Hulu has a growing selection of documentaries and docuseries. Here are a few of the best documentaries on Hulu to watch right now.
Documentaries offer entertainment through education, illuminating truth, captivating with real-life drama, and often educating on important issues. As a premier streaming service, Hulu provides a vast catalog of documentary films, ranging from stories of family members struggling with societal norms to explorations of the effects of climate change.
Be it the best documentary feature from the Academy Awards or a compelling true story that took the Sundance Film Festival by storm, Hulu caters to people of all interests. Whether you’re looking for celebrity documentaries, true crime stories or films that chronicle significant historical moments, Hulu has an impressive list of the best documentaries.
The streaming service is a one-stop destination that offers TV shows, movie options, and an amazing selection of documentaries.
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Rated PG-13. 1 hour 57 minutes.
Unearthed from archival footage, this documentary highlights the overlooked Harlem Cultural Festival in the summer of 1969. It features performances from legends like Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Nina Simone, and contextualizes the importance of the festival against the backdrop of a significant period in black history in the United States.
Active Measures
Rated PG. 1 hour 50 minutes.
This documentary dives deep into the controversial connection between Donald Trump and Russia, featuring a host of interviews, including one with Hillary Clinton. It’s a compelling watch for anyone interested in current affairs, and how the landscape of the modern world is being shaped.
Kid 90
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 11 minutes.
Soleil Moon Frye, famous for her role in the hit TV series “Punky Brewster,” directs and stars in this Hulu Original Documentary. Using her own home video footage from the 90s, Moon Frye presents an intimate and personal look at her life and the lives of other young stars growing up in the limelight.
Jawline
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 37 minutes.
A Sundance Film Festival favorite, “Jawline” follows the life story of 16-year-old Austyn Tester as he tries to escape a rural life for social media fame. It’s an intriguing exploration of internet fame and the American dream in the digital age.
The Ashly Madison Affair
Not rated. 1 season.
This Hulu docuseries chronicles the turbulent journey of Ashley Madison, the notorious dating website catering to individuals seeking extramarital affairs. From its audacious viral marketing strategies to its global expansion by 2015, the company seemed unstoppable until a severe data breach by hackers revealed millions of users’ explicit secrets, leading to catastrophic repercussions.
Three Identical Strangers
Rated PG-13. 1 hour 36 minutes.
This enthralling documentary tells the true story of identical triplets separated at birth who rediscover each other as young men, only to unearth an even darker secret. This film explores the age-old question of nature versus nurture within the context of different families and how they raise their children.
Fyre Fraud
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 35 minutes.
An in-depth look at the infamous failed music festival, Fyre Festival, Fyre Fraud provides a mixture of various interviews and behind-the-scenes footage to create a comprehensive picture of the events that led to one of the most notorious scams in pop culture history.
Minding The Gap
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 33 minutes.
Filmmaker Bing Liu documents the lives and friendships of three young men growing up in Rockford, Illinois, sharing an intimate portrayal of how each of these skateboarders deals with the traumas from their past. This is a raw and personal look at life in America’s Rust Belt and today’s problems with masculinity.
Free Solo
Rated TV-PG. 1 hour 37 minutes.
This Academy Award-winning best documentary feature is a gripping portrait of professional rock climber Alex Honnold as he prepares for and executes the first-ever free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The film combines breathtaking cinematography with an intimate portrayal of Honnold’s ambitious quest.
Untouchable
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 38 minutes.
Untouchable takes a hard look at the life and downfall of Harvey Weinstein, giving voice to his victims and dissecting the mechanisms of power and silence that allowed one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers to perpetrate abuse for decades.
Fair Play
Not rated. 1 hour 35 minutes.
The documentary Fair Play is inspired by Eve Rodsky’s New York Times bestselling book that brings to light the domestic inequity in the invisible care work traditionally done by women. The aim of this film is to create a more equitable future for all people by struggle to balance their careers, families and home life.
I Am Greta
Rated TV-14. 1 hour 37 minutes.
This intimate portrait of young climate activist Greta Thunberg offers viewers a chance to witness Greta’s journey from her early school strike for climate in Stockholm to her emergence as a global icon of youth activism. The film expertly weaves Thunberg’s personal life with the larger narrative of climate change.
A Glitch in the Matrix
Not rated. 1 hour 48 minutes.
