The truth can be scary sometimes. And whether you believe they’re real or fake, the truth is still out there somewhere. Max has been garnering quite the attention for its handpicked selection of films and shows. But their list of compelling documentaries is not to be missed! From the equal pay struggles of a women’s soccer team to the groundbreaking artists these films and shows below will show you just how diverse the documentary genre is. Check out these documentary shows and movies on Max.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Max or the best documentaries on Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Max.
Editor’s note: This article was updated May 2024 to include Call Me County: Beyonce & Nashville’s Renaissance.
‘Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville’s Renaissance’ (2024)
IMDb: 5.9/10
Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville’s Renaissance
Run Time 43 min
Director Eric Johnson
Release Date April 26, 2024
Actors Beyonce, Lil Nas X, Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer
‘LFG’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 53% | IMDb: 5.6/10
LFG
Run Time 1 hr 45 min
Director Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine
Release Date June 24, 2021
Actors Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Sam Mewis, Julie Foudy
LFG follows members of the United States women’s national soccer team as they file a gender-discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation for pay discrimination. The documentary stars notable soccer players like Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Jessica McDonald as they sue the federation three months before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner sets a trial in Los Angeles to address the players’ claim of discriminatory work. However, Klausner did not acknowledge the unequal pay portion of the lawsuit.
The film also features clips depicting the team’s athletic performances, including highlights from their 2019 World Cup victory, which broke numerous records. These clips, which highlight the pinnacle of their success, contrast with the players’ struggle to receive equal pay, and they show viewers the harsh reality of these athletes as they attempt to fulfill the physical demands of their jobs with a courageous and unwavering spirit. LFG is a powerful and cinematic documentary that delves into the difficult work that the team puts in both on and off the field.
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‘BS High’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.2/10
BS High
Run Time 1 hr 40 min
Director Martin Desmond Roe, Travon Free
Release Date August 23, 2023
Actors Roy Johnson, John Branham, Andre Peterson
BS High is aptly named as it follows the investigation of an Ohio high school football team that garnered attention after it was discovered that their high school didn’t exist. The scandal surrounds the charismatic and controversial former head coach Roy Johnson, who used his charm and questionable intentions to create a fake team composed of aspiring young athletes from Columbus that would compete against the elite private high schools around the state, getting exposure to crowds and media coverage they never could have dreamt of at their underfunded public schools. Unfortunately, Johnson’s lies and scamming would ultimately lead to these young Black teens being scrutinized in harmful ways while exposing the financial imbalances of the Ohio sports system.
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‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Being Mary Tyler Moore
Release Date March 13, 2023
Cast Mary Tyler Moore
Runtime 1 hr 59 min
Main Genre Documentary
Step into the life of the revolutionary performer who redefined the way that women were seen on television — both in front of and behind the camera. Being Mary Tyler Moore is a thorough examination of Moore’s life, from her early work on The Dick Van Dyke Show to her personal struggles with health and hardships. The documentary features archival interviews and footage that give insight into the way she was perceived by the media, plus testimonials and stories from her closest friends and colleagues like Treva Silverman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), James L. Brooks (The Simpsons), and Edward Asner (Up). – Tauri Miller
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‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10
All The Beauty And The Bloodshed
Release Date November 23, 2023
Runtime 122 minutes
Masterful director Laura Poitras dives into the fascinating life of activism, as well as the successful photography career of legend Nan Goldin, in All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. With an emphasis on the intersection of art and politics, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed rawly reveals Goldin’s passionate involvement in exposing the crimes of the Sackler family and their horrific opioid epidemic. Showcasing the iconic artist, along with unencumbered interviews with David Velasco and Megan Kapler, Poitras’ brilliant documentary is a deeply moving revelation. – Yael Tygiel
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‘Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present’ (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 7.8/10
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present
Run Time 1 hr 46 min
Director Matthew Akers, Jeff Dupre
Release Date June 22, 2012
Actors Marina Abramovic, Ulay, Klaus Biesenbach
Since 1973, conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović has been creating works meant to be striking for anyone who bears witness, and this documentary follows her as she prepares a retrospective installation of her artwork that will push her to her limits. For 78 days, Abramović displays her work at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as sits motionless in a chair every hour the museum is open, inviting anyone who wants to come to sit across from her to do so. The director captures her every move as she mentally and physically prepares to become an immersive experience for six days a week, seven and a half hours a day. Though the installation is over, the raw emotion that goes into creativity is perfectly captured in this in-depth look into the impact of Abramović’s career. – Tauri Miller
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‘Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 7.7/10
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Release Date July 16, 2021
Cast Anthony Bourdain
Runtime 118
When news of Anthony Bourdain’s death was announced in 2018, the culinary scene was never the same. Years after his passing, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain aims to explore the life and career of Bourdain as a chef, author, and travel documentarian. Bourdain is a celebrated figure not just amongst fellow renowned chefs but also amongst the general public. He became prominent thanks to his book Kitchen Confidential, an unfiltered take on the demanding restaurant industry. But fame arrived in his favor thanks to his travel show Parts Unknown, offering audiences a greater awareness of people living in developing countries, war zones, and disaster areas through one universal item: food.
