Fans of documentaries centered around pop culture phenomena have a lot to look forward to this autumn, with docs like LiSA Another Great Day set to release on Netflix soon, which presents a look back at the career of the famous J-Pop singer known for her anime theme songs. Documentaries are a great way to learn in-depth about an endless number of pop culture subjects, and most streaming platforms offer an extensive library of documentaries for their users.
These documentaries don’t just cover the lives of celebrities and other big names, but can also shed new light on what is often left unexamined in pop culture. Viewers will leave these expertly-crafted documentaries entertained as well as informed about subjects they may have never considered before.
Fyre (2019)
Stream On Netflix
This documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the disastrous organization of the Fyre Festival, meant to be an elite influencer’s festival on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. The A-list celebrity-endorsed event left attendees without food, shelter, or any of the key elements of a festival or a vacation spot.
Featuring interviews with those who organized the festival and the stranded attendees, the confessions of the secrets behind the disaster have to be seen and heard to be believed and the anecdotes from the interviewees are as comedic as they are tragic.
Feels Good Man (2020)
Stream On Peacock
This eye-opening documentary details the origins of Pepe The Frog, an internet comic character who quickly became a popular internet meme before its adoption by far-right extremists resulted in the cartoon being recognized as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
The film features the cartoonist, Matt Furie, discussing the humble origins of the character and his lawsuit against far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in an attempt to reclaim the cartoon. The documentary ends with an optimistic vision of how the cartoon could one day be seen as a positive symbol in the fight for love against hate.
Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99 (2022)
Stream On Netflix
The original Woodstock music festival occurred in 1969 and created a legacy through its embodiment of 1960s counterculture. The festival was largely peaceful and is now viewed as an exceptional achievement in the midst of the violence and division that had occurred throughout the decade. When organizers tried to recapture this at the turn of the millennium, however, disaster struck.
Trainwreck makes for one of the best Netflix documentaries of the year, so far, notably in its ability to convey how counterculture shifted and how the festival became violent. The results of the negligence of Woodstock’s organizers, from the funny and lighthearted to the tragic, criminal, and outrageous, leave most viewers stunned.
I Am Chris Farley (2015)
Available To Stream On Kanopy
I Am Chris Farley chronicles the life of one of Saturday Night Live’s brightest-ever stars, the late Chris Farley, as told by the friends and family members that knew him best. The documentary hosts a series of interviews from fellow SNL alumni and those who grew up with the comedian, revealing his beautiful heart and his lifelong quest to make everyone in the room smile.
This documentary takes fans behind the scenes to highlight how much of the humor of the 1990s, often through SNL‘s mass popularity, was shaped through Farley’s comedic genius. In particular, it grants a spotlight to the Second City improv troupe in Chicago, which brought to light Farley’s scene-stealing style and helped launch the careers of other stars, such as Mike Myers and Bob Odenkirk.
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend Of Walter Mercado (2020)
Stream On Netflix
Walter Mercado was the world’s most famous astrologer and a staple of television entertainment and spirituality in Latin America. Known for his larger-than-life personality and flamboyant style, the documentary follows an aging Mercado as he reconnects with the spiritual world and his adoring fans in the Hispanic community.
For astrology enthusiasts or those looking for a fascinating insight into Latin American culture, Mucho Mucho Amor is a touching tribute to a man who spread joy by looking to the stars. It is a heartwarming documentary about being authentic to oneself and spreading joy. The scene at the end where Mercado reunites with his fans shortly before his death makes a particularly moving watch.
I Am Divine (2013)
Stream On The Roku Channel
Divine was America’s first drag superstar and starred in multiple John Waters movies, notably Hairspray and Pink Flamingos, before becoming an icon of cult classic cinema. I Am Divine explores the life of the performer – in particular the tragedy, obscenity, and hilarity – that made Divine the epitome of camp.
For anyone keen to learn about the history of drag or early representation of the LGBTQ+ community in cinema, I Am Divine is an essential watch. With interviews with legends in the community and close friends of Divine – notably John Waters, Bruce Vilanch, and Tab Hunter – the documentary is an intimate look at the trailblazer.
Reel Injun (2009)
Stream On Amazon Prime
Reel Injun explores the history of Indigenous people in American cinema, from the early depictions in the silent era to the present. The film examines how stereotypical depictions have ranged wildly and often contradict one another, and includes interviews with Native American and Indigenous actors discussing how they brought nuance to their presence in film.
Made in 2009, this documentary is now topical once more due to its extended feature of Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress that Marlon Brando chose to decline his Oscar win in his stead – having finally received her apology from The Academy in 2022 for her treatment. As well as giving a platform to the often silenced voices of these actors in film, the documentary ends on a hopeful note discussing the Indigenous filmmakers who are directing their own stories.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
Stream On Netflix
This film takes viewers behind the scenes of the life and career of Fred Rogers, the host of the classic children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The documentary draws attention to Rogers’ background as a minister that influenced his role as a showrunner and how the show presented groundbreaking material to children’s programming, teaching children about taboo subjects in the 1960s, such as racial equality and even Robert Kennedy’s assassination.
For dedicated fans of Mister Rogers and newcomers who never watched his show growing up, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a life-affirming and timeless film about the importance of loving your neighbor. The film will be surprising to many audiences as it details Mister Rogers’ anxiety and self-doubt and the political forces that opposed his teaching, but its overall message of optimism won’t leave a dry eye in the house.
White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (2022)
Stream On Netflix
In the 1990s and 2000s, Abercrombie & Fitch was considered the elite fashion brand for cool teens and young adults. Now, it is seen by many as an exclusionary, wannabe elitist store that is out of touch with today’s fashion trends. White Hot explores how this change occurred.
With great humor and exclusive details from former Abercrombie employees, the Netflix film is one of the best documentaries of 2022, so far. It expertly examines why the company was a snapshot of the white supremacy, as well as class and size discrimination, that was so prevalent in culture during its peak.
Grey Gardens (1975)
Stream On HBO Max
Grey Gardens is a documentary set in the home of Edith “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale and her daughter, “Little Edie,” two upper-class women who are cousins of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Their mansion, known as Grey Gardens, has fallen into disrepair and the two isolated women live in squalor.
Some view Grey Gardens as an exploitative film in regard to the Beale women’s mental health, although they both praised the documentary. No matter what conclusion viewers make on the documentary’s handling of its subjects, it is a culturally important documentation of the often hidden away lives of America’s upper classes.
