a good documentary is supposed to teach us something we didn’t already know but
us something we didn’t already know but
us something we didn’t already know but what happens when the filmmakers leave
what happens when the filmmakers leave
what happens when the filmmakers leave us with more questions than answers
us with more questions than answers
us with more questions than answers welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top
counting down our picks for another top 10 controversial documentary films it
10 controversial documentary films it
10 controversial documentary films it took five men to bring down the
took five men to bring down the
took five men to bring down the six-foot-five 300 pound killer and force
six-foot-five 300 pound killer and force
six-foot-five 300 pound killer and force handcuffs on him
handcuffs on him
handcuffs on him before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos
before we begin we publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for
every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re
more great content for this list we’re looking back at nonfiction films
looking back at nonfiction films
looking back at nonfiction films infamous for the stir they caused around
infamous for the stir they caused around
infamous for the stir they caused around their real-life subjects now I tell the
their real-life subjects now I tell the
their real-life subjects now I tell the kids if you want to become a stronger
kids if you want to become a stronger
kids if you want to become a stronger Christian and have your spirit man be
Christian and have your spirit man be
Christian and have your spirit man be strong there’s certain things you need
strong there’s certain things you need
strong there’s certain things you need to do number 10
to do number 10
to do number 10 catfish hey Megan hey it’s Nev your
catfish hey Megan hey it’s Nev your
catfish hey Megan hey it’s Nev your voice is not at all what I expected
voice is not at all what I expected
voice is not at all what I expected this documentary sensation follows Nev a
this documentary sensation follows Nev a
this documentary sensation follows Nev a young photographer who develops feelings
young photographer who develops feelings
young photographer who develops feelings for a girl he meets online when he
for a girl he meets online when he
for a girl he meets online when he travels to her home in rural Michigan he
travels to her home in rural Michigan he
travels to her home in rural Michigan he learns that her idyllic family is all
learns that her idyllic family is all
learns that her idyllic family is all the invention of a suppressed
the invention of a suppressed
the invention of a suppressed middle-aged woman living with her
middle-aged woman living with her
middle-aged woman living with her husband and children she says I mean she
husband and children she says I mean she
husband and children she says I mean she must be awesome because the kids are
must be awesome because the kids are
must be awesome because the kids are pretty awesome at least from from
pretty awesome at least from from
pretty awesome at least from from Facebook the film had a major impact on
Facebook the film had a major impact on
Facebook the film had a major impact on popular culture for showing how easily
popular culture for showing how easily
popular culture for showing how easily people can craft false identities using
people can craft false identities using
people can craft false identities using social media and was even transformed
social media and was even transformed
social media and was even transformed into an MTV reality series however Nev
into an MTV reality series however Nev
into an MTV reality series however Nev and his filmmaker brother received
and his filmmaker brother received
and his filmmaker brother received criticism from viewers who believed the
criticism from viewers who believed the
criticism from viewers who believed the story was a little fishy and documentary
story was a little fishy and documentary
story was a little fishy and documentary and Morgan Spurlock went so far as to
and Morgan Spurlock went so far as to
and Morgan Spurlock went so far as to call it quote the best fake documentary
call it quote the best fake documentary
call it quote the best fake documentary he had ever seen I mean
he had ever seen I mean
he had ever seen I mean I guess I don’t know that much about her
I guess I don’t know that much about her
I guess I don’t know that much about her yeah number nine 2016
yeah number nine 2016
yeah number nine 2016 oppa m’as America just like the rest of
oppa m’as America just like the rest of
oppa m’as America just like the rest of the country I was intrigued by Obama
the country I was intrigued by Obama
the country I was intrigued by Obama while it’s considered one of the
while it’s considered one of the
while it’s considered one of the highest-grossing documentaries in the US
highest-grossing documentaries in the US
highest-grossing documentaries in the US the positive reception of 2016 Obama’s
the positive reception of 2016 Obama’s
the positive reception of 2016 Obama’s America pretty much ends there based on
America pretty much ends there based on
America pretty much ends there based on a book by right-wing author Dinesh
a book by right-wing author Dinesh
a book by right-wing author Dinesh D’Souza the movie claims that the
D’Souza the movie claims that the
D’Souza the movie claims that the president harbors anti-american
president harbors anti-american
president harbors anti-american sentiments inherited from his father
sentiments inherited from his father
sentiments inherited from his father leading him to try and diminish the u.s.
leading him to try and diminish the u.s.
