The Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime
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Amazon's Prime Video provides a bunch of documentaries that whatever tickle your fancy. Love true crime? Hooked on exposés? There's a bit of everything.
The Tillman Story (2010)
This blistering documentary chronicles the story of Pat Tillman, who famously left the NFL to enlist as an Army Ranger in the wake of the September 11th attacks. He was murdered in Afghanistan, and the Army initially covered up that he was killed by friendly fire. The doc follows Tillman’s life, with interviews from his family and whistleblowers from the military.
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Lorena (2019)
John and Lorena Bobbitt made headlines around the world when Lorena cut off John's penis. This doc—which is told across the span of four one-hour long episodes and features commentary directly from Lorena—gives an intimate look at what drove Lorena to commit the act and how the world became obsessed with such a gruesome story.
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Generation Wealth (2018)
Generation Wealth is a fun but kind of startling look at our money-obsessed culture. The doc comes from Lauren Greenfield, who previously put out a book—and held a photo exhibition—of the same name.
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City of Ghosts (2017)
This is another tough doc to stomach. It follows activists who report on what happens in the Syrian city of Raqqa after ISIS takes over.
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Human Flow (2017)
Human Flow documents the plight of refugees all over the world. The doc takes you through several countries as people risk everything in the search for a safe place to live.
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Unseen (2016)
Unseen tells a chilling story about a sex offender who brutally attacked and murdered at least 11 women and kept their bodies buried in his home and around his property. It also features one of the victims who managed to make it out alive.
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Gleason (2016)
This is another doc that you'll want to watch with a box of tissues. It follows the life of New Orleans Saints defensive back, Steve Gleason, as he is diagnosed with ALS—a degenerative disease with no cure—and is forced to find a new life alongside his wife and their little boy.
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Aida's Secrets (2016)
Aida's Secrets tells the story of a woman who survived the holocaust and kept a lot of secrets for a long time. This doc tells the story of siblings who have been separated at birth and why Aida made certain choices during a dark and terrifying time.
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Cartel Land (2015)
Cartel Land follows vigilante groups who have had enough and fight back against the cartel on either side of the Mexican border. Cartel Land feels like you've signed up for a ride along as you catch glimpses of what life is like when you're fighting for a little bit of peace in the place you call home.
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The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2015)
Whether you're an avid runner, have endured Barkley, or simply have a morbid curiosity about why anyone would subject themselves to running such a grueling race, this doc will keep you engaged for then entire 90-minute runtime.
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Sriracha (2013)
This 33-minute documentary was made for anyone who has a special place in their heart for sriracha. Fans of the spectacular condiment get to meet the man behind the spicy phenomenon and get a peek at how sriracha gets made.
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The Central Park Five (2012)
This doc follows the 1989 case of the five teens who were wrongly accused of raping a woman who had been jogging in Central Park. It's tough but necessary watch.
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The Act of Killing (2012)
This is probably one of the most meta docs you'll ever see. The producers ask former death squad leaders to recreate their heinous crimes which led to a massive Indonesian genocide.
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Dear Zachary: A Letter to A Son About His Father (2008)
Dear Zachary is a tear-jerker and chronicles the life and murder of Andrew Bagby, long-time friend of the filmmaker who sets out to create a video journal of sorts for a little boy who will never get to meet his dad. This doc offers a lot of drama, but it's also a testament of love and the true meaning of friendship and family.
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