20 Must-See Documentaries About Making Movies

By Travis Keune | April 23, 2020

As a young man of about 11 years of age, I first truly discovered the magic of the movies. It was more than just the youthful awe of watching cartoons and fun family films. It was shortly after seeing Who Framed Roger Rabbit, my first motion picture in an actual movie theater, that I began to realize there was more to this than what meets the eye. The “how did they do this bug” really started to settle into my imagination and I haven’t turned back since.

From that moment in time, I found I could not satisfy my endless appetite for movies. Granted, my taste was relatively limited at first to PG and PG-13 titles, for the most obvious of reasons, but that would not last long. Before I knew it, I was “discovering” R-rated films and expanding my taste into action, horror and science-fiction fare. From there, the sky was the limit.

Over time, all of this has led to a life in progress saturated with movies of all kinds. In high school, I began to consider a life creating special effects make-up for movies, then ultimately pursued film school to be a director. While that didn’t exactly pan out as expected, it did lead me into film criticism and a continued love of movies that was stronger than ever.

I was thinking about our current collective situation with COVID-19 keeping us all home and looking for ways to occupy ourselves and wanted to offer something in the process. Documentaries have become one of my favorite genres of movie, so I figured I’d share some that may help others understand my passion. Here are 20 must-see documentaries about making movies. I hope you enjoy.

1. PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH MARTIN SCORSESE THROUGH AMERICAN MOVIES, A (1995) – This epic documentary series runs 3 hours, 45 minutes and is a must see/must own for any self-prescribed film buff. The documentary itself is extremely well made, but having Martin Scorsese personally walk us through the history of cinema as related to his own personal experience, just adds an invaluable layer of authenticity to the entire series. Sadly, this is not available to stream anywhere that I have found, for free or two rent/purchase. The only way you’ll see this one is by purchasing the 3-disc set on DVD. Amazon usually has someone selling a copy for between $20-$25 and it’s not available on Blu-ray. This is something I currently hold sacred to my own personal collection and have watched it beginning-to-end at least three times, so far. This is like taking a college-level Film History lecture course in your own home, taught by one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time.

2. IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: A JOURNEY INTO ICONIC 80S HORROR (2019) – This is the newest addition to my list, having only recently been distributed online and in physical media to those who funded the Kickstarter campaign for the making of the film. This documentary has an epic 4-hour, 30-minute run-time and covers the entire 80s decade in horror cinema in chronological order. The film features a candy store full of interviews with the who’s who in horror and, despite its length, maintains a playful sense of fun and fascination. Written and directed by David A. Weiner, we can tell this was a labor of love and thank goodness for crowd-funding, as I don’t see any other way this was likely to get made. Unfortunately, the film is not available to stream, rent or purchase to the general public, however the original soundtrack is available to stream on Amazon. This is one of a handful of “limited-length campaign” project from Creator VC, who are currently in the early stages of funding a similar documentary about 80 science-fiction films. My hope is that, at some point, this becomes more openly available for the general audience to experience.

3. THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY (2011) – When I tell you that I’m somewhat obsessed with movies, it’s really not that much of an exaggeration. Sure, I love to watch movies, but I’m just as fascinated with the process and history. In many ways, it’s a way of life, not just a hobby. Perhaps the most crucial yet unknown entry onto this list, this 15-episode television mini-series is narrated by film critic and historian Mark Cousins, whose knowledge is rivaled only by his oddly alluring, accented voice. The series spans the entire history of film from across the globe, not just American film. The series dispels a number of myths and misunderstandings about the history, span and influence of this modern art form. If A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese was a college-level lecture course, The Story of Film is your Master’s study. I have watched this entire series through and through 2-3 times, but have played it in the background allowing the audio to seep into my celluloid soul many more times. Ironically, this is probably one of the most obscure, but most accessible entries on this list. Currently available to stream for free on Hulu, and has been for literally years (as that’s my go-to venue for accessing the series). If you don’t have Hulu, it’s also currently available to “borrow” from Hoopla and Kanopy, both of which are free services that allow you to temporarily “rent” content for free, so long as you have a current library card/membership. Finally, if you prefer to own your content, you can purchase the standard definition download of the series from Amazon.

4. HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER’S APOCALYPSE (1991) – Francis Ford Coppola is arguably one of the greatest filmmaker’s alive today, and perhaps of all-time, but not everyone loves him. Much like William Friedkin, Coppola has had his struggles and made his enemies over the years due to his often difficult and controversial style of high-demand filmmaking. This documentary chronicles the most extreme example of the filmmaker’s tumultuous history with a detailed account of the making of Apocalypse Now. This film is gritty, raw, revealing and incredibly honest in its sincerity about what went down in order to make an auteur’s vision come to life. For a number of years, this was an extremely elusive film to get your hands on, but with the advent of digital streaming and technology and the growing hunger from fans for collector’s edition DVD and Blu-ray releases filled with hours of special features, the film is no longer like finding Bigfoot. Co-directed by Fax Bahr and St. Louis-native George Hickenlooper, this documentary is available to rent/purchase on a number of steaming services, including Amazon, Youtube, Google Play,             Apple and Vudu. At one time, I owned both the original VHS and DVD releases, both of which are now out-of-print. The DVD alone will run you about $50 on the used market. Currently, I own the Apocalypse Now Full Disclosure Edition Blu-ray set, which includes Apocalypse Now, Apocalypse Now Redux and Hearts of Darkness, available for purchase on Amazon.

5. BURDEN OF DREAMS (1982) – I had the pleasure of attending a lecture from filmmaker Les Blank a number of years ago before he passed, which included the screening of a number of his short films. Prior to this, I had only been aware of his work on Burden of Dreams through my fascination with the films and career of German filmmaker Werner Herzog. Burden of Dreams is a 1-hour, 35-minute documentary that combines the grass roots style of documentary filmmaking from Les Blank with the insane genius of a young Werner Herzog, capturing the madness that was the making of Fitzcarraldo, an ambitious and seemingly impossible endeavor by Herzog. Much like the subject of the film, Herzog pushed himself and the crew beyond reasonable expectations to see his vision become reality. Blank was there for the whole thing, capturing countless hours of footage as it happened to construct one of the most intimate and revealing portraits of an artist spiraling out of control into the abyss created by his creativity. I personally owned Burden of Dreams on VHS for many years until my dreams came true and Criterion Collection picked it up and released it as a wonderful DVD package, which is still currently available. Burden of Dreams is also currently available to rent/purchase digitally on Amazon, or free to stream on The Criterion Collection paid service, or through Kanopy with a current library card/membership.

6. AMERICAN MOVIE (1999) – Oddly enough, this amusing documentary directed by Chris Smith is incredibly hard to get your hands on, but if you can, it’s so worth the effort. This is the story of an aspiring filmmaker’s journey to somehow finance his dream project of finally completing his low-budget horror film he had previously abandoned years before. The filmmaker named Mark Borchardt, is the consummate amateur, indie filmmaker and, if not having the knowledge prior to entering into this viewing experience, many would assume this was just a fictional comedy, or mockumentary. American Movie is 100% real-life, authentic documentation of a midwestern dude just trying to fulfill his dreams. For that reason alone, it’s an incredibly engaging story, while also often being hilarious. I remember when this was not that difficult to find on VHS, but over the years as it’s fanbase has increased and its footprint on cult film fandom has grown, the now out-of-print VHS will run you anywhere from $50-$100 on eBay. American Movie is not currently streaming or available to rent/purchase digitally through any service I have seen, so far.

7. LOST IN LA MANCHA (2002) – Talk about life imitating art, imitating life… Legendary filmmaker Terry Gilliam has had more than his share of difficulty getting his films made over his decades-long career. Lost in La Mancha, as a result, also found difficulty being made, as it chronicled the making and ultimate failure of Gilliams’ quest to bring his take on Don Quixote to the big screen. Another example of how a film can often be valuable as a document of history over an artistic achievement, the filmmakers did manage to piece together a relatively solid documentary, despite the chaos and confusion. Until this film, Gilliam was a typically private and reclusive artist, much like Stanley Kubrick, but Lost in La Mancha breaks the creative silence and finally allows fans the opportunity to peer inside his wildly, if not troubled, creative process. Lost in la Mancha is not currently streaming for free on any service, but is available to rent/purchase digitally on Amazon and Apple. If you’re more of hands on person the prefers owning physical media, the Lost in La Mancha pre-owned DVD is generally available for under $10 on eBay.

8. DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER (2007) – It’s 1981 and one of the most loves and influential science-fiction films of all times hits theaters… and, it bombs. Fortunately, we have collectively reinserted our brains into our empty headpieces over the years and discovered the value of this film. Of course, years of controversy, filmmaker-studio rivalries, remasters and recuts, folktales and filmmakers accounts, the reputation and lore of the film’s making has certainly helped raise the film’s notoriety and popularity. While this documentary never received a theatrical release, or even its own home video release, to my knowledge, it is available if you go looking for it. The number of different versions and releases of Blade Runner could make the newbie’s head spin, but some of them do include this recent and definitive documentary to end all Blade Runner documentaries. Personally, I currently own the 2007 Blade Runner 5-disc Complete Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release, which includes 9-hours of special features, amongst them being this 3-hour, 34-minute film. Bits and pieces can be found on YouTube, but due to its length, you may need to spring for one of the physical release copies.

9. JODOROWSKY’S DUNE (2013) – To most people, the name Alejandro Jodorowsky has no meaning, but in the realm of relevance to fascinating cult filmmaking, he holds legendary status. Back in the day when Frank Herbert’s novel Dune first got greenlit for the big screen, David Lynch was tapped to direct, but was ultimately unhappy with the result, due in part to studio interference. While I personally enjoy the Lynch film, I also understand the mixed feelings. This documentary however, reveals what might have been if Jodorowsky had won his bid to make the film. Using extensive interviews with the filmmaker and an unparalleled access to countless examples of concept art for his vision, we realize that the awesome weirdness of Lynch’s vision paled in comparison to what Jodorowsky had in store for fans, had he been cut loose and allowed to run free with this fantastic property. Directed by Frank Pavitch, it’s a pretty straight-forward talking head documentary with mostly interview footage and lots of cutaway shots to artwork, but it’s the incredible nuggets of insight into the filmmaker’s ideas that are what make this worthwhile. Jodorowsky’s Dune is not streaming for free anywhere, but it is currently available to rent/purchase digitally on Amazon, Fandango Now, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play, and Apple. There is a Blu-ray/DVD combo release out there, but it’s not very common. I’ve seen them occasionally sell for about $25 on eBay.

10. VISIONS OF LIGHT: THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY (1992) – What is film without light? Essentially, it’s nothing. Light is the most essential element in filmmaking and the responsibility of capturing and mastering that light to create a motion picture falls on the shoulders of the cinematographer. Visions of Light is a documentary that dives into the world of the cinematographer, recounting the history of the craft and the influence of the greats, past and present. Never before or sense, have I found another film even remotely as in-depth and appealing as this to celebrate the person as equally important to the director, but rarely given as much of the credit. Coincidentally, this was one of the very first DVD movies I purchased for my collection when the technology in home video first took hold. Sadly, as many of us do, years ago I fell on hard times and sold off much of my collection. I sure wish I hadn’t, because now the DVD is long, LOOONG out of print and goes for about $100 on Amazon and eBay, when you can find a copy for sale. Fortunately, I recently reacquired the DVD off eBay from Goodwill for a mere $22 (sorry, not sorry) and am now whole, once more. As I’m sure you have already guessed, Visions of Light is not officially streaming anywhere, for free or otherwise. However, here’s a tip, but you didn’t hear it from me… Visions of Light is available to watch in its entirety on YouTube (for now) and it’s not a terrible quality transfer, either.

11. OVERNIGHT (2003) – In case you were wondering, “Where is Netflix in all of this,” I can officially tell you this is not where *Netflix comes into the picture. Crazy, right? Anyway, Overnight is a documentary co-directed by Troy Montana and Mark Brian Smith. The documentary tells the turbulent story of Troy Duffy, contemporary bad boy director of the Boondock Saints movies. This film tells what happened in the process of getting the first film made and the aftermath that followed. Overnight takes the viewer on the Hollywood roller coaster from a 20-something Boston dude named Duffy landing a dream deal with Miramax to get his film made, to how they ultimately pulled the plug on his career and blasting a hole in his rapidly ascending hot-air balloon of “overnight” success. On the other hand, it’s also revealed that Duffy had no small part in self-sabotaging his career, but every fight has two sides, right? As my grandfather would say, “it takes two to tango.” Overnight is available to stream for free on Hoopla with a current library card/membership, but is also available to rent/purchase on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play and Apple. For those of you determined to own a physical copy, there was a DVD release with limited availability that usually goes for $10 or less. *On a side note, I could be wrong, but I believe this was streaming on Netflix for a while, years ago, but not anymore.

