There’s something really captivating about watching a true story play out in front of you. Unlike a fictional narrative, documentaries don’t have neatly tied-up endings, and there is no guarantee of what’s to come. In summation: they feel like a more accurate representation of what the world is capable of: good and evil, nurturing and abandoning. Often, a documentary provides a way to dive deep into a story that hasn’t been fully explored previously, maybe even to get answers to long-existing questions once and for all. Here, we present some of the best documentaries on Prime Video, with options for all interest groups, from the typical true crime to the exploration of a long-forgotten band to girl power.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies on Prime Video, documentaries on Netflix, or documentaries on Hulu.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Prime Video.

'Lucy and Desi' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Capturing the highs and the lows of the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lucy and Desi is a documentary done with care by Amy Poehler. Starting from their early days as a new couple in Hollywood through the height and crazy of I Love Lucy to the end of their lives, the documentary is an honest look at one of TV's favorite couples. From their own personal struggles to the struggles they faced in the industry, particularly Desi as a Cuban living in America, Lucy and Desi never leans into sensationalism or melodramatics, instead it relies on the star power of its subjects to propel the doc forward. With audio clips directly from Lucy and Desi, it's an intimate look at their lives, one that humanizes them beyond their television personas. For lovers of Lucy and Desi, this is a can't miss. — Therese Lacson

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'Judy Blume Forever' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Judy Blume Forever is an ode to the author who broke the rules and empowered generations of young people. The documentary features interviews with fans as well as the trailblazer herself as she reflects on her journey. Captured by directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the film honors the way Blume’s books allowed readers to explore concepts of sexuality, adolescence, and change without shying away from criticism and censorship. Judy Blume Forever welcomes celebrities like Molly Ringwald, Samantha Bee, and Lena Dunham to share the impact a single prolific novelist has had on their lives, careers, and understanding of themselves. – Yael Tygiel

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'Wildcat' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 8.7/10

Wildcat is a raw journey into the Amazon directed by Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh. After being medically discharged, Harry Turner, a young English veteran, travels to a remote and scenic area in an attempt to rest, recharge, and recover from PTSD. While exploring the Amazon jungle, Turner meets scientist Samantha Zwicker and a baby ocelot who changes his life. Wildcat is more than a nature documentary, as it explores the interconnectivity of the planet. With a riveting story, gorgeous landscapes, and tons of cat content, Wildcat is a beautifully inspiring and touching film about healing. – Yael Tygiel

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'The Sound of 007' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.4/10

Revolving around an iconic franchise like the James Bond series, The Sound of 007 allows filmmaker Mat Whitecross to explore the history behind some of the most memorable movie theme songs. The Sound of 007 is a journey for the senses, traveling through generations of music, beginning with the genesis of Dr. No’s unforgettable theme from the 1962 film. Featuring interviews from actors of the franchise, including Daniel Craig, The Sound of 007 also shines a spotlight on No Time To Die’s Academy Award-winning song from modern music maven Billie Eilish. – Yael Tygiel

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'Good Night Oppy' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 87% | IMDb: 7.7/10

Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) narrates Good Night Oppy, the documentary film from Ryan White that reveals an incredible true story of strength, smarts, and convictions. Good Night Oppy spends time with NASA engineers and scientists as they create the adorable exploration rover named Opportunity, which was sent on a three-month mission to Mars, only to survive for 15 years. Featuring interviews with NASA employees, as well as footage from the original mission, Good Night Oppy dives into the far reaches of our solar system with an uplifting message and exciting adventure. – Yael Tygiel

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'Dior and I' (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 7.2/10

Following the creation of Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as the new artistic director at the iconic brand, Dior and I shows both the challenges and triumphs of working in the fascinating, high-pressure world of high fashion. In addition to giving us an exclusive look at truly breathtaking designs, the documentary allows us to meet the people who make it all possible. Runway fans are sure to be instantly captivated by the portrait of Simons and his team as well as insight into the traditions of this unique business. – Taylor Gates

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'The Queen of Versailles' (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.1/10

Part Real Housewives episode, part Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, the documentary The Queen of Versailles watches billionaire couple Jaqueline and David Siegel build their dream life, which includes constructing a Versailles-inspired compound. The Queen of Versailles continues to track their journey as the couple struggles to keep their empire – and the lavish lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to – afloat. Directed by Lauren Greenfield, who earned the Best Director award at Sundance for the documentary, The Queen of Versailles is both an exercise in hubris and a reminder to appreciate the important things in life. – Yael Tygiel

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'Generation Wealth' (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 46% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Generation Wealth had the prestigious honor of being the opening night documentary at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival – and for good reason. It explores an age-old question that we all still struggle to answer: Can money buy happiness? The general consensus is, of course, no, but it’s much more complicated than that, and this documentary shows it. Behind all of the glitz and glamour, there’s a bleak, melancholic tone that pervades. Come for the luxury – the designer clothes, mansions, and jets – and stay for the riveting character study of the world’s ultra-wealthy. - Taylor Gates

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'Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father' (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 8.5/10

