With over 52 million daily active Reddit users and more than 100,000 active subreddits, the site has become a premiere destination for discovering new interests. Unlike social media feeds dominated by lifestyle influencers, Reddit attracts passionate enthusiasts eager to share knowledge. This makes Reddit threads – with their crowdsourced opinions – surprisingly reliable for recommendations.
But with endless entertainment options now available through streaming and social media, documentaries risk getting overlooked. Scripted prestige series on Netflix, YouTube celebrities, TikTok videos – these digital attractions vie for limited leisure time. Yet documentaries remain uniquely vital. These essential films spotlight unseen worlds and amplify unheard voices.
Reddit serves as an invaluable guide to documentary classics and hidden gems alike. Let‘s examine which documentaries Reddit mentions most and what makes each one monumental viewing.
Overview: Reddit‘s Recommended Documentary Essentials
Compiling documentary suggestions across Reddit unearthed these 15 most mentioned films:
- As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) – Jonas Mekas‘s 285-minute personal epic from footage shot over 30 years
- Tokyo Olympiad (1965) – Kon Ichikawa‘s film exploring the athleticism and spectacle of the 1964 Summer Olympics
- Grey Gardens (1975) – The Maysles brothers‘ cinema verité portrait of Jackie Kennedy relatives living in squalor
- Chronicle of a Summer (1961) – Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin‘s pioneering hybrid doc experimenting with reality and fiction
- Titicut Follies (1967) – Frederick Wiseman‘s provocative film exposing abuses at a hospital for the criminally insane
- F for Fake (1974) – Orson Welles‘ mischievous "documentary" about art forger Elmyr de Hory
- Koyaanisqatsi (1982) – Godfrey Reggio‘s visual tone poem with music by Philip Glass juxtaposing technology and nature
- The Thin Blue Line (1988) – Errol Morris‘ stylized true-crime investigation that led to a wrongful conviction‘s overturn
- Hoop Dreams (1994) – Steve James‘ longitudinal portrait stretching five years chronicling two Black teens striving for the NBA
- Paris Is Burning (1990) – Jennie Livingston‘s vibrant ball culture exposé spotlighting 1980s Harlem drag contests and queerness
- Sans Soleil (1983) – Chris Marker‘s globe-spanning cinematic travelogue blending stunning imagery with philosophical voiceover musings
- The Act of Killing (2012) – Shocking interviews with boastful 1960s Indonesian death squad leaders directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
- Close-Up (1990) Abbas Kiarostami‘s docudrama hybrid exploring storytelling and deceit after a criminal case of stolen identity
- Man with a Movie Camera (1929) – Dziga Vertov‘s montage displaying dizzying city symphonies and visual tricks across1920s Soviet urban landscapes
- Shoah (1985) – Claude Lanzmann‘s 9.5 hour Holocaust epic reliant on extensive contemporary firsthand survivor interviews rather than archival footage
Ideally viewing most or all these documentaries provides the richest perspective into essential filmmaking. But at over 24 combined hours, absorbing every selection demands major dedication.
Let‘s explore why each documentary compels such devoted disciples across the Reddit community. Examining the unique artistic triumphs and thought-provoking insights housed within each work explains their enduring relevance.
Artistic Achievements Showcasing Human Truths
These documentaries showcase innovation in cinematic formats to spotlight unseen facets of society. Unique aesthetics enhance their success engaging audiences while conveying core messages.
Both emotional and intellectual elements come together in these 15 masterworks to deliver revelatory viewing experiences. These films reward both passionate cinephiles and casual viewers by presenting human struggles or revelations through unprecedented visual techniques.
While concise documentaries efficiently communicate clear arguments, sprawling examples like Shoah allow previously unimaginable detailed exploration on enormous topics. These films tackle subjects often considered impossible to definitively capture on screen. Yet through creative presentation modes and herculean reporting efforts, these documentarians achieve the unachievable.
Now let‘s analyze achievements and highlights that explain the legendary status held by each documentary favorite among Reddit fans and critics alike.