12. THEY’LL LOVE ME WHEN I’M DEAD (2018) Woohoo! Now, finally, I can say Netflix has a role in this list. I realize it took a while, but that unwavering commitment and patience has finally paid off. Who doesn’t love Orsen Welles? [crickets] All right, I hear all of you film buffs back in the corner, but most people hear that name and probably convey a blank look. For those of us who eat, sleep and breath cinema, he’s a legend. So often considered, arguably, the greatest filmmaker of all-time, Oren Welles is a fascinating character in real life, despite what you may think of his movies. No, this is not necessarily a documentary about Welles, but at the same time it is… confused? Yes, I expected that. Much like his life and his films, this documentary is not just one thing, but many mixed together with a plot that shifts and turns and bewilders. This documentary details the story behind Welles’ final film, The Other Side of the Wind,” which technically he never finished, but with help from his friends, colleagues and yes, Netflix, has been completed and was released simultaneously with this documentary. Both films are steaming exclusively on Netflix and boy-oh-boy, what a double feature this is for the consummate cinephile. This film cannot be purchased digitally or on physical media.

13. LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (2014) – Richard Stanley is a filmmaker beloved by cult and genre fans, but is little known otherwise. His tragic experience trying to make his Island of Dr. Moreau film did not help, leading to personal and professional hardships. However, this documentary directed by David Gregory has certainly helped rekindle the fans’ passion and the indie-cult genre’s desire to see him rise again like a Phoenix out of the cinematic ashes. Currently set to direct his second film adapted from a Lovecraft story after the relative success of Color Out of Space, Stanley may finally be getting the recognition he deserves. Lost Soul takes us back to witness the Hell that was production on his Island of Dr. Moreau film and does so in spades. This is a story you have to see to believe, explaining in great detail why this was the unfortunate turning point in Stanley’s career, squashing his rising star after making his films Hardware (1990) and Dust Devil (1992) which captured the hearts of genre fans. Stanley was a director on the studio radars, until they and certain cast members had a hand in sabotaging his first big-budget studio endeavor. Personally, I feel Stanley is a filmmaker who shines with the indie spirit, uncaged by financial freedom. Lost Soul is currently streaming for free on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla. It’s also available for rent/purchase on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Fandango Now, Vudu and Apple. Lost Soul is not available on DVD or Blu-ray in the US, but if you have a region-free player, there is was released on DVD and Blu-ray in Australia and the UK.

14. THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED (2006) – This documentary is a snarky, ball-busting expose of the MPAA motion picture rating system. Few documentaries are equally as fun and frustrating to watch as this one, especially f you’re really into movies like I am, because some of us already realized how ridiculous the entire system is and this film just further proves our point. Director Kirby Dick pulls no punches in this film and lays it all out on the table. This may all sound risqué, but honestly, this film is tame compared to some of the director’s other films, which are equally good and far more, um… tantalizing. Hmm… maybe his personal experience is what drove him to making this film. Food for thought. Strap in and just try putting your objective blinders on while watching this one. This Film is not Yet Rated is not streaming anywhere I could find, except on YouTube (wink, wink). There was a DVD release that can be found on eBay and Amazon, which I’ve seen go for anywhere from $6 to $45… don’t ask me to explain.

15. CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL (2011) – If I asked you who has been the most influential person in motion pictures of the last 50 years, who would you say… Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese? What if I told you it was Roger Corman? That’s right. Sure, he may have made schlocky films of varying degrees of quality, but the truth is he made a LOT of movies and every one of them was a financial success. With that said, countless filmmakers and actors have Roger Corman to thank for getting their start and virtually all of them will tell you what they learned from working with Corman was priceless. This documentary details the life, career and influence of Roger Corman on the art, business and culture of filmmaking. Directed by Alex Stapleton, the film deep dives into not only Corman’s own stories, but the stories of many of his protegees and colleagues throughout his 60+ year career, including insights and memories from the likes of Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Joe Dante, Ron Howard and many more. This is an entertaining celebration of a man hellbent on making a successful financial career out of filmmaking and became a cultural icon in the process. Corman’s World is not streaming for free on any service, but is available to rent/purchase digitally on Amazon, Apple and Vudu. Corman’s World also sells for between $8-$15 for the DVD and Blu-ray releases.