A gut-wrenching story that tries to offer a man's son the opportunity to discover who his dad was after his brutal murder. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne documents the life of his best friend, Andrew Bagby, after his murder, trying to piece together the clues that lead to his death while also celebrating Andrew's life. Dear Zachary is beloved among the true-crime documentary community for being honest, heart-felt, infuriating, and devastating. Kuenne scrapbooks Andrew's life in a way that only a best friend can, and the documentary eventually pushed a lawmaker to introduce "Zachary's Bill" to the Parliament of Canada, helping to protect children in bail hearings and custody disputes. For those interested in true crime, this one can not be missed. Available through Amazon Prime subscription. — Therese Lacson

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'Lorena' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Lorena details an absolutely shocking story of a 1993 assault. This four-part docuseries follows the lives of Lorena and John Bobbitt. Lorena was arrested after she cut off her husband John's penis. Lorena accused John of domestic violence and marital rape, and, unsurprisingly, the story soon became consumed by the news media. Directed by Joshua Rofé, Lorena investigates the case and the media storm that turned the story into the butt of many jokes. The docuseries uses archive footage to shine a spotlight on the shameful coverage of the case and might leave you feeling frustrated and enlightened. — Therese Lacson

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'The Imposter' (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10

How does a con man at the age of 20 fool an entire family into thinking he is their missing 13-year-old son? Bart Layton documents the compelling 1997 case of Frédéric Bourdin in The Imposter. The Imposter begins as a tale about the missing case of Nicholas Barclay but it soon dives into Bourdin's life as a con man, revealing how he was able to target the weaknesses of families and play on their desperation with his manipulation. Layton's documentary is an exciting piece of work because he speaks not only to the Barclay family but to Bourdin himself about the con and how he was able to pull it all off.

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'Stories We Tell' (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.5/10

Sarah Polley crafts one of the best documentaries of the 2010s with the alluring Stories We Tell. The film is autobiographical as Polley explores the secrets of her own family and examining her parents in all their complex humanity. It’s a stunning work of memoir and memory with some stunningly creative approaches to unwinding the story of her parentage. This clearly wasn’t an easy story for Polley to tell, but she bravely moves forward with a daughter’s love and a filmmaker’s eye. The film’s only downside is that after you finish, you’ll wish that Polley would keep tackling documentaries because she clearly is a master of the format. – Matt Goldberg

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'Val' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.6/10

What if you devoted your life to acting and then disease took that away from you? What would you be left with? Would it just be your body of work or would you yearn to keep creating no matter what? That's the beautiful question at the center of the lovely Val Kilmer documentary, Val. While the documentary does explore some of Kilmer's most notable cinematic work including Top Gun, Batman Forever, The Doors, and others thanks to the wealth of video footage Kilmer took over the years, the heart of the film is where Kilmer is now after having his voice ravaged by throat cancer. Rather than a simple story of perseverance, we get Kilmer's own words through his videos and narration provided by his son Jack Kilmer, who sounds a lot like his father. Val is a unique look at an actor who never really craved movie stardom but instead artistic expression and how that expression carries on after tragedy. - Matt Goldberg

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'Time' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Time is the astonishing chronicle of Fox and Rob Rich, who were convicted of armed robbery, and while Fox was given a reduced sentence, Rob was sentenced to sixty years. Through home video footage and Garrett Bradley’s work, we see Fox persevering to free her husband and the father of her children from a system that delights in the mass incarceration of black men. What Time does so astonishingly well is it shows how these draconian sentences punish not only the convicted, but everyone around them. There’s a ripple effect, and to say, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,” is a glib and heartless way to look at how a justice system should operate. While Fox’s crusade is at times inspiring, it’s also damning towards a system and a country that would behave in such a callous manner in the first place. - Matt Goldberg

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'The Witness' (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.0/10

In 1964 Kitty Genovese was murdered in Kew Gardens, Queens as 38 people witnessed her screams without taking action. Over 50 years later, it’s a story that still haunts New York and stands as a reminder to take action. The Witness focuses greatly on Kitty’s younger brother Bill Genovese, who also acted as executive producer, and was 16 at the time of Kitty’s murder. He goes over headlines, trial transcripts, and police records to determine exactly what happened that day so many years ago. It’s an emotional and powerful story about life, family, and death.

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'One Child Nation' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 7.5/10

You may be vaguely aware of China’s “One Child” policy that ran from 1979 to 2015, but Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang’s harrowing documentary delves into the wide-reaching ramifications of the policy. The high cost of totalitarianism yields a nation of people who felt they had no choice but to submit to the government’s cruelty in favor of a policy that was created out of fear of over-population. While some may argue that it was a necessary evil, One Child Nation looks at how much evil had to happen, from mass infanticide to forced sterilization to baby trafficking to family separation. As Wang points out, while some may see this as the opposite of America where abortions are largely outlawed as opposed to carried about by the government, it’s just different ways of the government depriving women of autonomy over their bodies. It would be comforting to think of the one-child policy as something that happened “over there” and “in the past”, but One Child Nation makes its ramifications immediate and unforgettable. - Matt Goldberg

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