From the COVID pandemic to Billie Eilish, we saw some of the most amazing documentaries in 2021. Now, the year is about to end. And the time for the yearenders has come. That’s why we have listed some of the best documentaries that graced our screens this year.
Here are the top 10 documentaries of 2021!
10. Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer
This one doesn’t quite find itself among the best documentary projects this year. Still, it provides enough chills to stuck us with our screens at home. The 4-part Netflix series explores the crimes of the serial killer and rapist, Richard Ramirez a.k.a Night Stalker. During 1984-85, he victimised more than 25 women and some children. But he was finally caught by the cops in 1985. The documentary also shows the experiences of the two lead cops, Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo, who worked on this high-profile case.
9. Tiger
The HBO Max’s 2-episode documentary sheds light on one of the greatest golfers in the world, Tiger Woods. Every person on this planet knows his name, even if that person doesn’t know anything about golf. The series delves into Woods’ relationships with his close ones and his highly publicised infidelity scandal. In 2009, more than a dozen women claimed that the pro golfer had sexual relationships with them. The entire scenario ended his marriage with his former wife, Elin Nordegren.
8. Framing Britney Spears
First of all, congratulations to Britney Spears for opening a new life chapter. There is no doubt in admitting that the 2000s era belonged to Spears. Her quick rise to global prominence landed her in all sorts of trouble at that time. Her bonds with her family members, drug addiction, losing custody of her kids to Kevin Federline a.k.a K-Fed, her globally known conservatorship case with her father, Jamie Spears, almost choked her career. The documentary beautifully displays her voyage from dealing with personal struggles to winning the conservatorship case against her father. We also see segments of the #FreeBritney movement, started by her fans on social media, in this FX/Hulu project.
7. The Rescue
The directional duo of Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin brilliantly captures the thrills and tensions behind the well-known Tham Luang cave rescue mission. In 2018, A 12-member junior football team visited the Tham Luang Nang Non cave as a part of their tour. However, heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions trapped them inside the cave. More than 10,000 people were involved in that deadly rescue mission. A Thai Navy SEAL also lost his life as a result of asphyxiation.
6. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
Focus Features dispatched this popular documentary film with Morgan Neville at the helm. Roadrunner is based on the life of the celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain. In 2018, He was found hanging in his room during his production work for the Paris Unknown series. Various rumours flew during that time regarding the cause of his suicide. But no one knows for sure why he did that to himself in the first place. The interviews from David Chang and Eric Ripert, members of the Paris Unknown production crew, are also integrated into this project.
5. The First Wave
National Geographic hit right of the park with this outstanding documentary film. We are already familiar with the horrors of the ongoing COVID pandemic. The project shows the aftermath of the first wave of coronavirus from the perspective of a New York City hospital. It has earned more than $60,000 at the box office.
4. The Beatles: Get Back
If we told you 20 years ago that the LOTR director would helm a documentary project on The Beatles with the help of Walt Disney Studios, you would have laughed at our faces. Right? The acclaimed fantasy maestro, Peter Jackson, does an exceptional job in reintroducing the retro-rock vibes of The Beatles to the viewers. And we also know his love for extended screentime. The entire Disney+ documentary has three episodes only. But it clocks over 7 hours. Yet, it manages to mesmerise us.
3. Acasa, My Home
It is probably the most underrated documentary of 2021. Nobody even knew about it until its spectacular premiere at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Critics lauded its emotional tone and the execution of the overall project. It focuses on a Romanian family consisting of 11 members. The pair has a total of nine children to feed. They lived peacefully in the wilderness of the Bucharest Delta for more than 20 years. However, they had no choice but to leave their home for good. Additionally, they all learned to adapt themselves to a new place.
2. Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry
Love her or hate her, but you cannot deny that Billie Eilish has talent. The film covers her singing journey from the grand success of her first song, Ocean Eyes, to lending her voice for the opening theme of James Bond’s No Time To Die. It also features the making of her debut album. Furthermore, her personal life gets explored on a whole new level.
1. MLK/FBI
Ladies and gentlemen, you all are looking at this year’s best documentary project. Hands down! The deep scrutinisation of the conflict between Martin Luther King and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the prime highlight of the film. Everyone knows how bad J. Edgar and his FBI team wanted to bury King’s civil rights movement for good. The latter tried various devilries to kill MLK’s courage and resistance. It has received immense critical appreciation in several film festivals after its release.
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