Underrated Documentaries You Need To Watch

Documentaries have long been the medium for filmmakers looking to tell interesting and non-fictional stories. In recent years, largely symbiotic with the rise of home video and streaming, documentaries have moved from the back room to the limelight and are becoming increasingly popular. Indeed, the biggest streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video all have large portions of their catalogs dedicated to documentary films and series.

Nowadays, there are documentaries that cover pretty much everything, from in-depth explorations of the physical and natural sciences to historical dramas tracing ancient mysteries long-forgotten before they were remembered again. While we have all undoubtedly heard of docs like "Tiger King" and "Britney vs. Spears," there are many more fantastic features that have not gotten nearly the same attention.

This list focuses on documentaries that might not be as well known as those mentioned above but still deliver highly compelling and very worthwhile stories. These are the underrated documentaries you need to watch.

In 2006, David Leaf and John Scheinfeld released "The U.S. vs. John Lennon," a timely documentary exploring John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono's troubles with American immigration authorities in the 1970s. The film explores how Lennon went from being the lovable mop-top with The Beatles to a very public and outspoken critic of American foreign policy during the Vietnam War. In particular, the film looks at the administration of President Richard Nixon and its intensive efforts to deport Lennon and Yoko Ono to England over their anti-war views.

The documentary has interviews with several of Lennon's contemporaries, including Yoko Ono, the couple's immigration lawyer Leon Wildes, and prominent journalists like Carl Bernstein, as well as several members of Nixon's administration. Two of the biggest storylines are Lennon's immigration case fought from New York City and the arrest and conviction of anti-war activist John Sinclair, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling two joints of marijuana to an undercover officer.

Lennon participated in a massive rally for Sinclair, which is profiled in the film, hoping to get his release from prison. "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" has an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics praise the soundtrack and the documentary's ability to portray Lennon accurately and faithfully.

One of the more obscure entries on our list is the 1997 documentary "Hands on a Hardbody." Directed and produced by S.R. Bindler, the film profiles a 1995 "Hands on a Hardbody" competition being held at a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas. The competition involves 24 contestants who compete to see who can keep their hand touching a "hardbody" pickup truck the longest, with the winner getting the truck as a reward.

The film doesn't just cover the competition, but also looks into the backstories of many of the competitors and explores their reasons for participating. For many of them living in economically depressed Longview, the truck is a gateway to a new job and potentially a much better life. Several of them have competed in the contest before, including a former winner who comes back to try and win again –- much to the chagrin of the competition. Tensions start to roil at one point after accusations about unfair judging and cheating, but for the most part, the competition is kept civil.

The documentary currently has a 92% audience score from Rotten Tomatoes, and in 2013 was adapted into a Broadway musical, with Trey Anastasio of Phish and Amanda Green writing the music. The documentary is a lighthearted mix of comedy and drama, and definitely worth a watch.

One of the most controversial documentaries on our list, the 2006 film "Jesus Camp" follows Pentecostal children's minister Becky Fischer as she runs the former "Kids on Fire" evangelical Christian camp. The camp takes kids from around the country to learn about evangelical Christianity from a variety of ministers and speakers. Attendees watch various religious movies and participate in worship services, where they learn the tenets of evangelical Christianity and how to apply them to their lives.

However, what makes the documentary controversial is how it frames the camp. Many felt that the film portrayed the camp as a form of indoctrination, where adults use the Bible to promote conservative political beliefs and anti-science viewpoints. Overlaid with the story of the camp is the nomination and confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who the film argues was at least partly nominated for the bench due to his religious beliefs.

Following the release of the documentary, Fischer shut down her camp after widespread criticism of her practices portrayed in the film (via The Seattle Times). While it hasn't gotten the same attention in recent years, "Jesus Camp" is a fantastic and compelling documentary that is well worth a watch. It has an 87% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and is considered "Certified Fresh."

Bill Maher's 2008 documentary "Religulous" is a somewhat controversial exploration of his feelings regarding three of the biggest religions in the world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Maher's main premise is that he does not understand people's at times fanatical adherence to religious texts, and he is seeking to understand more about religion's followers and why they continue to practice. His lighthearted demeanor and sarcastic skepticism are at times met with hostility from some of his subjects who do not appreciate his questioning of their faith. 

Maher travels around the world for his documentary, including to many holy sites in the Middle East, and spends time interviewing faith leaders from all three major Abrahamic religions, during which he questions them about the state of religion in the modern world. The film is directed by Larry Charles, who is known for his work directing the Sacha Baron Cohen films "Borat," "Bruno," and "The Dictator."

"Religulous," which is a portmanteau of the words religious and ridiculous, has a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 25,000 views. It's a lighthearted and at times cynical look at religion today, showcasing Maher doing some of his best work.

Jumping into the world of professional wrestling, the 2018 HBO documentary "André the Giant" takes a look at the former wrestler and his short but illustrious career. The film follows André's entire life, starting with his childhood in France and going through his wrestling career, finally ending with his tragically young death at the age of 46. While André is portrayed as a larger-than-life figure by his contemporaries and family members, his unfortunate physical and emotional struggles are also covered. Though his large stature made him a huge draw for wrestling, it was due to a condition known as acromegaly.

Former wrestlers who worked with André, including Hulk Hogan, Jerry Lawler, and Ric Flair, as well as his former boss Vince McMahon, all give in-depth interviews about him for the film. Also chronicled is his famous role in "The Princess Bride," and several of his castmates from the film also gave interviews for the documentary.

"André the Giant" is a very intimate and touching look at the former wrestler, and it currently has a 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even if you're not a wrestling fan, it's still a very interesting documentary to watch.

While a lot of people have heard of the 2011 Academy Award-nominated "Restrepo" (via IMDb), many are not as familiar with its 2014 sequel "Korengal." "Korengal" takes place directly following the events of "Restrepo,” mainly being filmed in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, where the U.S. Army's Second Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was stationed. It was filmed by the same people who did the first film and largely consists of the same soldiers.

The film explores the daily lives of the troops stationed in the Korengal Valley, which is where the film gets its name, and includes both combat footage and interviews with the soldiers. The interviews are incredibly interesting, as the soldiers discuss the emotional and psychological toll the war takes on them and their families back home.

"Korengal" has an 87% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and though it is not as heralded as its predecessor, it is still a very interesting and historically valuable film.

"1913: Seeds of Conflict" is a documentary by award-winning filmmaker Ben Loeterman in conjunction with PBS. It explores the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the years leading up to the First World War. In 1913, modern-day Israel and Palestine were under the control and administration of the Ottoman Empire, which allowed Jewish immigrants to begin settling in various parts of the land. This set up a conflict between Arab nationalism and Jewish nationalism (known as Zionism), which is the basis for the film. 

The film draws on many leading scholars on the history of the conflict, featuring researchers and professors from around the globe -– including from Israel and Palestine. While it has not gotten a lot of attention outside of the PBS universe, "1913: Seeds of Conflict" is a very educational documentary that tells a compelling –- and highly politically relevant –- story for anyone curious about the history of the conflict.