biography documentaries to watch

  • 15 Celebrity Documentaries That Actually Reveal...
  • The Greatest Docs of All Time
  • Life-Changing Documentaries
  • Netflix Original Documentary Series
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Oscar-Winning Documentaries
  • Gripping Documentaries About Scams And Frauds, ...
  • On Netflix Instant
  • The Best Netflix Original Docs
  • New Documentary Movies Of 2024, Ranked By Fans
  • Best Weird Documentaries on Netflix
  • Psychopaths
  • Documentaries That Filmed Something While It Wa...
  • Prostitution

The 100+ Best Biographical Documentary Series, Ranked

Ranker TV

The best television documentary biographies are as engaging as a scripted series, while also sharing real lives. The best biography documentary series ever shown on television tell the tales of people - from celebrities to average folks who led extraordinary lives. If you’ve been looking for the best biography documentaries to add some enjoyable education to your TV nights, this list of the best art and art history documentary series of all time will help you figure out what needs to go into your queue.

Some documentary biography series follow individuals for the full run of the show, such as The Defiant Ones , or any documentary series that follows the life of historical figures such as Churchill or Napoleon. Many other documentary biography series use an anthology format and tell the story of different people each episode. 30 for 30 , Behind the Music , and even E! True Hollywood Story tell peoples' stories with a mix of reenactment, file footage, and information from experts in the field.

Which shows do the best job sharing information about the lives of famous people? Vote up the best biography documentary shows and add any biographical documentary series that are missing.

Info Icon

Reframed: Marilyn Monroe

  • Premiered : January 16, 2022

IS IT WATCHWORTHY?

Willie Nelson & Family

Willie Nelson & Family

  • Premiered : December 21, 2023

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

  • Premiered : March 5, 2018

POV

  • Premiered : July 5, 1988

The Last Movie Stars

The Last Movie Stars

  • Premiered : July 21, 2022

Time: The Kalief Browder Story

Time: The Kalief Browder Story

  • Premiered : 2017

E! True Hollywood Story

E! True Hollywood Story

  • Premiered : February 16, 1997

The Story of Late Night

The Story of Late Night

  • Premiered : April 26, 2020

VH1's Legends

VH1's Legends

  • Premiered : 1995

How to Become a Tyrant

How to Become a Tyrant

  • Premiered : July 9, 2021

The Andy Warhol Diaries

The Andy Warhol Diaries

  • Premiered : March 9, 2022

The Larry David Story

The Larry David Story

  • Premiered : March 1, 2022

LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy

LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy

  • Premiered : February 20, 2022

Bobby Kennedy for President

Bobby Kennedy for President

  • Premiered : April 27, 2018

30 for 30

  • Premiered : October 6, 2009

The Men Who Built America

The Men Who Built America

  • Premiered : October 16, 2012

Five Came Back

Five Came Back

  • Premiered : March 31, 2017

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

  • Premiered : September 19, 2021

Biography

  • Premiered : 1987

BECKHAM

  • Premiered : October 4, 2023

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

  • Premiered : April 3, 2023

Murf the Smurf

Murf the Smurf

  • Premiered : February 5, 2023

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

  • Premiered : May 30, 2022

Behind the Music

Behind the Music

  • Premiered : August 17, 1997

PBS American Portrait

PBS American Portrait

  • Premiered : January 5, 2021

The Most Dangerous Animal of All

The Most Dangerous Animal of All

  • Premiered : March 6, 2020

100 Foot Wave

100 Foot Wave

  • Premiered : July 18, 2021

American Masters

American Masters

  • Premiered : June 23, 1986

Paul Merton's Silent Clowns

Paul Merton's Silent Clowns

  • Premiered : 2007

Gossip

  • Premiered : August 22, 2021

The Titans That Built America

The Titans That Built America

  • Premiered : 2021

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan

  • Premiered : January 1, 2019

Becoming

  • Premiered : September 18, 2020

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

  • Premiered : March 25, 2012

Shaq

  • Premiered : November 23, 2022

Behind the Music

  • Premiered : July 28, 2021

Philly D.A.

Philly D.A.

  • Premiered : April 20, 2021

Free Meek

  • Premiered : August 9, 2019

A Stitch In Time

A Stitch In Time

A Stitch In Time (BBC, 2018) is a British biographical documentary television series . Fusing biography, art and the history of fashion, Amber Butchart explores the lives of historical figures through the clothes they wore.

  • Premiered : 2018

Beethoven

  • Premiered : 2005

Tiger

  • Premiered : January 10, 2021

From Cradle to Stage

From Cradle to Stage

  • Premiered : May 6, 2021

Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up

Kevin Hart: Don't F**k This Up

  • Premiered : December 27, 2019

The Last Dance

The Last Dance

  • Premiered : April 19, 2020

Becoming Frida Kahlo

Becoming Frida Kahlo

  • Premiered : March 10, 2023

Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All

Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All

  • Premiered : May 3, 2023

Nuclear Family

Nuclear Family

  • Premiered : September 26, 2021

George Carlin's American Dream

George Carlin's American Dream

  • Premiered : May 20, 2022

Expecting Amy

Expecting Amy

  • Premiered : July 9, 2020

Final 24

  • Premiered : April 15, 2006

I'm With The Band: Nasty Cherry

I'm With The Band: Nasty Cherry

  • Premiered : November 15, 2019

Roman Empire

Roman Empire

  • Premiered : November 11, 2016

Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil

Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil

  • Premiered : March 23, 2021

Arnold

  • Premiered : June 7, 2023

Batali: The Fall of a Superstar Chef

Batali: The Fall of a Superstar Chef

  • Premiered : September 22, 2022

Michael Phelps: Medals, Memories, and More

Michael Phelps: Medals, Memories, and More

Hillary

Pretend It's a City

  • Premiered : January 8, 2021

What Happened, Brittany Murphy?

