These documentaries teach us about the world and the human condition, open up windows on celebrities we never thought we’d get, and help illuminate some of the most pressing issues of our time. If you’re just starting to get into documentaries, or you’re not sure where to look next, we’ve compiled the best HBO has to offer for your convenience and edification. Starring: David Taylor Gomes Director: Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes Filmed prior to the coronavirus pandemic, My So-Called High School Rank has an unexpected twist in its final act that throws everyone’s future into question. Starring: George Anthony Morton Director: Rosa Ruth Boesten Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 23 minutes Master of Light is a riveting personal story about redemption, but it also serves as an art history lesson about the complex relationship between African and European realism. Starring: Asia Argento, Anthony Bourdain, Ariane Bourdain Director: Morgan Neville Rating: R Runtime: 1 hour, 59 minutes Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Sara Wood, Illma Gore Director: Amy J. Berg Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 2 hours, 35 minutes Phoenix Rising is uncomfortable to watch sometimes, but it’s ultimately an inspirational story about healing and perseverance. Starring: Heather Booth, Judith Arcana, Marie Leaner Director: Tia Lessin, Emma Pildes Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes Starring: Tina Turner, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey Director: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 58 minutes Starring: Sáshenka Gutiérrez, Carl Juste, Oliver Laughland Director: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes Starring: Skip Andrew, Edward Carmody, James Davis Director: Howard Alk Rating: NR Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes Starring: Anouk Aimée, Richard Berry, Nino Castelnuovo Director: Agnès Varda Rating: TV-PG Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes Directed by his wife Agnès Varda, The World of Jacques Demy is a love letter to its subject. Through clips and behind-the-scenes interviews, the film provides a comprehensive survey of Demy’s career for those unfamiliar with his work. Starring: Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II Director: Ed Perkins Rating: R Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes There are no new revelations about Princess Diana, but if you’re fascinated by her life and death, this movie is the most intimate portrait we have of the princess’s final days. Starring: Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher Jr. Director: Michael John Warren Rating: TV-MA Episodes: 1 Runtime: 1 hour, 23 minutes Based on a 19th-century German play, Spring Awakening pushed the boundaries of what’s appropriate in coming-of-age narratives. Those You’ve Known documents the production of the one-night-only reunion concert in November 2021, from rehearsals to the actual live performance. Genre: Documentary Starring: Max Joseph, Monica Lewinsky Director: Max Joseph Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 25 minutes 15 Minutes of Shame is about one of the most pressing and unaddressed issues of modern life, brought to you by the people who know it best. Starring: Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, Dasha Navalnaya Director: Daniel Roher Rating: R Runtime: 1 hour, 38 minutes Far from a fluff piece, Navalny focuses less on the man himself and more on what happens to him because of his activism. It’s sad, but also inspiring. Starring: Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, Rodney Mullen Director: Sam Jones Rating: TV-MA Episodes: 1 Runtime: 2 hours, 15 minutes This movie was made for fans of Tony Hawk who may be interested in his personal life, but Hawk’s story could inspire anyone to pick up a skateboard. Starring: Colleen Ballinger, Lina Trivedi Director: Yemisi Brookes Rating: TV-PG Episodes: 1 Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes To this day, very few people understand the Beanie Baby craze, and all of those people are interviewed in this documentary. Starring: Lenny Bernstein, Roy Bosley, Alec Burlakoff Director: Alex Gibney Rating: TV-MA Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes
