HBO Max’s unmatched documentaries let you see the world’s achievements as well as its horrors. If you want to experience some untold stories, look no further than the best documentaries on HBO Max in 2023. Max has everything from a women’s soccer team fighting for equal pay to the public’s obsession with stuffed animals. These documentaries show how vast the genre can be.
Take a look at the best documentaries on HBO Max right now. These movies and TV shows cover a wide range of topics and styles.
Top 25 Best Documentaries on HBO Max to Discover Something New
Have a great journey navigating through the best documentaries on HBO Max in 2023.
1. The War Room (1993)
Genre | Documentary, History |
Director | Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker |
Cast | James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Heather Beckel, Paul Begala |
IMDb Rating | 7.4 |
This is the best documentary on HBO Max. It goes behind the scenes of Bill Clinton‘s presidential campaign. It shows the experiences of doctors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos. However, Bill Clinton is rarely shown in the film.
2. When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts (2006-2007)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Spike Lee |
Cast | Darleen Asevedo, Jay Asevedo, Shelton Shakespear Alexander, Lee Arnold |
IMDb Rating | 8.5 |
This documentary features the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. The real disaster occurred when the flood defenses failed, causing a major flood. This film shows all the events and the government’s incompetence. The people of New Orleans were mistreated during and after the flood.
3. All That Breathes (2022)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Shaunak Sen |
Cast | Salik Rehman, Mohammad Saud, Nadeem Shehzad |
IMDb Rating | 7.0 |
Two brothers become fond of a bird called the black kite. The Kite Brothers collect thousands of these birds that fall from the polluted sky of New Delhi every day. The bond between this Muslim family and the neglected kite becomes a beloved story among the people. This is one of the best documentaries on HBO Max right now.
4. The Jinx: The Life And Deaths Of Robert Durst (2015)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Crime, Mystery |
Director | Andrew Jarecki |
Cast | Andrew Jarecki, Robert Durst, J. Patrick Burns, Gary Napoli, Jeanine Pirro |
IMDb Rating | 8.6 |
This is a groundbreaking documentary series. It goes through the mysterious past of real estate inheritor Robert Durst. He was suspected of many unsolved cases. These included the disappearance of his wife and the murders of others. The series features interviews and evidence that have never been known. Watch True Detective on HBO Max, if you like the genre.
5. Capturing The Friedmans (2003)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Crime |
Director | Andrew Jarecki |
Cast | Arnold Friedman, Elaine Friedman, David Friedman, Seth Friedman |
IMDb Rating | 7.6 |
This is one of the best documentaries on HBO Max which shows the case of the Friedman family. They were accused of child abuse. The movie brings home videos and interviews. It raises questions about truth and justice and is one of the best true crime shows and movies.
Also check: Unlocking Entertainment: How to Get HBO Max for Free
6. White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki (2007)
Genre | Documentary, History |
Director | Steven Okazaki |
Cast | Harold Agnew, Shuntaro Hida, Kiyoko Imori, Morris Jeppson, Lawrence Johnston |
IMDb Rating | 8.2 |
This documentary on HBO Max brings the emotional stories of survivors who lived through the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. It is directed by Steven Okazaki, who is an Oscar-winning filmmaker. The documentary lets you see the impact of these attacks from the perspectives of Japanese and American people who themselves experienced these.
7. True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight For Equality (2019)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | George Kunhardt, Peter W. Kunhardt, Teddy Kunhardt |
Cast | Bryan Stevenson, Christy Stevenson, Howard Stevenson |
IMDb Rating | 8.3 |
This is again one of the best documentaries on HBO Max right now. It portrays the efforts of Alabama lawyer Bryan Stevenson. He tries to make the legal system more just and fair. If law is your favorite genre, these legal movies are for you.
8. Moonage Daydream (2022)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, History, Music |
Director | Brett Morgen |
Cast | David Bowie, Trevor Bolder, Ken Fordham |
IMDb Rating | 7.6 |
Moonage Daydream is a touching journey of David Bowie’s artistic and musical evolution. It was directed by Brett Morgen with approval from the Bowie estate. The documentary features the life history of his music career and his personal life.