1. As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
- Avant-garde legend Jonas Mekas pioneered "diary films"
- Unique editing ryhthm through narration and footage spanning 30 years after emigrating from Lithuania to America
- Ranked the 37th "Greatest Documentary Of All Time" by international critics in 2015
- Film Comment critic Kent Jones called it "a testament to the beauty of the smallest moments"
2. Tokyo Olympiad (1965)
- Voted the greatest sports movie ever made by Sports Illustrated
- Dynamic handheld telephoto cinematography conveying grace and tension of events like never before
- Restored 4K Criterion Collection release praised for showcasing visual innovations
- Roger Ebert: "Best documentary I have seen on what really happens in front of the cameras at the Olympics"
3. Grey Gardens (1975)
- Preserved by Library of Congress‘ National Film Registry for cultural and historical significance
- Launched the famous Bealle estate inhabitants into tabloid sensations and cult status
- Empire magazine called it the 17th greatest documentary ever made
- Current Rotten Tomatoes approval of 94% from 65 critic reviews
4. Chronicle of a Summer (1961)
- Coined cinéma vérité techniques still utilized today after pioneering portable equipment
- Named the 5th "Best Documentary Of All Time" through a 2016 BBC critics poll
- Restored re-release earned rave reviews: "Still bursting with life" per The Guardian
- Filmmaker Martin Scorsese cites it as influential on his work documenting The Last Waltz
5. Titicut Follies (1967)
- Only U.S. documentary film Heritage Award winner at Berlin International Film Festival
- Sparked reforms still cited today after exposing institutional neglect and patient maltreatment
- Hailed by University of Pennsylvania cinema professor emeritus Ray Carney as the greatest American documentary film
- Permanent legacy cemented by Library of Congress "culturally significant" film preservation
6. F for Fake (1974)
- Subversive film awarded best foreign documentary by the National Board of Review
- Critic Jonathan Rosenbaum praised it as "the most enjoyable postmodern film ever made"
- Techniques embedding falsehoods within truth statements later impacted historical docs examining propaganda‘s reliability
- 92% Rotten Tomato critic score: "Clever and cunning; It‘s both truth and fiction" per Hollywood Reporter
7. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
- Time Out called it the 42nd best documentary ever and "a swansong for the planet"
- Visuals edited from over 250,000 feet of raw footage including locations like New York City, Utah salt flats, Navajo lands
- Still inspiring environmentalist works including BBC‘s acclaimed documentary series Planet Earth
- 50th highest rated documentary among Letterboxd‘s extensive user community
8. The Thin Blue Line (1988)
- Pioneered usage of intricate reenactments during climax revealrather than standard talking heads only
- Adamantium clangs heard when jail cell closes in finale symbolizes doors shutting on errors of justice system
- Saved Randall Dale Adams from potential death penalty through crusading investigative filmmaking
- Holds crowning 99% rating among Rotten Tomatoes‘ 64 critic reviews
9. Hoop Dreams (1994)
- Epic 171 minute running length depicting 8 years condensed from 250+ hours filmed
- Perspectives on economic mobility still studied today: "I show it every semester" per Univ. of Michigan sociology professor
- Holds coveted 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating among 57 critic reviews
- Strongly contributed to context leading Illinois governor George Ryan to declare moratorium on state‘s death penalty
10. Paris Is Burning (1990)
- Added to prestigious Library of Congress National Film Registry list honoring culturally significant works
- Tackles ongoing LGBTQ+ issues like ball culture serving as shelters for marginalized communities
- Currently rated 96% among Rotten Tomatoes‘ 54 critic reviews
- Awards include Sundance‘s Grand Jury Prize, Berlin‘s Teddy Award for best queer-themed documentary
11. Sans Soleil (1983)
- Named the second best arthouse film ever made through a Village Voice critics poll
- Filmmaker spliced together over 1500 shots across 11 nations like Japan, Iceland, and Soviet Krasnoyarsk
- Voiceover written by experimental novelist Dennis Lim fused musings on time, memory, and "opium of images"
- The Criterion Collection release featured famed critic Jonathan Rosenbaum passionately discussing its genius
12. The Act of Killing (2012)
- After sixth month theatrical run, executive producer Errol Morris wrote New York Times urging readers to experience its singular revelations
- Genocide perpetrators and subordinates interviewed across over 10 year intensive directing effort
- Perspective 100 Years perspective film site: "Every frame burns with ethical rage and arthouse innovation"
- Holds Rotten Tomato tally of 95% approval among 110 aggregated critic reviews
13. Close-Up (1990)
- Blends documentary and fiction using those involved recreating scenes around real imposter case
- Showcases now iconic filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami who directed beloved films like Taste of Cherry
- Holds crowning 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score: "Brilliant in its subtlety" per BBC
- Ranked 45th Best Foreign Film Ever per Complex magazine‘s retrospective
14. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
- Voted the best documentary of all-time through a 1962 international critics poll
- Duke University cinema professor exalted it for "dazzling visual pyrotechnics and amazing editing structure"
- Hailed as pioneering city montage capturing 1920s urban Soviet society through new techniques
- Extensive mobility includes cameras mounted on bikes, cars and wires gliding spectacularly through streets
15. Shoah (1985)
- Renowned as the paramount Holocaust documentary ever made despite daunting 9+ hour runtime
- Director resisted reliance on archival footage to completely focus on illuminating present day interviews
- Epic production covered 1943-1945 timeline spanning locations like Auschwitz, Treblinka, Chelmno, Warsaw
- Named the 2nd greatest documentary ever made through a 2016 BBC poll of international critics
Why You Need Documentaries
In today‘s overloaded digital era, documentaries fulfill cravings for conveniently streaming all seasons of a hyped Netflix show. Quick bursts of TikTok content induce scrollholes losing hours hypnotically leaping between videos. Yet despite boundless access to content, 18-34 year olds average over 7 hours watching online video daily.
Doesn‘t actively engaging with illuminating documentaries provide more lasting fulfillment than passive entertainment consumption? Don‘t you want to better understand peoples, cultures, and histories outside your direct experience? Can‘t injustice only fullymotivate involvement through testimony from the afflicted?
/r/Documentaries remains one of Reddit‘s most popular and active communities for good reason. Over 4 million members share obsession in the curious topics covered through essential non-fiction filmmaking. Far from detached intellectual exercises, these works connect strangers through intimate emotions like shock, sorrow and wonder. They build bridges across divides by spotlighting diverse voices and championing the vulnerable.
View critically, documentaries also clarify societal blind spots and complacencies. Easy to ignore atrocities when happening oceans away or generations ago. But placing you alongside victims through their filmed accounts makes suffering impossible to ignore.
That‘s the unique power of documentary essentials like those honored across Reddit. Their ability to enlighten and activate far exceed traditional education or entertainment. Each selection earns admiration by showcasing artistic innovation and ambition while conveying vital human truths.
So which film will you watch next? 72 combined critic Top 10 appearances and 100% Rotten Tomatoes ratings signal immense promise. Let Reddit be your guide to the most essential documentaries worthy of your precious viewing time.
