THR critics brainstormed, graded, debated, re-watched, ranked and re-ranked our 25 favorite documentaries of all time. Read, enjoy, let us know why/how/where we're wrong! (And seek out any of these amazing titles you're not familiar with.)

The 25 Best Documentaries of All Time, Ranked

From 'Grey Gardens' to 'The Gleaners and I,' 'Gimme Shelter' to 'Grizzly Man' and beyond, THR critics pick their favorite non-fiction films of all time.

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Big thanks to @lapressclub.bsky.social for the best film critic (over 1,000 words) win, and a shoutout to the reviews team's too often unsung editor, @jon-frosch.bsky.social. Congrats to all of THR's winners on a field-leading performance. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...

The Hollywood Reporter Tops 2026 SoCal Journalism Awards With 20 First-Place Wins, More Than Any Other Outlet

Among its awards are best website, journalist of the year honors for Gary Baum and Seth Abramovitch, best film critic for David Rooney, and best audio anchor/host for Scott Feinberg. Overall, THR nabb...

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It's mid-point 2026, time for the THR critics team to pick our ten favorite movie releases of the year so far. Feel free to let us hear yours in the comments. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the 10 Best Films of 2026 So Far

Faves from the first half of the year include a breakout blast of horror, the latest from auteurs both pop (Spielberg) and art house (Dardennes), and a doc that brings The King back from the afterlife...

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Hafsia Herzi's gorgeous THE LITTLE SISTER, with its stealth knockout of a lead performance by Nadia Melliti, starts hitting theaters today. I loved this film when I reviewed it out of Cannes last year — and love it even more now.

Jon Frosch@jon-frosch.bsky.social · last yr.

Loved Hafsia Herzi's Cannes competition entry THE LITTLE SISTER, a superbly judged drama about a French Muslim's lesbian awakening. Has the confidence, texture & ache of an instant queer coming-of-age classic. Lead Nadia Melliti a knockout. My review for @thr.com:

Milagros Mumenthaler's haunting and beautiful THE CURRENTS, which I reviewed out of TIFF 2025, starts hitting theaters tomorrow. One to make time for.

Jon Frosch@jon-frosch.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Really liked THE CURRENTS, a lush & hypnotic Argentinian drama about a designer who unravels very stoically after a work trip gone awry. TIFF and NYFF slots should give writer-director Milagros Mumenthaler a much-deserved bump in recognition. My review:

LA GRADIVA in Critics' Week at Cannes is astonishing — an absolutely masterly feature debut, and one of the best films about adolescence I've ever seen. If this were in comp., it would be a clear Palme d'Or contender. Excited/nervous to see which smart U.S. distributor goes in.

Contemplating care and compassion in a profit-driven world, Ryusuke Hamaguchi's ALL OF A SUDDEN takes its time but blooms into a thing of beauty synced to the intense friendship of two women played by Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto. #Cannes2026 www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

‘All of a Sudden’ Review: ‘Drive My Car’ Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Reflection on Care and Compassion Demands Patience but Yields Rich Rewards

Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto star in the filmmaker's first French-language work, set at a Paris nursing home where two strangers are fortified by their belief in human dignity.

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If there was any question that Léa Drucker was one of France's best actresses, A WOMAN'S LIFE should be a definitive answer. Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet's Cannes competitor is good. Drucker, as a surgeon questioning her life choices, is great. My review: www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

‘A Woman’s Life’ Review: Léa Drucker Seals Her Status as One of France’s Best Actresses in This Perceptive Portrait of a Surgeon at a Crossroads

Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet's Cannes competition entry revolves around a 55-year-old Parisian doctor who begins questioning her life choices after a novelist takes an interest in her.

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HEATED RIVALRY (lovely series, pity about some of those fans), THE PITT's strong sophomore outing, two decent Ryan Murphy shows (!), a couple of appealingly intimate franchise entries & more picks and pokes from @thefienprint.bsky.social and @ajhan.bsky.social @thr.com

Sex, Scalpels and Surprises: THR Critics on Winter’s Must-See TV

'Heated Rivalry' came out of nowhere to steam things up, big-franchise spinoffs succeeded by going small, a Northern Irish Netflix mystery dazzled, and 'The Pitt' exceeded second-season expectations.

