What can be better than a well-produced, interesting and captivating documentary? Perhaps one that’s available to you completely free of charge! We set out to compile a list of all the most viewed, free documentaries on Youtube. This so that you can binge it right here, without a single dollar spent. So make those popcorn and sit back, it’s a 50 hour ride of intriguing stories that you can’t miss.

The Real Story of Paris Hilton

We thought we knew Paris Hilton. We were wrong. This is the untold true story that shaped the woman, and the iconic character she created.

this was so much more intense than I expected. Everyone is going through something or went through something life altering and traumatic. A reminder not to judge, to be kind and loving to everyone.

closet raid, Youtube comment

Borneo Death Blow

An adventure in Borneo with a tribe of blowpipe hunters, the Penan.

This is a beautiful and informative documentary. Painful to watch. I hope that the Penan will be able to survive and their seniors are given psychic care to improve the quality of their lives. And they should be able to govern the use of their raw materials and have say to allow harvest of their trees that are so vital to their lives.

jehrulew Erwin, Youtube comment

AlphaGo

With more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe, the ancient Chinese game of Go has long been considered a grand challenge for artificial intelligence.

On a side note, credit to Cindy Lee, the editor of this documentary. So well made. The cuts, the jumps, the sound, the emotions, everything. Superb work.

transparent91, Youtube comment

How poor people survive in the USA

Homelessness, hunger and shame: poverty is rampant in the richest country in the world. Over 40 million people in the United States live below the poverty line, twice as many as it was fifty years ago. It can happen very quickly.

Many people in the United States fall through the social safety net. In the structurally weak mining region of the Appalachians, it has become almost normal for people to go shopping with food stamps. And those who lose their home often have no choice but to live in a car. There are so many homeless people in Los Angeles that relief organizations have started to build small wooden huts to provide them with a roof over their heads. The number of homeless children has also risen dramatically, reaching 1.5 million, three times more than during the Great Depression the 1930s. A documentary about the fate of the poor in the United States today.

INSIDE/OUT: My Battle With IBD

I’m Rebecca Zamolo and this is my OFFICIAL Full Documentary INSIDE/OUT: My Battle With IBD. Many of you know me for my comedy videos, fun challenges, and awkward dancing, but what many don’t know is that I suffered with Ulcerative Colitis (IBD) for 8 years before having my colon removed for my health. I hope sharing my story can help others and be an educational tool we can find a cure for IBD.

I started crying 5 minutes through and haven’t stopped since. You’re such a strong woman Rebecca 💗

isla, Youtube comment

Life in a Day 2020

Directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald. Produced by Ridley Scott. And filmed by YOU.

Watching this film was such a beautiful experience. I cried, I laughed, I felt moved, I got angry, I got hope, I felt thankful. The amount of emotions I had from this is unmeasureable, because I know this is no fiction, this wasn’t written by somebody, these are real clips from real lives, and I think that is just so beautiful

Anahí Apcay, Youtube comment

The life of the super-rich in Central Africa

Many millionaires live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s poorest countries. This film depicts some of those who have made fortunes amid the chaos, including musicians, mining bosses, entrepreneurs and preachers.

As an African from South Africa, it breaks my heart to see our people struggling like this when we walk on top of our own minerals which only the “elite” benefit from…. Our African Leaders are failing us dismally 😭… And the sad part is that we keep on voting for them 😭😭😭

Mpho Mooketsi, Youtube comment

A Killer on Floor 32

A Killer on Floor 32 takes you inside the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history using never before seen footage, and exclusive access to tell the story of that tragic night in Las Vegas.

Over 1000 casings, 58 deaths and over 800 injuries… it’s really surprising there weren’t more casualties honestly. I’m amazed by people and the medical community.

thejaydegarden, Youtube comment

Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

An inside look at how Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos built one of the largest and most influential economic forces in the world — and the cost of Amazon’s convenience.

The interviewer in this documentary did a great job – asking hard questions to proponents of both sides of Amazon. Top notch journalism – thank you for posting PBS.

