50 Documentaries to See Before You Die

American TV series or program

Jim Fraenkel (series producer/director)
Tom Barbor-Might

Producers

Jason Berger
Jesse Dixon
Neil Edson
Toby Lichtig
Mark J. Marraccini

Editors

Gabriel Edvy
Kieran Ridgers
Steven McInerney
Paul Mills
David Thompson

Running time52 minutesProduction companies

Kids at Play Media
Current TV

Original releaseNetworkCurrent TVRelease2 August (2011-08-02) –
30 August 2011 (2011-08-30)

50 Documentaries to See Before You Die is a 2011 television special aired on Current TV. Presented by Morgan Spurlock, the series features a ranking of fifty documentary films.

Summary

This limited series, presented by Morgan Spurlock and on the television network Current TV, featured what editors regard as fifty of the most influential and/or important documentary films from the 25 years prior to the series' debut.^[1] It aired in five hour-long episodes, each detailing ten entries on the list in a clip show format. In association with the series, Current TV aired some of the documentaries featured on the list.^[2]

The fifty titles were selected by a panel including film professor Michael Renov, International Documentary Association's then-president Eddie Schmidt, and television executive Brian Graden.^[3]

Episodes

"Life After Donkey Kong"

43. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, by Spike Lee (2006)
42. Catfish, by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (2010)
41. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, by Seth Gordon (2007)

"The Boy Who Loves Jesus Grows Up"

33. Tongues Untied, by Marlon Riggs (1989)
32. Dogtown and Z-Boys, by Stacy Peralta (2001)
31. Jesus Camp, by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (2006)

"When Morgan Spurlock Met Mr. Brainwash"

23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye, by Fenton Bailey (2000)
22. Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck (2006)
21. Exit Through the Gift Shop, by Banksy (2010)

"When Morgan Spurlock Went to a Drag Ball"

13. The Fog of War, by Errol Morris (2003)
12. Bowling for Columbine, by Michael Moore (2002)
11. Paris Is Burning, by Jennie Livingston (1990)

"Top 10 Docs To See Before You Die"

3. Roger & Me, by Michael Moore (1989)
2. The Thin Blue Line, by Errol Morris (1988)
1. Hoop Dreams, by Steve James (1994)

^[4]^[5]

References

^ "50 documentaries to see before you die". Sunday Tribune. August 28, 2011. ProQuest 885541722. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
^ "Supersize my clip show". Mail on Sunday. July 31, 2011. ProQuest 880095728. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
^ "The One Must-See Documentary?". The New York Times. August 29, 2011. ProQuest 2216656443. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
^ The One Must-See Documentary? - The New York Times
^ IDA Editorial Staff (1 August 2011). "50 Documentaries to See Before You Die". International Documentary Association. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2011.