Documentary filmmaking is an important part of our media intake here at Marie Claire. Sure, epic dramas, heart-racing action flicks and thrillers, terrifying horror tales, and laugh-out-loud comedies take up big chunks of our entertainment palette, but it's just as important to take time out of our weekends to learn something new. As with last year's stellar selection, 2024 has shaped up to be a great year for thoughtful, comprehensive docs about our society, from biopics on our most acclaimed public figures (like Jennifer Lopez and Frida Kahlo) to snapshots of everyday life to examinations of structural inequalities and troubled institutions. Read on for the best documentaries of 2024. (If you're looking for your next true crime binge, read our list of 2024 true crime documentaries and series here.)
'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders'
This docuseries from the team behind Cheer and Last Chance U follows the legendary Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders throughout their 2023 season. From tryouts to the first game to the playoffs, viewers get an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the women who make up the NFL dance team and all of the highs and lows of their roles.
'As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial'
In this doc, director J.M. Harper explores the criminalization of rap, pointing to the controversial practice of using lyrics as court evidence, from the 2000 conviction of New Orleans rapper Mac to the recent charges against Young Thug. The film, based on Erik Nielson and Andrea L. Dennis's book Rap on Trial, follows Bronx-based rapper Kemba as he speaks to other artists and academics on how the practice is based on the criminalization of Blackness.
'Black Twitter: A People's History'
Based on Jason Parham's Wired article of the same name, this three-part docuseries speaks with dozens of scholars, critics, and influencers about the social phenomenon best known as Black Twitter. Per the official description, the series "charts the rise, the movements, the voices, and the memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life."
'Daughters'
This moving film from directors Natalie Rae and Angela Patton follows the latter's Date with Dad initiative, a 10-week therapy program that ends with a father-daughter dance, reuniting incarcerated dads with their young daughters. It features four girls, aged 5 to 15, and their fathers in the lead-up to the big event.
'Ennio'
Acclaimed film composer Ennio Morricone—who scored some of the best movies of all time like Cinema Paradiso, Once Upon a Time In America, and The Hateful Eight—is the subject of this reverential doc from director Giuseppe Tornatore. Filmed before the musician died in 2020, the biographical film features Morricone himself speaking about his life and impressive career, with his contemporaries and admirers chiming in.
'Faye'
Academy Award-winning actress Faye Dunaway is (finally) the subject of a feature-length doc, in which the Hollywood legend "candidly discusses the triumphs and challenges of her illustrious career," from her iconic roles in classic films in Bonnie & Clyde and Network to the camp favorite Mommie Dearest. "Through those reflections, she courageously explores personal discoveries including her struggles with mental health issues and bipolar disorder, her family history growing up in a small town in Florida, and how the intensity of the characters she played still impacts who she is today," per a press release.
'Frida'
Directed by Carla Gutiérrez, this wide-ranging documentary about the surrealist painter Frida Kahlo covers over 40 years of her life, using her letters, print interviews, and her illustrated diary (as well as vivid animated sequences) to tell her story in her own words and images.
'Girls State'
In this follow-up to the 2020 Texas-set doc Boys State, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss document a similar mock government program in Missouri, where 500 teen girls from across the state gather to build their own union. In addition to following the frenzied campaigns for elected positions, the doc also explores the disparity between that year's Missouri Boys State and Girls State programs, which take place at the same time.
'God Save Texas'
In this trilogy inspired by Lawrence Wright's book God Save Texas: A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State, three filmmakers from Texas return to their hometowns to show why the state is a "study in contradictions." Director Richard Linklater takes on the prison system in Huntsville, while Alex Stapleton explores how the oil industry impacts Black and brown communities in Houston, and Iliana Sosa examines the shared culture between the border cities of El Paso and Juáurez, Mexico.
'The Greatest Love Story Never Told'
This documentary from Jennifer Lopez shares a behind-the-scenes look at the multi-hyphenate's life, as she works on her ninth album and accompanying musical film This is Me... Now: A Love Story. The film also addresses some of the highly-publicized parts of Lopez's life, including her relationship with her then-husband Ben Affleck, and her decision to self-finance her musical.
'The Greatest Night in Pop'
This music documentary looks at the herculean effort behind the legendary 1985 recording session, where dozens of the world's most popular musicians—including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, and Huey Lewis—gathered to record the single "We Are the World." The film tracks the charitable project from planning stages to completion, mixing never-before-seen footage with testimonials from several of the stars.
'Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project'
This majestic biographical doc from directors Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson looks at the life and influence of the famed queer, Black poet Nikki Giovanni. It uses new and archival footage of her public appearances and "visually innovative treatments of her poetry," including readings by both actress Taraji P. Henson and the writer herself.
