Historical
This genre is one of the largest non-fiction genres, and consists primarily of documentaries about one or more historical events or time periods. In general, the title will not be of a contemporary nature (that is, it will be made about a subject that actually occurred in the past). Some historical subjects include ancient civilizations & archaeology, famous crimes, popular culture and trends of the past, and other major world events.
I Was a Fireman (1943)
Director: Humphrey Jennings
Features three films from the man described by Lindsay Anderson as 'the only true poet of the English Cinema'. A collection of key war-time documentar... Read more
Instant Expert: The Battle of Britain (2009)
Germany's devastating campaign to gain air superiority over the RAF and the British isle was the first such battle to be fought entirely in the air an... Read more
Magic Trip: Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place (2011)
6.8/10
Director: Alex Gibney, Alison Ellwood
In 1964, Ken Kesey, the famed author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," set off on a legendary, LSD-fuelled cross-country road trip to the New York... Read more
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds: An Historical Perspective (2005)
Director: Rod Pyle
H.G. Wells' classic tale of interplanetary invaders landing on Earth has enthralled audiences around the world for decades. This intriguing two-part d... Read more
The Day That Changed My Life (2015)
7.9/10
Director: Christopher Dudman
A powerful, uncensored and life-affirming documentary built around raw, heartfelt, never-before-seen interviews captured in the immediate aftermath of... Read more
Egyptian Secrets of the Afterlife (2008)
To the ancient Egyptians, life after death was a high stakes underworld journey fraught with terrifying obstacles: fiery lakes of death, battles with... Read more
Great Railway Adventures with Dan Cruickshank (2010)
7.6/10
Starring: Dan Cruickshank
Across three episodes, Dan Cruickshank examines the history and moving personal stories of Great Britain's unique railway system. From the advent of s... Read more
Tora! Tora! Tora!: The Real Story of Pearl Harbor (2000)
7.5/10
Director: Laura Verklan
On the morning of December 7, 1941, a swarm of fighter planes - each bearing the fiery red sun of Imperial Japan - soared over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A... Read more
Black Panther Woman (2014)
6.6/10
Director: Rachel Perkins
Marlene Cummins recounts her time with the leader of the Australian Black Panther Party in 1972, and her 40-year fight with addiction. Read more
The Real West: Cowboys and Outlaws (1992)
8/10
Starring: Hosted By, Kenny Rogers
Join host Kenny Rogers for a round-up of the most legendary cowboys and and notorious outlaws of America's western frontier. Learn the real story behi... Read more