Top Rated Documentary TV Shows - Page 40

Jesus: His Life

2019

Jesus: His Life

2019
7.3
Explore the story of Jesus Christ through a unique lens: the people in his life who were closest to him. Each of the eight chapters is told from the perspective of different biblical figures, all of whom played a pivotal role in Jesus’ life including Joseph, John the Baptist, Mary Mother of Jesus, Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter.
Hostile Planet

2019

Hostile Planet

2019
7.8
This six part documentary draws attention to the most extraordinary — almost supernatural — accounts of animals that have adapted to the cruelest evolutionary curveballs.
The Third Reich: The Rise & Fall

2010

The Third Reich: The Rise & Fall

2010
7.2
An intimate, authentic portrait of Hitler's Germany as recorded by the people who lived it. Never-before-seen home movies, Nazi propaganda films and personal recollections culled from German's diaries, journals and letters provide a rare look inside the darker pages of world history.
Spy in the Wild

2017

Spy in the Wild

2017
7
Documentary series in which animatronic spy creatures infiltrate the animal world to explore their complex emotions.
The Murder of Laci Peterson

2017

The Murder of Laci Peterson

2017
6.9
Nearing the 15th anniversary of Laci Peterson's disappearance, A&E Networks takes a fresh look at the case. A definitive factual account by those who lived and breathed it every day.
The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey

2016

The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey

2016
6.1
Clemente is joined by Scotland Yard behavioral analyst Laura Richards. Together, and with the aid of several others involved in the original case, they will try and solve the mystery of Ramsey’s death “once and for all.”
The Investigator: A British Crime Story

2016

The Investigator: A British Crime Story

2016
5.9
Mark Williams-Thomas returns to ITV for an explosive and ground-breaking new investigative series that shows how real life crime can be far more compelling than fiction. The murder of Carole Packman, whose body has never been found, continues to affect the lives of many of those involved and as Williams-Thomas discovers, the shocking tale of murder, fraud, deceit and lies has left family members desperate for answers. In a UK television first, The Investigator: A British Crime Story, will follow the case over four explosive episodes, combining stylized drama with compelling documentary.
The Eighties

2016

The Eighties

2016
7.6
The third installment from executive producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, following in the footsteps of critically-acclaimed series THE SIXTIES and THE SEVENTIES, tackles 10 years shaped by exceptionalism and excess. Like its predecessors, THE EIGHTIES intersperses rare archival newsreel footage, interviews, and comments by historians, journalists, politicians, celebrities and others, painting a perspective-rich picture of a vibrant decade. Episodes examine the age of Reagan, the AIDS crisis, the end of the Cold War, Wall Street corruption, the evolving TV and music scene, and everything in between.
Science of Stupid

2014

Science of Stupid

2014
6.2
This show combines cold hard science with some of the craziest, most spectacular and painful user generated clips ever recorded. Richard Hammond introduces all manner of mishaps featuring brave, if misguided individuals from around the world and then explains the science behind their failure and humiliation with the use of bespoke animations and super slo-mo cinematography. Every episode features between 50 and 60 clips of misadventure – ordinary folk making extraordinary mistakes. Each week watch stunts involving weightlifting, shooting guns or jumping over cars, that have gone wrong, paused, re-wound, and re-played and analysed to determine exactly what went wrong and why. Richard explains the physics, chemistry and biology at play, then presents forensic details to explain the stupidity that resulted in failure. He’ll look at everything including weight, volume, momentum, combustion and even how the brain operates. This is misadventure explained. This is the Science of Stupid.
The Real History of Science Fiction

2014

The Real History of Science Fiction

2014
7
The series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television history of science fiction, told through its impact on cinema, television and literature, with the help of filmmakers, writers, actors, and graphic artists. Each episode will explore one of the enduring themes of science fiction: time travel; the exploration of space; robots and artificial intelligence; and aliens.
Louis Theroux's LA Stories

2014

Louis Theroux's LA Stories

2014
7.7
Louis Theroux’s LA Stories - three new films putting Los Angeles under the microscope.
The First World War

