Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?
Here is a list of 20 documentaries I have come to love and return to when I come across them. There is no specific order to them. Enjoy! The * next to the number indicates the last 4 years.  If you have seen one listed that you&#x27;d like to share what you think about please leave a comment with this structure [# in the list ] Comment... . i.e. [1] Loved learning about Noyce. What a guy.<p>1. Silicon Valley: Where the Future | PBS: American Experience [1:23:19] [2013]
    History of the how Silicon Valley came to be. William Shockley. Robert Noyce. Fairchild Semiconductor, The Traitorous Eight.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pbs.org&#x2F;wgbh&#x2F;americanexperience&#x2F;films&#x2F;silicon&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pbs.org&#x2F;wgbh&#x2F;americanexperience&#x2F;films&#x2F;silicon&#x2F;</a>
    Kanopy: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;122744" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;122744</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;silicon-valley" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;silicon-valley</a><p>2. Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware | Wired UK: Future Cities [1:07:50] [2016]
    the evolution of “Shanzhai” – or copycat manufacturing – has transformed traditional models of business, distribution and innovation, and asks what the rest of the world can learn from this so-called “Silicon Valley of hardware&quot;.
    Youtube: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;SGJ5cZnoodY" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;SGJ5cZnoodY</a><p><pre><code>    *2.1. The People&#x27;s Republic of The Future | Bloomberg: Hello World [30:10] [2019]
        Shenzhen, tech-fueled entrepreneurs try to navigate an authoritarian regime.
        Youtube: https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;taZJblMAuko
</code></pre>
3. The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard | TPB AFK [1:22:07] [2013]
    The history of the Pirate Bay. Torrenting. Legal. Privacy.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;tpbafk.tv" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;tpbafk.tv</a>
    Youtube: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;eTOKXCEwo_8" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;eTOKXCEwo_8</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;the-pirate-bay-away-from-keyboard" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;the-pirate-bay-away-from-...</a><p><i>4. Can’t Get You Out of My Head | BBC [6 Part] [2021]
    Adam Curtis takes you on &quot;An Emotional history of how we got to this place.&quot; Economics. History. Power. Psychology. World. China. Russia. UK. USA.
    Part 1: Bloodshed on Wolf Mountain [1:14:15]
    Part 2: Shooting and F*king are the Same Thing [1:14:01]
    Part 3: Money Changes Everything [1:10:36]
    Part 4: But What If the People Are Stupid? [1:13:29]
    Part 5: The Lordly Ones [1:05:43]
    Part 6: Are We Pigeon? Or Are We Dancer? [1:59:50]
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.com&#x2F;bbcfilm&#x2F;films&#x2F;cant-get-you-out-of-my-head&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.com&#x2F;bbcfilm&#x2F;films&#x2F;cant-get-you-out-of-my-hea...</a>
    BBC iPlayer: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;iplayer&#x2F;episodes&#x2F;p093wp6h&#x2F;cant-get-you-out-of-my-head" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;iplayer&#x2F;episodes&#x2F;p093wp6h&#x2F;cant-get-you...</a>
    Thought Maybe: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thoughtmaybe.com&#x2F;cant-get-you-out-of-my-head&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thoughtmaybe.com&#x2F;cant-get-you-out-of-my-head&#x2F;</a><p>5. Three Identical Strangers | NEON [1:37:00] [2018]
    Its in the name, but The less you know about this story the better. 
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.threeidenticalstrangers.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.threeidenticalstrangers.com</a>
    Kanopy: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;11374410" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;11374410</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;three-identical-strangers" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;three-identical-strangers</a><p></i>6. The Pharmacist | Netflix [4 Part] [2020]
    A small-town pharmacist investigates the death of his son in a drug deal, but his investigation skills only expands when OxyContin becomes available.
    Part 1: Justice for Danny [1:00:38]
    Part 2: A Mission from God [58:47]
    Part 3: Dope Dealers with White Lab Coats [47:30]
    Part 4: Tunnel of Hope [48:31]
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thecinemart.com&#x2F;the-pharmacist.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thecinemart.com&#x2F;the-pharmacist.html</a>
    Netflix: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;81002576" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;81002576</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;tv-show&#x2F;the-pharmacist" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;tv-show&#x2F;the-pharmacist</a><p><i>7. AlphaGo | Netflix [1:30:27] [2017]
    Deepmind, Alphabets&#x27;s AI company, creates an AI to play the game Go and faces off to beat the best, Lee Sedol.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.alphagomovie.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.alphagomovie.com</a>
    Youtube: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;WXuK6gekU1Y" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;WXuK6gekU1Y</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;alphago" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;alphago</a><p>8. Page One: Inside the New York Times | Magnolia Pictures [1:31:38] [2011]
    As print media begins to be challenged by the internet, you get an inside look into NY Times.
