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Documentaries of the 1980s in 2026
Documentaries of the 1980s brings together films released during that decade. The subjects range from musicians and political figures to artists, cities and national cultures.
Choose by subject or filmmaker. The list includes work by Giovanni Soldati, Tareque Masud, Katrin Ottarsdóttir and Mark Mori, among others.
767 documentaries · ordered 26 October 2026 · How we order lists
Newest first: the year each film was released, from the open film record (Wikidata), then the order the list has always had. Every film’s page names its source.
- No. 119891 h 30 min
12 registi per 12 città
by Giovanni Soldati · Italy · Italian
Four directors explore twelve Italian cities in this 1989 documentary.
- No. 21989
25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones
by Nigel Finch · Japan · United Kingdom · English
The Rolling Stones' story runs from their 1962 formation to Steel Wheels.
- No. 3198954 min
Adam Clayton Powell
by Richard Kilberg · United States · English
A 1989 biography of American politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
historyAdam Clayton Powell Jr. - No. 41989
Adam Surat
by Tareque Masud · Bangladesh · Bangla, English
Tareque Masud profiles Bangladeshi painter Sheikh Mohammed Sultan.
- No. 51989
Afgan
by Jeff B. Harmon · United States
Jeff B. Harmon directs this 1989 documentary from the United States.
- No. 61989
Angano... Angano... nouvelles de Madagascar
by Cesar Paes · France · French, Malagasy
A French-Malagasy documentary from 1989 by Cesar and Marie-Clémence Paes.
- No. 719891 h 20 min
Atlantic Rhapsody
by Katrin Ottarsdóttir · Denmark · Faroese
A day in Tórshavn unfolds through 52 linked scenes.
- No. 81989sport1988 Summer Olympics
- No. 91989
Black Leather Jacket
Director not on record · United Kingdom · English
A 1989 British documentary in English.
- No. 10198953 min
Borders
by Merrill Aldighieri · United States · English
Merrill Aldighieri and Joe Tripician direct this 53-minute documentary.
- No. 11198954 min
Building Bombs
by Mark Mori · United States · English
Mark Mori and Susan J. Robinson direct a film about building bombs.
- No. 12198952 min
- No. 1319891 h 40 min
Charles Manson Superstar
by Nikolas Schreck · United States · English
Nikolas Schreck's portrait of Charles Manson was filmed largely in prison.
Watch freehistory - No. 1419891 h 30 min
Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt
by Rob Epstein · United States · English
Stories behind the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.
HIV/AIDS - No. 15198942 min
Crack USA: County Under Siege
by Bill Guttentag · United States · English
A 42-minute documentary about a US county under crack's pressure.
- No. 1619891 h 15 min
Dance of Hope
by Deborah Shaffer · United States
Deborah Shaffer directs this 75-minute American documentary.
- No. 1719891 h 22 min
Death Scenes
by Nick Bougas · United States · English
Graphic death photographs frame Nick Bougas's 1989 mondo film.
- No. 1819891 h
Defilada
by Andrzej Fidyk · Poland · Polish
Andrzej Fidyk examines North Korea's personality cult in 1988.
- No. 1919891 h 40 min
Delicate Sound of Thunder
by Wayne Isham · United Kingdom · English
Pink Floyd perform on their A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour.
music - No. 2019893 h 58 min
De Nuremberg à Nuremberg
by Frédéric Rossif · France · French
- No. 211989
Depeche Mode: 101
by D. A. Pennebaker · United States · United Kingdom · English
D. A. Pennebaker documents Depeche Mode on a concert tour.
101 - No. 221989
Dobrica Milutinović, među nama
Director not on record · Serbian
A Serbian documentary about actor Dobrica Milutinović and his place in history.
historyDobrica Milutinović - No. 231989
Don Carlos de Beistegui
by Patrick Mimouni · France · French
Patrick Mimouni examines the life of Carlos de Beistegui.
Carlos de Beistegui - No. 241989
Fascist Legacy
Director not on record · United Kingdom · English
A two-part BBC series about Italian war crimes during World War II.
- No. 251989
First Works
Director not on record · United States · English
A 1989 documentary from the United States.
Places #1 to #5 on this list are sold one at a time, and all five are open today: #1 is $149 a month, and the film at that number today moves down one. Take #1
Before you press play
Choose a subject
The list includes music history, political biography, art and films about places. 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones follows the band from its formation through Steel Wheels.
Adam Clayton Powell is a documentary about the American politician. Adam Surat concerns Bangladeshi painter Sheikh Mohammed Sultan.
Follow a filmmaker
A filmmaker can be the deciding point when several subjects appeal. Tareque Masud directed and produced Adam Surat, while Mark Mori produced and directed Building Bombs with Susan J.
Other names on the list include Giovanni Soldati, Jeff B. Harmon and Jean-Marie Straub.
Look at setting
The films connect with different places and cultures. Atlantic Rhapsody is a Faroese film by Katrin Ottarsdóttir, and Adam Surat is a Bangladeshi documentary.
Angano... Angano... nouvelles de Madagascar and 12 registi per 12 città point toward stories rooted in place and cities.
Check the year
Every title in this list belongs to the 1980s, with the supplied examples dated 1989. That makes the year useful when following a particular part of the decade.
Titles include Borders, Beyond All Barriers and Black Leather Jacket, each dated 1989.
What viewers ask
- What years does this list cover?
- It covers documentary films from the 1980s. The examples supplied here were released in 1989.
- Which film is about the Rolling Stones?
- 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones, made by Nigel Finch, charts the group from its formation in 1962 through the 1989 album Steel Wheels.
- Which film is about a painter?
- Adam Surat is about Bangladeshi painter Sheikh Mohammed Sultan. Tareque Masud directed and produced it.
- Who directed Building Bombs?
- Mark Mori produced and directed Building Bombs with Susan J.
- Which film is Faroese?
- Atlantic Rhapsody is a 1989 Faroese film by Katrin Ottarsdóttir.
By decade