leading him to try and diminish the u.s. as influence over the rest of the world
as influence over the rest of the world
as influence over the rest of the world he doesn’t think well the United States
he doesn’t think well the United States
he doesn’t think well the United States and therefore he doesn’t want to see its
and therefore he doesn’t want to see its
and therefore he doesn’t want to see its influence expand which is a strange
influence expand which is a strange
influence expand which is a strange thing for a u.s. president inspired by
thing for a u.s. president inspired by
thing for a u.s. president inspired by the marketing of Fahrenheit 9/11 during
the marketing of Fahrenheit 9/11 during
the marketing of Fahrenheit 9/11 during the Bush administration D’Souza released
the Bush administration D’Souza released
the Bush administration D’Souza released the film at a time when he believed he
the film at a time when he believed he
the film at a time when he believed he could deter those who were considering
could deter those who were considering
could deter those who were considering voting to reelect Obama his ploy didn’t
voting to reelect Obama his ploy didn’t
voting to reelect Obama his ploy didn’t work however and the majority of
work however and the majority of
work however and the majority of audiences and critics recognized the
audiences and critics recognized the
audiences and critics recognized the film for what it really was an attempt
film for what it really was an attempt
film for what it really was an attempt at character assassination which dream
at character assassination which dream
at character assassination which dream will we carry into 2016
will we carry into 2016
will we carry into 2016 the American dream or Obama’s dream
the American dream or Obama’s dream
the American dream or Obama’s dream number eight The Iceman tapes
number eight The Iceman tapes
number eight The Iceman tapes conversations with a killer how do you
conversations with a killer how do you
conversations with a killer how do you feel about
feel about
feel about I don’t
it doesn’t bother me this bone-chilling
it doesn’t bother me this bone-chilling HBO documentary centers on richard
HBO documentary centers on richard
HBO documentary centers on richard kuklinski a prolific mafia hitman who
kuklinski a prolific mafia hitman who
kuklinski a prolific mafia hitman who was nicknamed the ice man for his
was nicknamed the ice man for his
was nicknamed the ice man for his trademark he would freeze his victims
trademark he would freeze his victims
trademark he would freeze his victims corpses to hide their time of death the
corpses to hide their time of death the
corpses to hide their time of death the filmmakers were granted unprecedented
filmmakers were granted unprecedented
filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the maximum security prison
access to the maximum security prison
access to the maximum security prison where kuklinski was serving two life
where kuklinski was serving two life
where kuklinski was serving two life sentences the murderer who was depicted
sentences the murderer who was depicted
sentences the murderer who was depicted by Michael Shannon in the 2012 film The
by Michael Shannon in the 2012 film The
by Michael Shannon in the 2012 film The Iceman speaks candidly about his violent
Iceman speaks candidly about his violent
Iceman speaks candidly about his violent history and estimates that he’s killed
history and estimates that he’s killed
history and estimates that he’s killed over 100 people also admitting that he’s
over 100 people also admitting that he’s
over 100 people also admitting that he’s never been bothered by it when I was out
never been bothered by it when I was out
never been bothered by it when I was out on the street to do something I carried
on the street to do something I carried
on the street to do something I carried three guns number seven Kurt and
three guns number seven Kurt and
three guns number seven Kurt and Courtney released only four years after
Courtney released only four years after
Courtney released only four years after Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died this
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died this
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died this documentary rode a wave of controversy
documentary rode a wave of controversy
documentary rode a wave of controversy because it investigated theories that
because it investigated theories that
because it investigated theories that implied Courtney Love may have murdered
implied Courtney Love may have murdered
implied Courtney Love may have murdered her husband the film was pulled by the
her husband the film was pulled by the
her husband the film was pulled by the Sundance Film Festival because Love
Sundance Film Festival because Love
Sundance Film Festival because Love refused to give director Nick Broomfield
refused to give director Nick Broomfield
refused to give director Nick Broomfield the rights to use Nirvana’s music in his
the rights to use Nirvana’s music in his
the rights to use Nirvana’s music in his work and because the whole musician
work and because the whole musician
work and because the whole musician threatened to sue the festival for
threatened to sue the festival for
threatened to sue the festival for defamation of character
Broomfield was forced to use Nirvana
Broomfield was forced to use Nirvana esque bands and was so impacted by
esque bands and was so impacted by
esque bands and was so impacted by Love’s refusal to take part in the
Love’s refusal to take part in the
Love’s refusal to take part in the documentary that it evolved into a
documentary that it evolved into a
documentary that it evolved into a criticism of her censorship of free
criticism of her censorship of free
