If you have some free time on your hands and a Hulu subscription, then don’t miss our picks for the 37 best documentaries on Hulu right now.
Their offering for streaming services is getting richer with passing each year. Streaming services for multimedia content are not the future anymore, they are the present. How many of you could picture yourself putting your pants on and having to go and rent a movie? Ok, I get it, there are still people who like to go to the store and buy a DVD so they can put it in their collection, and that is fine, but the percentage of those collectors is getting smaller.
Those who embraced the future, both the customers and the companies, are now enjoying this time of modern convenience. Those who didn’t, like Blockbuster, no longer exist. Blockbuster even had a chance to buy Netflix but passed on the offer. For some reason, they thought people would rather go to a store and spend $5 to rent one movie than to have nearly limitless movies and TV shows at their fingertips at all times for a mere $10/month. Go figure.
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The king of streaming and video on demand is without a doubt Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). But the contenders like Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Hulu don’t intend to toss in the towel just yet. The latter one has some big name companies as founders: Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ:FOX), while Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) also has an ownership stake in the company now. It was a good story at the beginning, with lots of free content. You could watch numerous TV shows and movies for free; you only needed to put up with the commercials, which is nothing new. Those who wanted to access even more content and didn’t want to be interrupted could grab a Hulu Plus subscription, a paid subscription that unlocked additional content and features. Now, the free part is gone. Hulu currently offers two subscription plans, one with commercials and the other without any interruptions.
In my opinion, this fight for streaming supremacy will be won by those who have the best original content and not by those who are the cheapest. And this is why both Amazon and Hulu have a long way to go before they can challenge Netflix. Amazon has challenged Netflix in the documentary domain, having an enormous list of documentaries available for their Amazon Prime subscribers. If you are one of them, you can check out our list of the 35 Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime.
Hulu focuses more on TV shows and movies, but it still has a respectable number of documentaries available. To find the best documentaries on Hulu right now, we browsed through Hulu’s “most popular” and “recommended” documentary categories. Each of the provided documentaries was then checked for its IMDb rating. The ones that had the highest rating were given a hallowed place on our list. Let’s take a look at the 37 best documentaries on Hulu right now, beginning on the next page.
37. Stories We Tell
IMDb Rating: 7.6
An interesting documentary with a premise that the truth of the story depends on the person who tells it. The documentary follows members of one family who all have their own recollection of past events.
36. Meru
IMDb Rating: 7.7
This documentary ranks 36th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now. It follows three climbers while they attempt the first ascent of the route that goes by the name “Shark’s Fin” in the Indian Himalayas. The documentary is filled with beautiful landscapes and breathtaking footage of the mountains. You will be able to see some parts of their previous unsuccessful attempts as well.
35. Weiner
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Let’s make a left turn into politics. This documentary follows the campaign of former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, who was in the race to become Mayor of New York. Throughout the campaign, Weiner’s chances looked good until they were undermined by scandals–mostly sex-related.
34. Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
IMDb Rating: 7.8
This documentary ranks 34th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now. It tells the story of events that took place just before World War II. Great Britain engaged in a rescue mission to save close to 10,000 Jewish kids from Nazi Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. The main idea was to keep them safe until they would be able to reunite with their parents again, but the majority of them never got to experience that.
33. David Ortiz: In the Moment
IMDb Rating: 7.8
If you are a baseball fan, then this isn’t something you should want to miss. It is the story of three-time World Series champion David Ortiz, giving the audience rare personal insight into Big Papi’s life and legacy.
32. Zero Days
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Zero Days explores Stuxnet, a malware designed by Israel and the United States in order to contaminate Iran’s nuclear facilities. It turned out that the reach of the malware was a lot bigger than expected. This documentary also investigates the possible countermeasures of Iran.
31. Sound City
IMDb Rating: 7.8
The Sound City was an iconic recording studio where legendary bands like Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, and Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded their most acclaimed albums. This documentary about the studio is directed by Nirvana’s former drummer and the current frontman of Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, who tries to remind people of those times and return the studio to its old glory.