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Ramzi Bashour's HOT WATER is a nice (too nice?) mother-son road movie w/Lubna Azabal & Daniel Zolghadri, both good — has *just* enough that feels fresh and personal to stave off indie staleness. But a bit close for comfort. My @thr.com #Sundance2026 review: www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

‘Hot Water’ Review: Lubna Azabal and Daniel Zolghadri Go West in a Slight but Sensitive Mother-Son Road Movie

Ramzi Bashour's debut feature follows a tightly wound Lebanese woman and her troubled American-born teenager as they drive from Indiana to California.

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Count me among the HEATED RIVALRY flock. Women are devouring the HBO hit in phenomenal numbers but let's not overlook the gift that the gay hockey romance represents to queer audiences. Some words of gratitude: www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-review...

Critic’s Notebook: In Praise of ‘Heated Rivalry’ and Gay Happy Endings

Get your mind out of the gutter! The sex is hot, but it's the swoony romantic highs and tender insights into queer first love and self-acceptance that make HBO’s breakout hit special.

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"Rob Reiner grew, and grew righteously, in the small-screen spotlight." @thefienprint.bsky.social writes movingly on Reiner's TV legacy.

From Meathead to Mentor: A Critic’s Reflection on Rob Reiner’s TV Career

From 'All in the Family' to regular news network advocacy to roles on 'New Girl' and 'The Bear,' Reiner grew, and grew righteously, in the small-screen spotlight.

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"Reiner’s deft marrying of the prestige and the populist seems like a wondrous, nearly lost art." A lovely and insightful appreciation from @rilaws.bsky.social.

Critic’s Appreciation: Rob Reiner Was So Much More Than a Capable Company Man

The director's deft marrying of prestige and populism in classics like 'When Harry Met Sally…' and 'The Princess Bride' now seems like a wondrous lost art.

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Some great left-field choices here from @thefienprint.bsky.social and @ajhan.bsky.social, as well as some stuff you've probably already enjoyed. An odd year for TV, but not an uninteresting one.

Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the Best TV of 2025

Favorites include an Arctic-set heartwarmer, the second and final season of 'Andor,' a pair of new animated gems, a bold historical drama and a star-studded Hollywood satire.

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We saw some great movies in 2025, and lots of very, very good ones. @david-rooney.bsky.social and Sheri Linden

Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the Best Films of 2025

A multilayered political thriller, a dark-comedy salute to radical resistance, a ping-pong picaresque and a bluesy vampire tale set in Jim Crow Mississippi are among THR film reviewers’ favorites of t...

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Loved getting to hash out and dive into our favorite big-screen performances of the year with lovely critic colleagues @david-rooney.bsky.social and @ajhan.bsky.social.

The 25 Best Movie Performances of 2025

From Timothée Chalamet's latest high-wire act to Amy Madigan's indelible horror villain to dynamic duos and standouts from around the globe, these were THR critics' favorite big-screen turns of the ye...

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what a joy to celebrate some of the very best performances of 2025, alongside @david-rooney.bsky.social & @jon-frosch.bsky.social

The 25 Best Movie Performances of 2025

From Timothée Chalamet's latest high-wire act to Amy Madigan's indelible horror villain to dynamic duos and standouts from around the globe, these were THR critics' favorite big-screen turns of the ye...

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New Generation Award: Eva Victor, SORRY BABY. #LAFCA

Best Film: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Runner-up: THE SECRET AGENT. #LAFCA

Film Not in the English Language: THE SECRET AGENT. Runner-up: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. #LAFCA

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Runner-up: Ryan Coogler, SINNERS. #LAFCA

Documentary: MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART I — LAST AIR IN MOSCOW. Runner-up: THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR. #LAFCA

Screenplay: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. Runner-up: SORRY, BABY. #LAFCA

Supporting Performance: Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Stellan Skarsgard, SENTIMENTAL VALUE. Runners-up: Andrew Scott, BLUE MOON. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, SENTIMENTAL VALUE. #LAFCA

Lead Performance: Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU. Ethan Hawke, BLUE MOON. Runners-up: Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME. Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT. #LAFCA

Douglas Edwards Experimental Film Award: Albert Serra, AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE. Special Award: Thom Andersen for the body of his work. #LAFCA

Animation: LITTLE AMELIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN. Runner-up: KPOP DEMON HUNTERS #LAFCA

Editing: MARTY SUPREME. Runner-up: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. #LAFCA

Production design: SINNERS. Runner-up: FRANKENSTEIN. #LAFCA