Some of the greatest moments in cinematic history are scenes of non-fiction.
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The 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics
From a profile of boxer Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef, the best documentaries capture real-life phenomena in a larger-than-life fashion.
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From a profile of boxing legend Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef
Here are the 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics:
50. "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" (2014)
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Critic score: 98%
User score: 79%
Summary: "
49. "The Overnighters" (2014)
Critic score: 98%
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User score: 84%
Summary: "
48. "The Look of Silence" (2015)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 90%
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Summary: "
47. "When We Were Kings" (1996)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 93%
Summary: "
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46. "Bill Cunningham New York" (2011)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
45. "Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time" (2002)
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Critic score: 99%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
44. "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" (2005)
Critic score: 97%
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User score: 86%
Summary: "
43. "Nostalgia for the Light" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 84%
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Summary: "
42. "We Were Here" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 86%
Summary: "A deep and reflective look at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco and how individuals rose to the occasion during the first years of this unimaginable crisis."
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41. "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" (2011)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 85%
Summary: "
40. "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara" (2003)
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Critic score: 97%
User score: 93%
Summary: "John F. KennedyLyndon JohnsonRobert McNamara
39. "Cobain: Montage Of Heck" (2015)
Critic score: 98%
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User score: 81%
Summary: "Kurt CobainNirvana
38. "This Is Not a Film" (2012)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 69%
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Summary: "
37. "The Invisible War" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
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36. "Last Train Home" (2009)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
35. "Sound City" (2013)
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Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
34. "The Act Of Killing" (2013)
Critic score: 96%
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User score: 85%
Summary: "
33. "Iris" (2015)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 80%
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Summary: "
32. "Capturing the Friedmans" (2003)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
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31. "How to Survive a Plague" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 83%
Summary: "
30. "The Interrupters" (2011)
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Critic score: 99%
User score: 82%
Summary: "
29. "Waltz with Bashir" (2008)
Critic score: 96%
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User score: 90%
Summary: "
28. "Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr." (1999)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 86%
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Summary: "
27. "Citizenfour" (2014)
Critic score: 96%
User score: 87%
Summary: "Edward Snowden
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26. "Afghan Star" (2009)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 76%
Summary: "
25. "Hoop Dreams" (1994)
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Critic score: 98%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
24. "Amy" (2015)
Critic score: 94%
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User score: 87%
Summary: "my Winehouse."
23. "Waste Land" (2010)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
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Summary: "
22. "Project Nim" (2011)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
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21. "The Square (Al Midan)" (2013)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
20. "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" (2017)
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Critic score: 100%
User score: 85%
Summary: "Debbie ReynoldsCarrie FisherTodd Fisher
19. "Spellbound" (2002)
Critic score: 98%
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User score: 83%
Summary: "
18. "Seymour: An Introduction" (2015)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 80%
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Summary: "
17. "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (2012)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 92%
Summary: "
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16. "The Missing Picture" (2014)
Critic score: 99%
User score: 76%
Summary: "
15. "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (2009)
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Critic score: 98%
User score: 90%
Summary: "
14. "Inside Job" (2010)
Critic score: 98%
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User score: 91%
Summary: "
13. "Deliver Us from Evil" (2006)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 89%
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Summary: "Oliver O'Grady
12. "Jodorowsky's Dune" (2014)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
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11. "Kedi" (2017)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 85%
Summary: "
10. "Murderball" (2005)
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Critic score: 98%
User score: 89%
Summary: "
9. "Blackfish" (2013)
Critic score: 98%
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User score: 90%
Summary: "
8. "Tower" (2016)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 90%
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Summary: "
7. "Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 88%
Summary: "Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan."
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6. "Weiner" (2016)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 83%
Summary: "An examination of disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's mayoral campaign and today's political landscape."
5. "The Last Waltz" (1978)
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Critic score: 98%
User score: 94%
Summary: "A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band."
4. "20 Feet From Stardom" (2013)
Critic score: 99%
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User score: 82%
Summary: "
3. "Life Itself" (2014)
Critic score: 97%
User score: 89%
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Summary: "Roger Ebert
2. "Man on Wire" (2008)
Critic score: 100%
User score: 87%
Summary: "Philippe Petit
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1. "I Am Not Your Negro" (2017)
Critic score: 98%
User score: 84%
Summary: "
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