30. American: The Bill Hicks Story
IMDb Rating: 7.8
This is a documentary that talks about the life of American stand-up comedian Bill Hicks, through the stories of the people who know him best. It is a mix of interviews, animation and archival footage.
29. Hubble
IMDb Rating: 7.8
If you enjoy Leonardo DiCaprio’s voice and stunning photos of space, then we have a special treat for you. Narrated by the Oscar-winning actor (we can finally call him that), this documentary talks about the efforts of astronauts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
28. Out & Around
IMDb Rating: 7.9
The story about a lesbian couple from San Francisco who decide to quit their daily jobs and put a pause on their successful careers in order to travel the world. On their journey, they hope to find leaders of the Gay Right’s Movement and explore the issues they encounter in their efforts.
27. Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football
IMDb Rating: 7.9
This is a story about breaking down the racial barriers in professional football. This documentary follows the first black athletes in the sport, Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley and Bill Willis, and the challenges they faced playing the game.
26. Bad Brains: A Band in DC
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Considered among the most influential bands in American music, mostly because of their mixing of reggae and punk music, Bad Brains left their mark on the music of Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction and many others. This is the story of their illustrious career and how they managed to remain together for 30 years.
25. Bill Cunningham New York
IMDb Rating: 7.9
This documentary explores the life of legendary fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, who was famous for driving his bike around Manhattan and documenting the way people dressed.
24. Food, Inc.
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Food is a major issue in today’s society. It isn’t any secret that most of the food we eat isn’t healthy and that food producers are the ones to blame. This documentary explores food production in the United States and how big companies cut corners in order to maximize their profits.
23. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
IMDb Rating: 7.9
This documentary talks about Jiro Ono, Japanese sushi master and his restaurant in Tokyo. Through the documentary, you will be able to get insight into the art of making sushi as well as Ono’s relationship with his son, who will take over the business one day.
22. American Drug War: The Last White Hope
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Filmmaker Kevin Booth investigates the longest war that the United States has been fighting, the war on drugs. It features interviews with politicians, DEA agents, convicts and many others who share their opinions on this relatively futile “war”, that is nonetheless making many people on both sides a lot of money.
21. Becoming Bulletproof
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Becoming Bulletproof could easily be described as a Western documentary. It tells the stories of disabled actors who have lead roles in a movie called Western, while also exploring the lack of disabled actors starring in big films.
20. Kobe Bryant’s Muse
IMDb Rating: 8.0
This entry on our list of the 37 best documentaries on Hulu right now is a must watch piece for any Lakers and Kobe Bryant fans out there. The documentary details the life of the retired NBA star from the very beginnings through his glory years and up to the twilight of his career.
19. Exit Through the Gift Shop
IMDb Rating: 8.0
This documentary ranks 19th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now. It is directed by one of the world’s most famous and mysterious street artists, Banksy. In the documentary, he explores the life of Thierry Guetta, the man who is so passionate about street art that he decided to become a part of its culture.
18. The Thin Blue Line
IMDb Rating: 8.1
This engaging documentary tells the story of Randall Adams, who was accused of a crime that he didn’t commit and sentenced to death. It uses evidence from the original investigation to recreate the crime, making the case for his innocence. After the documentary was released, the case was reviewed and he was set free.
17. Sweet Micky for President
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Can music mix with politics? In this case, it looks like a possibility. This documentary follows the attempts of Haitian musician Michel Martelly, know as Sweet Micky, to become the President of Haiti and bring stability to his native country.
16. Olympic Pride, American Prejudice
IMDb Rating: 8.1
18 African American athletes competed in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, at a time when Nazi Germany was building steam. This documentary that ranks 16th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now, investigates how most of them were forgotten after they came back home to the United States.
15. Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Stretch and Bobbito is a legendary hip-hop show that featured a track from then-unknown rap artists who later became huge stars in the genre. Among those that had their first track played on the show are Nas, Jay-Z, and Wu-Tang. This documentary revisits the history of the show and explores the influence it had on hip-hop music in general.