criticism of her censorship of free speech number six the thin blue line it
speech number six the thin blue line it
speech number six the thin blue line it takes a great prosecutor to convict an
takes a great prosecutor to convict an
takes a great prosecutor to convict an innocent man frequently cited as one of
innocent man frequently cited as one of
innocent man frequently cited as one of the most important documentaries ever
the most important documentaries ever
the most important documentaries ever made Errol Morris wanted to avoid the
made Errol Morris wanted to avoid the
made Errol Morris wanted to avoid the label altogether and market his film as
label altogether and market his film as
label altogether and market his film as a whodunit using innovative reenactment
a whodunit using innovative reenactment
a whodunit using innovative reenactment and interview techniques the film
and interview techniques the film
and interview techniques the film investigates the case of Randall Dale
investigates the case of Randall Dale
investigates the case of Randall Dale Adams a man sentenced to death for
Adams a man sentenced to death for
Adams a man sentenced to death for murdering a police officer however the
murdering a police officer however the
murdering a police officer however the thin blue line suggests that five of the
thin blue line suggests that five of the
thin blue line suggests that five of the witnesses committed perjury and law
witnesses committed perjury and law
witnesses committed perjury and law enforcement officials took notice by
enforcement officials took notice by
enforcement officials took notice by reopening the case and declaring Adams
reopening the case and declaring Adams
reopening the case and declaring Adams innocent just a year after the film was
innocent just a year after the film was
innocent just a year after the film was released
released
released we started putting facts together on how
we started putting facts together on how
we started putting facts together on how much information we actually had the
much information we actually had the
much information we actually had the leaves that we had find out what we had
leaves that we had find out what we had
leaves that we had find out what we had we found out we didn’t have anything
we found out we didn’t have anything
we found out we didn’t have anything although Adams was grateful for getting
although Adams was grateful for getting
although Adams was grateful for getting to go free he went on to sue Morris for
to go free he went on to sue Morris for
to go free he went on to sue Morris for the rights to his own story and settled
the rights to his own story and settled
the rights to his own story and settled with the filmmaker
with the filmmaker
with the filmmaker out of court she said if there was ever
out of court she said if there was ever
out of court she said if there was ever a hell on earth that’s Dallas County
a hell on earth that’s Dallas County
a hell on earth that’s Dallas County number five going clear Scientology and
number five going clear Scientology and
number five going clear Scientology and the prison of belief cults they prey on
the prison of belief cults they prey on
the prison of belief cults they prey on people it should come as no surprise
people it should come as no surprise
people it should come as no surprise that this HBO doc came under fire for
that this HBO doc came under fire for
that this HBO doc came under fire for attempting to cover one of the most
attempting to cover one of the most
attempting to cover one of the most secretive organizations in the United
secretive organizations in the United
secretive organizations in the United States
States
States the Church of Scientology in going clear
the Church of Scientology in going clear
the Church of Scientology in going clear director Alex Gibney speaks with 8x
director Alex Gibney speaks with 8x
director Alex Gibney speaks with 8x Scientologists including filmmaker Paul
Scientologists including filmmaker Paul
Scientologists including filmmaker Paul Haggis to bring to light the
Haggis to bring to light the
Haggis to bring to light the manipulative tactics used by figures
manipulative tactics used by figures
manipulative tactics used by figures like founder l ron hubbard and current
like founder l ron hubbard and current
like founder l ron hubbard and current church leader David Miscavige as well as
church leader David Miscavige as well as
church leader David Miscavige as well as celebrity Scientology scandals like the
celebrity Scientology scandals like the
celebrity Scientology scandals like the alleged wiretapping attempt on Nicole
alleged wiretapping attempt on Nicole
alleged wiretapping attempt on Nicole Kidman when she was with Tom Cruise I
Kidman when she was with Tom Cruise I
Kidman when she was with Tom Cruise I mean he wants to tap her phone he said
mean he wants to tap her phone he said
mean he wants to tap her phone he said god damnit get it done the film faced a
god damnit get it done the film faced a
god damnit get it done the film faced a mix of festival praise and viewer
mix of festival praise and viewer
mix of festival praise and viewer backlash including a Twitter account
backlash including a Twitter account
backlash including a Twitter account dedicated to disparaging the documentary
dedicated to disparaging the documentary
dedicated to disparaging the documentary in fact some networks have refused to
in fact some networks have refused to
in fact some networks have refused to license it for fear of being attacked by
license it for fear of being attacked by
license it for fear of being attacked by the church there is no logical
the church there is no logical
the church there is no logical explanation as to why other than faith
explanation as to why other than faith
explanation as to why other than faith number 4 citizen 4 my name is Edward
