Best Documentary Films of 2025
Another year, another list of some of the great documentary films I’ve watched.
I was fortunate to win another Filmmaker of the Year Award in 2025, and I’ll start off this list of documentaries, with one of the films I made with my friends at Goldmark Films.
Pat Porter: A Hidden Light - Goldmark Films
The latest documentary I’ve made with Goldmark Films celebrates the life and work of Pat Porter (1944-2022), a prolific painter whose intimate still lifes, landscapes, and portraits were created over decades but never publicly shown during her lifetime. Read more here
Storyville- Hollywood Gate - BBC iPlayer
Unprecedented and audacious, HOLLYWOODGATE is the riveting result of the year director Ibrahim Nash'at spent with the Taliban in the wake of the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Risking his life in the war-torn nation, Nash'at is on the ground with the Taliban when they enter an American base loaded with a portion of the roughly $7 billion worth of U.S. armaments left behind. Driving towards an astonishing and chilling end, Nash'at tracks Taliban leaders as they attempt to transform from a fundamentalist militia into a modern military regime, employing Hollywood-style propaganda to achieve their goals.
Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger - BBC iPlayer
Martin Scorsese first encountered the films of Powell and Pressburger when he was a child, sitting in front of the family TV. When their famous logo came up on screen, Scorsese says, "You knew you were in for fantasy, wonder, magic - real film magic." Now, in this documentary, he tells the story of his lifelong love-affair with their movies, including The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, The Life and Death Of Colonel Blimp, and The Tales of Hoffmann. "Certain films you simply run all the time and you live with them," Scorsese says. "As you grow older they grow deeper. I’m not sure how it happens, but it does. For me, that body of work is a wondrous presence, a constant source of energy, and a reminder of what life and art are all about." Drawing on a rich array of archive material, Scorsese explores in full the collaboration between the Englishman Powell and the Hungarian Pressburger - two romantics and idealists, who thrived in the face of adversity during World War II but were eventually brought low by the film industry of the 1950s. Scorsese celebrates their ability to create "subversive commercial movies" and describes how deeply their films have influenced his own work.
Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story - Disney +
A heart-warming story of the love between a wild otter, Molly, and her devoted rescuer, Billy, set in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland featuring a score by Erland Cooper and Freya Goldmark who have also worked on music for a documentary I’ve been working on, that will hopefully be released at some point in the future.
Quest for the Shield - Prime Video
Unprecedented access into one team’s journey to bring world class rugby to American fans. Witness the unwavering dedication of the San Diego Legion as they face challenges on and off the pitch. The Major League Rugby team, including the players, coaches, and owners, give everything they have to grow the sport of professional rugby in the United States. Starring All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu, along with rugby greats Chris Robshaw, Joe Pietersen, Jasa Veremalua, Nate Augspurger, and with several up and coming superstars.
Rachel’s Farm - BBC iPlayer
One woman’s journey from ecological despair to finding hope in the soil beneath her feet. Film director and actress #RachelWard is not the first person you’d expect to join a farming revolution. In 1984, she starred in the iconic TV series The Thorn Birds, which glamorised the rugged Australian Outback. The whole world fell in love with it, and Rachel fell in love with her co-star, Bryan Brown. They married and moved to Australia and several years later they bought a farm where they raised cattle and their children, endured droughts and flooding rains and finally the catastrophic bush fires of 2019-20, which threatened Rachel’s farm and devastated the country. Witnessing the fury of those fires firsthand, in tandem with the birth of her first grandchild, forced Rachel to confront her own role, however small, in the precariousness of our environment. What impacts were overgrazing, pesticides and chemical fertilisers having on her farm? Worse still, how was her ecological ignorance impacting Australia’s rising temperatures, loss of topsoil and biodiversity? Rachel joins forces with neighbouring farmer and farm manager Mick Green, who shares her view that conventional farming is no longer working, and together they discover that neither of their farms are ecologically or financially viable. Mick’s research leads them both to Regenerative Farming. Rachel is initially hesitant, thinking it might be too good to be true. But, after she attends a holistic farming management course, scientific lectures and meets with Indigenous leaders who share the little-known history of pre-colonial farming, she starts to see Regenerative Farming as a viable option. Upon meeting one of the heroes of Regenerative Farming, farmer and author Dr. Charles Massy, Rachel is now convinced that this method of farming will ensure the future of her property. Farming is a world of machinery, chemicals and brute strength. Initially, Rachel can’t see a role for herself on the farm but with Mick’s guidance, she becomes a farm hand. When a personal disaster strikes for Mick, Rachel must also take over his job – caring for 300 animals and fighting hard for Mick’s respect. #RegenerativeFarming #RachelsFarm is a triumphant film, featuring intimate interviews with Rachel, her family and the people she has been inspired by on her transition from the world of entertainment to the world of farming. It gives a unique insight into her voyage from wilful ignorance about the ecological impacts of conventional agriculture to embracing a movement to restore the health of Australia’s farmland, food and climate.
