Ask HN: What are some of the best documentaries you've seen?

Article summary

The article asks for recommendations on the best documentaries, noting that similar questions have been asked before but hoping to discover new and exciting ones from the last four years. The author invites readers to describe why they recommend a particular documentary in a couple of words. The question is open-ended, allowing for a wide range of documentary suggestions. The goal is to gather a list of highly recommended documentaries.

Main themes

• Documentary Recommendations
• Science Documentaries
• Sports Documentaries
• Historical Documentaries
• Personal Inspiration
• Critical Viewing

What commenters say

• Some people prefer the original Cosmos series by Carl Sagan over the newer version hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
• Old science documentaries may become outdated, which could deter some viewers.
• The documentary 'Icarus' is highly recommended, with some suggesting it should be watched without prior knowledge of its content.
• Documentaries like 'The Last Dance' can be enjoyable even for those who are not fans of the subject matter, in this case, basketball.
• The quality of a documentary is not necessarily determined by its age, with some older documentaries remaining highly relevant and impactful.
• Some documentaries, such as 'They Shall Not Grow Old', offer a unique perspective or approach to storytelling, making them stand out.
• Not all documentaries are created equal, with some critics arguing that many present a one-sided view, though others can be more balanced and thought-provoking.
• Certain documentaries have inspired personal changes or interests, such as 'The Barkley Marathons' inspiring someone to take up running.