The 26 best documentaries on HBO Max that will entertain and enlighten
The 26 best documentaries on HBO Max that will entertain and enlighten
Declan Gallagher, Kevin JacobsenThu, April 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTC
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Nan Goldin in 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed'; William Gates in 'Hoop Dreams'; David Byrne in 'American Utopia'Credit: Neon; Fine Line Features/Courtesy Everett Collection; David Lee/HBO
At a time when people are losing faith in our institutions, documentarians are needed now more than ever. Documentaries, including the plethora available to watch on HBO Max with a subscription, can expose the realities of the world, from previously hidden brutal truths (The Alabama Solution) to vibrant subcultures (Paris Is Burning). They also have the power to inform and entertain, with concert films like American Utopia and celebrity biographies like Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, among lighter options.
Ahead, find our curated list of the 26 best documentaries streaming on HBO Max.
01 of 26
The Alabama Solution (2025)
Inmates in 'The Alabama Solution'Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Some of the most essential documentaries infuriate you to the point of wanting to take action. The Alabama Solution is one of them, centering on systemic abuse within the Easterling Correctional Facility and surrounding prisons in Alabama. The doc features inmates risking it all with smuggled-in cell phones to document the rampant misconduct and their efforts to assemble a strike for better treatment. While necessarily heartbreaking in nature, there is an inherent power in bringing this injustice to light with sobering clarity. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch The Alabama Solution: HBO Max
Directors: Andrew Jarecki, Charlotte Kaufman
02 of 26
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023)
Albert Brooks and Rob Reiner in 'Albert Brooks: Defending My Life'Credit: Everett
Rob Reiner’s appropriately reverent examination of Albert Brooks’ career is one of the most comprehensive documentaries of its kind. Through interviews with modern comedy legends such as Jerry Seinfeld, James L. Brooks, and Larry David — all of whom count themselves among Brooks’ disciples — Reiner cannily makes the case that Brooks was the first alternative comedian and that without him, there would be no Steve Martin, no Saturday Night Live, no Borat, nor any modern comedy scene worth noting.
Eschewing any sense of hagiography that these docs often descend into, Reiner offers a wry, truthful examination of Brooks’ remarkable career. —Declan Gallagher
Where to watch Albert Brooks: Defending My Life: HBO Max
Director: Rob Reiner
03 of 26
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Nan Goldin in 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed'Credit: Everett
Laura Poitras’ beautifully structured documentary profiles artist and activist Nan Goldin’s crusade to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid crisis. Goldin, who dealt with substance abuse issues of her own, founded the advocacy group Prescription Addiction Intervention Now (P.A.I.N.), personifying the pain and desperation of the epidemic in her quest to avenge the destruction wrought on her life and that of others. The Oscar-nominated doc benefits tremendously from putting real faces to the devastation while also grappling with larger issues about those culpable. —D.G.
Where to watch All the Beauty and the Bloodshed: HBO Max
Director: Laura Poitras
04 of 26
American Utopia (2020)
David Byrne (front) in 'American Utopia'Credit: David Lee/HBO
Director Spike Lee captures David Byrne in all his glorious, eccentric wonder in this electrifying concert documentary. The legendary musician's joyful Broadway show, American Utopia, is lovingly translated to film here, featuring songs from the titular 2018 album as well as classics like "This Must Be the Place" and "Burning Down the House." "Mostly [Lee] just lets the night unfurl itself," writes EW's critic, "with Byrne as ringmaster, host, and resident sage — neatly soft-shoeing through the tuneful detritus of a wild, wild life." —K.J.
Where to watch American Utopia: HBO Max
EW grade: B+
Director: Spike Lee
05 of 26
Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
Compay Segundo and Omara Portuondo in 'Buena Vista Social Club'Credit: Everett
Wim Wenders’ vibrant film is a deeply moving chronicle of Ry Cooder’s effort to, along with his son Joachim, travel to Cuba and assemble the country’s most famous, forgotten musicians to record a new album. The band eventually comes to America, where they play to rapt houses.
This heartfelt documentary is one of the finest accounts of the perils and pitfalls of artistry in conjunction with its greatest benefits. You’ll likely be struck by the musicians’ fearsome talent and smacked by the unfairness of them not being given their due. Indeed, Wenders’ film is a love letter to their talent, to music, and to cinema itself. —D.G.
Where to watch Buena Vista Social Club: HBO Max
Director: Wim Wenders
06 of 26
Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Jesse Friedman (center) and Arnold Friedman (right) in 'Capturing the Friedmans'Credit: Everett
Andrew Jarecki, creator of The Jinx, directed this somber and utterly chilling account of a seemingly typical suburban family that comes undone when the patriarch and one of his sons are accused of unthinkable crimes.