A philosophical dive into the realm of simulation theory, this documentary examines the controversial proposition that reality as we perceive it might just be an intricate, computer-generated simulation, offering perspectives from leading scientists, technologists, and philosophers.
Apollo 11
Rated G. 1 hour 32 minutes.
This stunning documentary uses never-before-seen archival footage and audio recordings to relive humanity’s first steps on the moon. The film takes viewers on an awe-inspiring journey into the historical Apollo 11 mission, capturing the grandeur of this monumental achievement.
The Cove
Rated PG-13. 1 hour 31 minutes.
A poignant and thrilling exposé on the dolphin hunting industry in Taiji, Japan, “The Cove” combines elements of investigative journalism and eco-activism to depict the heart-wrenching reality behind this clandestine operation.
Tiny Shoulders: Re-Thinking Barbie
Rated TV-14. 1 hour 32 minutes.
One of the best Hulu documentaries to watch with impressionable young girls, this film offers a candid look at the evolution of Barbie, one of the world’s most iconic dolls, exploring its cultural significance, the criticism it has faced over decades, and how its creators wanted to make Barbie a symbol of empowerment.
The Waiting Room
Not rated. 1 hour 22 minutes.
Providing a poignant snapshot of the American healthcare system, “The Waiting Room” immerses viewers in a bustling public hospital’s ER, revealing the everyday struggles of uninsured patients and the medical professionals serving them.
Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word is Power
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 32 minutes.
This deep dive into the life and mind of renowned author Margaret Atwood unfolds her creative process and the real-life events that inspired her dystopian narratives, offering a nuanced understanding of the power of her words.
Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made
Not rated. 1 hour 33 miutes.
A testament to the power of fandom, this documentary follows a group of friends’ years-long journey to a shot-for-shot remake Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” offering an earnest and affectionate tribute to cinematic obsession.
Dead Asleep
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 26 minutes.
This documentary delves into a chilling murder case where the accused claimed to have committed the act while sleepwalking, exploring the baffling intersection of criminal justice and sleep science.
The Last Tourist
Not rated. 1 hour 40 minutes.
An eye-opening examination of the dark side of tourism, “The Last Tourist” investigates the impacts of mass tourism on local communities and environments, prompting viewers to reconsider their own travel habits.
WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 41 minutes.
This documentary chronicles the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of WeWork, exploring the hubris and mismanagement of its charismatic co-founder Adam Neumann and questioning the sustainability of Silicon Valley’s startup culture.
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
Not rated. 1 hour 45 minutes.
Directed by Ron Howard, “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years” is a captivating look into the whirlwind touring years of the world’s most iconic band. With never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, this documentary brings to light the Beatlemania phenomenon that swept the globe and changed pop culture forever.
Hillary
Rated TV-MA. 1 season.
The five-part docuseries “Hillary” takes an in-depth look at the life and career of Hillary Clinton, one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics. Through exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage, this EMMY Nominated documentary series gives viewers an intimate perspective of Clinton’s personal and political journey.
Becoming Bond
Rated TV-MA. 1 hour 35 minutes.
Becoming Bond tells the fascinating story of George Lazenby, a car mechanic who became an unexpected one-time James Bond. Featuring interviews, reenactments, and archival footage, the film provides an inside look at the unlikely journey of this man from obscurity to international fame, and then back again.
The best documentaries on Hulu illuminate a unique aspect of our shared human experience. From exploring the complexities of our society to pondering philosophical conundrums, these documentaries serve as windows into worlds both familiar and unfamiliar, reminding us of the infinite ways in which stories can be told and understood.
The Lady Bird Diaries
Not rated. 1 hour 40 minutes.
The Lady Bird Diaries, a Hulu documentary directed by Dawn Porter, provides a unique perspective on one of the most influential and least understood First Ladies in American history, Lady Bird Johnson. The film uses Lady Bird Johnson’s audio diaries, which she began recording just days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, offering an intimate and revealing look into her life and her role during a tumultuous period in U.S. history.
The League
Rated PG. 1 hour 43 minutes.
The League is a documentary that chronicles the history of Negro League baseball, highlighting its rise in the 1920s and its impact through the mid-20th century. The film features interviews with legendary players and rare footage, showcasing the league’s influence on Black communities and the sport’s integration.
After you’re done watching the best Hulu documentaries, be sure to check out my list of the best documentaries on Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video.
Or get yourself a Curiosity Stream subscription for tons more options on so many topics. Check out my Curiosity Stream review for more details on this platform.
