The Best Documentaries Streaming on Amazon Prime
Sometimes the most unforgettable stories aren’t found in scripted dramas or big-budget blockbusters. They’re real. From jaw-dropping crimes to inspiring acts of resilience, documentaries have a way of pulling us into the raw, unfiltered truth of the human experience. But with Amazon Prime’s vast library, finding the best of the best can feel overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in. If you’re a true crime junkie, a history buff, or just craving something meaningful to watch, we’ve listed the best documentaries on Amazon Prime that deliver emotion, depth, and storytelling you won’t forget. These aren’t just movies, they are real stories that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
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1. Val
Plot: Val offers an intimate and raw look at the life of actor Val Kilmer, drawn from thousands of hours of footage he recorded himself over decades. The film follows Kilmer through Hollywood stardom, marriage and children, to a battle with throat cancer. Interspersed are commentary on the films he has made and never before seen footage taken with his own camera. Val reveals the highs, lows, and unexpected turns of a complex life in the Hollywood spotlight and it’s narrated by Kilmer’s son Jack.
Why It’s Great: This is one of the best documentaries on Amazon Prime because it’s a rare and vulnerable portrait of a celebrity, filled with honesty and reflection. Kilmer’s voice may be limited, but his story speaks volumes.
2. Time
Plot: This Oscar-nominated documentary follows Sibil Fox Richardson, a mother of six fighting for the release of her husband from a decades-long prison sentence. Time weaves home video footage with present-day storytelling, showing the impact of incarceration on families. When one person goes to prison, the whole family serves the sentence. It’s not just a legal consequence; it’s a mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical burden that affects everyone left behind. That’s what makes it feel like cruel and unusual punishment. We believe the film captures the heart of that reality with honesty and power.
Why It’s Great: Visually stunning and deeply emotional, Time is a poetic exploration of love, justice, and endurance.
3. LulaRich
Plot: LulaRich is a four-part docuseries that dives into the explosive rise and fall of LuLaRoe, a leggings-based MLM that promised empowerment and delivered chaos. Through interviews with former retailers and company founders, it unravels the cult-like culture behind the brand. Most compelling is some of the information provided by former sellers like Roberta Blevins who details how she found financial freedom initially but then realized that the pyramid scheme was unsustainable. Most shocking are her revelations that she got leggings that smelled like rotting animals.
Why It’s Great: Equal parts shocking and absurdly entertaining, LulaRich is one of the best documentaries on Amazon Prime and a must-watch for anyone curious about the dark side of American hustle culture.
4. One Child Nation
Plot: Directed by Nanfu Wang, this documentary investigates the personal and cultural impact of China’s one-child policy. Through personal stories and harrowing interviews, One Child Nation reveals the human cost of a government policy that shaped generations.
Why It’s Great: It combines investigative journalism with personal storytelling, making global policy feel heartbreakingly personal.
5. Lucy and Desi
Plot: This heartfelt film, directed by Amy Poehler, examines the careers and relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Lucy and Desi explores how their innovation in television helped shape modern entertainment, while also offering insight into their personal struggles.
Why It’s Great: Combining rare archival footage with commentary from friends and historians, Lucy and Desi is a love letter to two pioneers who changed TV forever.
6. Grizzly Man
Plot: Werner Herzog tells the story of Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived among Alaska’s grizzly bears for 13 summers before he and his girlfriend were tragically killed. Grizzly Man uses Treadwell’s own footage to explore his life and obsession.
Why It’s Great: It’s haunting, poetic, and unforgettable—a portrait of passion, isolation, and the brutal indifference of nature.
7. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets
Plot: This chilling docuseries peels back the wholesome façade of the Duggar family, revealing connections to a radical religious organization and a culture of control and abuse. Interviews with Jill Duggar reveal a family held together by lies and manipulation. Shiny Happy People focuses not just on the family but the larger movement behind them.
Why It’s Great: Bold, investigative, and disturbing, this series uncovers the hidden systems of power that shaped a national reality-TV obsession and that makes it one of the best documentaries on Amazon Prime.
8. Generation Wealth
Plot: Filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield examines the obsession with wealth across the globe, from L.A. high schools to Dubai palaces. It’s a provocative look at materialism, capitalism, and what we lose when we chase excess.
Why It’s Great: With sharp visuals and global scope, Generation Wealth holds up a mirror to modern consumer culture and asks hard questions.
9. Reggie
Plot: This recent documentary tells the story of baseball legend Reggie Jackson, focusing on his impact on the sport and civil rights. It blends sports history with cultural commentary, showing how Jackson pushed back against systemic racism.
Why It’s Great: More than just a sports doc, Reggie is about identity, legacy, and standing tall in the face of adversity.
10. Wildcat
Plot: Wildcat follows a young British soldier suffering from PTSD as he finds new purpose in the Peruvian Amazon, rehabilitating a rescued baby ocelot. It’s a story of trauma, healing, and the unexpected bond between human and animal.
Why It’s Great: Beautifully shot and emotional, Wildcat is a powerful film about recovery, nature, and second chances.
