In 2025, documentaries continued to prove why they’re one of the most powerful storytelling formats we have. More than just capturing events as they unfold, these films helped contextualize history, spotlight cultural shifts, and humanize complex political and social issues. This year’s standouts ranged from intimate portraits of influential women and landmark music movements to a chilling true-crime series that gripped audiences worldwide. Here’s a roundup of the most compelling documentaries of the year.
Apocalypse in the Tropics
Brazilian filmmaker Petra Costa returns with a follow-up to her Oscar-nominated The Edge of Democracy. Where her earlier film unpacked the downfall of leftist governments under Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, Apocalypse in the Tropics turns its focus to the rise of far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro and the role evangelical Christianity played in his ascent. Through interviews with figures across the political spectrum—including Lula, Bolsonaro, and influential pastor Silas Malafaia—Costa delivers a nuanced exploration of faith, power, and democracy in modern Brazil. The film goes beyond politics, interrogating how belief systems can both mobilize and destabilize democratic institutions.
Becoming Katharine Graham
Katharine Graham’s tenure as publisher of The Washington Post coincided with some of the most defining moments in American journalism, from the Pentagon Papers to Watergate. Though her life has been widely documented, this new film by George and Teddy Kunhardt feels fresh and deeply engaging. Featuring interviews with close friends, family members, and journalistic heavyweights like Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Gloria Steinem, and Warren Buffett, the documentary also incorporates startling excerpts from the Nixon tapes. The result is an intimate and revealing portrait of a woman who reshaped media and power in America.
The Encampments
Directed and produced by Michael T. Workman and Kei Pritsker, The Encampments offers a thoughtful look at the Gaza solidarity protests that swept U.S. college campuses in 2024. Rather than leaning into dismissive narratives about uninformed student activists, the film centers voices with personal and political stakes in the movement. Figures like Columbia student and ICE detainee Mahmoud Khalil and Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda bring urgency and humanity to the story, making this one of the most empathetic and grounded political documentaries of the year.
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery
Ally Pankiw’s documentary revisits Lilith Fair, the groundbreaking women-led music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan in 1997. With interviews from McLachlan herself and a powerhouse lineup including Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Brandi Carlile, Jewel, and more, the film captures both the cultural impact and behind-the-scenes challenges of the festival. Equal parts nostalgic and inspiring, it’s a reminder of how radical—and necessary—women-centered spaces in music once were (and still are).
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey
Following the success of My Octopus Teacher, Oscar-winning director Pippa Ehrlich returns with another tender exploration of the human-animal bond. This time, the story follows a wildlife photographer who rescues a baby pangolin from South Africa’s illegal wildlife trade and works to rehabilitate and release it back into the wild. The film blends conservation advocacy with a deeply emotional story of cross-species connection, reinforcing Ehrlich’s gift for turning environmental issues into personal, unforgettable narratives.
Pee-wee as Himself
This two-part HBO docuseries peels back the layers of the iconic Pee-wee Herman persona to reveal the complexity of the man behind it. Paul Reubens, who passed away in 2023, comes out as gay in the series, reframing the scandal that derailed his career in the late ’90s. Honest, brave, and surprisingly tender, the documentary challenges long-held assumptions and offers a fuller, more compassionate understanding of Reubens’ life and legacy.
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché
After a limited release in 2021, this documentary about punk trailblazer Poly Styrene has finally reached U.S. streaming audiences. Co-directed and narrated by her daughter, Celeste Bell, the film moves beyond standard punk retrospectives to examine a complicated mother-daughter relationship shaped by fame, mental health struggles, and artistic rebellion. With diary excerpts read by actress Ruth Negga, the documentary feels deeply personal and emotionally raw.
Pretty Dirty: The Life and Times of Marilyn Minter
As bold and provocative as Marilyn Minter’s artwork, this documentary from Jennifer Ash Rudick and Amanda M. Benchley chronicles the life of the influential American artist. Alongside her glossy, often unsettling visual style, the film explores themes of family trauma and addiction, creating a layered portrait of creativity born from chaos. Whether or not Minter’s aesthetic resonates with you, the documentary is undeniably compelling.
Titan: The OceanGate Disaster
Director Mark Monroe examines the 2023 implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible in this sobering investigation. What was once a global news spectacle becomes, in Monroe’s hands, a modern parable about technological ambition, unchecked ego, and extreme wealth. Central to the story is OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, whose risky design decisions ultimately led to his death and the loss of four others, turning the Titan into a chilling symbol of modern hubris.
The Yogurt Shop Murders
Even before new developments emerged in September 2025, this HBO Max docuseries was already haunting. Chronicling the 1991 murder of four teenage girls in an Austin yogurt shop, the series—directed by Margaret Brown and produced by a team including Emma Stone and Dave McCary—meticulously revisits a case that haunted a community for decades. The fact that a major breakthrough occurred shortly after the series’ release adds an eerie, almost surreal layer to an already devastating story.
Together, these documentaries didn’t just inform or entertain—they challenged perspectives, sparked conversations, and left lasting impressions, making 2025 a standout year for nonfiction storytelling.
