We all love HBO and the original series it provides us, including Sex and the City and Game of Thrones. But a lot of people don’t know that HBO also makes interesting documentaries. Here’s a list of some of the best ones everyone should see.
1. About Face: Supermodels Then and Now
This documentary explores the evolution of the fashion industry, from its beginnings to today. It’s made up of interviews and clips of famous supermodels, such as Christy Turlington, Paulina Porizkova, Isabella Rossellini and many more. It provides interesting perspective on what being a model is really like, despite the glamorous ideas we have in our head.
2. Citizen USA: A 50 State Roadtrip
Covering stories of immigrants across the 50 states, this film will remind you why America is truly a melting pot, and why that’s a beautiful thing. It will make you feel all kinds of patriotic and proud to be an American.
3. Beyoncé: Life is But a Dream
Beyoncé. Need I say more? Watch this film to see sides of Queen Bey you’ve never seen before. Believe it or not, you will love and appreciate her even more after seeing how hard she works and what goes into everything she does.
4. A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY
It’s important to keep in mind the heroes in our communities and understand what they do to protect us. This documentary is a great reminder of that, and a great tribute to New York’s Bravest. Fun fact: This film also features former New York City firefighter and Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi.
Calling all you fashion lovers out there! This documentary was made for you. With interviews with major fashion industry figures such as Anna Wintour, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs and more, the film gives you a real sense of what the fashion industry is about.
6. George Harrison: Living in a Material World
Whether you’re a fan of The Beatles or not, you’ll find this documentary interesting and meaningful. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film explores the life of The Beatles guitarist, George Harrison. It’s a fascinating piece on music history, and it also sends an important message about materialism by exploring George Harrison’s Hindu beliefs and values.
7. Manhunt: The Search For Bin Laden
If you’re interested in history and political science, you will probably find this documentary to be fascinating. It details the story leading up to the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden. It’s definitely one of the darkest films on the list, but probably one of the most important to see.
8. On The Run Tour: Beyoncé and Jay Z
Yes, this is the second documentary on this list involving Beyoncé, but don’t we all want more Beyoncé in our lives? Mr. and Mrs. Carter kill it in this concert film, which took place in Paris. I’m not going to lie — it took me a few days to recover from how incredible this dream team is.
9. Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert
This powerful documentary follows the story of one single mom living — as the title suggests — paycheck to paycheck. This is an important film that will remind you to keep things in perspective and think about the millions of stories this one represents.
This documentary was filmed at The Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, FL, a center for women with eating disorders. The film explores the stories of women who struggle with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. It’s not easy to watch, but it’s an important topic to be educated on.
Documentaries can be a fascinating way to learn about topics you may not have otherwise known about, and the ones made by HBO are usually pretty top notch. Check out these films and more on hbogo.com or download the HBO NOW app to watch them on your smartphone or tablet!
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