2009 Documentary Movies

253 movies and TV shows/series found (page 1/9):

Home(2009)

4.0/5 (with 210 votes)

In 200,000 years of existence, man has upset the balance on which the Earth had lived for 4 billion years. Global warming, resource depletion, species extinction: man has endangered his own home. But it is too late to be pessimistic: humanity has barely ten years left to reverse the trend, become aware of its excessive exploitation of the Earth's riches, and change its consumption pattern.

Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand - With Glenn Close, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Salma Hayek, Jacques Gamblin

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Oceans(2010)

| 1h 24min | Documentary, Kids & Family

3.7/5 (with 139 votes)

An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.

Directed by Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud - With Jacques Perrin, Jean Lemire, Pedro Armendáriz Jr.

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The Cove(2009)

PG-13

| 1h 32min | Documentary

4.0/5 (with 263 votes)

The Cove tells the amazing true story of how an elite team of individuals, films makers and free divers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate the hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The shocking discoveries were only the tip of the iceberg.

Directed by Louie Psihoyos - With Ric O'Barry, Hayden Panettiere, Isabel Lucas, Mandy-Rae Cruickshank, Paul Watson, Scott Baker, ...

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Good Hair(2009)

PG-13

| 1h 35min | Documentary, Comedy

3.4/5 (with 39 votes)

An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, GOOD HAIR visits beauty salons and hairstyling battles, scientific laboratories and Indian temples to explore the way hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of the black community.

Directed by Jeff Stilson - With Chris Rock, Nia Long, Raven-Symoné, Ice-T, KRS-One, T-Pain, ...

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Capitalism: A Love Story(2009)

| 2h 8min | Documentary

3.6/5 (with 230 votes)

Michael Moore comes home to the issue he's been examining throughout his career: the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default, the rest of the world).

Directed by Michael Moore - With Michael Moore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Warren, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, John McCain, ...

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Cropsey(2009)

| 1h 24min | Mystery, Documentary, Horror, Crime

3.0/5 (with 69 votes)

Realizing the urban legend of their youth has actually come true, two filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.

Directed by Joshua Zeman

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Waking Sleeping Beauty(2009)

| 1h 26min | Documentary

3.7/5 (with 43 votes)

By the mid-1980s, the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts: maybe the best days of animation were over. Maybe the public didn't care. Only a miracle or a magic spell could produce a happy ending. Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairy tale. It's the true story of how Disney regained its magic with a staggering output of hits - "Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast ," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and more - over a 10-year period.

Directed by Don Hahn - With Roy E. Disney, Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Randy Cartwright, Howard Ashman, Steven Spielberg, ...

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Objectified(2009)

1h 15min | Documentary

3.6/5 (with 49 votes)

A feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.

Directed by Gary Hustwit

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When You're Strange(2010)

1h 26min | Documentary, Music

3.7/5 (with 87 votes)

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

Directed by Tom DiCillo - With Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Johnny Depp, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, Robert F. Kennedy, ...

Reel Injun(2010)

1h 26min | Documentary, History

3.6/5 (with 18 votes)

The evolution of the depiction of the various Native American peoples in cinema, from the silent era to the present day: how their image on the screen has changed the way to understand their history and culture.

Directed by Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge - With Adam Beach, Clint Eastwood, Sacheen Littlefeather, Zacharias Kunuk, Jim Jarmusch, Robbie Robertson, ...

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)(2009)

1h per episode | Documentary, Comedy

3.8/5 (with 17 votes)

A 2009 television documentary series in six parts that covers 40 years of the surreal comedy group Monty Python, from Flying Circus to present day projects such as the musical Spamalot. The series highlights their childhood, schooling and university life, and pre-Python work. The series featured new interviews with surviving members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, alongside archive interview footage of Graham Chapman and interviews with several associates of the Pythons, including Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes and Chapman's partner David Sherlock, along with commentary from modern comedians.

Directed by Alan Parker - With John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Carol Cleveland, ...

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Best Worst Movie(2009)

1h 33min | Documentary, Comedy

3.6/5 (with 72 votes)

A look at the making of the film Troll 2 (1990) and its journey from being crowned the "worst film of all time" to a cherished cult classic.

Directed by Michael Stephenson - With Claudio Fragasso, Jason F. Wright, Troll 2

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Nightmares in Red, White and Blue(2009)

1h 36min | Documentary, Horror

3.4/5 (with 31 votes)

An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.

