The best documentaries of 2023
The top 3 according to 1,178 votes from people: 20 Days in Mariupol (2023) · Four Daughters (2023) · Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023). (Updated Oct 30, 2024.)
From 20 Days in Mariupol to American Symphony: the 2023 documentaries that topped critics' lists and the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Variety, IndieWire, POV Magazine).
Top 13
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1
20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
AP journalists trapped in the besieged city; Oscar winner.
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2
Four Daughters (2023)
A Tunisian mother, her daughters and the two who left; Kaouther Ben Hania.
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3
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)
Michael J. Fox on his career and Parkinson's; top Critics Choice doc.
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4
Kokomo City (2023)
Four Black trans sex workers tell their stories.
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5
Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)
The architect of rock and roll.
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6
American Symphony (2023)
Jon Batiste writes a symphony while his wife fights cancer.
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7
The Mother of All Lies (2023)
Asmae El Moudir rebuilds her family's past with a miniature model.
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8
Judy Blume Forever (2023)
The author who wrote frankly for teenagers.
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9
Beyond Utopia (2023)
Families attempt to escape North Korea.
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10
Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros (2023)
Frederick Wiseman's four hours in a three-star kitchen.
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11
The Eternal Memory (2023)
A Chilean couple living with Alzheimer's.
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12
Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
An archival portrait of the TV icon.
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13
Bobi Wine: The People's President (2022)
A Ugandan pop star runs for president.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (7)
American Symphony made me cry twice. Jon Batiste and Suleika's story is incredible.
20 Days in Mariupol is the most important film of the year, documentary or not.
Menus-Plaisirs is 4 hours of people cooking and I didn't want it to end
Little Richard getting his due finally
Four Daughters blew my mind, the way she mixes actors and the real family is brilliant
Still is a great doc but I think it's a bit too high here
Agree, Beyond Utopia deserved that spot