9. Life According To Sam (2013)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Drama, News |
Director | Sean Fine, Andrea Nix |
Cast | Sam Berns, Leslie Gordon, Scott Berns, Francis Collins, Audrey Gordon |
IMDb Rating | 8.1 |
This documentary tells the story of a family’s fight to save their son from a deadly illness called progeria. This disease causes children to die around age 13. However, Dr. Leslie Gordon and Dr. Scott Berns are determined to change that. Their son Sam was diagnosed with progeria at age two. They made significant progress in understanding the disease.
10. The Alzheimer’s Project (2009)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Shari Cookson, Bill Couturié, Nick Doob, Eamon Harrington, John Watkin |
Cast | Maria Shriver, Alissa Anderegg, Cici Carmen |
IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
Alzheimer’s disease damages a person’s memory and ability to think. It impacts millions of people in the United States. This series examines what causes Alzheimer’s, its symptoms, treatments, and cures. It aims to increase awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s.
11. Miss You Can Do It (2013)
Genre | Documentary, Drama, Family |
Director | Ron Davis |
Cast | Abbey Curran, May Diddy, Shawn Marie Diddy |
IMDb Rating | 7.9 |
Miss You Can Do It shows Abbey Curran, the Miss Iowa USA 2008. She was the first contestant with a disability in Miss USA Pageant history. Abbey started the Miss You Can Do It Pageant in 2004. The girls and their families from across the nation gather there for a special night. They celebrate inner beauty and abilities.
12. Amy (2015)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Music |
Director | Asif Kapadia |
Cast | Amy Winehouse, Lauren Gilbert, Juliette Ashby, Nick Shymansky |
IMDb Rating | 7.8 |
This one of the best documentaries on HBO Max right now tells the story of Amy Winehouse. She was a gifted singer whose life took a tragic turn. The documentary shows her journey from her teenage years, portraying her talent, her rise to fame, and her struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Similar: Watch the Miley Cyrus movies if you are a music lover.
13. Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals (2010)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Sport |
Director | Ezra Edelman |
Cast | Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Steve Springer, Evelyn Johnson, George Fox |
IMDb Rating | 8.2 |
This documentary follows the intense competition between NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and shows all the events throughout their dominant careers in the league. If you are a sports enthusiast, you must know about the major sports events coming up in 2024.
14. A Forbidden Orange (2021)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Pedro González Bermúdez |
Cast | Malcolm McDowell, Carmelo Romero, Vicente Molina Foix, Gustavo Martín Garzo, María Calleja |
IMDb Rating | 6.3 |
Spain’s Franco government banned The Clockwork Orange. However, the film premiered uncensored at a religious film festival in Valladolid, and nobody knows how this happened. This documentary, featuring Malcolm McDowell, explores this event and shows whether a movie can really have a significant impact on the world.
15. 6 Days To Air: The Making Of South Park (2011)
Genre | Documentary, Comedy |
Director | Arthur Bradford |
Cast | Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Anne Garefino, Frank C. Agnone II, Bill Hader |
IMDb Rating | 7.7 |
6 Days To Air: The Making Of South Park offers an inside look at the creative process behind the beloved animated series. It follows creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone as they work under tight deadlines to produce each episode in just six days.
16. Jodorowsky’s Dune (2014)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Frank Pavich |
Cast | Alejandro Jodorowsky, Amanda Lear, Brontis Jodorowsky, Chris Foss |
IMDb Rating | 8.0 |
This is the story of filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. It shows his ambitious yet unsuccessful attempt to adapt a famous science fiction book into a movie. It is counted among the best documentaries on HBO Max.
17. LFG (2021)
Genre | Documentary, Sport |
Director | Sean Fine, Andrea Nix |
Cast | Rachel Maddow, Jessica McDonald, Sam Mewis, Kelley O’Hara |
IMDb Rating | 5.6 |
LFG is set three months before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The players filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. The film brings impressive athletic performances with the players’ fight for equal pay. This emotional documentary shows the dedication required to lead the fight for women’s rights.