Redouane Daoud, Youtube comment

Brides for sale – Bulgaria’s Roma marriage market

The Kalaidzhi bride market takes place in the southeast of Bulgaria every year. Unmarried women are often paired off with financially strong men.

But more and more young Roma are rebelling against the old tradition. For young Kalaidzhi the annual bride market at Bachkovo Monastery is the only chance to find a partner. Their Orthodox Christian faith and traditional code of conduct prohibit them from dating, flirting or having any other pre-marital relations. The Kalaidzhi – a name meaning tinsmiths or boilermakers – marry only within the group. Finding a spouse from outside – and in particular a non-Roma Bulgarian – is out of the question. Love is only a secondary consideration. What matters is the dowry. A growing number of young Roma, however, are rebelling against the traditional marriage market. They want to make their own decisions, and to love and marry the person of their choice. For girls especially – some as young as 15 when they are put up for marriage – the wedding is the end of self-determined life. They will subsequently be housewives and mothers. The film accompanies 17-year-old Teni and 19-year-old Maria in the week before the market day. For them it means buying a lot of new clothes and masses of other preparations. Can this be a way to find true love? And how is the outdated ritual affected by the Internet and social media?

We forget how lucky we are sometimes

GC SPORT RECREATION, Youtube comment

The Revelation Of The Pyramids

The Revelation Of The Pyramids takes an indepth look into one of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Mystery has surrounded these fascinating structures for centuries with theories varying from the scientific to the bizarre. However with over many years of indepth research taking in the world’s oldest, most enigmatic and beautiful sites from China to Peru, from Egypt to Mexico, a team of independent researchers has, at last, managed first to understand and then to reveal what lies behind this greatest of archaeological mysteries: a message of paramount importance for all mankind, through time and space.

This is my favorite documentary on the pyramids. It never gets old! I remember the first time I saw it I was in awe. I even had my 63 year old roommate watch it and he too was in awe. After that we use to watch various documentaries together on the pyramids but this was always our favorite.

Moon readings, Youtube comment

China: Power and Prosperity

As China has risen in prosperity, influence and military strength, what are the social, economic and political forces at play? Come along with PBS NewsHour as we travel around the globe to explore the emerging superpower and its relationship with the United States.

“China: Power and Prosperity” covers the country’s powerful leader, his signature foreign policy, U.S.-China trade and technology wars, how Chinese technology helps stifle dissent, and more. A collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, PBS NewsHour conducted more than 70 on-camera interviews in eight Chinese cities and across eight countries.

World’s Most Dangerous Roads | Burundi – The Racing Cyclists

The racing cyclists of Burundi have a dangerous job. But it’s a vital one for Burundi’s economy. Bicycles are the main means of transportation in one of the smallest countries in Africa. Bananas, the staple food in Burundi, are transported from the markets to a banana beer brewing factory. We accompany Tharcien, a bike courier, on his exhausting cross country trip on the Burundi Highway.

250kg downhill on a chinese bike at 60 km per hour, with no brakes, with bad tires and with no helmet. Wow! My respects to these braves!

Elcio Thenorio, Youtube comment

Amazing Wildlife of Botswana

Go on a virtual 1-hour safari tour without leaving your home. Discover amazing African wildlife and relax! Botswana represents the biggest number and widest range of wildlife! You will see majestic springboks peacefully grazing in the shade. You will also see other amazing wild animals and birds up close and different species of birds near the waterholes. Immerse yourself in the life of the wild world and learn more about African animals. You will have the opportunity to observe animals in the wild: watch how they hunt, feed, fight, rest, and get along with other species. Take in the views of the African savannas and listen to relaxing music in the background. Get up close and personal with beautiful wildlife, enjoy the stunning landscapes in 8K, and feel relaxed. Enjoy wild sighting and let your imagination to run to the wild!