What Happened, Brittany Murphy?

  • Premiered : October 14, 2021

I Am the Ambassador

I Am the Ambassador

  • Premiered : 2014

RACE: Bubba Wallace

RACE: Bubba Wallace

  • Premiered : February 22, 2022

Where Is Wendy Williams?

Where Is Wendy Williams?

  • Premiered : February 24, 2024

Nine Lives of

Nine Lives of

  • Premiered : January 10, 2024

FDR

  • Premiered : May 29, 2023

Asian Americans

Asian Americans

  • Premiered : May 11, 2020

Rillington Place

Rillington Place

  • Premiered : November 29, 2016

Captive Audience

Captive Audience

  • Premiered : April 21, 2022

The Reagans

The Reagans

  • Premiered : November 15, 2020

Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union

Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union

  • Premiered : August 3, 2021

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

  • Premiered : May 30, 2015

James Brown: Say It Loud

James Brown: Say It Loud

  • Premiered : February 19, 2024

The Many Lives of Martha Stewart

The Many Lives of Martha Stewart

  • Premiered : January 28, 2024

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams

  • Premiered : November 8, 2023

Kennedy

  • Premiered : November 18, 2023

Goliath

  • Premiered : July 16, 2023

Shaun White: The Last Run

Shaun White: The Last Run

  • Premiered : July 6, 2023

Dear...

  • Premiered : June 5, 2020

Devil's Advocate: The Mostly True Story of Giovanni Di Stefano

Devil's Advocate: The Mostly True Story of Giovanni Di Stefano

  • Premiered : February 15, 2022

The Kennedys After Camelot

The Kennedys After Camelot

  • Premiered : April 2, 2017

Madiba

  • Premiered : February 1, 2017

They Call Me Magic

They Call Me Magic

  • Premiered : April 22, 2022

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka

  • Premiered : July 16, 2021

Lincoln's Dilemma

Lincoln's Dilemma

  • Premiered : February 18, 2022

City So Real

City So Real

  • Premiered : October 29, 2020

Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up

Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up

  • Premiered : June 3, 2024

Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter

Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter

  • Premiered : May 27, 2024

Mr. McMahon

Mr. McMahon

  • Premiered : September 25, 2024

Hemingway

  • Premiered : April 5, 2021

Grant

  • Premiered : 2020

The Naked Director

The Naked Director

  • Premiered : August 8, 2019

STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces

STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces

  • Premiered : March 29, 2024

Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend

Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend

  • Premiered : February 21, 2024

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story

  • Premiered : April 26, 2024

Messi Meets America

Messi Meets America

  • Premiered : October 11, 2023

Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50

Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50

  • Premiered : June 15, 2023

McGregor Forever

McGregor Forever

  • Premiered : May 17, 2023

Dear Mama

  • Premiered : April 21, 2023

Hurts Like Hell

Hurts Like Hell

  • Premiered : July 13, 2022

Leavenworth

Leavenworth

  • Premiered : October 20, 2019

Boston George: Famous Without the Fortune

Boston George: Famous Without the Fortune

  • Premiered : July 22, 2022

Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean

Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean

  • Premiered : July 30, 2021

Defining Moments With OZY

Defining Moments With OZY

  • Premiered : March 4, 2020

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure

Joe Montana: Cool Under Pressure

  • Premiered : January 6, 2022

Pau Gasol: It's About The Journey

Pau Gasol: It's About The Journey

  • Premiered : November 12, 2021

Founding in Color

Founding in Color

  • Premiered : September 9, 2021

Icons Unearthed: Tom Cruise

Icons Unearthed: Tom Cruise

  • Premiered : September 4, 2024

Simone Biles: Rising

Simone Biles: Rising

  • Premiered : July 17, 2024

Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose

Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose

  • Premiered : July 24, 2024

Uncensored

  • Premiered : February 18, 2018

The Icons That Built America

The Icons That Built America

  • Premiered : June 23, 2024

Kaulitz & Kaulitz

Kaulitz & Kaulitz

  • Premiered : June 25, 2024

Alexander: The Making of a God

Alexander: The Making of a God

  • Premiered : January 31, 2024

Like Flowers in Sand

Like Flowers in Sand

  • Premiered : December 20, 2023

The Golden Boy

The Golden Boy

  • Premiered : July 24, 2023

The Romantics

The Romantics

  • Premiered : February 14, 2023

Omega: The Gift & the Curse

Omega: The Gift & the Curse

  • Premiered : March 2, 2023

Terim

  • Premiered : September 15, 2022

My Life as a Rolling Stone

My Life as a Rolling Stone

  • Premiered : July 2, 2022

Nicky Jam: El Ganador

Nicky Jam: El Ganador

  • Entertainment
  • Documentaries
  • Watchworthy

Lists that rank the most fascinating, most trusted documentaries on every subject, from poverty and addiction to Wall Street and the oil industry.

15 Celebrity Documentaries That Actually Reveal...