Favorite Documentaries of 2024

Projection screen with words "Favorite documentaries of 2024"

Documentaries are one genre of movie that I love to see due to the education you get from watching them. This year it was hard to just pick 10 but definitely watch these and other documentaries that are out there. 

A younger girl hugging her dad
A still from Daughters by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.

DaughtersDaughters gives us an inside look into a program where prisoners get to participate in a daddy-daughter dance. Seeing the families prepare for the dance is one thing but when that moment actually happens, prepare to be hit in the feels. 

Hand holding and avatar of Ibelin
Courtesy of Netflix

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin – One thing that online video games do is create communities for those who are thought of as outcasts. Remarkable Life of Ibelin shows us how one kid’s life touched so many people that his family was not prepared for the outpouring of support. 

Christopher Reeve dressed as Superman
A still from Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Warner Bros / Alamy.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve StoryChristopher Reeve was the Superman I grew up with. Seeing him on screen I believed that a man could fly. This documentary shows us even with his accident, Christopher Reeve was still a hero to those around him. 

4 kids sitting on top of a van
Courtesy of Nat Geo.

Blink – Being a parent we always try to give our children the best life possible. Edith and Seb have 3 children who are losing their vision and they embark on a journey to give them everlasting memories before they completely lose their sight. 

Image of Frida
Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Frida – There are many documentaries about Frida, but this one uses her own words to tell her story. This documentary is a great way to learn more about the woman and the process of her art.

Image of hand breaking through computer monitor screen
Courtesy of NEON

Seeking Mavis Beacon Seeking Mavis Beacon is so much more than two women trying to find this iconic person. This documentary is about finding yourself and the importance of having representation in your life.

Close up of smiling girl's mouth with colorful braces
Courtesy of Apple TV

Girl State – An inspirational documentary showing how young female leaders can make the world a better place if given the chance. This is a fantastic documentary to watch with your kids. 

John Williams composing
Courtesy of Disney

Music by John Williams – John Williams’ music is part of a lot of our childhoods. This documentary not only celebrates the famous composer but also takes you on a trip down memory lane by seeing all of the movies he has scored. 

Ennio composing in his office
Courtesy of Music Box Films

Ennio – Just like the John Williams documentary, Ennio explores the life of Ennio Morricone. Ennio is known for scoring Spaghetti Westerns but there is more to the man than the music. 

Man holding a smoking shovel
Courtesy of National Geographic

Sugarcane – This award-winning documentary is about an investigation into abuse and missing children from Indian reservations. It is hard to watch at times but displays the hidden horrors cast upon Indian reservations in the United States.