Bourdain is remembered as a hard-working individual whose career is not without its highs and lows. However, his frequent travel for work often brought issues to his personal life, which he has never addressed. Everything is about to unravel in Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.
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‘Tina’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.9/10
Tina
Run Time 1 hr 58 min
Director Dan Lindsay, T. J. Martin
Release Date March 27, 2021
Actors Tina Turner
The life of a mega superstar can be a tumultuous one. Tina is a film demonstrating the highs and lows of Tina Turner’s musical career. Primarily adapted from Turner’s memoir ‘Happiness Becomes You,’ the documentary is a raw retelling of Tuner’s life events, from her childhood abandonment, living in poverty, rise to stardom, and the abusive relationship she had to endure in secret. Audiences will look into her struggles as she falls and rises again in the demanding music industry and how she returned as a solo artist and have a peaceful life with her loving partner, Erwin Bach.
Tina is about resilience. With all the good happening in the singer’s journey, many bad moments still take over a massive portion of her life. However, Turner has proven that she can survive whatever tragedy may occur despite the violent past she has to endure after all these years and how she became a strong figure in both her personal and professional life.
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‘Class Action Park’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.0/10
Class Action Park
Release Date August 22, 2020
Director Seth Porges , Chris Charles Scott III
Runtime 90
What if you discovered that your local amusement park is a death trap? Class Action Park investigates the infamous American amusement park Action Park, situated in Vernon Township, New Jersey. Famous for its attraction areas, the Alpine Center, Motorworld, and Waterworld, the park modernized the idea of American water parks. Action Park attracted fellow thrill-seekers looking for some much-needed adrenaline. Still, there is another reason why the amusement park gained notoriety: it’s filled with a chock-full of safety hazards.
With nicknames like “Accident Park,” “Friction Park,” and “Traction Park,” Class Action Park unravels the park’s poor safety records, which resulted in the deaths of at least six visitors. From intoxicated guests, under-aged staff, and dangerously-designed rides, you’ll be surprised at how rides with names like Cannonball Loop, Alpine Slides, and Tarzan Swings managed to endanger many lives. In addition, the documentary features former Action Park employees and the brainchild of the area: Eugene Mulvihill, a penny stockbroker who envisioned Action Park as a park with “no rules.”
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‘The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley’ (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.2/10
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Run Time 1 hr 59 min
Director Alex Gibney
Release Date March 18, 2019
Actors Elizabeth Holmes
If you enjoyed Hulu’s The Dropout, this documentary is for you. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley follows the life of American former biotechnology entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes and her now-defunct company Theranos. Once named the youngest self-made female billionaire, with a cover in Forbes magazine, her so-called success collapsed due to her massive frauds. Listed in Fortune’s “The World’s 19 Most Disappointing Leaders”, the film digs into Holmes’ inner workings and how she was able to pull off one of the most significant criminal frauds in the healthcare industry.
