Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

Best Documentary Essay Examples & Topics

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351 samples

Watching documentaries is a great way to learn new things. These are films that shape and interpret facts for education and entertainment of their viewers. It has several social functions, which are to record, preserve, and reveal, and persuade. This form of motion films also aims to entertain and educate.

If you are struggling to write a good documentary essay, our experts have combined some helpful tips for you here. So, no need to worry.

First and foremost, you should find a topic. Focus on something you are genuinely passionate about. Think about the cause that matters to you: maybe it’s climate change, slavery, environmental cause, ocean pollution, or perhaps it’s something else. It is essential to find something that speaks to you. This way, you won’t struggle with composing your paper.

You can also find a list of essay topics for your documentary research below, checking our samples. Yet, to pick the right idea, we first need to understand what film types are available.

There are several genres of documentaries:

  • Expository documentaries. Such films present objective information with a ubiquitous presence. The filmmaker usually does not appear on the screen.
  • Poetic documentaries. They rely heavily on images and music rather than narration. That is to say, there is little verbal communication with the audience.
  • Essayistic documentaries. These movies feature an essay-like narration. The filmmaker relies both on speech and on the images to make their point.
  • Observational documentaries. They try to demonstrate an objective record of some activity. It almost does not have music and narration and tries to present the event as-it-is.
  • Participatory documentaries. The films are the complete opposite of observational ones. The filmmaker is an active participant in the movie. They appear on the screen and communicate the subject.
  • Performance documentaries. These movies feature a dramatic performance. It can be a concert, a play, or another performance event recorded in the form of a documentary.
  • Interview films. These are the records of a conversation between two or more people. It relies on communication on-screen to deliver the message rather than on images and music.
  • Dramatization. This type recreates an event using actors to bring the viewer to the event. Some argue that it is not a form of documentary.
  • Mixed documentaries. The films use different modes and techniques. It can combine poetic, expository, interview modes at the same time.
  • Animation films. Such movies are standard, too, and their most distinctive feature is the use of animation to present the material.

As for your documentary essay assignment, you can be asked to work with any documentary. Let’s figure out what tasks you will need to fulfill beforehand.

Documentary Review vs. Analysis

Not everyone understands the difference between a movie review and a movie analysis when watching movies and writing essays about the material. Sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably. Nevertheless, when it comes to grading and evaluating the paper, this difference is essential.

  • A film review essay is a “consumer-oriented” judgment that aims to recommend (or not) a movie. One can find documentary review essay examples in the newspapers, websites, or online databases.
  • An analysis of the film usually offers an interpretation and an evaluation of the movie. Some film theory is generally used as a framework to analyze and interpret the feature.

You can center your documentary essay assignment around not only a specific film but an entire genre of documentaries. You might be asked to write about a specific topic or an aspect of one movie in depth. Let’s try to see how it works!

How to Write a Documentary Essay

When you are asked to write an essay about a documentary, there are expectations. You will need to analyze specific elements in one film or a few.

No matter what your assignment is, we are here to help you nail it! Here is a short guide on how to write a documentary essay:

  1. Watch the documentary (and take notes). We highly recommended watching the film several times before you start writing anything. Throughout this process, you should take notes to recall essential elements later on. Schematically express your ideas and arguments.
  2. Choose your perspective. You need to understand the approach you will be using. However, your position should be supported by the examples and ideas from the film. Search for what others think and say on a similar issue and compare it to your thoughts.
  3. Pick what to discuss. After that, you need to start collecting the examples and ideas from the movie that support your viewpoint. All these elements should eventually connect to the main focus of your paper. You can try to do some additional research but do not forget to return to the movie continually.
  4. Outline your essay. The outline will help you stay within the word limit. This way, you’ll structure your thoughts and ideas on the paper before you start your essay. Plus, you will remain close to the intended format while writing.
  5. Write it! Start with a brief introduction about the documentary and your thesis statement at the end of it. Then, evaluate the film, developing your arguments logically. In your conclusion, restate your position on the matter and list the critical points discussed.

Thank you for reading this article till the very end! We hope you found it helpful. Share this page with those who need our help. For your inspiration, you can check the list of documentary essay examples below.