    Homepage: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.magpictures.com&#x2F;pageone&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.magpictures.com&#x2F;pageone&#x2F;</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;page-one-inside-the-new-york-times" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;page-one-inside-the-new-y...</a><p>9. The Secret of Tuxedo Park | PBS: American Experience [53:00] [2018]
    Alfred Lee Loomis isn&#x27;t just a Wall Street tycoon, but a scientist with a checkbook to pay for it. Opening his home to the best, he follows his interest and a call from the government about WWII.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pbs.org&#x2F;wgbh&#x2F;americanexperience&#x2F;films&#x2F;secret-tuxedo-park&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.pbs.org&#x2F;wgbh&#x2F;americanexperience&#x2F;films&#x2F;secret-tux...</a><p>10. The Century of the Self | BBC [4 Part] [2002]
    Adam Curtis investigates how Freudian theory influenced twentieth century society.
    Part 1: Happiness Machines [58:32]
    Part 2: The Engineering of Consent [58:40]
    Part 3: There is a Policeman Inside All Our Heads, He Must Be Destroyed [58:39]
    Part 4: Eight People Sipping Wine in Kettering [59:32]
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;programmes&#x2F;p00ghx6g" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;programmes&#x2F;p00ghx6g</a>
    BBC iPlayer: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;iplayer&#x2F;episodes&#x2F;p00ghx6g&#x2F;the-century-of-the-self" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.bbc.co.uk&#x2F;iplayer&#x2F;episodes&#x2F;p00ghx6g&#x2F;the-century-...</a>
    Thought Maybe: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thoughtmaybe.com&#x2F;the-century-of-the-self&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;thoughtmaybe.com&#x2F;the-century-of-the-self&#x2F;</a><p>11. How Ants Can Make The Internet a Safer Place | Tom Mishra [00:04:08] [2015]
    Five researchers, scientists and mathematicians studied the behavior of Ants and Game Theory to create a safer Internet.
    Video: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;vimeo.com&#x2F;147548221" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;vimeo.com&#x2F;147548221</a><p></i>12. Chasing Einstein | Ignite [1:22:00] [2019]
    Follows leading scientists around the world, from the largest particle accelerator at CERN in Switzerland to the LIGO gravitational wave detector in the US to find out whether Einstein&#x27;s theory of gravity can stand the test of time.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;chasingeinsteinfilm.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;chasingeinsteinfilm.com</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;chasing-einstein" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;chasing-einstein</a><p>13. Language of Love (Ur kärlekens språk) | [1:43:00] [1969] * Rated X, and in Swedish
    A panel of real-life doctors discuss sexual hangups, misconceptions, personal prejudices and the ignorance of individuals when it comes to matters sexual.
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;language-of-love" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;language-of-love</a><p>14. Citizenfour | TWC [1:54:00] [2014]
    A documentarian and a reporter travel to Hong Kong to meet Edward Snowden where they release classified information.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;citizenfourfilm.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;citizenfourfilm.com</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;citizen-four" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;citizen-four</a><p>15. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail | PBS: Frontline [1:30:00] [2016]
    The Chinese immigrant Sung family, owners of Abacus Federal Savings of Chinatown, New York is targeted by the DA in the mess after the 2008 financial crisis.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.abacusmovie.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.abacusmovie.com</a>
    Kanopy: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;2141966" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;2141966</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;abacus-small-enough-to-jail" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;abacus-small-enough-to-ja...</a><p>16. Zero Days | Magnolia Pictures [1:56:00] [2016]
    Stuxnet, a self-replicating computer virus discovered in 2010 by international IT experts points to be created by the NSA and used by Unit 8200, Israel, on Iran nuclear enrichment facility.
    Homepage: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.zerodaysfilm.com" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.zerodaysfilm.com</a>
    Kanopy: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;10846994" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;10846994</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;zero-days" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;zero-days</a><p><i>17. Tell Me Who I Am | Netflix [1:25:32] [2019]
    The less you know about this story the better.
    Netflix: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;80214706" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;80214706</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;tell-me-who-i-am" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;tell-me-who-i-am</a><p></i>18. McMillions | HBO [6 Part] [2020]
    A detailed account of the McDonald&#x27;s Monopoly game scam during the 1990s.
    Part 1: Episode 1 [55:50]
    Part 2: Episode 2 [53:57]
    Part 3: Episode 3 [56:54]
    Part 4: Episode 4 [57:08]
    Part 5: Episode 5 [56:41]
    Part 6: Episode 6 [56:59]
    HBO: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.hbo.com&#x2F;mc-millions" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.hbo.com&#x2F;mc-millions</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;tv-show&#x2F;mcmillion" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;tv-show&#x2F;mcmillion</a><p>19. Jesus Camp | Magnolia Pictures [1:24:00] [2006]
    Children at a christian summer camp as they hone their &quot;prophetic gifts&quot; and are schooled in how to &quot;take back America for christ.&quot; The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again christian children to become an active part of America&#x27;s political future.
    Kanopy: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;10803148" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.kanopy.com&#x2F;en&#x2F;product&#x2F;10803148</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;jesus-camp" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;jesus-camp</a><p>*20. The Edge of All We Know | Netflix [1:39:00] [2020]
    Follow the quest to understand the most mysterious objects in the universe, black holes.
    Homepage: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.blackholefilm.com" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.blackholefilm.com</a>
    Netflix: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;81343342" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.netflix.com&#x2F;title&#x2F;81343342</a>
    Where to Watch: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;black-holes-the-edge-of-all-we-know" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.justwatch.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;movie&#x2F;black-holes-the-edge-of-a...</a>