Jarecki’s sharp, heartbreaking work makes terrific use of the documentary format, utilizing home videos filmed by one of the sons and questioning the compulsions one might have for recording such a personal, slow demise. Much like The Jinx subject Robert Durst, the Friedmans are a gang whose hubris puts their biggest secrets on display in an effort to conceal them. —D.G.
Where to watch Capturing the Friedmans: HBO Max
Director: Andrew Jarecki
07 of 26
David Lynch: The Art Life (2016)
David Lynch in 'David Lynch: The Art Life'Credit: Madman Films
Some celebrity bio-documentaries are guilty of not living up to the extraordinary artistry of their subject. Not so with David Lynch: The Art Life, which highlights the legendary surrealist director's love of painting and his early childhood that shaped him into one of the greatest visionary artists in film history. It's all told through David Lynch's own idiosyncratic recollections and commentary on what inspired him. As movie lovers around the world forever mourn the loss of the man who created such memorable worlds in films like Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001), and on the TV show Twin Peaks, this is a fitting tribute to his unique artistry. —K.J.
Where to watch David Lynch: The Art Life: HBO Max
Directors: Olivia Neergaard-Holm, Rick Barnes, Jon Nguyen
08 of 26
Dont Look Back (1967)
Bob Dylan in 'Dont Look Back'Credit: Everett
Celebrity documentaries can sometimes feel overly flattering, sanding down the edges of flawed artists in exchange for unfettered access. Director D.A. Pennebaker, on the other hand, threads the needle perfectly with this vérité-style examination of Bob Dylan during his 1965 concert tour. The doc gives us an unvarnished look at the now-legendary musician's psyche as he grapples with the intersection of fame and his artistry, bickering with journalists and doing his best to communicate his message to an eager audience. —K.J.
Where to watch Dont Look Back: HBO Max
Director: D.A. Pennebaker
09 of 26
Faye: The Many Lives of Faye Dunaway (2024)
Faye Dunaway as Diana Christensen in 'Network'Credit: Everett
Faye Dunaway’s singular life and career get a forceful recollection in Laurent Bouzereau’s powerful documentary, which bears a structural similarity to De Palma as it walks audiences through Dunaway’s career, performance by performance.
The star’s roles in classics like Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Chinatown (1974), and Network (1976) are profiled in full, as are her later works, which are a lot more varied than you probably remember. Crucially, Faye also spotlights Dunaway’s off-screen life in a way no other project has afforded the controversial star. Here, she speaks for herself, illuminating corners of her career and personality that have remained unexplored until now. Bouzerau’s documentary is inspiring and heart-wrenching, reminding us that the greatest talents are often misunderstood in their time. —D.G.
Where to watch Faye: The Many Lives of Faye Dunaway: HBO Max
Director: Laurent Bouzereau
10 of 26
Gimme Shelter (1970)
Mick Jagger in 'Gimme Shelter'Credit: Everett
This gripping account of the Rolling Stones' infamous free concert at Altamont is directed with grace by Albert Maysles, David Maysles, and Charlotte Zwerin. It’s a spectacular document of the tragic event, which culminated in bloodshed after the Stones wrangled the Hell's Angels to work security for the gig.
The unblinking lens of Zwerin and the Maysles’ camera catches the carnage as it organically unfolds, making this one of the most unmissable and important music documentaries ever made. —D.G.
Where to watch Gimme Shelter: HBO Max
Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
11 of 26
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)
The large blue Scientology building on Fountain Avenue in Los Angeles in 'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief'Credit: Everett
Alex Gibney’s enraging and illuminating documentary profiles the Scientology movement from the ground up, tracing how the niche beliefs of C-grade sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard led to the establishment of one of the most controversial religious organizations on Earth.
Gibney is an incisive documentarian with an eye for details and a knack for nailing potent points. Going Clear may be his masterwork. It’s admirably clear-eyed in overview of the facts, told with creative flair and respect for the survivors involved. —D.G.
Where to watch Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief: HBO Max
EW grade: A
Director: Alex Gibney
12 of 26
Grey Gardens (1975)
Little Edie Beale in 'Grey Gardens'Credit: Everett
A classic from filmmaking duo Albert and David Maysles, this time working with Muffie Meyer and Ellen Hovde, follows the bizarre exploits of Jackie O. relatives Edie Bouvier Beale and her mother Edith, a.k.a. Little Edie and Big Edie.
The Bouviers spent their days in a ramshackle Long Island mansion, engaging in a mysteriously codependent relationship (when they could tolerate one another). Much like Gimme Shelter, the Maysles let the action unfurl before their lens without commenting upon it or dissecting it, allowing the audience to form their own conclusions about what they’re seeing. Grey Gardens is not only one of the most referenced and parodied documentaries of all time, but one of the most astonishing and rewatchable. —D.G.
