From buzzy superhero stories to the return of Paddington, 2025 has been filled with exciting new movie releases. But here’s some advice: Don’t count out real-life stories in the meantime. Documentaries can be just as gripping as fictional movies, and this year's slate of nonfiction releases has been no exception.
In 2025, documentary fans have been spoiled for choice, from exciting new music docs with exclusive footage of iconic bands and subgenres to timely films that provide intimate looks at modern topics, including inmate abuse and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. There’s even a tearjerker about hummingbirds! Below, we’re rounding up the best documentaries of 2025 so far, as well as the films that are on the horizon. (If you want even more recommendations, check out our lists of the best true crime documentaries and docuseries of 2025 and the best documentaries of 2024.)
