Film critic Christopher Campbell compiled a list for Thrillist of the 33 best feature-length documentaries in the history of cinema. “The films on the list are united, first of all, by the fact that they are all masterpieces, and you need to watch them,” the film expert noted.
33. Roger and Me (1989) Michael Moore
32. “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” (2010) Werner Herzog
31. How to Survive a Plague (2012) David France
30. “Battle of the Somme” (1916)
29. “The Last Waltz” (1978) Martin Scorsese
28. “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm. Take One” (1968) William Greaves
27. Paradise Lost (1996) Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
26. “Koyaanisqatsi” (1982) Godfrey Reggio
25. Waltz with Bashir (2008) Ari Folman
24. “The Arbor” (2010) Clio Barnard
23. “The Look of Silence” (2014) Joshua Oppenheimer
22. “Chronicle of a Summer” (1961) Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch
21. Borat (2006) Larry Charles
20. “Last Train Home” (2009) Fan Lixin
19. “War Room” (1993) Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker
18. “Grizzly Man” (2005) Werner Herzog
17. “Battle of Chile” (1975 – 1979) Patricio Guzman
16. “Portrait of Jason” (1967) Shirley Clarke
15. The Madmen of Titicat (1967) Frederick Weissman
14. Gray Gardens (1975) Ellen Hovdy, Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Muffy Meyer
13. “Without Sun” (1982) Chris Marker
12. “Street Laws” (1984) Martin Bell
11. “Fake” (1973) Orson Welles
10. Basketball Dreams (1994) Steve James
9. The Salesman (1968) Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin
8. “Eileen: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer” (2003) Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill
7. “Man with a Movie Camera” (1929) Dziga Vertov
6. “Harlan County, USA” (1976) Barbara Kopple
5. “The Tightrope Walker” (2008) James Marsh
4. “Welfare” (1975) Frederick Weissman
3. Sherman’s March (1985) Ross McElwee
2. “Shoah” (1985) Claude Lanzmann
1. The Thin Blue Line (1988) Errol Morris