'I Am: Céline Dion'
This intimate doc on the legendary "Queen of Power Ballads" chronicles the star's battle with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare, autoimmune neurological disorder that led the singer to postpone her career due to painful muscle spasms. According to the film's description, the "raw and honest" doc highlights "the music that has guided [Céline’s] life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit."
'The Lionheart'
Legendary driver Dan Wheldon (a.k.a. "The Lionheart") was a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion when he tragically died in a horrific 2011 crash on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A decade later, his sons Sebastian and Oliver, ages 12 and 10, followed in his footsteps and joined the world of motorsports themselves. This epic doc combines archival footage from Dan's career with the present-day lives of Sebastian, Oliver, and Dan's widow Susie, as the three family members reckon with grief and generational lineage in their ways.
'Luther: Never Too Much'
This Sundance hit is a long-awaited biography of beloved R&B singer Luther Vandross. Director Dawn Porter gives a comprehensive, illuminating look at the late Grammy winner's career and life, drawn from archival footage and interviews with his closest friends and colleagues.
SEE IT IN THEATERS ON NOVEMBER 1
'Power'
This incisive documentary from director Yance Ford chronicles the history of American policing and criticizes the institution that claims to serve and protect the public. It charts a path from the slave patrols of the 1700s to troops forcibly moving Native Americans in the 1800s to the use of police in strike-breaking as well as the militarization of police departments.
'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin'
This acclaimed documentary out of Sundance takes a posthumous look at the life of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who died at the age of 25 after living with a degenerative muscular disease. Though his disability kept him physically isolated, his time spent playing World of Warcraft (which he kept secret from his parents) allowed him to become "an integral and beloved part of a digital community that loudly mourned his passing."
'Ren Faire'
This three-episode docuseries, which has drawn comparisons to a real-life Game of Thrones, centers on the Texas Renaissance Festival, the largest "faire" in the world. When 86-year-old George Coulam (known as King George) decides that he is ready to retire, several of his longtime employees—including an actor, a former elephant trainer, and a kettle-corn kingpin—begin an epic power battle to claim George’s throne, per a press release.
'Seeking Mavis Beacon'
Mavis Beacon taught a generation of '90s kids to type, but in actuality, the iconic teacher from the famed software program was a marketing concept invented by the co-founder of MySpace. This doc from director Jazmin Jones covers the quest to find the real woman who modeled for Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing while digging into the complicated history and legacy of one of the most well-known Black women in tech.
'Simone Biles Rising'
The 2024 Olympics saw the triumphant return of gymnast Simone Biles to the international competition, where she won three gold medals and one silver medal. This docuseries follows the legendary athlete during the aftermath of her withdrawal from the 2020 Games, all the way through years of training, the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Trials, and her performances in Paris. (The final two Paris-based episodes arrive on Netflix on October 25.)
'Sue Bird: In the Clutch'
This sports doc follows basketball legend Sue Bird in the lead-up to her 2022 retirement. It covers her early days as a rookie student athlete to becoming one of the best-ever players in the history of the WNBA. It also spotlights her activism, including her experience with gendered pay inequality, as well as her engagement to soccer legend Megan Rapinoe.
'Sugarcane'
This acclaimed National Geographic documentary follows the aftermath of a series of discoveries in 2021 when unmarked graves were found on the grounds of several Native residential schools in Canada. "After years of silence, the forced separation, assimilation, and abuse many children experienced at these segregated boarding schools was brought to light, sparking a national outcry against a system designed to destroy Indigenous communities. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, Sugarcane illuminates the beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to persevere," per the film's description.
'To Kill a Tiger'
Director Nisha Pahuja's Oscar-nominated feature—which racked up dozens of awards—follows Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India, who seeks justice after his 13-year-old daughter Kiran (a pseudonym) survives a brutal sexual assault. The unflinching doc centers the family's determination in the face of ostracization and ultimately tells a story of "hope, resilience, and a father’s unwavering love."
'Union'
Premieres: Out now in theaters
This searing doc follows the efforts of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), composed of current and former workers in N.Y.C.’s Staten Island, as they organize against tech and commerce behemoths. Directors Brett Story and Stephen Maing offer a wide-ranging look at both the workers' fight and the dynamics within the organization, including intra-union disagreements and concerns about gender and racial dynamics.
'Will & Harper'
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have known each other for over 30 years, with their creative collaboration on Saturday Night Live leading to a decades-long friendship. In this heartfelt doc, the pair embark on a cross-country road trip soon after Steele comes out as a trans woman.
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