Documentary

In the Know

TV 

This nine-part docuseries from Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim (The Great Hack) examines the infamous NXIVM cult, and the defectors trying to expose its horrific secrets

Essential

Cinema 

An intimate portrait of fashion's most elusive figure

In the Know

Netflix 

The engrossing, incredible true story of rival big cat breeders in America has taken the world by storm on Netflix – here's why it's a must-watch

In the Know

Cinema 

In Hail Satan?, documentarian Penny Lane delves into the controversial religious group known as the Satanic Temple

Essential

Fashion 

HBO delves into the life and career of Ralph Lauren, a designer who has been defining American style for over 50 years.
By Faye Saulsbury

We Love

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

In Apollo 11, Todd Douglas Miller beautifully follows the first manned mission to the Moon in 1969 - using never-before-seen footage taken from the time

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

A new documentary chronicles the life of sex therapist Ruth Westheimer, from her childhood surviving the Holocaust to her rise as a pop culture icon

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Capturing the tireless campaigning of four trailblazing female democrats, Knock Down the House seizes and delivers the urgency of fresh politics on Netflix

Essential

Netflix 

Hurrah for the new series from David Attenborough! Netflix documentary Our Planet shows the bizarre life-cycles of wildlife across the world – this will be the docu-series of the year

In the Know

TV 

In the controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland, Channel 4 interview two victims of his alleged sexual abuse to expose the truth

In the Know

Cinema 

The gloss of tearjerking Hollywood drama has faded, making room for more exciting films showing life at its most authentic. Bookmark these documentaries to get your heart racing

We love

Cinema 

Triplets separated at birth reckon with the dark conspiracy still brewing in Three Identical Strangers, a documentary hit from Sundance

In the Know

Cinema 

Everything you need to know about Free Solo, the National Geographic documentary that just won an Oscar

In the Know

Netflix 

Thirty years on from the execution of Ted Bundy, Conversations with a Killer tells the chilling tale of America's most notorious serial killer

Essential

TV 

In the final episode of Louis Theroux's Altered States, Take My Baby explores the 'Open Adoption' programme in Southern California and the mothers involved through the process

Essential

TV 

In Choosing Death, episode 2 of Altered States, Louis Theroux goes to California to investigate people seeking an early death

Essential

TV 

In the first episode of Louis Theroux’s Altered States, Love Without Limits explores the pleasures and pitfalls of polyamorous relationships

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Polka dots, mental health and Japan's greatest artist: the life and career of Yayoi Kusama come to life in new documentary Kusama - Infinity

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Following his documentary work on The Imposter, filmmaker Bart Layton returns with a heist no one needed but can still be enjoyed in American Animals.

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Rediscovering her African-American identity as well as uncovering her rocky childhood, Whitney is the latest, and hopefully last chapter on the phenomenal singer. Directed by Kevin McDonald.

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Dull, voyeuristic and fetishising: Touch Me Not’s success at the Berlinale 2018 is a devastating decision for the festival

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

In this epic biopic, filmmaker Sophie Fiennes weaves together archive footage and concert clips to create an illuminating portrait of the legendary singer and model

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

One of the winners at the Sundance Film Festival, Dina is an intimate documentary of a developmentally disabled couple which rings truer than most scripted romantic dramas

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

City of Ghosts is a brutal and fascinating documentary about the Syrian struggle

Preview

Cinema 

David Lynch: The Art Life takes a look at the creative process of cinema's most celebrated surrealist

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Risk is the precursor to Oscar-winning Snowden documentary Citizenfour, the director's muddled but fascinating take on Julian Assange

Preview

Exclusive 

Major international documentary festival returns to the ICA

Features

Here's our pick of the last few months' best documentaries – 2016's late surprises and 2017's early successes, from Life, Animated to The Eagle Huntress

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Who is Sergei Polunin? Dancer documentary shows him to be more of an unhappy adolescent than fast-living playboy

In the Know

TV 

A century of Windsor history unveiled in this new Channel 4 series exploring the intimate lives of the royal family

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

Produced by Shia LaBeouf, documentary LoveTrue takes fragmented approach to its subject

Tried and Tested

Cinema 

New documentary Tower, about the 1966 University of Texas tower shootings, uses animation to impressive effect