On July 20, 1969, the historic Apollo 11 mission landed the first men on the moon. Since then, many documentaries, TV series, and films have been released to tell the story of this mission. In honor of the moon landing anniversary, we’ve compiled a list of educational documentaries on the moon landing to watch. These selections are also perfect for hosting a public screening at your public library, university, or community organization.
Moon Landing: The Lost Tapes (2019)
The History Channel released this documentary for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. It includes real footage (“lost tapes”) of the astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission, recorded audio from mission control, and more rare film and photos. It showcases the fear and doubts during the mission as they almost aborted twice and how they overcame the problems to be the first to step foot on the moon.
First to the Moon: The Journey to Apollo 8 (2018)
This documentary focuses on the first mission of astronauts to travel to the moon, Apollo 8. It includes archival footage and audio, telling the story of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders—the Apollo 8 astronauts—including how all three of them ended up in the capsule to the Moon, despite their three different stories/backgrounds. The mission is juxtaposed against the US facing war in Vietnam, the Cold War, and the battle for civil rights.
The Wonder of it All (2007)
The Wonder of it All focuses on the Apollo 11 astronauts—Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt. It includes interviews with the astronauts, giving us insight into the training, tragedies, and how it felt being on the moon and in space. They also give the viewers more information about themselves and how they feel the moon changed them.
Earthrise (2018)
This short, 30-minute documentary tells the story of the first image captured of Earth from space in 1968 by the Apollo 8 astronauts. It captures the astronauts' experiences and memories in space as they took the iconic image that impacted the whole world—compelling viewers to see Earth as a shared home, outside of national, political, or religious boundaries.
8 Days: To the Moon and Back (2019)
Released by PBS in 2019, this hybrid documentary/film uses audio recordings from the Apollo 11 mission (including declassified cockpit recordings) and recreates the journey using NASA film, reenactments, and CGI.
Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017)
This documentary is unique in that it focuses on the mission control crew who worked through Apollo 8 and 11, and their efforts to save the crew of Apollo 13. It tells their unique stories about where they came from and how they found their way to the mission control team. It includes interviews with those who worked in mission control and astronauts, along with archival footage, VFX, and its own original music score.
The Day We Walked On the Moon (2019)
Released by the Smithsonian Institute, this documentary tells how Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon using footage and interviews with significant figures involved in the Apollo 11 mission. Those interviewed include flight director Gene Kranz, Professor Brian Cox, Dr. Brian May, and astronauts Michael Collins, Frank Borman, and Charlie Duke.
Apollo: The Forgotten Films (2019)
Discovery released this documentary that features more unseen footage from NASA Research Centers, The National Archive, and news reports from the time of the landing. It gives a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation that went into successfully landing men on the moon, including the work of engineers, scientists, and astronauts.