🏆 Top 10 Documentary Essay Topics

  1. The roles of documentaries in culture
  2. The history of documentary film
  3. Documentary and propaganda
  4. Documentaries with and without words: compare and contrast
  5. Narration styles in modern documentaries
  6. Pseudo-documentary as a genre
  7. The role of documentary films in education
  8. Ethnographic film and its role in social science
  9. Documentary in the era of social-media platforms
  10. The ethics of documentary film

351 Documentary Essay Examples

“The American Factory”: Plot and Issues Portrayed

In the film American Factory, Bognar and Reichert delve deep into the livelihoods of the American workers in Ohio and the problematic transition experienced by Chinese managers to American work culture and way of life.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1069

The Documentary “Waiting Room”

The patients featured in the film present the excruciating pains and frustrations the patients without insurance covers face in American public hospitals.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 628

The Century of the Self: Video Summary

This part concentrates on the changes the newly elected President Roosevelt was making to lead America out of the economic crisis, the alternatives to democracy that were being sought around the world, and Bernays' later [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 913

The Documentary “The American Nurse” by Carolyn Jones

The story of Jason Short demonstrates autonomy characterized by his independence and self-confidence, as he works alone and manages to help the members of his community without any support from other healthcare professionals.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 650

“A Beautiful Mind” Directed by Ron Howard

When he is working on his graduate studies, he is so concentrated on proposing a unique concept that he does not have a moment for anything else, and it rewards off in the end.
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1682

The Documentary “Age 7 in America” by Phil Joanou

Instead, they are interesting in hopes for the future, hobbies, and activities that do not represent traditional gender bias. The effects of being raised with attention to gender bias are evident in their values and [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 292

“When the Levees Broke” by Spike Lee

Firstly the question of the awful performance of the government in dealing with the disaster and sufferings of people, and secondly the state sponsored ignorance of the masses who were made to suffer the horrifying [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 942

The Movie Life and Debt

In fact, tourists enjoy the best of weather, imported food, and entertainment in a country where the mass is in absolute penury.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1359

The Film Baraka and Its Spiritual Reflections

The instances of silence between the music are as imperative as the music itself. The film director seizes this opportunity to propose the theme of the film through as simple and a plain cut.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1069

The Speaking in Tongues Documentary Overview

The film Speaking in Tongues focuses on the experiences of four families with children in a DLI program in California, and interviews educators, researchers, and advocates who support and oppose bilingual education.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1396

21st Century Hackers – Documentary Review

According to the documentary, hacking is of three different types: white hackers, black hackers, and grey hackers. On the other side, there are black hackers who use their hacking pedigree to extort money from innocent [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 547

The 2008 Banking Crisis in the Documentary “Inside Job”

Using the documentary "Inside Job", the paper presented below asserts that the malpractices of different banking experts, the ethical dilemma revolving around ratings agencies' actions, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley and the Glass-Steagall Acts influenced the nature [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1412

The Documentary “Last Train Home”

The social issues that have been shown in the documentary are living condition of migrant workers in cities, the growing gap between the children and their absentee parents, and the change in the position of [...]
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1385

The “They Call Us Monsters” Film Analysis

Jarad had a traumatic connection to seeing his stepfather try to commit suicide, while Juan grew up with the feeling that he was not accepted by his father and constantly felt that he competed with [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1116

“China in Revolution, 1911-1949”

The director and the writer of the movie pride in a deep understanding of the Chinese history as they give an almost accurate recount of the events that unfolded in China between 1911 and 1949.
  • 5
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1396

The Documentary “Inequality for All?”

As competition continues to become fierce in the global market, more companies will be expected to engage in different malpractices thus threatening the lives of more people. Experts also believe that this problem will continue [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 557

Sicko: U.S. Health Care System Issues

Basically, it compares universal health care system in other countries to that of United States. This reached its peak during the warm up to 2008 elections in which major components of health care reforms were [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 931

No Rest for the Wicked

The sixty-minute documentary produced by historian Tristan Hunt unravels the influence of Calvinism, Puritanism, and the Industrial Revolution on the current global order that is dominated by capitalism.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 961

The Documentary “People Like Us”: Reflection

The film delves into their lifestyles, values, and experiences, as well as examples of how social class influences hobbies, preferences, tastes, and overall life opportunities."The People Like Us" provides an insightful examination of America's social [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 590

The “Meet the Patels” Documentary by Patel & Patel

The 2014 film Meet the Patels centers on the topic of intergenerational cultural dissonance in immigrant families, characterized by the conflict of cultural values between parents and children. Thus, Ravi's use of avoiding conflict style [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 295

The Documentary Film “Flow: For Love of Water”

First, the issue in question is in direct relation to the welfare of the entire planet's population, and the film makes a convincing case that there are reasons to worry. In the end, I believe [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 638

The Documentary “Supplements and Safety”

The Frontline documentary, "Supplements and Safety," provides a thorough and insightful description of the main problems existing in the supplement industry: safety, regulation, and efficacy.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 900

Documentary Films Concept and Definition

The definition of documentary films addresses such features as the level of control, the institutional base, the structure of texts, and the attitude towards viewers.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1356