16. STANLEY KUBRICK: A LIFE IN PICTURES (2001) – Often touted as one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time, director Stanley Kubrick was equally talented and reclusive, controversial and private. Despite the fact that he made only 13 feature-length films over a 48-year career, few filmmakers can equal the overall level of mastery and art that each and every one of his films conveys. Kubrick was a true auteur and was driven by his determination to create his vision, everyone else be damned. This film chronicles Kubrick’s life and career, much like a well-written biography, assembled with the care and attention to detail that reminds the viewer of Kubrick’s own films. A Life in Pictures is the ultimate motion picture reference for the Kubrick fan. This film is not streaming for free on any service, but is available for rent/purchase on Amazon, Apple and RedBox. There was also a stand-alone DVD release that can be purchased from $6-$45, depending on who you buy it from… I guess. However, if you’re the kind of Kubrick fan I am, you’ll go fork out the $100-$150 for the 2011 10-disc Blu-ray Stanley Kubrick Limited Edition Collection box set, which includes this documentary, and just be happy.

17. ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS (2014) – Do you know the names Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus? Well, you’re about to learn these are the two men primarily responsible for Cannon Films, a powerhouse of genre filmmaking in the 80s. Cannon was responsible for many of the films from the 80s we love to hate and hate to love, including The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Superman IV and Masters of the Universe, amongst many others of varying quality and cult status. Electric Boogaloo finally tells the official story of how these two men bucked the odds and lived the Hollywood dream. The documentary chronicles the unlikely rise and ultimate failure of Cannon Films, including numerous filmmaker and celebrity interviews. This film is not just informative, but it’s loads of fun to watch. Nostalgia is high for my generation when watching this film, so watch it with your and witness their bewildered reactions to what you watched as a kid. Electric Boogaloo is not streaming for free on any service, but is available to rent/purchase on what seems to be virtually every VOD venue out there right now. There were also DVD and Blu-ray releases in the US and foreign markets, still randomly available at various price points.

18. BEST WORST MOVIE (2009) – Troll 2 was a terrible sequel to the otherwise average-decent first film, Troll, but is a quintessential “so bad its good” viewing requirement. Best Worst Movie isn’t just a documentary about the making of Troll 2, but it’s also a coming of age story for Michael Paul Stephenson, a child actor who starred in Troll 2 and grew up to make the feature-length documentary about Troll 2. A film crowned the “worst movie of all time” by some, Troll 2 is not a cult favorite and rite of passage for lovers of bad genre film. Coincidentally, Best Worst Movie has also garnered its own cult movie status with fans and together, the two films join forces to offer one of the most absurdly entertaining, gut-busting, crowd-pleasing double features ever conceived. The story of how the film was made is just as crazy and unbelievable as the film’s story itself, and this documentary captured the heart of it all with modest perfection. Best Worst Movie is streaming for free on Amazon Prime and Tubi. The film is available to rent/purchase digitally on Amazon and Apple. Best Worst Movie had a couple DVD releases that range from $5-$20 on eBay, but is not currently available to buy on Amazon.

19. THAT MOMENT: MAGNOLIA DIARY (2000) – Here’s the rare gem of the lot, in that there’s only two ways to watch this one. That Moment a documentary that gives a fascinating glimpse into the making of Magnolia, a film by modern master filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, who also directed Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood. Magnolia is an incredible film and has garnered a very loyal following. That Moment is a 112-minute documentary originally only available of a special feature on the DVD and Blu-ray releases, but has sense become fairly readily available on YouTube in its entirety and in parts. With that said, you never really know when things like this will disappear, so try to check this out while you can, if you don’t own a physical copy that includes this documentary. In my opinion, Paul Thomas Anderson is the closest thing to this generation’s Stanley Kubrick we have and That Moment serves as a great insight into the mind of a master at work.

20. MY LIFE DIRECTED BY NICOLAS WINDING REFN (2014) – Perhaps my least favorite entry on this list, I still found this documentary worthy of viewing. The film chronicles filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn during production and release of his film Only God Forgives (2013). The documentary is directed by Refn’s wife, Liv Corfixen, and gives the viewer a glimpse inside the mind and workings of one of the most interesting, if not controversial and polarizing filmmaker’s working today. For many, the career (so far) of Refn holds a love/hate relationship. For many fans of film, they either love or hate him as a director, but I personally fall in the middle. I feel his films range from iconic to pretentious, but his talent and vision cannot be argued, in my opinion. Running a mere 58-minutes, the film shows that Corfixen is not a filmmaker at heart, but despite its artistic failures, the film serves as a valuable document of the process and allows us to witness what few are allowed in the world of filmmaking… the difficult and often unpleasant truth behind the golden veil of Hollywood.