number 4 citizen 4 my name is Edward
number 4 citizen 4 my name is Edward Snowden I go by a head this Academy
Snowden I go by a head this Academy
Snowden I go by a head this Academy Award winning documentary captures the
Award winning documentary captures the
Award winning documentary captures the top secret political disclosure between
top secret political disclosure between
top secret political disclosure between filmmaker Laura Poitras and
filmmaker Laura Poitras and
filmmaker Laura Poitras and whistleblower Edward Snowden set
whistleblower Edward Snowden set
whistleblower Edward Snowden set predominantly in a Chinese hotel room in
predominantly in a Chinese hotel room in
predominantly in a Chinese hotel room in the moments after the former CIA
the moments after the former CIA
the moments after the former CIA employee unveiled the NSA spying scandal
employee unveiled the NSA spying scandal
employee unveiled the NSA spying scandal to the world the film chronicles
to the world the film chronicles
to the world the film chronicles Snowden’s simultaneous transformation
Snowden’s simultaneous transformation
Snowden’s simultaneous transformation into a heroic household name and an
into a heroic household name and an
into a heroic household name and an enemy of the US government in real-time
enemy of the US government in real-time
enemy of the US government in real-time ask only that you ensure this
ask only that you ensure this
ask only that you ensure this information makes it home to the
information makes it home to the
information makes it home to the American public but he wasn’t the only
American public but he wasn’t the only
American public but he wasn’t the only one to become an enemy Poitras was
one to become an enemy Poitras was
one to become an enemy Poitras was forced to move to Germany to finish
forced to move to Germany to finish
forced to move to Germany to finish editing the film after border detainment
editing the film after border detainment
editing the film after border detainment and threats that the FBI would seize her
and threats that the FBI would seize her
and threats that the FBI would seize her laptop and the producers were sued by
laptop and the producers were sued by
laptop and the producers were sued by oil executive Horace Edwards quote on
oil executive Horace Edwards quote on
oil executive Horace Edwards quote on the
the
the of the American people although that
of the American people although that
of the American people although that case was later dropped
case was later dropped
case was later dropped we should be having debates about
we should be having debates about
we should be having debates about whether we want government I mean this
whether we want government I mean this
whether we want government I mean this is massive and extraordinary and it’s
is massive and extraordinary and it’s
is massive and extraordinary and it’s amazing number three supersize me I
think I’m gonna have to go supersize
think I’m gonna have to go supersize Morgan Spurlock became a world-renowned
Morgan Spurlock became a world-renowned
Morgan Spurlock became a world-renowned documentarian after this experiment in
documentarian after this experiment in
documentarian after this experiment in extreme eating Spurlock spent a month
extreme eating Spurlock spent a month
extreme eating Spurlock spent a month consuming only food that could be
consuming only food that could be
consuming only food that could be purchased from the McDonald’s menu
purchased from the McDonald’s menu
purchased from the McDonald’s menu exposing the link between the fast food
exposing the link between the fast food
exposing the link between the fast food chain and health effects including
chain and health effects including
chain and health effects including obesity and heart disease and if you
obesity and heart disease and if you
obesity and heart disease and if you have any heart disease in the family or
have any heart disease in the family or
have any heart disease in the family or any heart and the underlying heart
any heart and the underlying heart
any heart and the underlying heart disease and you’re putting your heart at
disease and you’re putting your heart at
disease and you’re putting your heart at risk it was an eye-opening study of a
risk it was an eye-opening study of a
risk it was an eye-opening study of a mega corporation that actually wanted
mega corporation that actually wanted
mega corporation that actually wanted its customers to eat poorly in order to
its customers to eat poorly in order to
its customers to eat poorly in order to gain profit but Spurlock still got some
gain profit but Spurlock still got some
gain profit but Spurlock still got some flack for being the bearer of bad news
flack for being the bearer of bad news
flack for being the bearer of bad news critics noted that he singled out
critics noted that he singled out
critics noted that he singled out McDonald’s over eight and didn’t
McDonald’s over eight and didn’t
McDonald’s over eight and didn’t exercise to exaggerate his results still
exercise to exaggerate his results still
exercise to exaggerate his results still there is no denying the film was a
there is no denying the film was a
there is no denying the film was a catalyst in getting apple slices added
catalyst in getting apple slices added
catalyst in getting apple slices added to the menu I’m feeling a little bit
to the menu I’m feeling a little bit
to the menu I’m feeling a little bit crazy
crazy
crazy number two Jesus camp did you get to the
number two Jesus camp did you get to the
number two Jesus camp did you get to the part on here where it says that science
part on here where it says that science
part on here where it says that science doesn’t prove anything
doesn’t prove anything
doesn’t prove anything the kids on fire school of ministry
