History Documentaries in 2026

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History documentaries

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. 12026

14th

by Ava DuVernay · United States · English

Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
No. 220261 h 40 min

Always Lalisa

by Sue Kim · United States · English, Thai

Lisa pursues a solo career apart from Blackpink over one year.

historymusic
No. 32026

Black Zombie

by Maya Annik Bedward · Canada
No. 420262 h 13 min

Chopin, a Sonata in Paris

by Michał Kwieciński · Poland · Polish, French

historyFrédéric Chopin
No. 520261 h 18 min

Disneyland Handcrafted

by Leslie Iwerks · United States · English
No. 620261 h 39 min

Doing Good

by Margreth Olin · Norway · Norwegian

A Norwegian biographical documentary directed by Margreth Olin.

history
No. 72026

In Tania's Head

by Kike Maíllo · Spain · Catalan, Spanish

Kike Maíllo profiles Alicia Esteve Head in a biographical film.

historyAlicia Esteve Head
No. 820261 h 42 min

Holofiction

by Michal Kosakowski · Austria · Germany

warThe Holocaust
No. 92026

KŪKAI

Director not on record · People's Republic of China · Chinese

A docudrama about Buddhist monk Kūkai's journey from Japan to China.

historyKūkai
No. 102026

Kuzma: Extremely Happy

by Artem Hryhorian · Ukraine · Ukrainian

A Ukrainian biographical documentary directed by Artem Hryhorian.

history
No. 1120261 h 36 min

Noga

Director not on record · United States · Austria · English, Hebrew

A 96-minute music biography in English and Hebrew.

historymusic
No. 1220261 h 38 min

Steal This Story, Please!

by Carl Deal · United States · English

Amy Goodman’s life and career with Democracy Now! are examined.

history
No. 1320261 h 40 min

Once Upon a Time in Harlem

by David Greaves · United States · English
No. 142026

Sgt. Haane

by Tearepa Kahi · New Zealand · English

Maori Battalion
No. 1520261 h 40 min

The History of Concrete

by John Wilson · United States · English
No. 162026

The Match

by Juan Cabral · Argentina

Argentina v England 1986
No. 1720261 h 37 min

The Mother of All Lies

by Asmae El Moudir · Egypt · Qatar · Arabic

grandmother1981 Moroccan riots
No. 1820252 h 13 min

Chopin, a Sonata in Paris

by Michał Kwieciński · Poland · Polish, French

historyFrédéric Chopin
No. 1920251 h 45 min

Ernest Cole: Lost and Found

by Raoul Peck · United States · France · English, French

Raoul Peck follows photographer Ernest Cole and his apartheid-era work.

historyErnest Cole
No. 2020251 h 38 min

Ich will alles. Hildegard Knef

by Luzia Schmid · Germany · German

Luzia Schmid’s biography of German singer and actor Hildegard Knef.

history
No. 2120252 h 3 min

Okean Elzy: Stormwatch

by Artem Hryhorian · Ukraine · Ukrainian

The history of Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy from 1994 onward.

history
No. 22202545 min

The Best of BandLab

by Kuok Meng Ru · United States · English

A 45-minute biography of music company BandLab.

historymusic
No. 2320251 h 42 min

Bedrock

Director not on record · Canada · English, Polish
No. 2420251 h 28 min

The Helsinki Effect

by Arthur Franck · Norway · Finland · Finnish, English

The Helsinki Accords and their political history are examined.

historypolitics
No. 2520251 h 30 min

Copa 71

by James Erskine · United Kingdom · English

1971 Women's World Cup

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

Start with the subject

The people at the centre range from musicians to artists and religious figures. Always Lalisa focuses on Lisa, while Okean Elzy: Stormwatch follows the Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy.

For a portrait of a historical artist, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found is produced, written and directed by Raoul Peck.

Look for the period covered

Chopin, a Sonata in Paris is a Polish period biographical drama about the composer. KŪKAI concerns the monk Kūkai, who lived from 774 to 835 and travelled from Japan to China.

These films approach history through different eras, from Kūkai’s ninth-century life to modern music and arts.

Choose a music history film

Music documentaries on the list include Always Lalisa, Noga and Okean Elzy: Stormwatch. Noga is described as a music and biographical documentary.

Ich will alles. Hildegard Knef presents another route into music history through the German singer and actress.

Follow the filmmaker

Several entries identify their makers. Sue Kim directs Always Lalisa, Michał Kwieciński directs Chopin, a Sonata in Paris, and Artem Hryhorian makes both Kuzma: Extremely Happy and Okean Elzy: Stormwatch.

Raoul Peck directs Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, a 2024 documentary released in 2025.

Compare recent releases

The list includes films released in 2025 and 2026. Doing Good, In Tania's Head, KŪKAI, Kuzma: Extremely Happy and Noga are dated 2026 here.

Chopin, a Sonata in Paris, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, Ich will alles. Hildegard Knef and Okean Elzy: Stormwatch are dated 2025.

What viewers ask

What kind of films are in History documentaries?: The list includes biographical documentaries, music documentaries and docudramas about people and cultural history.
Which film is about Lisa?: Always Lalisa is a 2026 American documentary directed by Sue Kim about Thai rapper and singer Lisa.
Which film covers the life of Kūkai?: KŪKAI is a Chinese docudrama about the Buddhist monk Kūkai, who travelled from Japan to China.
Which films focus on musicians or bands?: Always Lalisa features Lisa, Noga is a music and biographical documentary, and Okean Elzy: Stormwatch follows the Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy.
Who directed Ernest Cole: Lost and Found?: Raoul Peck produced, wrote and directed Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, a 2024 documentary released in 2025.

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