Part of the allure of documentaries is their ability to move and inspire.
I’m not splitting the atom in saying that, but it’s true. And that power is frequently associated with stories that aren’t particularly cheerful, which is not to say they aren’t important stories and good movies. However, that reputation can obscure the heaps of uplifting documentaries that retain that ability to inspire.
Documentaries of that ilk aren’t entirely the opposite of their serious siblings, either. They can be nuanced, even profound, life-affirming journeys full of joy and hope.
Here are 10 uplifting documentaries that will fill your cup.
For All Mankind
For All Mankind is a beautiful movie about mankind’s first steps on the moon, utilizing long takes of footage from the Apollo mission that revel in the minutiae of the astronauts' experiences. The astronauts reflect on the larger meaning of their quest, their good fortune to be part of this mission, and the small moments of awe that are often overshadowed by the significance of their achievement.
A significant highlight is For All Mankind's inclusion of audio from their moonwalks. The astronauts sing to one another and joyfully goof around while acknowledging the reality of the dangers that surround them in the vast vacuum of space, an unfathomable distance from anyone who could help them. Their childlike joy and the profundity of their accomplishment makes for bright viewing.
Click here to get your copy of For All Mankind on DVD.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
If you were to build a list of the most uplifting individuals of the 20th century, Fred Rogers is a lock for the shortlist.
This 2018 documentary explores the life and life lessons of the man who generations of children knew as Mr. Rogers. It captures more than what was important about his show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It showcases his ability to be gentle but principled and firm in his idealism. It’s the kind of documentary that makes viewers — no matter their background — want to enter each day as a better person and to see the world with a fraction of Rogers’ optimism.
Click here to get your copy of Won't You Be My Neighbor on DVD.
Spellbound
Spellbound isn’t a movie that offers an overt lesson, which is not to say it's without meaning. But, it just feels good. The Oscar-nominated documentary follows eight children in their quest to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Viewers enter knowing that, at best, most of them aren’t going to win — there can only be one winner, after all. That helps dull any disappointment when some of the subjects inevitably get knocked out. Watching these children work relentlessly toward their goal is inspiring, as is seeing the maturity they exhibit in supporting one another.
Click here to get your copy of Spellbound on DVD.
Fantastic Fungi
If you weren’t already aware, fungi are incredible. They’re beautiful, enigma-filled, and have been part of the planet for an almost unfathomable amount of time.
Fantastic Fungi is a gorgeous time-lapse trip into the world of fungi, showing their ability to regenerate life, grow, and exude a calming beauty that will leave you feeling a connection to nature’s mystery and beauty in equal measure.
Click here to stream Fantastic Fungi on Prime Video.
We Beat the Dream Team
The legend of the Dream Team is bigger than Godzilla. NBA stars went to the Olympics for the first time in 1992. The U.S. roster was unlike anything anyone had seen before. They famously went undefeated en route to gold.
Except, they did lose one game. Maybe.
We Beat the Dream Team digs into the team of collegiate athletes — a group featuring future NBA stars — who were assembled as a foil for the Dream Team, a group of players against whom the Dream Team could practice. That team, as the title suggests, beat the Dream Team in a single scrimmage. However, there's enough debate around whether the team was trying or if coach Chuck Daly intentionally threw the game to make this 80-minute movie deeply entertaining. It’s also uplifting in its humor and its reminder that David can beat Goliath from time to time.
Click here to stream We Beat the Dream Team on HBO Max.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
This beloved documentary follows Jiro Ono, a suhi master who owns a world-renowned restaurant in Tokyo. His pursuit of sushi perfection is inspiring (and maybe a little intimidating). You can share those feelings with his son, Yoshikazu, as he prepares to take over his 85-year-old father’s restaurant and the great expectations that come with it.
Click here to get your copy of Jiro Dreams of Sushi on DVD.
John Lewis: Good Trouble
It'd be understandable to ask why Good Trouble is sitting here on a list of uplifting movies.
The documentary chronicles John Lewis' more than 60 years of activism and work as a legislator. His enormous impact included progress on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, and health care reform, to name just a few of his legendary accomplishments.
While Lewis was forced to endure the evils of racism, he also proved what an enormous impact a single life can have on the lives of many. Good Trouble is a reminder of what’s possible through community, hard work, and a dedication to what's just.
Click here to get your copy of John Lewis: Good Trouble on DVD.
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Man on Wire
What possesses someone to risk their life on a tightrope? Man on Wire is glad you asked. It’s the story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker who views his craft as an art.
Petit was a wire walker, juggler, and all-around street performer. But Man on Wire isn’t the story of his life. It’s centered around the audacious, dangerous, and illegal 1974 stunt where he walked a high-wire between the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. It was a mad thing to do, and Man on Wire won’t convince you otherwise. It will, however, convince you that there’s a lot of life to be seized out there if you're bold enough to take a risk.
Click here to get your copy of Man on Wire on DVD.
Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made
Stories about kids pop up a few times here. Maybe that's because they're prone to big ideas and haven't let the world tell them those dreams aren't possible. Raiders! recounts the bold vision of a few kids who bonded over their love of Raiders of the Lost Ark. They didn't just love the movie, though. They set out to film a shot-for-shot remake.
Over the course of seven years, these kids went to incredible lengths to shoot a fan film with a cadre of friends, using birthdays and Christmas as opportunities to ask for props and costumes. Before graduating high school, they had filmed everything except the last scene. This documentary chronicles the making of the movie, their friendship and ambition, and the reunion, more than a decade later, where they'd finally shoot that elusive final scene.
It’s a silly, impressive, and, more than anything, inspiring story about big dreams, the lasting bonds of friendship, not letting your inner child die, and what it means to really care about something.
Click here to get your copy of Raiders! on DVD.
GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
When it launched in 1986, GLOW was an ambitious project: A professional wrestling league, made for TV, focused on women wrestlers. It was a runaway success, with bold ambitions, clever sketches, and wrestlers who were devoted to their craft. GLOW traces its rise and somewhat mysterious demise.
What makes it uplifting isn’t simply the league's success, but seeing the wrestlers interviewed decades later and understanding just how much GLOW meant to them. It’s the kind of movie that sounds (and is) fun, but is much more than the sum of its parts, coalescing into a documentary capable of producing tears.
Click here to get your copy of GLOW on DVD.
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