Popular Documentary Movies on The Roku Channel - Page 3

White Boy

2017

White Boy

2017
7
“White Boy Rick”, as he was called, was a novelty: A white teenager seemingly running a major inner-city drug operation. In May of 1987, 17-year-old Richard Wershe Jr. was charged with a non-violent, juvenile drug offense. By the time of his arrest he was already a Detroit legend, frequently making front-page headlines and leading the local television news. In this film, gangsters, hit men, journalists and federal agents struggle to explain why he remains in prison at nearly 50 years old. The possible explanation is more stunning than the crimes Wershe was alleged to have committed.
Detainment

2018

Detainment

2018
6.7
Two ten year-old boys are detained by police under suspicion of abducting and murdering a toddler.
The YouTube Effect

2023

The YouTube Effect

2023
4.8
YouTube has garnered over 2.3 billion users and is worth up to $300 billion. At its center is its algorithm, something that threatens to destroy not only the platform, but the entire Internet.
Feral

2021

Feral

2021
5.2
The mountains of Oaxaca harbor the remains of a ravaged and burnt shelter, once home to a psychoanalyst priest who used it to look after savage children, trying to re-integrate them into society. Through videotape diaries and interviews, the truth of what happened is shockingly revealed.
Prescription Thugs

2016

Prescription Thugs

2016
6.4
Americans consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs. After losing his own brother to the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse, documentarian Chris Bell sets out to demystify this insidious addiction. Bell’s examination into the motives of big pharma and doctors in this ever-growing market leads him to meet with experts on the nature of addiction, survivors with first-hand accounts of their struggle, and whistleblowers who testify to the dollar-driven aims of pharmaceutical corporations. Ultimately his investigation will point back to where it all began: his own front door.
Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’

2021

Pennywise: The Story of ‘It’

2021
7.4
Thirty-plus years after its release, the popular two-part miniseries "It" and its infamous villain Pennywise live on in the minds of horror fans around the world. This documentary captures not only the buzz the "It" saga generated in 1990 but also the lasting impact it has had on an entire generation and the horror genre at large. Several years in the making, the film features exclusive interviews with many of the cult classic's key players, from cast members Richard Thomas, Seth Green, and Tim Curry, who portrayed the notorious monster clown Pennywise, to director Tommy Lee Wallace and special effects makeup artist Bart Mixon. The documentary also boasts a wealth of archival material and never-before-seen footage.
Pablo

2012

Pablo

2012
6.9
Pablo blends documentary and animation elements to tell the saga of "famous unknown" Pablo Ferro, a man with a personal journey that spans from Havana, during the pre-Cuban revolution to his current home, in the garage behind his son's house.
The Last Expedition

2024

The Last Expedition

2024
7
The true story of Wanda Rutkiewicz, the first woman in the world and the first person from Poland to climb the highest peaks on earth, told by herself.
Machine

2019

Machine

2019
6.5
If machines can be smarter than people, is humanity really anything special?
Danny

2015

Danny

2015
A feature documentary about the life of former Newfoundland Premier, Danny Williams
Offshore Incorporated

2015

Offshore Incorporated

2015
6
Donne's film points out the major features of the tax avoidance landscape: tax havens, brass plates, capital flight, crown dependencies, and the like.
Other Music

2019

Other Music

2019
6.7
A documentary highlighting the 20 year history of influential indie record store Other Music in Manhattan's East Village.
Jurassic Punk

2022

Jurassic Punk

2022
6.3
Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams is a pioneer in computer animation. His digital dinosaurs of Jurassic Park transformed Hollywood in 1993, but an appetite for anarchy and reckless disregard for authority may have cost him the recognition he deserved.
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock

2017

Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock

2017
6.9
A reckless joyride into the darkest corners of popular music that delves deep into the mind of Mick Rock, the genius photographer who immortalized the seventies and the rise to rock stardom of many legendary musicians.
Racing Extinction

2015

Racing Extinction

2015
7.8
An unlikely team of activists and innovators hatches a bold mission to save endangered species.
Kusama: Infinity

2018

Kusama: Infinity

2018
7.2
Now one of the world’s most celebrated artists, Yayoi Kusama broke free of the rigid society in which she was raised, and overcame sexism, racism, and mental illness to bring her artistic vision to the world stage. At 88 she lives in a mental hospital and continues to create art.
Hoop Dreams

1994

Hoop Dreams

1994
7.6
Every school day, African-American teenagers William Gates and Arthur Agee travel 90 minutes each way from inner-city Chicago to St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, a predominately white suburban school well-known for the excellence of its basketball program. Gates and Agee dream of NBA stardom, and with the support of their close-knit families, they battle the social and physical obstacles that stand in their way. This acclaimed documentary was shot over the course of five years.
Frank Zappa: A Day With Frank

1971

Frank Zappa: A Day With Frank

1971
The Documentary centers around Zappa at home, and on Tour. The amazing thing is that Zappa allowed a guy with a camera to film the band at the Fillmore West w/ Flo and Eddie. There are times when the camera man seems to be on the stage. The performance is recorded from only one camera angle. There are only 4-5 songs presented here.....and Zappa referring to the Fillmore West as the ‘Psychedelic Dungeon’ is priceless………..It is a great piece of history.
Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art

2020

Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art

2020
7.1
Banksy is the world's most infamous street artist, whose political art, criminal stunts and daring invasions have outraged the establishment for over two decades. Featuring rare interviews with Banksy, this is the story of how an outlaw artist led a revolutionary new movement and built a multi-million dollar empire, while his identity remained shrouded in mystery.
A Dog Called Money

2019

A Dog Called Money

2019
5.9
Accompany PJ Harvey and Seamus Murphy on a journey through the creative process behind PJ Harvey's new album, conceived by their travels around the globe.