Documentaries

Here is a list of some engaging documentaries that cover various topics related to evil behavior by corporations, individuals, or governments. In many cases, these documentaries feature the people who have tenaciously worked to identify the problems and help prevent further pain and suffering.

Power (2024)

  • Highlights: Driven to contain threats to social order, American policing has exploded in scope and scale over hundreds of years. Now, it can be described by one word: power.
  • Website: Power on Netflix

The Crime of the Century (2021)

  • Highlights: This HBO documentary by Alex Gibney delves into America’s opioid crisis, focusing on the role of pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma and the aggressive promotion of OxyContin. It examines the systemic failures and corruption that fueled the epidemic.
  • Website: Watch on HBO

The Social Dilemma (2020)

  • Highlights: This Netflix documentary explores the dangerous impacts of social media, driven by the greed of tech companies. It examines how these platforms manipulate user behavior, contribute to addiction, and impact mental health and democracy.
  • Website: Watch on Netflix

Athlete A (2020)

  • Highlights: This Netflix documentary focuses on the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal, exposing how Dr. Larry Nassar abused young athletes and how the organization covered it up for years. It highlights systemic failures and the courage of survivors who brought the truth to light.
  • Website: Watch on Netflix

The Dissident (2020)

  • Highlights: This documentary investigates the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Directed by Bryan Fogel, it explores the political implications and the international response to Khashoggi’s assassination.
  • Website: Watch on Amazon Prime

Dirty Money (2018-2020)

  • Highlight: A documentary series that examines various cases of corporate greed, including episodes on Volkswagen’s emissions scandal, the Wells Fargo banking scandal, and more.
  • Website: Dirty Money – Netflix

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)

Untouchable (2019)

  • Highlight: Focuses on the rise and fall of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, exploring his history of sexual abuse and harassment.
  • Website: Untouchable – Hulu

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019)

Fyre Fraud (2019)

  • Highlight: Examines the failed Fyre Festival and its organizer Billy McFarland, revealing the fraudulent practices behind the event.
  • Website: Fyre Fraud – Hulu

Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil (2018)

  • Highlights: This A&E documentary remains relevant. It investigates the life and crimes of Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), highlighting his manipulation, child marriages, and eventual imprisonment.
  • Website: Watch on A&E

Rotten” (2018)

  • Highlights: This docuseries travels deep into the heart of the food supply chain to reveal unsavory truths and expose hidden forces that shape what we eat.
  • Website: ROTTEN –  Netflix

The Bleeding Edge (2018)

  • Highlight: Investigates the medical device industry and the risks associated with innovative but often inadequately tested medical technologies.
  • Website: The Bleeding Edge – IMDb

13th (2016)

  • Highlight: Examines the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, revealing systemic racism within the criminal justice system.
  • Website: 13th – IMDb

Blackfish (2013)

  • Highlight: Focuses on the captivity of orcas, particularly at SeaWorld, and the ethical implications of keeping these intelligent creatures in captivity.
  • Website: Blackfish – IMDb

Broke (2012)

  • Highlight: Examines the financial struggles faced by professional athletes, exploring how mismanagement, overspending, and exploitation can lead to bankruptcy.
  • Website: Broke – IMDb

The Cove (2009)

  • Highlight: Exposes the annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan, and the global trade in dolphin meat, driven by demand from marine parks.
  • Website: The Cove – IMDb

The Madoff Affair (2009)

  • Highlight: Chronicles the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by investment advisor Bernie Madoff, which defrauded thousands of investors out of billions of dollars.
  • Website: The Madoff Affair – PBS Frontline

Food, Inc. (2008)

  • Highlight: Investigates the food industry’s practices, including corporate farming, GMOs, and the impact on health and the environment.
  • Website: Food, Inc. – IMDb

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

  • Highlight: Chronicles the rise and fall of the Enron Corporation, one of the largest corporate scandals in American history, involving corporate fraud and corruption.
  • Website: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – IMDb 

The Corporation (2003)

  • Highlight: Analyzes the power and influence of corporations in modern society, exploring their impact on democracy, human rights, and the environment.
  • Website: The Corporation – IMDb

TAKE ACTION:

After watching one or more of the documentaries, we encourage you to click here to “Take Action”. You have more power than you may think to impact positive change for yourself and the community.