Directed by Andrew Monument - With Lance Henriksen, Darren Lynn Bouseman, John Carpenter, Larry Cohen, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, ...

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The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers(2009)

1h 32min | Documentary

3.7/5 (with 19 votes)

"The Most Dangerous Man in America" is the story of what happens when a former Pentagon insider, armed only with his conscience, steadfast determination, and a file cabinet full of classified documents, decides to challenge an "Imperial" Presidency-answerable to neither Congress, the press, nor the people-in order to help end the Vietnam War.

Directed by Rick Goldsmith - With Daniel Ellsberg

Collapse(2009)

| 1h 22min | Documentary

3.7/5 (with 44 votes)

From the acclaimed director of American Movie, the documentary follows former Los Angeles police officer turned independent reporter Michael Ruppert. He recounts his career as a radical thinker and spells out his apocalyptic vision of the future, spanning the crises in economics, energy, environment and more.

Directed by Chris Smith - With Michael Ruppert

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The September Issue(2009)

PG-13

| 1h 30min | Documentary

3.4/5 (with 48 votes)

A documentary chronicling Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour's preparations for the 2007 fall-fashion issue.

Directed by R. J. Cutler - With Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Sarah Brown, Sienna Miller, ...

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Orgasm Inc.(2009)

1h 13min | Documentary

3.0/5 (with 7 votes)

Extraordinary behind-the-scenes access reveals a drug company's fevered race to develop the first FDA-approved Viagra for women - and offers a humorous but sobering look inside the cash-fueled pharmaceutical industry.

Directed by Liz Canner - With Liz Canner

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story(2009)

1h 41min | Documentary, Music

3.6/5 (with 19 votes)

The troubled fraternal relationship between songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, the Oscar and Grammy-winning Sherman Brothers, famous for the iconic hits they wrote for Disney.

Directed by Gregory V. Sherman, Jeff C. Sherman - With Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman

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The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia(2009)

1h 26min | Documentary

3.4/5 (with 28 votes)

Produced by Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine for MTV and Dickhouse Productions, The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia is a documentary about the renowned West Virginia outlaw Jesco White and his eccentric backwoods family. In addition to getting in trouble with the law, the Whites, who live deep within Appalachia, uphold a time-honored dancing style, even as they contend with poverty, drugs and other issues. Alternately humorous and sad, the movie is an unflinching look at life on the criminal margins of rural mountain culture.

Directed by Julien Nitzberg - With Jesco White

Still Bill(2010)

1h 18min | Documentary, Music

3.4/5 (with 3 votes)

STILL BILL is an intimate portrait of soul legend Bill Withers, best known for his classics “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean On Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Grandma’s Hands,” and “Just the Two of Us.” With his soulful delivery and warm, heartfelt sincerity, Withers has written the songs that have – and always will – resonate deeply within the fabric of our times. Filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack follow Withers and offer a unique and rare look inside the world of this fascinating man. Through concert footage, journeys to his birthplace, interviews with music legends, his family and closest friends, STILL BILL presents the story of an artist who has written some of the most beloved songs in our time and who truly understands the heart and soul of a man.

Directed by Alex Vlack, Damani Baker - With Bill Withers

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To the Sea(2010)

| 1h 13min | Documentary, Kids & Family

3.4/5 (with 23 votes)

Before leaving for Rome with his mother, five year old Natan is taken by his father, Jorge, on an epic journey to the pristine Chinchorro reef off the coast of Mexico. As they fish, swim, and sail the turquoise waters of the open sea, Natan discovers the beauty of his Mayan heritage and learns to live in harmony with life above and below the surface, as the bond between father and son grows stronger before their inevitable farewell.

Directed by Pedro González-Rubio - With Jorge Machado

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Redlight(2009)

1h 12min | Documentary

5.0/5 (with 1 vote)

A powerful feature documentary about child sexploitation, an epidemic happening in every country around the world. Filmed over a four year period, REDLIGHT focuses on the personal stories of young Cambodian victims and two remarkable advocates for change: grass-roots activist Somaly Mam and politician Mu Sochua. Using gritty footage smuggled out of brothels and harrowing testimonials, REDLIGHT follows the plight of several current and former child sex slaves. Some are trying to regain entry into Cambodian society to find some semblance of normality after their horrific experiences. Other stories highlight the plight of victims who are attempting to bring the perpetrators to justice. Their torturous yet ultimately heroic battles to find witnesses and take brothel owners to court are dramatically brought to life in this topical and moving feature documentary.