the kids on fire school of ministry
the kids on fire school of ministry summer camp was the subject of this
summer camp was the subject of this
summer camp was the subject of this documentary that zeroes in on three
documentary that zeroes in on three
documentary that zeroes in on three highly indoctrinated evangelical
highly indoctrinated evangelical
highly indoctrinated evangelical Christian children although the
Christian children although the
Christian children although the directors claimed they were merely
directors claimed they were merely
directors claimed they were merely trying to produce an unbiased movie
trying to produce an unbiased movie
trying to produce an unbiased movie about the campers and their beliefs
about the campers and their beliefs
about the campers and their beliefs scenes of the children attending
scenes of the children attending
scenes of the children attending aggressive sermons were denounced by
aggressive sermons were denounced by
aggressive sermons were denounced by faith-based groups who believed the camp
faith-based groups who believed the camp
faith-based groups who believed the camp was cast in a negative light
whether it was the filmmakers agenda or
whether it was the filmmakers agenda or not the same year Jesus camp was
not the same year Jesus camp was
not the same year Jesus camp was released head pastor Becky Fisher
released head pastor Becky Fisher
released head pastor Becky Fisher announced the camp’s closure over fears
announced the camp’s closure over fears
announced the camp’s closure over fears that the movies viewers would vandalize
that the movies viewers would vandalize
that the movies viewers would vandalize the property that’s not to mention
the property that’s not to mention
the property that’s not to mention anti-gay pastor Ted Haggard who was
anti-gay pastor Ted Haggard who was
anti-gay pastor Ted Haggard who was later involved in a scandal involving
later involved in a scandal involving
later involved in a scandal involving sex with other men before we unveil our
sex with other men before we unveil our
sex with other men before we unveil our top pick here are some honorable
top pick here are some honorable
top pick here are some honorable mentions that’s the way she should go
mentions that’s the way she should go
mentions that’s the way she should go through life she’s already born the
through life she’s already born the
through life she’s already born the unborn children don’t even stand a
unborn children don’t even stand a
unborn children don’t even stand a chance they kill them number one
chance they kill them number one
chance they kill them number one capturing the Friedman’s I had a good
capturing the Friedman’s I had a good
capturing the Friedman’s I had a good family right where did this come from
family right where did this come from
family right where did this come from this documentary is made up of home
this documentary is made up of home
this documentary is made up of home video footage of the Freedmen’s a
video footage of the Freedmen’s a
video footage of the Freedmen’s a seemingly perfect family whose story
seemingly perfect family whose story
seemingly perfect family whose story takes a dark turn
takes a dark turn
takes a dark turn when child pornography is discovered
when child pornography is discovered
when child pornography is discovered Arnold and Jesse Friedman a father and
Arnold and Jesse Friedman a father and
Arnold and Jesse Friedman a father and son who taught computer classes to local
son who taught computer classes to local
son who taught computer classes to local children both eventually plead guilty to
children both eventually plead guilty to
children both eventually plead guilty to sexual abuse but something doesn’t quite
sexual abuse but something doesn’t quite
sexual abuse but something doesn’t quite add up what’s going on and the lawyers
add up what’s going on and the lawyers
add up what’s going on and the lawyers will take care of this and they’ll
will take care of this and they’ll
will take care of this and they’ll straighten this out because it’s still
straighten this out because it’s still
straighten this out because it’s still just a matter of this is a big
just a matter of this is a big
just a matter of this is a big misunderstanding capturing the
misunderstanding capturing the
misunderstanding capturing the Friedman’s received a great deal of
Friedman’s received a great deal of
Friedman’s received a great deal of acclaim for its ability to portray what
acclaim for its ability to portray what
acclaim for its ability to portray what roger ebert deemed quote the elusiveness
roger ebert deemed quote the elusiveness
roger ebert deemed quote the elusiveness of facts yet filmmaker Andrew Jarecki
of facts yet filmmaker Andrew Jarecki
of facts yet filmmaker Andrew Jarecki faced accusations of playing it safe by
faced accusations of playing it safe by
faced accusations of playing it safe by never taking a stance which allowed him
never taking a stance which allowed him
never taking a stance which allowed him to take on heavy subject matter without
to take on heavy subject matter without
to take on heavy subject matter without dealing with the consequences faced by
dealing with the consequences faced by
dealing with the consequences faced by the film’s subjects I don’t think any of
the film’s subjects I don’t think any of
the film’s subjects I don’t think any of us had any notion of what was going on
us had any notion of what was going on
us had any notion of what was going on or what we were doing or where any of
or what we were doing or where any of
or what we were doing or where any of this was leaving do you agree with our
this was leaving do you agree with our
this was leaving do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips
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