In this nature film you will see the most incredible and stunning animals & birds! These are some of them: Bat-eared fox, Black-backed jackal, Black-winged stilt, Blue wildebeest, Northern black korhaan, Ostrich, Cheetah, Lion, Yellow mongoose, Southern giraffe, Tawny eagle, Bushveld lizard, African fish eagle, Common hippopotamus, African elephant, Greater kudu, Abdim’s stork, Ground squirrel, Red hartebeest, Secretarybird, African openbill, Burchell’s zebra, Martial eagle, African wild dog, European bee-eater, Southern yellow-billed hornbill, and more!

I can’t find words to describe , what an amazing job you guys have done!! the fact that, this is the earth we’re living in, takes my breath away

M, Youtube comment

Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons – Antananarivo Prison, Madagascar

The World’s Toughest Prisons will reveal what it really means to be part of this very special world – from different angles. At each prison we visit, the audience will be immersed into daily prison life. The viewer will experience firsthand the challenges each guard faces on a daily basis; likewise, he will learn about the prisoner’s struggles to develop strategies for survival.

But the deep insights in this series will also allow the audience to experience the other side of the story: why was the prison built like this? What kind of rules and security measures exist here? And how are the prisoners monitored and, if they break the rules, punished?

This documentation is a never-before-seen insight into an unbelievable world, which exists within the realms of law and justice but with its own definitions of right and wrong. This is a story audiences will love to experience, while simultaneously being thankful that it isn’t their own.

My heart cries for the ones inside this prison that are accused of committing crime that they didn’t do,

blessmarvell blessing, Youtube comment

Shenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware

We examine the unique manufacturing ecosystem that has emerged, gaining access to the world’s leading hardware-prototyping culture whilst challenging misconceptions from the west. The film looks at how the evolution of “Shanzhai” – or copycat manufacturing – has transformed traditional models of business, distribution and innovation, and asks what the rest of the world can learn from this so-called “Silicon Valley of hardware”.

This video gave me a much wider perspective on the stereotypical “China-fake” products and made me realize how innovative the citizens of China truly are. Fantastic documentary.

ynnad, Youtube comment

Do You Have An Unrelated Identical Twin?

Ever wondered if there’s someone out there who looks exactly like you? Well, statistically, it is estimated that for every face there are 7 doppelganger matches around the world.

In this documentary, we follow people as they track down their twin stranger across the globe and meet for the first time. They get to know one another and find out about each other’s lives and whether there are any other similarities. While the pairs get to know each other, they are also undergoing a series of tests by the twin-experts at St Thomas’ Hospital. These include measuring similarities of facial features using the latest 3D scanning technology, 2D facial recognition analysis and DNA ancestry testing.

The experts then get 100 people to rate the similarities from photos from most alike to least alike. Taking all of the results into consideration, the twin-experts will then reveal which pair is the most identical.

The fact that John and Neil are the most similar twins and they found themselves just by chance living in the same small town is the absolute strangest thing to me!

itstatilol, Youtube comment

Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans

Michael Moore presents Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say what no one else will — that we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America. This film is the wake-up call to the reality we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the environmental movement’s answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. It’s too little, too late.

I can not remember the last time I felt so impacted by a documentary. Thank you. It is depressing but better that than delusions.

Walter Vermeir, Youtube comment

The Disturbing Case of the House of Horrors Killer

“I put her in the closet…”

In today’s true crime documentary, we’re covering the case of Shawn Grate.

Kudos! What an absolutely masterful production! I can’t imagine haw much work, time, and effort went into creating this but I’m so very happy it was created. Wow.

Derek Traywick, Youtube comment

The Cultural Riches of Islam

This feature-length documentary examines Islam’s rich and significant contribution to western art and culture

Presenter and art critic, Waldemar Januszczak, sets out on an epic journey of discovery across the Muslim world from Central Asia to the heart of the Middle East and beyond.

He reveals a world of awe-inspiring architecture, spectacular Islamic treasures and a host of artists and craftsmen, bringing the largely unknown and fascinating story of Islamic art and architecture to the attention of the public. Documentary first broadcast in 2005.

Just beautiful. Thank you for the in-depth discussion , great technical production and camera work!

Ove Thompson, Youtube comment