17 Documentaries To Get Stuck Into That Range From Disturbing AF To Genuinely Inspiring

The best antidote for a disturbing doc is an inspirational one.

We watch documentaries to be informed, inspired, and sometimes shocked and scared. A good doc should be able to evoke all sorts of emotions because, well, it's real!

NBC

So, here are eight documentaries that may well keep you up at night, and then nine that are honestly awe-inspiring:

1. Earthlings

Nation Earth

This documentary is not for the faint-hearted. It's a deep dive into the horrible ways humans mistreat other living things on this planet we all share, and it certainly doesn't hold back. It's not a nice watch, but could definitely be an important one. 

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

2. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

Firelight Media

You'll have heard about the story of what happened at Jonestown; it's been well-covered. This in-depth account includes footage of what happened in the lead-up to the mass suicide led by the leader, Jim Jones. Naturally, this documentary is creepy and harrowing, so watch with caution.

You can see the trailer here:

youtube.com

3. Mommy Dead and Dearest

HBO

This documentary looks into the shocking case of Dee Dee Blanchard. Dee Dee was supposedly a model parent who took care of their severely ill child. But when she was killed, the far more disturbing secret she was covering up was revealed. This is one that definitely chills the bones.

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

4. Jesus Camp

Magnolia Pictures

In the words of the actual camp leader, this film examines the "indoctrination" of the children at the Kids on Fire Christian summer camp. At the camp, children take part in a specific program that's been designed to strengthen and intensify their beliefs. It's a pretty shocking and worrying watch.

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

5. Blackfish

Magnolia Pictures

There are a number of reasons why this film is so sad. It's another one that makes us realise what we do to these creatures of beauty and magnificence when we raise and keep them in captivity. It also shows the tragic consequences of caging and using these preditors for entertainment. 

6. Three Identical Strangers

Neon

Well, this watch is an absolutely wild, and frankly quite disturbing ride. If you go into it without knowing the story, you'll undoubtedly be shocked. Without giving too much away, it tells the story of three men who were each separately adopted and who eventually find out that they're triplets. A happy reunion turns increasingly dark as they find out more about their separation. 

7. Who Took Johhny

RumuR Inc.

This film focuses on the cold case of an Iowa paperboy who went missing 30 years before. The film is centred around the boy's mother and her fight to discover the truth about what happened. It asks some important questions about society while being, naturally, harrowing.  

8. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Oscilloscope Laboratories

This true-crime picture is about the killing of Dr Andrew Bagby, and the injustices that ensued after his killer and ex-girlfriend fled to Canada and had his baby. It's a heartwrenching story and one that's bound to stay in the mind for a long time afterwards.  

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

So, if you watch all of them and feel like an empty shell, here are nine documentaries to fill you with hope and inspiration:

9. The Dawn Wall

Sender Films / Red Bull Media

This is truly a story of perseverance. It follows the legendary free climber Tommy Caldwell and his attempt to climb the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. After a severe injury, and suffering heartbreak, Tommy's endurance is honestly inspiring. 

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

10. Happy

Wadi Rum Productions

This movie is all about finding the meaning of happiness. It was written and produced by Roko Belic and takes us to fourteen different countries and communities, asking the question: what makes humans happy? 

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

11. Gather

Monument Releasing

In this excellent movie, we follow a movement in indigenous communities in North America that strives to regain sovereignty by going back to their original methods of cultivating food. When the oppressive governments restricted native communities from cultivating food through their long-established methods, they created a level of dependency – this movement aims to retake their independence. 

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

12. Not Going Quietly

Greenwich Entertainment

This documentary follows Ady Barkan, an activist who was diagnosed with ALS while he was already protesting and campaigning for issues that face people with lower incomes. His diagnosis didn’t stop his campaigning though, as it took more of a hold on his life, he switched his focus to campaigning for better healthcare provision in the US.

It's an inspiring story about a fight that is ongoing. 

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

13. Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story

Chassy Media

This is by no means a truly happy story, but it certainly is an inspiring one. It follows the first Black professional racer, and the difficulties, vitriol, and death threats he faced during the '70s and '80s. While it covers some horrible truths about what this talented trailblazer had to face, it also focuses on those who supported him, and his strong, truly inspiring character.

To have a look at the trailer, just click here. 

14. The Other Dream Team

Lionsgate

This follows the incredible story of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic Men’s Basketball team. Overshadowed by the US "Dream Team" at the same games, this story is wonderfully inspiring. After gaining freedom from Communist rule, the team had almost no hope of getting into the games, only for help to come from one of the most unlikely sources: "The Grateful Dead". 

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

15. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

Netflix

This documentary tells a story that, I for one was surprised I hadn't already heard of. It takes us back to New York in the '70s, where there was a camp where people with disabilities could go. What starts off as a camp, ends with a civil rights movement that is able to make real, systemic change. We see the rallying together of the Black Panthers, the LGBTQ+ movement, and the fight for disability equality and how this alliance made real change. 

It's a rousing story, one that shows what movements are able to achieve. 

Have a look at the trailer here:

youtube.com

16. He Named Me Malala

Fox Searchlight Pictures

This inspiring, motivational documentary tells the incredible story of Malala Yousafzai, who at the age of 15 was an activist for girls' rights to education in her home of north-west Pakistan. She was still 15 when the Taliban boarded her school bus and shot her in the head. After being airlifted to the UK, she miraculously survived, and the documentary focuses on her continued pursuit of equality, while also touching on her relationship with her father. 

It's certainly an inspirational documentary about the youngest ever winner of a Nobel Prize, and someone who wouldn't let anything get in the way of their goals and beliefs. 

Watch the trailer here:

youtube.com

17. Maidentrip

First Run Features

For any budding adventurer, this is a must-watch. It follows Laura Dekker, who at just the age of fourteen set out to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone. Seeing Laura tackle numerous obstacles before and during the voyage is truly inspiring to watch. 

Check out the trailer here:

youtube.com

What are some disturbing or inspiring documentaries that you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!