Where to watch Grey Gardens: HBO Max
Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer, Ellen Hovde
13 of 26
Hoop Dreams (1994)
William Gates in 'Hoop Dreams'Credit: Fine Line Features/Everett
Steve James' affecting feature debut chronicles two Black teenagers in Chicago who get recruited to play basketball at a well-heeled white school. Filmed over five years, James' documentary follows the players on the court and at home, providing first-hand insight into how young athletes are shaped by social obstacles, not to mention the institutions seeking to monetize them. Hoop Dreams is a spectacular piece of work that has stood the test of time, an "almost novelistic tapestry of cinéma vérité and talking-head interviews," says EW's critic. —D.G.
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Where to watch Hoop Dreams: HBO Max
EW grade: A
Director: Steve James
14 of 26
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)
Elizabeth Holmes in 'The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley'Credit: Everett
Alex Gibney brings his laser focus to the story of Elizabeth Holmes, who, through her start-up Theranos, swindled investors with the promise of a revolutionary blood testing device. Holmes is another fraud whose story has been dissected in several documentaries and in dramatizations like Hulu’s The Dropout, but Gibney brings specific insights and a fresh perspective to this truly unbelievable story. —D.G.
Where to watch The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley: HBO Max
Director: Alex Gibney
15 of 26
Jane Fonda in Five Acts (2018)
Jane Fonda in 'Jane Fonda in Five Acts'Credit: HBO
Jane Fonda has lived many lives — and been labeled in various ways. To some, she's one of the icons of the silver screen, a two-time Oscar winner with a résumé full of fiercely committed performances on top of being a dedicated activist. To others, she's a traitor after taking a controversial photo during the Vietnam War. The legendary star addresses the many twists and turns of her life in this fascinating doc, including her experiences as the daughter of Henry Fonda, her emergence in film, her outspoken advocacy for her political beliefs, her tumultuous marriages, and more.
EW's critic writes that the film feels like "a cross between the most revealing celebrity memoir you've ever read and a two-hour session on a shrink's couch." —K.J.
Where to watch Jane Fonda in Five Acts: HBO Max
Director: Susan Lacy
16 of 26
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)
Little Richard in 'Little Richard: I Am Everything'Credit: Everett
Little Richard gets his due in this vibrant gem of a documentary directed by Lisa Cortés. I Am Everything tracks the rock star’s meteoric rise and wildly influential career with interviews from contemporaries such as Paul McCartney and Keith Richards, plus those, like John Waters, influenced by Richard’s anarchic, proto-glam rock act.
Of particular note here is the film’s terrific original soundtrack and score, which pays tribute to and celebrates Little Richard’s work through several toe-tapping compositions. —D.G.
Where to watch Little Richard: I Am Everything: HBO Max
Director: Lisa Cortés
17 of 26
MoviePass, MovieCrash (2024)
Stacy Spikes and Muta'Ali in 'MoviePass, MovieCrash'Credit: Everett
This is a succinct, rather depressing look at the spectacular rise and just-as-sudden flameout of MoviePass, the subscription service beloved by many cinephiles. (MoviePass has since been revived, albeit in a curtailed form.)
Mark Wahlberg produced this look at the short-lived phenomenon, which aimed to boost multiplex visitation but eventually crashed and burned due to corporate greed and shoddy upkeep. The documentary shows that, while it may never have been the most sustainable model, MoviePass was certainly a well-intentioned idea that could’ve had a more successful run under better leadership. —D.G.
Where to watch MoviePass, MovieCrash: HBO Max
Director: Muta'Ali
18 of 26
My Mom Jayne (2025)
Mariska Hargitay in 'My Mom Jayne'Credit: HBO
Mariska Hargitay doesn't have many memories of her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. Directed by and starring Hargitay herself, this deeply vulnerable documentary attempts to give the Law & Order: SVU star greater context about her famous mom, who was killed in a car accident when Hargitay was only 3 years old. Through intimate conversations with family members and those who knew Mansfield, Hargitay uncovers revealing details about her mother's career and relationships, showing her to be more than just a sex symbol. —K.J.
Where to watch My Mom Jayne: HBO Max
Director: Mariska Hargitay
19 of 26
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper (2020)
A drawing of D.B. Cooper wearing sunglasses from 'The Mystery of D.B. Cooper'Credit: Everett
A rousing and tremendously exciting look at one of history’s most notorious unsolved heists, this documentary concerns a crime undertaken by the mysterious D.B. Cooper, who vanished without a trace after a daring mid-air escape.
Cooper’s case has inspired rampant speculation for decades, but John Dower’s precise film distills the story down to 85 minutes of essentials through interviews with those present for the astonishing incident. This is one of the most concise and fascinating accounts about Cooper, and it’s well worth a watch for any true crime fan. —D.G.