18. BS High (2023)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe |
Cast | Korey Coleman, Joe Maimone, Quincy Talmadge |
IMDb Rating | 7.2 |
BS High shows the inquiry that happened when the Bishop Sycamore Centurions played against the IMG Academy. The former was a supposed high school football team from Columbus, Ohio, whereas the IMG Academy was a strong prep team.
19. Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | James Adolphus |
Cast | Mary Tyler Moore, James L. Brooks, Rob Reiner, Treva Silverman |
IMDb Rating | 7.5 |
This documentary portrays Mary’s groundbreaking career as an actor, performer, and advocate. Mary transformed how women are represented in media and reshaped their positions in the entertainment industry. Mary motivated countless people to pursue their dreams. This is one of the best documentaries on HBO Max in 2023.
20. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Genre | Documentary |
Director | Laura Poitras |
Cast | Nan Goldin, David Velasco, Megan Kapler, Marina Berio, Noemi Bonazzi |
IMDb Rating | 7.5 |
This documentary follows the life of artist Nan Goldin, shows the decline of the Sackler family, and centers around the deaths caused by the opioid epidemic. Watch it to gain a deeper understanding of the events that unfolded.
Also, check: 2024 Movie Magic: Discover New HBO Max Releases
21. Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present (2012)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, History |
Director | Matthew Akers, Jeff Dupre |
Cast | Marina Abramovic, Ulay, Klaus Biesenbach, David Balliano |
IMDb Rating | 7.8 |
This full-length documentary shows Marina as she gets ready for an important event. It was an exhibition of her work at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. It is a huge achievement for any artist. However, it means more than that for Marina. She can finally answer the question she has been hearing for forty years, “But why is this considered art?”
22. Love, Lizzo (2022)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Music |
Director | Doug Pray, Vincent Adam Paul |
Cast | Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Lizzo, Ebone Johnson, Vanessa Sharie Jefferson |
IMDb Rating | 6.6 |
The film follows Lizzo‘s journey from a modest background to her speedy ascent. It lets you have a closer look at the significant moments that influenced her journey to fame, achievement, romance, and worldwide recognition. The also stars Cardi B and the Oscar-winning Billie Eilish.
23. The Vow (2020-2022)
Genre | Documentary, Crime |
Director | Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer, Omar Mullick |
Cast | Sarah Edmondson, Mark Vicente, Bonnie Piesse, Anthony Ames, Catherine Oxenberg |
IMDb Rating | 7.2 |
The Vow is an exploration of the stories of people involved in NXIVM. It was a group cult that got global attention. They were accused of trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy. It was considered the best documentary on HBO Max in 2023. If you like the documentary, you should also try these detective shows.
24. Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (2020)
Genre | Documentary, Crime |
Director | Clay Tweel |
Cast | Janja Lalich, Benjamin Zeller, Robert Balch, Frank Lyford, David Taylor |
IMDb Rating | 7.2 |
This documentary brings a detailed look at a well-known UFO cult. It interviews people who used to be part of it or knew its members. It began in 1975 when 20 people vanished from a small Oregon town and caused the largest mass suicide in US history in 1997. For an extra dose of true crime, watch Homicide: New York.
25. Tina (2021)
Genre | Documentary, Biography, Music |
Director | Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin |
Cast | Tina Turner, Carl Arrington, Ike Turner, Lejeune Richardson, Oprah Winfrey |
IMDb Rating | 7.9 |
This Opera Winfrey starring documentary shows special access given to the Grammy Award-winning artist. They commemorate Tina‘s achievements throughout her career.
HBO Max — The Biggest Platform for a Wide Variety of Documentaries
HBO Max users have access to the best collection of documentary series and movies. Max subscription plans range from $9.99 with an ads plan to $19.99 for the ultimate ad-free plan per month. In addition to the documentaries, HBO Max offers a variety of movies and TV series like Tokyo Vice, The Regime, Rick and Morty and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Wrap Up
The best documentaries on HBO Max come from various sources like HBO, Warner Bros and Discovery Channel. They make it one of the biggest services offering documentary content among the streaming platforms. The best documentaries on HBO Max in 2023 and back cover a wide range of topics like music and true crime. We hope you found your pick from our extensive list.