Directed by Adi Ezroni - With Somaly Mam

American: The Bill Hicks Story(2010)

| 1h 42min | Comedy, Documentary

3.8/5 (with 31 votes)

American: The Bill Hicks Story is a biographical documentary film on the life of comedian Bill Hicks. The film was produced by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including Kevin Booth. The filmmakers used a cut-and-paste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of still pictures used to document events in Hicks' life. The film made its North American premiere at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival. The film was nominated for a 2010 Grierson British Documentary Award for the "Most Entertaining Documentary" category. It was also nominated for Best Graphics and Animation category in the 2011 Cinema Eye Awards. Awards won include The Dallas Film Festivals Texas Filmmaker Award, at Little Rock The Oxford American's Best Southern Film Award, and Best Documentary at the Downtown LA Film Festival. On Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of the first 47 reviews counted were rated positive.

Directed by Paul Thomas

The Age of Stupid(2009)

1h 32min | War, Documentary, History

3.2/5 (with 29 votes)

The Age of Stupid is the new movie from Director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and producer John Battsek (One Day In September). Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Directed by Franny Armstrong - With Pete Postlethwaite, Jehangir Wadia, Mark Lynas, Mohamed Nasheed, David Anthony King, George Monbiot, ...

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy(2009)

| 1h 35min | Comedy, Documentary

4.2/5 (with 3 votes)

Directors Robert Townsend and Quincy Newell offer this comprehensive and hilarious examination of the history, evolution and cultural significance of African American comedy in America, from the earliest minstrel shows to the latest HBO special. Featuring interviews with cultural critics and loads of comedic clips, this program features appearances by a who's-who of black comedians including Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg and many more.

Directed by Robert Townsend - With Angela Bassett, Bill Bellamy, Bill Cosby, Tommy Davidson, Eddie Griffin, Steve Harvey, ...

The People Speak(2009)

1h 53min | History, Documentary

3.5/5 (with 5 votes)

A look at America's struggles with war, class, race and women's rights. based on Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States.".

Directed by Howard Zinn, Chris Moore - With Mark Damon, Viggo Mortensen, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, ...

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel(2009)

| 2h 7min | Documentary

3.2/5 (with 7 votes)

A revealing look at the outspoken, flamboyant founder of the Playboy empire. With humor and insight, the film captures Hefner's fierce battles with the government, the religious right and militant feminists. Rare footage and compelling interviews with a remarkable who's who of 20th Century American pop culture, present a brilliant and entertaining snapshot of the life of an extraordinary man and the controversies that surrounded him.

Directed by Brigitte Berman - With Hugh Hefner, Jenny McCarthy, Dick Cavett, Ruth Westheimer, Shannon Tweed

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama(2009)

1h 56min | Documentary

3.4/5 (with 5 votes)

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama is a documentary film produced by Edward Norton broadcast in November 2009 on HBO, which follows Barack Obama and various members of his campaign team, including David Axelrod, through the two years leading up to the United States presidential election on November 4th, 2008.

Directed by Amy Rice, Alicia Sams - With Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton

Outrage(2009)

1h 30min | Documentary

3.2/5 (with 12 votes)

An indictment of closeted politicians who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the US.

Directed by Kirby Dick

PoliWood(2009)

1h 30min | Documentary

3.4/5 (with 2 votes)

An in-depth look at the Democratic and Republican national conventions held during the 2008 U.S. Presidential election year.

Directed by Barry Levinson

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2009 Documentary Movies

RSS feedEntries in this List

Home(2009)

Oceans(2010)

The Cove(2009)

Good Hair(2009)

Capitalism: A Love Story(2009)

Cropsey(2009)

Waking Sleeping Beauty(2009)

Objectified(2009)

When You're Strange(2010)

Reel Injun(2010)

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)(2009)

Best Worst Movie(2009)

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Nightmares in Red, White and Blue(2009)

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers(2009)

Collapse(2009)

The September Issue(2009)

Orgasm Inc.(2009)

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story(2009)

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia(2009)

Still Bill(2010)

To the Sea(2010)

Redlight(2009)

American: The Bill Hicks Story(2010)

The Age of Stupid(2009)

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy(2009)

The People Speak(2009)

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel(2009)

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama(2009)

Outrage(2009)

PoliWood(2009)

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