Exploring Truths: The 25 Best Documentaries on HBO Max You Can’t Miss

Media consumption doesn’t have to be mindless; you can grow your knowledge and worldview through more thoughtful content. If you’re in the mood to watch the best documentaries on HBO Max, you’ve landed in the right place. The blog will guide you through the top 25 documentaries on HBO Max to enjoy worldwide.

If you can’t access HBO Max content in your country, no frets–you can download a secure VPN like ExpressVPN that will help you access geo-restricted content including a wide variety of documentaries on HBO Max faster.

So now you’re no longer left wondering where to watch the 25 best documentaries, follow the steps below and experience some profound human interest stories.

In-depth Insights: Top 25 Documentaries on HBO Max Worth Your Time in January

We have made a list of the 25 best documentaries on HBO Max to enjoy this year with diverse selected genres. With the following choices, there is something for everyone!

6 Days To Air: The Making Of South Park (2011)

• Director: Arthur Bradford
• Runtime: 42m
• Genre: Behind-the-scenes
• IMDb Rating: 7.7

You may sometimes imagine how the world’s 7 Wonders construction has been done. It is astonishing to see how much effort it took to create one landmark and turn it into a popular monument for the rest of life.

Similarly, 6 Days to Air is one of America’s best documentaries, demonstrating a behind-the-scenes glimpse at creating any TV show. The documentary depicts an actual story of an adult animated sitcom for people who imagine how South Park highlights suitable stories based on previous events.

Everything Is Copy (2015)

• Directors: Jacob Bernstein, Nick Hooker
• Runtime: 1h 29m
• Genre: Biography
• IMDb Rating: 7.4

To live the life your parents lived or to know what their life was like is a nostalgic point where you get to know your parents with a unique lens. Likewise, a journalist, Jacob Bernstein, embarked on a journey to explore the professional and personal life and death of Nora Ephron, his dear mother.

In addition to actual passages and interviews of Ephron’s work, a famous portrait of an intelligent and devoted soul who existed by the motto mentioned in the title: ‘Everything is Copy,’ meaning that everything that happens in life is chaffed for your writing.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (2010)

• Director: Ezra Edelman
• Runtime: 1h 25m
• Genre: Sports
• IMDb Rating: 8.3

Who doesn’t love enemies to friends trope? It marks the rivalry relationship between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Their rivalry began in the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship Game and prolonged til their Hall of Fame profession in the NBA.

They grabbed the attention of the media, which played a prime part in the NBA’s victory during the 80s. Later, both Johnson’s and Bird’s careers were shortened due to physical health problems. A Courtship of Rivals documentary illustrates how the two of them ultimately mark their distinctions apart and shape a long-term friendship.

The Vow (2020)

• Director: Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
• Runtime: 1h 44m
• Genre: True Crime
• IMDb Rating: 7.2

You all have heard many stories about cults and rituals in your childhood or different cultures following diverse customs, which only makes sense to native citizens. The Vow is about true crime that happened in America.

The documentary circulates the ex-members of the cult NVIVM, a self-improvement institution, and their leader, Keith Raniere. It takes you on a ride through their life experiences, unveiling the appealing leader, professional heightening pursuits, and the dirty revelation of the other side of the organization.

Leaving Neverland (2019)

• Director: Dan Reed
• Runtime: 3h 56m
• Genre: Child Abuse
• IMDb Rating: 7.0

It hurts when you adore someone for a long time, and they turn out to be dangerous. Similarly, Leaving Neverland is an influential documentary that digs into the arguable claims surrounding the most famous pop star, Michael Jackson.

It depicts the personal incidents of two boys, aged 7 and 10, who are confronted with the harsh reality of publicly being the victims of molestation by the King of Pop. The heart-wrenching documentary shows how these allegations affect their lives and wider conversation around celebs, trust, and liability.

Honeyland (2019)

• Director: Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov
• Runtime: 1h 29m
• Genre: Documentary, Drama
• IMDb Rating: 8.0

Honeyland follows Hatidze, a solitary beekeeper in North Macedonia, who tends to her bees with ancient methods. Her peaceful existence is disrupted when a nomadic family, including children, settles nearby. Hatidze shares her wisdom with them but tensions arise when they ignore her advice, causing environmental harm.

As the family’s actions threaten her way of life and the bees, Hatidze faces challenges of sustainability and coexistence. The documentary showcases the delicate balance between human intervention and nature’s rhythms, highlighting themes of tradition, resilience, and the consequences of greed.

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)

• Director: Marina Zenovich
• Runtime: 1h 56m
• Genre: Biography
• IMDb Rating: 7.9

It is prominent that being a celebrity means access to a luxurious life with never-ending money. But it is a half-truth; the other side of the story is more complex. Similarly, this documentary earnestly acknowledges the life and footprint of legendary comedian and actor Robin Williams.

The documentary highlights his amazing journey as an actor, illustrating his unmatched talent, contagious energy, and the heartfelt impact he had on the world. In addition to archival clips to make a picture of someone extremely talented but struggling with mental illness and ending his life by committing suicide.