Never Look Away - Plex
CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth fearlessly captures footage of war zones. After receiving catastrophic injuries in the crosshairs of battle, she returns to work with more courage than ever. An intimate portrait of a trailblazing female photojournalist. Features interviews with Moth’s family and friends, including CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. A Sundance film festival premiere directed by Lucy Lawless.
Tehachapi - Masterclass
World-renowned artist JR’s photo murals have made global headlines and gotten him arrested. In his documentary, “Tehachapi,” the Oscar-nominated filmmaker explores whether art can speak to humanity in the darkest of places and, ultimately, change the world. Hear the stories of incarcerated men, and learn how art can transform you.
The Man Who Definitely Didn’t Steal Hollywood- BBC iPlayer
When a former waiter called Giancarlo Parretti buys Hollywood's legendary MGM/UA studio (responsible for classics like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind and the James Bond movies) for $1.3 billion in 1990, everyone hopes this charismatic Italian with a mysterious mountain of cash to spend can make the lion roar again.
But within weeks, the next 007 movie is put on ice. Pay cheques to Dustin Hoffman and Sylvester Stallone bounce, and hundreds of MGM staff are fired. Soon, Parretti is facing an FBI investigation for alleged financial irregularities, and Hollywood’s most famous studio spirals out of control.
Now, Parretti tells his side of the story for the first time, alongside Hollywood insiders and the federal prosecutors who brought him down, to reveal what really happened.
Twitter: Breaking the bird - BBC iPlayer
In 2006, a group of tech dreamers created the earth-shattering social media app, Twitter. In just a few years it transformed the way the world communicated. Twitter was adopted by celebrities, politicians and the everyday masses as a source for news, entertainment and community. Through firsthand accounts from some of its original founders and early employees, this is the inside story of Twitter’s inception, explosive growth across the world, and the dark underbelly of online hate and harassment that emerged.
Light and magic season 2 - Disney plus
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtains of Industrial Light & Magic, the special visual effects, animation, and virtual production division of Lucasfilm.
Louis Theroux The Settlers - BBC iPlayer
Louis Theroux: The Settlers is a 2025 BBC documentary film by Louis Theroux about illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank and the movement for Israeli settlement of the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war.
Storyville: The Wolves Always Come At Night - BBC iPlayer
When a devastating storm wreaks havoc, a young Mongolian couple is forced to leave their home and adapt to city life. Young couple, Davaa (Davaasuren Dagvasuren) and Zaya (Otgonzaya Dashzeveg) live a nomadic life, tending their animals by day in the vast Bayanhongor region of Mongolia and telling ghost stories at night. When a sudden storm wreaks havoc on their flock, they face the difficult decision of moving to the city with their four children. Dislocated from their traditions and their animals, the family must adapt to the new urban life while being haunted by their animals. The Wolves Always Come at Night is a hybrid film which uses observational documentary footage along with re-enacted and created scenes co-written with Davaa and Zaya. Made over five years, this film weaves an intimate portrait of the effects of climate change and urban migration on an increasing number of nomadic herders.
Dead president now - Apple TV
The biggest revolution you didn’t know about. Deaf President Now! is now streaming on Apple TV https://apple.co/_DeafPresidentNow From Academy Award-nominated producer, co-director and Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco, and Academy Award-winning producer and co-director Davis Guggenheim, “Deaf President Now!” recounts the eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school’s board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. After a week of rallies, boycotts and protests, the students of Gallaudet University triumph as the hearing president resigns and beloved dean Dr. I. King Jordan becomes the university’s first Deaf president. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Deaf President Now!” features exclusive interviews with the five key figures of the movement, including the DPN4 — Jerry Covell, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl, Tim Rarus and Greg Hlibok — alongside I. King Jordan, as well as archival and scripted elements. The film also incorporates an experimental narrative approach called Deaf Point of View, using impressionistic visual photography and intricate sound design to thrust the audience into the Deaf experience.
Long way home - Apple TV
The boys are back at it. Join Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, and their two vintage bikes on an epic journey across Europe. Long Way Home is now streaming on Apple TV https://apple.co/_LongWayHome “Long Way Home” follows Ewan and Charley as they ride refurbished vintage motorbikes from Ewan’s home in Scotland to Charley’s in England — but rather than take the shortest route, they go the long way! They head across the North Sea to Scandinavia, all the way up to the Arctic Circle and then down to the Baltics and through continental Europe, before eventually hopping back over the English Channel two months later. It’s an adventure that will take them to more than fifteen countries, through spectacular scenery and along some of the greatest driving roads in the world. Along the way they’ll immerse themselves in each country’s culture, meet the locals and try their hand at unique and eclectic activities. The Emmy Award-nominated series is executive produced by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, alongside longtime collaborators David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, who also direct. The new “Long Way” season follows Ewan and Charley’s previous adventures in “Long Way Round,” “Long Way Down” and “Long Way Up,” now streaming on Apple TV.
