1The Fog of War
Errol MorrisEleven lessons from a war architect.
Best overallWhy buy
- Masterful direction
- Memorable score
- Rewatchable
Keep in mind
- Slow first act
- Bleak tone
$109.4
Rank #1Loading page
The 7 Best Documentaries of the Decade
Real stories, told without the fluff.
Leo NakamuraGaming & Culture EditorUpdated 8mo ago 263K reads
Verified
Winner
The Fog of War
Overview
The best documentaries don't just inform — they rearrange how you see the world. We watched 50 of the most acclaimed docs of the decade to rank the seven that stayed with us long after the credits.
Winner spotlight
And the winner is…
№1The Fog of War
by Errol MorrisThe Fog of War is documentary filmmaking at its most surgical: Robert McNamara's testimony, edited into a masterclass of moral complexity. Eleven lessons on war, delivered by the man who helped run one. Essential viewing, full stop.
Best overall$10
At a glance
Quick comparison
| Pick | #1 The Fog of War $10 | #2 My Octopus Teacher $10 | #3 Free Solo $12 | #4 13th $10 | #5 The Act of Killing $10 | #6 Grizzly Man $10 | #7 Jiro Dreams of Sushi $10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Direction | Masterful | Brilliant | Excellent | Great | Great | Good | Good |
| Story | Masterpiece | Outstanding | Excellent | Great | Great | Good | Good |
| Visuals | Landmark | Stunning | Beautiful | Great | Good | Good | Good |
| Rewatch value | Endless | Very high | High | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
The list
The top 7, ranked
Ordered by overall score across every test. The “best for” note tells you exactly who each pick is for.
1
2My Octopus Teacher
Pippa EhrlichA friendship, underwater.
HeartWhy buy
- Stunning visuals
- Tight storytelling
- Great performances
Keep in mind
- Three-hour runtime
- Requires rewatch
$109.3
Rank #23Free Solo
Jimmy ChinTerror and triumph, 3,000 feet up.
ThrillsWhy buy
- Memorable score
- Rewatchable
- Bold ambition
Keep in mind
- Dense lore
- Polarising ending
$129.2
Rank #3
413th
Ava DuVernayThe prison system, explained.
UnderstandingWhy buy
- Tight storytelling
- Great performances
- Masterful direction
Keep in mind
- Bleak tone
- Not for everyone
$109.1
Rank #4
5The Act of Killing
Joshua OppenheimerThe most unsettling film ever made.
Hard truthsWhy buy
- Rewatchable
- Bold ambition
- Stunning visuals
Keep in mind
- Requires rewatch
- Slow first act
$109.0
Rank #56Grizzly Man
Werner HerzogA bear, a man, a warning.
Stranger than fictionWhy buy
- Great performances
- Masterful direction
- Memorable score
Keep in mind
- Polarising ending
- Three-hour runtime
$108.9
Rank #6
7Jiro Dreams of Sushi
David GelbPerfection, one nigiri at a time.
CraftWhy buy
- Bold ambition
- Stunning visuals
- Tight storytelling
Keep in mind
- Not for everyone
- Dense lore
$108.8
Rank #7Deep dive
Feature matrix
| Feature | The Fog of War | My Octopus Teacher | Free Solo | 13th | The Act of Killing | Grizzly Man | Jiro Dreams of Sushi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director's cut | |||||||
| Soundtrack | |||||||
| Practical effects | |||||||
| Awards season | |||||||
| IMAX experience | |||||||
| Streaming | |||||||
| Sequels | |||||||
| Theatrical cut |
The verdict
Pros & cons
What we love
- Stories with real stakes
- The form has never been stronger
- Streaming made them accessible
- Great conversation starters
Watch out for
- Heavy subject matter
- Some demand full attention
- Availability shifts between platforms
- Rewatch value varies
Before you buy
Buyer's guide
Every film was watched twice: once alone with full attention, once with company. Rankings weigh direction, story, visuals and the much harder metric — rewatch value.
Mood is a metric. The best film for a rainy Tuesday is rarely the best film for a flight. Our scores are absolute; your choice should be situational.
The winner of our The 7 Best Documentaries of the Decade ranking is the pick that scored highest across every test — but 'best overall' isn't always 'best for you'. Use the 'Best for' note under each of the seven to match a pick to your budget, your space and your habits. Every entry on this list earned its place; the ranking simply tells you where to start.
Questions
Frequently asked
It has to be great on a first watch and better on a second. Ambition, craft and staying power matter more than box office.
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