Holmes pioneered the idea of a miniature blood testing method that only requires small volumes of blood, such as a prick from a finger. As revolutionary as it sounds, medical experts doubt the actual mechanics of such technology. Determined to make her company work, Holmes and her partner Sunny Balwani believed that any criticism was just a plan from her competitors to bring her down and instead ramped up Theranos’ marketing. But no matter how much Holmes convinces the media regarding her company’s success, allegations against her company continue, eventually bringing Theranos and Holmes down to the ground.
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‘Fake Famous’ (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.6/10
Fake Famous
Run Time 1 hr 27 min
Director Nick Bilton
Release Date February 1, 2021
Actors Christopher Bailey, Dominique Druckman, Wylie Heiner
What does it take to become popular? Fake Famous transforms the lives of three non-famous individuals into social media influencers – through a social experiment. The participants include an aspiring actress, a fashion designer, and an ordinary real estate assistant who are all curious about living an influencer lifestyle.
But in this case, fame literally comes with a cost. Participants must “fake” their fame by purchasing followers and faking their luxurious lifestyle. In a world where social media has successfully altered our perception of people, Fake Famous is a fresh reminder of how Instagram culture can be incredibly out of touch with the real world.
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‘Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off’ (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 8.0/10
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off
Run Time 2 hr 15 min
Director Sam Jones
Release Date April 5, 2022
Actors Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk is unrivaled in the world of skateboarding. No one else even comes close. Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off provides viewers with an intimate look into the life of Tony Hawk, a professional skateboarder, and how he balances the demands of his extraordinary career with those of his personal life. Skateboarding has been a part of Hawk’s life since he was only 12 years old. From there on, he has amassed a number of accomplishments, including winning awards and shattering records. However, the documentary delves much further beyond his career.
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off is an in-depth documentary that focuses on Hawk’s passion for skateboarding as well as the life lessons he has gained from participating in the sport. Audiences get a first-hand look at how much passion, discipline, and determination are required to pull off a particular trick successfully. It is a film that goes beyond Hawk’s life; it is a celebration of the skateboarding culture in general, and it features interviews with other prominent figures in the world of skateboarding, footage that has never been seen before, and unfiltered access to the skater.
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‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.1/10
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Run Time 1 hr 51 min
Director Frank Marshall
Release Date October 8, 2020
Actors Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart revolves around the three members and brothers of the legendary family band The Bee Gees. The film explores how Maurice, Robin, and Barry Gibb formed The Bee Gees. Mainly featuring Barry Gibb, with archival interviews from the late Robin and Maurice Gibb, the documentary features commentary from a variety of other musicians, including Noel Gallagher, Mark Ronson, Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton, and Chris Martin.
The Bee Gees took the world by storm in the ‘60s and ‘70s with hits like “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” Through The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, the documentary details the band’s ascent to fame, their brief separation, and their subsequent reunion in the music industry. The film, in contrast to gossipy tell-all documentaries, places a strong emphasis on the creative processes that the group engages in when writing and recording their music. This highlights the Bee Gees’ heartfelt songwriting abilities, which are frequently overshadowed by their glittering performances.
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‘On the Record’ (2020)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7.2/10
On the Record
Run Time 1 hr 35 min
Director Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering
Release Date May 27, 2020
Actors Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Hines, Jenny Lumet, Alexia Norton Jones
On The Record is a documentary released when the #MeToo movement became prominent, investigating the allegations of sexual abuse perpetrated by men in power. The film explores claims of harassment against the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, Russell Simmons. The film includes interviews with the 20 women who have accused him of abuse, featuring names like Sherri Hines, Alexia Norton, and Sil Lai Abrams.
A huge portion of the documentary focuses on the story of former Def Jam Recordings executive Drew Dixon, the first woman to publicly reveal allegations of assault against Simmons, claiming that he raped Dixon in her apartment. After she left the company to continue her career at Arista Records, she claims that her job was sabotaged by music executive L.A. Reid when he refused his sexual advances. What makes On The Record chilling is that it criticizes the lack of black women’s voices in the #MeToo campaign, reminding viewers that there is still so much work that needs to be done to pursue justice.
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