The Farthest (2017)

• Director: Emer Reynolds
• Runtime: 2h 1m
• Genre: Science
• IMDb Rating: 8.1

They said the human eye has limits; an eye can’t reach far beyond the sky. True, but what can not be seen through the naked eye, the human mind can via imagination and turning imagination into reality.

The Farthest is proof of the rise of technology and is one of the biggest victories of humankind. This graphically stunning documentary illustrates the story of the spacecraft Voyager, sent on an astonishing journey via our solar system and beyond, holding a message of tranquility to the alien realm. It’s the first ever human-creation thing to do so.

Transhood (2020)

• Director: Sharon Liese
• Runtime: 1h 36m
• Genre: Documentary
• IMDb Rating: 5.7

Transhood is a documentary that chronicles the lives of four transgender children and their families over five years in Kansas City. The film follows them as they navigate various stages of their gender transitions, from childhood through adolescence. It explores their personal experiences, challenges, triumphs, and the support they receive from their families and communities.

Through intimate interviews and candid moments, Transhood sheds light on the complexities of gender identity, acceptance, and the societal pressures faced by transgender youth in America.

Welcome to Chechnya (2020)

• Director: David France
• Runtime: 1h 47m
• Genre: Human Rights
• IMDb Rating: 7.9

When it comes to justice, why do we forget that every human being on this planet deserves to be served justice? This fresh and groundbreaking documentary highlights the oppression and misuse of queer people in Chechnya and explores the lives of oppression who escape the country by facing immense personal danger.

Unrestricted access and exceptional ways of veiling anonymity uncover this confidential enormity and an incredible group of people facing evil.

Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)

• Director: Lisa Cortes
• Runtime: 1h 41m
• Genre: Documentary, Biography, History
• IMDb Rating: 7.4

Exploding the whitewashed narrative of American pop music, the film uncovers the black queer origins of rock n’ roll, spotlighting Richard Penniman as its innovator. It delves into Penniman’s complex inner world, utilizing archival footage and performances, revealing his life’s twists and turns.

Additionally, the interviews with family, musicians, and pioneering black and queer scholars, the documentary illustrates how Penniman forged a medium for self-expression, yet struggled to embrace it personally. His contribution to the world contrasted with his internal conflicts, a poignant paradox explored in the film.

Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (2018)

• Director: Kate Davis, David Heilbroner
• Runtime: 1h 45m
• Genre: Documentary
• IMDb Rating: 7.1

Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland delves into the circumstances surrounding Sandra Bland’s controversial arrest and subsequent death in a Texas jail in 2015. The documentary explores Bland’s life, her activism against racial injustice, and the events leading up to her tragic demise, including the routine traffic stop that escalated into a confrontation with law enforcement.

Through interviews and footage, the film examines systemic racism, police brutality, and the broader implications of Bland’s untimely passing, igniting discussions about social justice and accountability.

All That Breathes (2022)

• Director: Shaunak Sen
• Runtime: 1hr 37m
• Genre: Nature/Environment
• IMDb Rating: 7.0

It is said being human means being kind to others, even animals. Similarly, All That Breathes follows the lives of two brothers, Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad, who reside in India. They rescue injured birds and give treatment to them.

Later, when a dearly black kite expires in the polluted skies of New Delhi, the siblings do everything to protect him. In the realm of technology, where people love to watch musicals and thrilling documentaries, it is a fresh transformation in the industry about people who love to care for their nature.

Class Action Park (2020)

• Director: Seth Porges, Chris Charles Scott III
• Runtime: 1h 30m
• Genre: Documentary, Crime
• IMDb Rating: 7.0

Class Action Park is a documentary that delves into the infamous Action Park, a theme park in New Jersey known for its extreme rides and lax safety regulations during the 1980s and 1990s. The film explores the park’s history, including its dangerous attractions and the numerous injuries and even deaths that occurred on its premises.

Moreover, through interviews and archival footage, Class Action Park reveals the chaotic and often reckless atmosphere of the park, while also examining its lasting cultural impact and the nostalgia associated with its wild and sometimes scary rides.

15 Minutes Shame (2021)

• Director: Steve James
• Runtime: 1hr 25m
• Genre: Social media, Online culture
• IMDb Rating: 6.7

It is a big question: when will society stop passing judgments about others? When will people be free from the public shaming that still continues in this era?

However, this documentary takes you deep into the forest of public shaming and how it impacts our society and the young generation. The documentary features some interviews from popular and noteworthy specialists like Monica Lewinksy, Jon Ronson, and others.

The Bees Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)

• Director: Frank Marshall
• Runtime: 1hr 51m
• Genre: Music, Biographical
• IMDb Rating: 8.1

Like the title, the documentary covers the lives of siblings Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb as they attained early fame in the 1960s and later started writing almost 1000 songs including the 20 chart toppers.

This documentary shows the highs and lows of the legendary disco crew, the Bee Gees, and what it would be like to work surrounded by complexities alongside family. It also featured interviews with outlive members and unseen archival clips.

The Mystery of D.B. Cooper (2020)

• Director: John Dower
• Runtime: 1hr 25m
• Genre: Mystery and True Crime
• IMDb Rating: 6.5

Calling out mystery lovers, this documentary will capture your attention and engage you in the unsolved case of the greatest heist that occurred in the history of America.

