazil and beyond.
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
Captured during Billie Eilish's sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.
Ennio
A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of over five hundred unforgettable scores.
The Apocalypse of St John
Embark on an epic journey through time and faith with 'The Apocalypse of Saint John.' Join the Apostle John in a stunning visual narrative that unravels the visions of the End Times. Experience each vision like never before, with striking visual effects and epic scenes that immerse you in the apocalyptic narrative.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Long-lost footage from Elvis Presley's legendary Las Vegas residency in the 1970s woven together with rare 16mm footage from Elvis on Tour, and 8mm from the Graceland archive, plus recordings of Elvis telling "his side of the story" rediscovered during Baz Luhrmann's research for his 2022 film, Elvis.
What to know before choosing
A well-rated documentary is not necessarily a fair one: audiences rate what turned them upside down, and the genre rewards reversals more than patient reporting. Ratings here are among the highest in the catalog and vote counts among the lowest — which is why the vote floor is lowered for this genre, or the page would be empty. Check the date: a current-affairs documentary ages in three years.
The current decade is the hardest to judge: its films have not finished gathering votes, and a film under two years old is almost always overrated against what it will be worth in five. The vote floor corrects part of that effect, never all of it. Read this list as a snapshot, not as a settled ranking.
Frequently asked questions
How were these 24 films chosen?
They come from the TMDB catalog, filtered on audience rating and on a minimum number of votes — without that second filter, a film rated 9 out of 10 by eleven people would outrank a classic. No place is for sale: no platform, distributor or studio can enter this list other than by being well rated.
Which film in this list is rated highest?
Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience (2026), with 9,1 out of 10 from 64 audience votes.
Where can I watch these films?
Taro eira shows, film by film, which platforms carry it in the US and at what price — subscription, rental or purchase. The per-platform lists are further down this page.
Are there any recent releases in this selection?
19 of the 24 films came out since 2021. The rest are older, which is expected: a film needs a few years to gather enough votes to be judged at all.
Do I need an account?
No. Taro eira is free, asks for no account and no subscription, and the two-or-three-question flow works without installing anything.
See also
- Documentary
- Documentary from the 2010s
- Documentary from the 2000s
- Documentary from the 1990s
- Documentary from the 1980s
- Documentary from the 1970s
- Documentary before 1970
- Action from the 2020s
- Adventure from the 2020s
- Animation from the 2020s
- Comedy from the 2020s
- Crime from the 2020s
- Drama from the 2020s
- Family from the 2020s
- Fantasy from the 2020s
- Biopic from the 2020s
- Horror from the 2020s
- Musical from the 2020s
- Romance from the 2020s
- Sci-fi from the 2020s
- Thriller from the 2020s
- War from the 2020s
- Western from the 2020s
How this list is built
Films come from the TMDB catalog, filtered on audience rating and vote count, then cross-checked against real availability in the country. No paid placement, no partnerships. How we choose the films.
Film data and posters: TMDB. This app uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.