As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to take stock of what we’ve seen on the big and small screen. Over the next few days, I’ll be giving some of my picks in a wide variety of categories. Up today, it’s the best documentary films I saw in 2025.

Before I dive into the top five, I thought I’d give a couple honorable mentions. These were films I liked that just didn’t quite make the cut.

• Mr. Scorsese: This five-part series on Apple TV from Rebecca Miller was a great deep dive into the life and career of an iconic director.
• Being Eddie: It was a great year for documentaries on entertainment figures. I’ve long loved Eddie Murphy’s films, and this deep dive into his life and career was a lot of fun.
• Among Neighbors: It’s been years since World War II, but the scars of the deeds done in Europe still run deep. This is an exploration about a search for truth and healing, and it’s quite moving.

No. 5: Pee-wee as Himself
About: I am a child of the 1980s. I remember Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. But this documentary is about the man behind it all, Paul Reubens. He was a complex and interesting figure, and this look at his life and career held my attention and gave me a look behind the curtain.

No. 4: Number One on the Call Sheet
About: This two-part documentary on Apple TV is a look at the history and role of African Americans in entertainment. The first part focuses on male stars, the second on female stars. Taken together, or as individual pieces, it is a captivating documentary that is well worth seeking out.

No. 3: Predators
About: I remember the To Catch a Predator specials on NBC. This film dives into the making of those specials while asking some hard questions on the impact it had on those involved. It’s an unflinching look that is quite emotional at times. It’s a great and riveting documentary feature.

No. 2: John Candy: I Like Me
About: This documentary about Candy, from director Colin Hanks, is a deeply emotional experience. Candy was a larger-than-life presence on the screen, and a great friend and collaborator off-screen. This film plays like a tribute to a gentle giant of an artist that was lost way too soon.

No. 1: The Perfect Neighbor
About: We live in a society. For that to work, we have to have at least a mutual respect. When we don’t, the society breaks down. That’s one of many ideas that come to mind with this Netflix documentary from Geeta Gandbhir that uses a lot of actual footage and body cam footage from police to tell the story of a neighborhood dispute that devolves into tragedy over the course of several years. It will leave you emotional, angry, and shaken, which is the mark of the best kind of storytelling.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.