Where to watch The Mystery of D.B. Cooper: HBO Max
Director: John Dower
20 of 26
Original Cast Album: Company (1970)
Stephen Sondheim and Pamela Myers in 'Original Cast Album: Company'Credit: The Criterion Collection
For fans of niche documentaries, Original Cast Album: Company is an engrossing deep dive into the making of the Company musical original cast recording. The glitz and glamour of Broadway is stripped away here, with director D.A. Pennebaker giving us a warts-and-all glimpse into the grueling recording studio sessions. Tempers flare and tensions rise, reaching a fever pitch when Elaine Stritch performs take after take of her solo number, "The Ladies Who Lunch," to the point of exhaustion. It's an essential watch for musical theater lovers everywhere. —K.J.
Where to watch Original Cast Album: Company: HBO Max
Director: D.A. Pennebaker
21 of 26
Paris Is Burning (1990)
The stars of 'Paris Is Burning'Credit: Everett
Jennie Livingston’s groundbreaking film chronicles the “golden age” of New York City’s drag scene. To call Paris Is Burning revolutionary would be short-changing its contribution to queer culture and the documentary format as a whole. It’s such an evocative memory of a specific time and place that you can practically taste the hairspray. Livingston’s eye is both sensitive and quizzical, and her film is at its best when it focuses on the community’s specific members, many of whom left their real families in search of a more welcoming home. —D.G.
Where to watch Paris Is Burning: HBO Max
EW grade: A
Director: Jennie Livingston
22 of 26
The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (2023)
Rachel Lee in 'The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring'Credit: Everett
The sordid Hollywood Bling Ring theft saga, chronicled in a Vanity Fair feature and adapted by Sofia Coppola, is the documentary treatment in this perfectly calibrated feature about the ring’s leader, Rachel Lee. In her own words, Lee explains why she felt compelled to recruit a group of celebrity-obsessed pals to rob the homes of people like Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom. This is a remarkably compelling, well-told recitation of events that benefits greatly from Lee’s cooperation. —D.G.
Where to watch The Ringleader: HBO Max
Director: Erin Lee Carr
23 of 26
The Super Bob Einstein Movie (2021)
Bob Einstein in 'The Super Bob Einstein Movie'Credit: Everett
Bob Einstein was a brilliant comedic actor best known for his recurring failed stuntman character Super Dave Osborne and playing Marty Funkhouser on Curb Your Enthusiasm. This affectionate documentary explores how Einstein, the brother of Albert Brooks, was a remarkably thoughtful and committed entertainer whose biggest laughs were often generated by his no-nonsense demeanor. As Sarah Silverman notes in the charmed feature, Einstein is perhaps the only comedian to ever make a career out of playing the straight man to himself. —D.G.
Where to watch The Super Bob Einstein Movie: HBO Max
Director: Danny Gold
24 of 26
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)
Christopher Reeve in 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story'Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute; Photo by Herb Ritts/AUGUST
Winner of the top prize at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Super/Man delves into the career of actor Christopher Reeve in moving detail. Exploring his meteoric rise to stardom as the titular superhero in 1978's Superman, his life-altering horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed, his admirable philanthropic endeavors, and his relationship with his wife, Dana, the doc offers a comprehensive, poignant look at how Reeve's heroism wasn't just reserved for the big screen. —K.J.
Where to watch Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: HBO Max
Directors: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
25 of 26
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)
Harvey Milk in 'The Times of Harvey Milk'Credit: Everett
One of the finest documentaries on this list, The Times of Harvey Milk is a stunning portrait of the late San Francisco politician’s crusade for equality. This film was made just six years after Milk’s assassination at the hands of Dan White, a fellow government worker, and deals with the aftermath of that tragedy as well as White’s infamous trial. Rob Epstein’s incomparable feature serves as one of the definitive statements on Milk’s legacy and as a vibrant time capsule of his beloved city. —D.G.
Where to watch The Times of Harvey Milk: HBO Max
Director: Rob Epstein
26 of 26
Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (2024)
Michael McDonald in 'Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary'Credit: Soul Train/Getty/Courtesy HBO
What exactly is yacht rock? We would probably define it as the kind of sunny soft rock best experienced while cruising down the freeway, or, if you're so lucky, relaxing on a yacht. As Questlove humorously quips in this loving ode to the subgenre, "It's perfect sitting down dancing music." Featuring interviews with such yacht rock luminaries as Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, the Emmy-nominated doc retraces the origins of this particular sound/vibe and contextualizes it within the timeline of popular music. —K.J.
Where to watch Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary: HBO Max
Director: Garret Price
on Entertainment Weekly
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