HBO has always been a great stop for amazing movies. But it isn’t short of any good documentaries as well. In fact, there are some amazing documentaries from different genres available on HBO Max and also regularly air on the live TV channel. If you are a DirecTV Stream customer, you already have access to HBO Max and HBO HD. If you don’t, it’s time to get all prepped up, so you can watch some of the biggest hits on HBO.
Must-Watch Documentaries on HBO and HBO Max
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Beware the Slenderman (2016)
During the age of the internet, there have been many unusual incidents that no one ever thought were possible. Slenderman is another mythical boogeyman that was given birth to by the internet. And to prove its existence, two teenage girls lured their friend into the woods and stabbed her to death. The documentary covers every detail of this incident and also sheds light upon how it all began in the first place. It explores the use and misuse of the internet, and how impressionable minds are affected by it. It is a true horror-crime documentary that we advise you don’t watch alone!
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Baltimore Rising (2017)
This documentary tries to capture the voices that rose when Freddie Gray died unexpectedly in police custody. Freddie was a young black man, who was in police custody for allegedly possessing a knife. It is a great, non-judgmental look at the inequalities and power dynamics in the legal and law enforcement sectors. It also mirrors black rights activists, so it could be a great watch if you are into such social issues.
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Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)
Robin Williams has been everyone’s favorite since we can remember. He has given the industry some of the most evergreen comedy content that even feels innovative and fresh today. This documentary is a bunch of exclusive and unseen archival footage, Robin’s own voice-overs, and a walk-through of his personal and professional life. There are many heartbreaking scenes as well, exploring his tragic personal life. By the end of the documentary, you might even realize how original his comedy was.
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At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (2019)
If you have enjoyed sports news ever, then this documentary is the best pick for you. It is a great watch for sports lovers in general, even though it is not exactly a light-hearted watch. The documentary revolves around a scandal about the USA Gymnastics national team doctor, who was allegedly abusing many young athletes for years. The documentary carefully unfolds the details of the whole scandal, and also explores the survivor’s experiences and their thoughts. It has a very dramatic feel to it, all the while keeping the sensitivity of the issue in mind.
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Boy Interrupted (2009)
This documentary can be a little triggering for those struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. To put it briefly, the documentary is shot and directed by the subject’s own parents. It revolves around a teenage boy, Evan Perry, who committed suicide at the age of 15. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had shown suicidal tendencies since a very young age. With a family history of mental illnesses and pre-teen diagnosis of a serious mental issue, his parents had done all they could to support him through it all. The documentary can be something of great value for parents, as long as they are in the state of mind to watch this documentary throughout. It sheds light upon the various aspects of mental illnesses and their ground realities.
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Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland (2018)
This is another documentary on the list that explores the inequalities and injustices that take place behind bars, in police custody, especially for back people. This time around, it is about a political activist. Sandra Bland died in police custody, but her activism and name could not be forgotten. The documentary talks about her life as a political personality, and also about what led her to police custody and eventually her death. She was arrested for a traffic violation but was found hanging in her cell three days later. The documentary questions her suicide and explores any viable justification of her arrest in the very first place too.
Sum up!
There is a huge variety of different types of content you can watch on HBO and HBO Max. Make sure you are subscribed to DirecTV packages, so you can get live HBO content and on-demand HBO Max content easily. Reach out to DirecTV customer service and learn more about their packages and offers that include HBO!