Scrum Queens - BBC iPlayer
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is the biggest in the tournament’s history - smashing all previous ticket sale records. But if it wasn’t for an extraordinary collective effort centred in south Wales 35 years ago, the notion of such a tournament would only be a pipe dream.
This inspirational film uncovers the astonishing story behind the founding of the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in Cardiff in 1991. A story of how four young rugby-playing women from Richmond had a vision for women to have their own world cup and then brought together a team of campaigners, communities and clubs across south Wales to bring this dream to life. Told in their own words, it was as much about defying the odds to pull off the impossible as it was a fight for equality, as they took on the sporting establishment and ingrained misogyny to transform the sport they loved.
Sneaker Wars: Adidas v Puma - Disney +
The documentary sheds light on the feud between the two iconic brands, offering plenty of interesting and lesser-known information that keeps viewers engaged.
Return To The Edge Of The World - BBC
In 1978, Michael Powell, accompanied by leading actors John Laurie and Grant Sutherland, revisited the island of Foula, 40 years after they filmed The Edge of the World, to find out what became of the islanders and the impact the film had on their lives.
I Made £1Million in 90 Days... | Oobah Butler | Channel 4 Documentaries
In this entertainment special, Oobah Butler has three months to make a million. Do the get-rich-quick schemes work? A rollercoaster of wins and setbacks follows as Oobah's conscience starts to bite.
Mr Nobody vs Putin - BBC iPlayer
A Russian teacher secretly documents his school becoming a war recruitment centre during the Ukraine invasion, revealing the ethical dilemmas educators face with propaganda and militarization.
Storyville: Eternal Spring: The Heist of China’s Airwaves - BBC iPlayer
Using animation as a narrative, comic book artist Daxiong tells the story of Falun Gong, whose members took over a Chinese state television station in 2002.
The Great Art Fraud - BBC iPlayer
Lies, forgeries, manipulation - and fraud worth $86 million. How Inigo Philbrick deceived the super rich of the art world - and ended up going from paradise to prison.
Reluctant Traveler - season 3 - Apple TV
Eugene Levy normally hates traveling. In this 8-part globetrotting series the Emmy® Award-winning actor steps out of his comfort zone and takes us to some of the world’s most beautiful locations. This season will follow Levy on a truly global adventure as he attempts to curate his own ‘ultimate travel bucket list.’ If he’s to inch closer to becoming a real traveler, he’ll need to tick off some of the world's must-do experiences. Trouble is, he doesn’t have a clue where to start.
Lions Uncut: Australia 2025 - Discovery +
Lions Uncut: Australia 2025 is a documentary about the British & Irish Lions' 2025 tour of Australia, premiering on TNT Sports and discovery+ in late 2025. The film provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the victorious tour, which included pre-Test fixtures and a dramatic comeback in the second Test in Melbourne. It is narrated by James McAvoy and covers the emotional highs and lows of the team's journey.
Once Upon A Time In Space - BBC iPlayer
At the dawn of a new space race, the personal stories of those who led us here offer a new and deeply human perspective on our changing world - and where we are headed.
Richard Burton : Wild Genius - BBC iPlayer
The son of a Welsh miner, Richard Burton became a Hollywood star and is considered one of the greatest British actors ever. He lived a big life in a short time. This is his epic story, from the village of Pontrhydyfen to global icon, and from the teacher in Port Talbot spotting his talents and transforming his life to being offered $7 million for seven movies and a scandalous love affair with Elizabeth Taylor that captivated the world.
There were bigger, brighter jewels, boats, jets; wealth beyond his wildest dreams. When he played Hamlet on Broadway, the crowds rivalled that of The Beatles. But did he squander his talent for fame, women and alcohol? It’s a question he continued to face despite acclaim and awards for stage and screen, including seven Oscar nominations. Unseen archive footage, revealing interviews with his close family and Burton’s own words from his diaries, read by actor Matthew Rhys, shine a light on the many sides of this proud Welshman.
With insights from fellow actors and co-stars Dame Siân Phillips and Claire Bloom, as well as leading actors including Gabriel Byrne, Iwan Rheon and Michael Sheen
Kenny Dalglish - Amazon Prime Video
From Asif Kapadia, the Academy Award-winning director of SENNA, AMY and DIEGO MARADONA comes the inspiring, humorous and emotional story of football legend Kenny Dalglish - told in his own words and drawing from hours of never-before-seen archival footage. The film reveals his remarkable story - a great player and an extraordinary and humble hero of Liverpool, Glasgow, and the world of football.