We are in a golden age of documentary filmmaking,
and Showtime’s lineup is very robust.
We’ve scoured the catalog to find the best
and most interesting docs you can stream on
Showtime.
You may know some of these, but the rest are
must-watch hidden gems.
Risk is a follow-up to the Oscar-winning Citizenfour,
which profiles Edward Snowden.
This film showcases another controversial
figure: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The filmmaker Laura Poitras shares the spotlight,
which poses interesting questions about objectivity,
but also makes the film extremely compelling.
As far as Assange goes, your reaction may
vary.
This film does a solid job capturing multiple
perspectives.
In the 1980s, a new form of aggressive music
called punk spread across America like a virus
of rebellion.
In New York City an especially violent brand
of music known as hardcore was born, bringing
metal speed to the anger of punk.
The Godfathers of Hardcore tells the story
of Agnostic Front, one of the first and most
important hardcore bands.
See how bands ranging from the Foo Fighters
to Slayer have sung their praises and learn
all about the godfathers of mosh.
Homegrown terrorism is the subject of American
Jihad, a fascinating doc that examines radicalized
Americans -- the path from normal citizen
to major security threat.
Director Alison Ellwood handles difficult
material without dipping into sensationalism.
This doc is important, and criminally underseen.
After the acquittal of four Los Angeles police
officers for the beating of Rodney King, one
of the worst riots in American history broke
out.
Burn Motherf*cker Burn! tells the story of
the LAPD’s history of community violence
and how it impacts the city.
From the ‘65 Watts riots to the rise of
LA’s gang culture, Burn… is an unflinching
look at a city’s difficult racial history.
Our culture likes to joke about eccentric
millionaires, but none are quite like John
McAfee.
While mostly known for his company’s famous
anti-virus software, McAfee’s most interesting
stories come from how he spent his money.
Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee
chronicles McAfee going off the grid in Belize,
becoming a drug lord, and living on the run
for suspected murder.
John McAfee isn’t a good man, but he’s
a fascinating one, and this doc covers it
all.
In 2003, the murder of Baylor University basketball
star Patrick Dennehy rocked the sports world.
Disgraced documents the story of Dennehy and
the darkness at the center of Baylor’s scandalous
basketball program.
The doc is thorough, and the filmmakers even
got an interview with the disgraced coach
David Bliss.
The rise and fall of Whitney Houston reflect
the best and worst aspects of the American
dream.
Now, through a treasure trove of never before
seen footage, Whitney: Can I Be Me offers
an unthinkable look into the artist’s tragic
life.
From her childhood in New Jersey to the night
of her death, this doc is an unflinching history
of a vocalist blessed with unimaginable talent
and demons to match.
Grab some tissues before you watch.
These are our picks for the most compelling
docs you can stream right now on Showtime,
but if we missed one of your favorites, be
sure to shout it out in the comments section
below.
If you’d like to watch these films, you
can sign up for a Showtime account using the
link in the description of this video.
This guide is not sponsored in any way by
Showtime, but if you sign up with our link,
we may receive a small commission which helps
us create more streaming guides in the future.
If you’re still not sure what to binge tonight,
check out our other lists of the best shows,
movies, documentaries, and anime, linked right
here.
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Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in
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