This story explores how D.B. Cooper and his 3 team members hijacked the airplane and escaped by implying his smart plan. He trades passengers for almost $200,000 and 4 parachutes, which all happened back in 1971. And from that day on, they were never heard from or seen again.

The Apollo (2019)

• Director: Roger Ross Williams
• Runtime: 1hr 42m
• Genre: Music/Performance
• IMDb Rating: 6.8

In the modern age, people consume more cultural information as it gives them an aesthetic sense and completes their urge to know more. This great documentary demonstrates the exceptional history and modern legacy of New York City’s monument, the Apollo Theater.

The director fused music, comedy, and dance acts, interviewing some known artists like Smokey Robinson and many more. It also gives a glimpse of behind-the-scene clips of the entire team who run Apollo.

The Truth About Killer Robots (2018)

• Director: Maxim Pozdorovkin
• Runtime: 1hr 25m
• Genre: Technology/Science
• IMDb Rating: 5.8

AI innovation started to dominate the world rapidly in this tech era, but how far will it go? The director shows in this documentary various approaches to how Artificial Intelligence controls society and how people depend on its services.

It also demonstrates how AI is making people significantly outdated. When a robotic machine murders a human, who will take the responsibility? It explores the incidents where robots murdered humans in a factory, and several cases led them to morality and accountability.

BS High (2023)

• Directors: Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe
• Runtime: 1hr 40m
• Genre: Youth Culture and Social Issues
• IMDb Rating: 7.2

What if someone fools you by pretending to be someone? Something similar occurred. The documentary focuses on high school football among the Bishop Sycamore Centurions and the admired IMF Academy, which participated in a national broadcast football game on ESPN 2021.

However, the game attracted an audience after several injuries during the tournament. This curiosity raises many doubts, and the shocking truth unveils that BS High is not an actual school.

The Janes (2022)

• Directors: Emma Pildes, Tia Lessin
• Runtime: 1h 41m
• Genre: Women’s Empowerment/Activism
• IMDb Rating: 7.6

In the 21st century, women still fight for their rights against the dominant male society. Janes highlighted a group of doubtful outlaws. Withstand the state legislature that restricted abortion, the Catholic Church that damned it, and the Chicago Mob that advantaged from it, and how the members of Jane struggle their personal and work lives to help women.

The documentary sheds light on a group of 7 women who were hunted down and captured by police in 1972 in the South Side of Chicago, who created an organization for women. Smartly use code names, fonts, and secure shelters to protect themselves.

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)

• Directors: Laura Poitras
• Runtime: 1hr 57m
• Genre: War/Conflict
• IMDb Rating: 7.5

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a poignant documentary that will take you on a ride of emotions. It foreshadows the personal life of a photographer, activist, and artist, Nan Goldin, with a sedative addiction, leading her to support other addicts.

The documentary is narrated by herself, with the help of heart-wrenching slideshows, frightening interviews, heart-shaking photography, and unique clips of her personal battle to accuse the Sackler family of being responsible for opioid issues.

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023)

• Directors: Stephen Kijak
• Runtime: 1hr 44m
• Genre: Biography, Hollywood
• IMDb Rating: 7.4

Having multiple personalities is not new to this era, but it was difficult back then. Likewise, the documentary tells the story of a popular Hollywood icon, Rock Hudson.

A man who spends a dual life; one is a public identity that is built with care by his controllers and arranged by the studio, scared of the hidden profession-ending truth that he was secretly living as a gay man.

Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off (2022)

• Directors: Sam Jones
• Runtime: 2hr 15m
• Genre: Sports
• IMDb Rating: 8.0

Keeping your passion awake until your death is one of the best things that gives you inner peace. The documentary will shed light on an iconic sportsman, Tony Hawk, and his love for skateboarding, which he has been attached to for a quarter of a century.

It was filmed for fans of Hawk, who might be curious about his personal life and also influence anyone to hold a skateboard.

The Princess (2022)

• Directors: Ed Perkins
• Runtime: 1hr 49m
• Genre: Royalty/Family
• IMDb Rating: 7.3

To imprint the 25th anniversary of the most loving Princess Diana’s uncertain death, this document uses home clips to film the events that led to the tragedy and its end results. Without any explanation, this documentary is an exposure of history that unveils how the world perceived it a half-century ago.

Narrated in the present tense, it highlights currently disclosed testimony and unseen clips to engage audiences in the most beautiful moments of the princess’s life.

Conclusion

These are the 25 best documentaries on HBO Max that you can enjoy during holidays or leisure time. HBO Max has a lot of content from movies and shows, to animated and live-action productions.

If you reside in a foreign land and can’t access HBO Max, get a fast VPN service, such as ExpressVPN. This will assist you in unlocking the geo-restrictions. Moreover, it gives strong security and privacy to the users.

Gary Wilson

Gary is a geeky-binge watcher who loves to pen down all that he watches. The night-owl has just got two hobbies, binge-watching all the latest shows and writing everything about them.