Documentaries as a Education Tool

In this context, the importance of ensuring that the audience is interested in the documentary's content is critical. In this regard, the effectiveness of a documentary in providing information is realized ethically.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 541

The “Ten Billion” Documentary Reaction

It was interesting to learn about the effects of population growth on the environment and global poverty and the potential solutions to managing population growth.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 394

HBO Documentary Risky Drinking

The documentary displays how excessive drinking can shadow one's perception of life, and how the addiction can hinder people's strive to act upon their need to better themselves.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 363

“The Biggest Little Farm” Movie Critique

The film is a documentary and shows the real life and the desire of the husband and wife to create their wonderful farm where they can grow vegetables and fruits, as well as have different [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 560

Documentary Review “Killer Landslides”

The geologists collaborating with the filmmakers examine the samples of soil and clay in the area affected by the landslide to investigate the contributing factors, such as heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 563

Themes in Ava DuVernay’s “13th”

The other important themes accentuated in the film include mass incarceration, racism, social bias, the gender issue, the impact on the environment, the social impact, the ineffectiveness of a prison system, and education.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1181

“Super Size Me” Documentary by Morgan Spurlock

Talking about the ethical side of the movie Super Size Me and its hard critics of McDonald's and the style of life offered by this company, it is necessary to admit that its author, Morgan [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1059

The Documentary “Triumph of the Nerds”

The introduction of personal computers to the market revolutionized almost every aspect of human life today."Triumph of the Nerds" is a 1996 documentary about the history of personal computing since the creation of the first [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 675

“The 11th Hour” Environmental Documentary

Thus, to overcome the catastrophic events and to predict the worsening of the situation, it is important to answer questions about the causes of the processes and the ways to cope with the ecological crisis.
  • 1
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 805

The Film “We Were Soldiers”

While the film focuses on the events on the battleground, it equally provides the viewers with a parallel story of the families and wives of the soldiers in the war as they grief for their [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1202

Terms and Conditions May Apply Documentary

Specifically, the authors of the terms and conditions fraud theory address the issue as a secret strategy that hides the concrete objectives of a particular Internet company under the multiple pages of plain textual reiterations [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 581

Documentary Presentation: The Confessions

The case involves four ex-soldiers from the US Marines accused and convicted of the murder of Michelle Bosko in 1997. Critics argue that The Confessions reveals the weaknesses of the American justice system.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 553

“Broken on All Side”, Directed by Matthew Pillischer

It analyzed the complicated issues of discretion within the system, racial targeting, and the highest surge in the number of individuals jailed in America's history, presenting a historical narrative rarely heard about prisons and crime.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 673

Elizabeth Leiter’s The Abortion Divide Review

Undeniably, The Abortion Divide film adequately shows the gradual growth in differences between the pro-choice and pro-life supporters but fails to bring a solution to the moral problem of abortion.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 1023

The Film “In Dreams Awake” by E. Commons

The second article by Jayne Gackenbach about video games and lucid dreams is a collection of knowledge and ideas about how video games can influence a person's consciousness and cognitive abilities to a certain extent.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 386

The “Who’s Counting?” Documentary on Economics

The primary aspect which was noteworthy for me is the existing problem in the economics field of women labor's unproductivity. Waring presents an interesting perspective on the effects of economics on social prosperity.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 242

“Tarnation” Documentary by Jonathan Caouette

By means of the camera, we can watch all his difficult life, the spite of family quarrels, the row of foster families, the adolescence crises, the drugs, the suicide attempts, the underground film shows and [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 640

Fela Kuti: Music Is the Weapon

Shot in Lagos, Nigeria, at the peak of Kuti's career, the film contains a series of heartfelt, sincere, and courageous interviews with the pioneer of the Afrobeat genre.
  • Pages: 5
  • Words: 1393

“Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire” Documentary

The documentary supports the argument that the interaction that introduced Japan to the rest of the world was critical in ensuring human rights and freedom of the most vulnerable classes in the society.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 839

“Thin Blue Line” by Errol Morris

In "Thin Blue Line," Morris turns his attention to the wrongful conviction of Texan Randall Adams, who was arrested and prosecuted for the murder of a police officer instead of the actual murderer.
  • Pages: 11
  • Words: 1127

Themes in “I Am” Documentary by Tom Shadyac

Shadyac wanted to tell everyone what he had come to know: that the world was a lie, and the activities which he had always considered to be improving it were, in fact, destroying it. I [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 876

“Born into Brothels” Documentary Analysis

Title of the film: Born into Brothels: Calcutta Red Light Kids Date released: January 17, 2004 Producers: Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman I selected this movie due to the controversies that surround it.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 749

“Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise” Documentary Analysis

The overall essence of the film can be characterized as musically and visually complex due to the combination of seemingly separate worlds: Ra's deep philosophical monologues and the Arkestra's banter about Ra and his contribution [...]
  • Pages: 6
  • Words: 1665

“Street Fight” a Film by Cory Booker

The main goal of this paper is to discuss the concepts of leadership and power, using examples that are presented in a film Street Fight. His slogans emphasized the importance of changes in the leadership [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 561

The Documentary “Life and Debt”

The film aims to analyze the relation of the IMF to the process of globalization. The process of globalization and the cooperation of the countries with the IMF are affecting the countries of the third [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 484

The Documentary “Taboo: Blood Bonds”

One of the things that attracted my attention is that women have to ensure the wellbeing of children almost independently, while their spouses do not have to take many responsibilities. This is one of the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 566

“The Other F-Word”: Documentary Film

The analysis attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding of the identities and identity formation through music and the consequences of these identities to the individuals involved.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 2052

“An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore Documentary

An inconvenient truth is a documentary film by Al gore to educate the globe about the impact of global warming and the danger that the world faces with continued neglect of environmental concerns.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 634

Why We Fight by Eugene Jarecki Documentary

The analysis of the position of the American government according to the military conflicts round the world and the level of participation in them of the national troops can support the idea that the American [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 627

The March of the Penguins French Documentary

The makers of "The March of the penguins" leave no stone unturned as they film every detail of the journey and they deserve credit for enduring one of the most unforgiving climates on the planet [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 539

“The King of Kong” Documentary

All in all Wiebe learnt to live with the menace and overtime, luck pounced on him again and he was verified as a credible player full of integrity.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 574

Hot Coffee Documentary

The film "Hot Coffee" informs the viewer about the facts surrounding the case. It informs the citizens why many corporations have continued to support this reform.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 827

“Helvetica” by Gary Hustwit

He describes the font as being "neutral," and this is an important fact because "the meaning is in the content of the text and not in the typeface".
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 559

The Summary of Harvest of Empire

Thus, the active immigration processes and the 'invasion' of the Latinos in the USA are the logical consequences of the prolonged territorial expansion of the USA and its economic influence in the region that is [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 567

“The “Running Fence” by Amelia Knight

This work of art is aimed at making people see the beauty of the landscape. The video reveals that the work was really monumental since it comprised the work of so many people and persistence [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 575

“Shadow of Hate” Film Analysis

Irish Catholics were also the subject of hate propaganda and were viewed as agents of the Vatican and the Pope; hysterical American Protestants used all means to stop the spread of Catholicism in America, and [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 598

Documentary “Super Size Me”

On the other hand, the sugars which are said to be in almost all McDonald's products, made Spurlock addicted to the food that he ate and made him always coming back for more.5.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 770

The Documentary “A Thousand Roads” by Chris Eyre

I can compare A Thousand Roads to a dart thrown into the bullseye because the film achieved its two goals with surgical precision. Given the short yet meaningful form of A Thousand Roads, I composed [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 604

Episode 1 of “Unnatural Causes” Documentary

The first episode if the documentary series "Unnatural Causes" discusses the modern system of healthcare in the United States and the causes of health inequalities between different groups of the population.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 550

The “Age of the Consequences” Documentary

The documentary Age of the Consequences is an eye-opening exploration of the potential consequences of climate change. Overall, Age of Consequences is a critically acclaimed documentary identifying the effects climate change has on national and [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 603

The “Central Park Five” Documentary

The documentary provides in-depth information on the arrests and interrogations of the suspects, the sentences, vacations of the convictions, and the interviews with the accused men.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 404

“The Spirit of Crazy Horse”: The PBS Documentary

This is illustrated in the PBS documentary "The Spirit of Crazy Horse," in which the Indian tribe forgets its cultural customs, as evident when the young Indian activists return to the reservation to learn about [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 839

“The Business of Being Born” by Abby Epstein

Having learned that most doctors are "not trained in normal births" and that 90% of women are liable to be induced, I believe that birth in the United States is an unnatural process for the [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 552

“Inside North Korea” Documentary: Major Themes

It will describe the foreign policy, hermetically sealed national policy, and the connection between the background learned from the book and the reality of what North Korea is in the 21st century.
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1122

“First Person Plural” by Lynn Hershman

The uniqueness of the documentary is that it records and regulates the rationality of the male and patriarchy. This documentary produces a reference to socio-symbolic discourse and the social imaginary through which culture, by means [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1177

“Baraka” by Ron Fricke

The word Baraka stands for the essence of life or blessing in the Sufi language, and this is one of the most amazing films made, and it has received wide acclaim for its sensitive portrayal [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 672
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