2003

The First World War

2003
7.2
This ten-part docuseries tells the comprehensive story of the First World War, featuring excerpts written by Winston Churchill, Karen Blixen, Georges Clémenceau, David Lloyd George, Siegfried Sassoon and Rudolf Hess.
South Beach Tow

2011

South Beach Tow

2011
5.3
South Beach Tow is an American truTV reality television series that portrays dramatized reenactments of the day-to-day business of Tremont Towing. Although the program is fictionalized, Tremont Towing is a real Miami towing company. The series premiered on July 20, 2011. The first part of Season 2 premiered on September 19, 2012, and returned after a four month hiatus on May 15, 2013. Season 3 will premiere on October 30, 2013.
A History of Horror

2010

A History of Horror

2010
7.1
Mark Gatiss examines the history of the horror film, from classic Hollywood monsters to Hammer's glory days and beyond.
Gordon's Great Escape

2010

Gordon's Great Escape

2010
7.8
Gordon's Great Escape is a television series presented by chef Gordon Ramsay. Series 1 follows Ramsay's first visit to India, where he explores the country's culinary traditions. Produced by One Potato Two Potato, in association with Optomen, the series aired on three consecutive nights between 18 to 20 January 2010 as part of Channel 4's 'Indian Winter' promotion. The second series aired in May 2011, where Ramsay explored the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
16 and Pregnant

2009

16 and Pregnant

2009
6.3
16 and Pregnant is an American reality television series that debuted June 11, 2009, on MTV. It follows the stories of pregnant teenage girls in high school dealing with the hardships of teenage pregnancy. Each episode features a different teenage girl, with the episode typically beginning when she is 4 ¹⁄2 – 8 months into her pregnancy. The episode typically ends when the baby is a few months old. The series is produced in a documentary format, with an animation on notebook paper showing highlights during each episode preceding the commercial breaks. 16 and Pregnant has spawned several spin-off series: Teen Mom, Teen Mom 2 and Teen Mom 3. Each series follows the lives of four girls from their respective season of 16 and Pregnant as they navigate their first years of motherhood. As of July 2013, casting for the fifth season of the series is taking place.
Toddlers & Tiaras: Where Are They Now

2009

Toddlers & Tiaras: Where Are They Now

2009
2.1
Toddlers & Tiaras is an American reality television series on TLC. The series debuted on January 27, 2009. The pilot for the series aired on September 7, 2008. The series follows the families of contestants in child beauty pageants. Toddlers & Tiaras is now broadcast on TLC in the United Kingdom.
Big Al

2000

Big Al

2000
7.8
145 million years ago an adolescent Allosaurus lay down to die in a dried up river bed. In 1991 scientists discovered his perfectly preserved body and nicknamed him Big Al. This is the story of this predatory dinosaur's life - how he grew from a tiny hatchling to the terror of the Jurassic plains, why his body was covered in so many wounds and how he ended up in the river bed. The second part tells the story of the extraordinary forensics, spectacular paleontological finds and intricate studies of Al's closest living relatives to unravel his intriguing life for the film.
Secrets of the Dead

2000

Secrets of the Dead

2000
6.3
Part detective story, part true-life drama, long-running series explores some of the most iconic moments in history to debunk myths and shed new light on past events. Using the latest investigative techniques, forensic science and historical examination, it shatters accepted wisdom, challenges prevailing ideas, overturns existing hypotheses, spotlights forgotten mysteries, and ultimately rewrites history.
Rescue 911

1989

Rescue 911

1989
7.7
Rescue 911 is an informational reality-based television series that premiered on April 18, 1989 and ended on August 27, 1996. The series was hosted by William Shatner and featured reenactments of emergency situations that often involved calls to 911. Though never intended as a teaching tool, various viewers used the knowledge they obtained watching the show. Two specials, titled "100 Lives Saved" and "200 Lives Saved," were dedicated to viewers who had written to CBS with their stories on how the knowledge they obtained watching the show allowed them to save the life of someone else. At least 350 lives have been saved as a result of what viewers learned from watching it. The show's popularity coincided with the widespread adoption of the 911 emergency system, replacing standalone police and fire numbers that would vary from municipality to municipality. The number is now universally understood in the United States and Canada to be the number dialed for emergency assistance nationwide.