Imagine the range of emotions we get from watching movies and web series of genres like crime, fraud, horror, etc. Now, imagine if you watch it with the prior knowledge that it is all true. Chills. Right? Some people might presume that docu-series and documentaries might be boring and is not their cup of tea, but trust me, sometimes non-fiction can blow your mind. Thus, we have brought you to try 10 of the best Amazon Prime Documentaries currently streaming on the platform.
Documentaries on amazon prime video make people aware and give them a factual report on real events. Amazon Prime is a host of these, and we have curated for you a list of the best ones from different topics. The documentaries have removed the curtains and given people a glimpse inside the mind of the people involved in these incidents.
10 Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime Video
10. One Child Nation
- Director: Nanfu Wang
- Cast: Nanfu Wang, Zaodi Wang, Zhimei Wang
- IMDb: 7.5
Most of us have a vague idea about China’s one-child policy and needs as China reigned as no.1 in population. The authoritarian government passed this strict rule to control its population pressure. Most people supported it as a necessary evil, but this documentary explores the dark and inhumane side of the law. The separation of families, forceful sterilizations, and mass infanticides had bloodied the hands of the regime.
9. Val
- Director: Ting Poo, Leo Scott
- Cast: Val Kilmer, Jack Kilmer
- IMDb: 7.6
This documentary explores home footage of actor Val Kilmer going on about his everyday life. It has been shot over 40 long years and gives an insight into his fight and perseverance against throat cancer. His artistic vision resulted in movies like Batman Forever, The Doors, etc. The docu also features his son Jack Kilmer and daughter Mercedes Kilmer.
8. Human Flow
- Director: Ai Weiwei
- Cast: Israa Abboud, Hiba Abed, Rami Abu Sondos
- IMDb: 7.1
Fans widely regard this as one of the best documentaries on amazon prime video due to its stunning cinematography and handling of such a shocking and sensitive subject. This documentary explores the global refugee crisis and upholds a pitiful and desolate picture of the victims. He does not try to make any political commentary, focusing more on the social and humane aspects. People would be surprised to know that, in total, about 900 minutes of footage exists.
7. I am MLK Jr.
- Director: John Barbisan, Michael Hamilton
- Cast: Martin Luther King Jr, Carmelo Anthony
- IMDb: 7.0
In his ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be”. This biographical documentary highlights MLK’s struggle for the civil rights movement. It includes a lot of archival footage and, in a way, portrays the issues people face even today.
6. Lorena
- Director: Joshua Rofe
- Cast: Lorena Bobbitt, John Wayne Bobbitt, Kim Gandy
- IMDb: 7.2
This amazon prime documentary is not for the faint-hearted. It is shot as a four-part docu-series and sheds new light on the investigation. The story follows Lorena Bobbitt, who suffered from rape and domestic violence at the hands of her husband John, which leads her to cut off her husband’s penis one day. This case had a lot of media coverage but was handled very insensitively.
5. Lucy and Desi
- Director: Amy Poehler
- Cast: Lucy Arnaz, Bette Midler, Carol Bernett
- IMDb: 7.8
Remember the 1950s American Sitcom ‘I love Lucy’, which revolutionized television and currently sits with an 8.5 IMDb rating? This fascinating documentary is a behind-the-scenes portrayal of comedian Lucille Ball and her couple of days with Desi Arnaz, resulting in the famous sitcom. Poehler was lucky to get complete access to all the archives remaining in their estates.
4. I am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney story
- Director: Dave LaMattina
- Cast: Caroll Spinney, Jim Hensen
- IMDb: 7.5
The story is about celebrated American puppeteer Caroll Spinney and exposes the ups and downs of his life spanning forty years. His popular series Sesame Street cast members give extensive interviews with his wife, Debra. Did you know that the man is so dearly beloved to this day that fan donations partly funded this film?
3. Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
- Director: Marilyn Agrelo
- Cast: Frank Biondo, Linda Bove
- IMDb: 8.0
Speaking of Sesame Street, it remains one of the most popular all-time classic kids’ shows. This beautiful tear-jerker tribute is going to make you nostalgic for simpler times. It features the adult children of the show creators who discuss how the show’s popularity and the numerous controversies it faced impacted their lives.
2. Sour Grapes
- Director: Reuben Atlas, Jerry Rothwell
- Cast: Laurent Ponsont, Jefery Levy
- IMDb: 7.2
This documentary calls for praise due to its skillful investigative journalism, which tells the curious case of Kurniawan, an Indonesian billionaire. He bought expensive bottles of wine, exchanged the bottle’s contents for their cheaper alternative, and put on new tags. He sold them at exorbitant prices committing one-of-a-kind wine fraud. If you liked the Somm documentaries, you would love this one too!
1. Generation Wealth
- Director: Lauren Greenfield
- Cast: Lauren Greenfield, Paris Cronin, Bret Easton Ellis,
- IMDb: 6.6
Greenfield shot to fame with her 2012 documentary The Queen of Versailles about the uber-rich Siegel family life. This is about a similar concept where the director focuses on the narrow-minded obsession of people with too much money and celebrity status. It becomes a social commentary on the materialistic side of America and brings into prominence the gaping hole between the haves and the have-nots.
If you are a fan of documentary shows or love experiencing a slice of the life of people from different walks of life, this list will satisfy your curiosity. All you need to have is a prime membership on your streaming service.