14. Listen to Me Marlon
IMDb Rating: 8.2
This critically acclaimed documentary tells the story of the life of iconic actor Marlon Brando. The documentary uses hundreds of hours of audio recordings, ranging from some that were privately recorded by Brando, to interviews he did.
13. Hoop Dreams
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Another sports documentary on our list of the 37 best documentaries on Hulu right now. This one talks about two boys who are trying to get into college basketball and their dreams of becoming professional players.
12. A Game of Honor
IMDb Rating: 8.3
After a basketball documentary, here is one on our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now about American football. This documentary follows one of the fiercest rivalries in college sports, between the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. Called Army–Navy Game, the event has been annually (with a few exceptions) since 1890.
11. 420: The Documentary
IMDb Rating: 8.3
In this documentary, you will be able to see how the government tried to portray marijuana as a dangerous drug. It contains interviews with numerous police officers and politicians who once opposed the use of marijuana, only to change their mind after realizing that there is nothing wrong with it.
10. Dean Smith
IMDb Rating: 8.4
This documentary tells the story of Dean Smith, legendary basketball coach of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Besides being a coach that launched many basketball stars, he was also a renowned activist who fought against segregation and the death penalty.
9. Los Wild Ones
IMDb Rating: 8.4
We are continuing our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now with Los Wild Ones, that is a story about passion for music, simple as that. It follows a small independent record label titled Wild Records, that doesn’t have profit in mind when releasing records. Its only goal is to share music with people who have the same passion.
8. Wrenched
IMDb Rating: 8.4
This is one of those starting points if you are into environmentalism (shouldn’t we all be?). This documentary explores the life of Edward Abbey, an American author who was an outspoken environmental activist and recognizes the influence of his work in starting the environmental movement.
7. My Father’s Vietnam
IMDb Rating: 8.7
This documentary ranks 7th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now. It showcases an intimate story about the less visible consequences of the Vietnam War. It tells the stories of three soldiers who went to fight in a war that wasn’t theirs to fight, with just one of them returning home alive.
6. The Business of Amateurs
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Although the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is described as a nonprofit organization, everything revolves around money. The association generates enormous amounts of money for its universities through selling tickets to its sports events, but still doesn’t treat athletes with the proper respect. This documentary examines the relationship between the NCAA and its student-athletes and tries to show how their rights are being neglected.
5. Milk Men: The Life and Times of Dairy Farmers
IMDb Rating: 8.8
In this time and age, big companies rule the market and smaller businesses have a tough time staying above the water. This documentary explores how times became tough for small dairy farms and questions their ability to continue with their way of production.
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4. American Drug War 2: Cannabis Destiny
IMDb Rating: 8.9
The sequel to American Drug War: The Last White Hope, this documentary ranks 4th in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now. It focuses on marijuana and the reasons why some want it to remain illegal. It also investigates the positive effects of cannabis through real life stories.
3. O.J.: Made in America
IMDb Rating: 9.0
You may have heard about this one that ranks 3rd in our list of best documentaries on Hulu right now, since it recently received an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It is actually a miniseries that follows the life of O.J. Simpson, from his early days as an American football star, to the days after he was accused of killing his wife, to his life in prison after being convicted of another crime.
2. Medicine of the Wolf
IMDb Rating: 9.3
Gray wolves were among the most endangered species in the United States, but were recently taken off the list. Now hunters are trying to get permission to hunt them again. This documentary endeavors to show how important these animals are to the ecosystem and tries to raise awareness about the issue.
1. Kelly’s Hollywood
IMDb Rating: 9.3
We hope you were patient enough to reach the end of our list of the 37 best documentaries on Hulu right now. Kelly’s Hollywood shares the story of a girl with Down syndrome that has a dream of making it in Hollywood and her brother who is there every step of the way. But as the obstacles they face become more challenging, her brother’s personal life begins to suffer.
Disclosure: None
