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'Pamela: A Love Story' -

Many people think they know who Pamela Anderson is, a sex symbol who rose to fame with 'Baywatch' and had a scandalous relationship with Tommy Lee that was recently made into the TV series 'Pam & Tommy.' But that's a tiny slice of who the actress and activist really is (even smaller if you consider she didn't approve of the series) as is made very apparent in her new documentary 'Pamela: A Love Story.' The doc premiered January 31 and already surprised viewers with the raw and honest look at the star as she leads us through troves of unseen records of her past. It covers everything from her childhood to her transformation into a Playboy cover girl to even her later career stalls and life with her two sons, both of whom were present at the premiere. Director Ryan White told The Guardian of his decision to keep Anderson as the main guide through the doc: “I was just so captivated by her once I met her and how she sees the world … I wanted her to be the shepherd through her life story.”

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'Harry & Meghan' -

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bared all in their Netflix docuseries 'Harry & Meghan.' It includes countless bombshells and an unexpectedly intimate look into the royal couple's home life and relationship. In addition to candid chats and self-taped video diaries, they also dive into the most sensitive topics surrounding the royal family. They open up about the rifts between each of them and their respective families, how the royal institution has an ongoing arrangement with the British tabloids, and how racism tormented Meghan throughout her time in the UK.

It's particularly unexpected to hear Prince Harry speak so openly and critically about the inner workings of the royal family and the way it harms people. "This is about duty and service and I feel as though being part of this family is my duty to uncover this exploitation and bribery that happens within our media," he says. "This isn't just about our story. This has always been so much bigger than us. No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth. The institution knows the full truth and the media knows the full truth because they've been in on it." He speaks with the unique perspective of someone who lost a mother and nearly lost a wife to the media frenzy that surrounds the royals in the UK, particularly those who don't follow tradition to the letter. 

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'My Mind and Me' -

Selena Gomez is one of the most famous stars of recent years, but even though we've seen her regularly on stage and screen, there is so much more that's been going on behind the scenes. The actress and singer decided to give fans an intimate look into her life with her 2022 documentary 'My Mind & Me,' which spans the past six years of her life. “I am who I am and everyone’s about to see it. That’s all I got,” she told Variety on the red carpet at the premiere on November 2. The documentary follows a younger Gomez on her hectic 'Revival Tour' in 2016, which was canceled prematurely when she had to enter a psychiatric facility due to a psychotic break. Testimonies from Gomez herself and those who were around her at the time describe a nightmarish period in her life.

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'You're Beautiful' -

James Blunt, former British mega-star who is perhaps the most self-aware and self-deprecating celebrity of our times, is getting his own documentary. The feature will be called 'You're Beautiful,' after the singer's most famous hit. It has jokingly been described as "the story of an ageing, British pop star, still fighting for relevance some 17 years after his star momentarily twinkled." The documentary will follow Blunt as he powers through his 2022 'Greatest Hit Tour,' the name of which is another example of his sense of humor about his own career. 

The documentary will also explore Blunt's past, from his childhood to his experience in the British Army during the Kosovo War, to his making of the UK's best-selling album of the 2000s. The style has been described as "'Spinal Tap' meets 'Alan Partridge.'" Mulling over his decisions, Blunt commented that, "In hindsight, I’m not sure letting them film this was a good idea.”

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Bobby Brown -

Bobby Brown got the documentary treatment royale over at A&E. The channel aired a two-part documentary about the singer called 'Biography: Bobby Brown,' followed by a 12-episode series called 'Bobby Brown: Every Little Step.' The documentary sees Brown address his meteoric rise to success, his substance abuse issues, his marriage to Whitney Houston, and her death, as well as the deaths of two of his children. Brown attempts to come to terms with these tragic losses by visiting the graves of his wife and daughter for the first time since their deaths. Meanwhile, the TV series offers a look into Brown's present, following him and his family as he focuses on new music and business ventures, as well as the 2022 reunion tour with his group New Edition. 

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David Bowie -

Filmmaker Brett Morgen has written, directed, and edited an exciting new documentary about the life of David Bowie. Morgen spent five years working on the movie and describes it as “a feature-length experiential cinematic odyssey that explores Bowie’s creative, musical and spiritual journey. Told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, the film is guided by Bowie’s narration and is the first film to be officially sanctioned by Bowie’s estate.” Morgen was given unlimited access to the archives of Bowie's work by his estate. It looks set to be a magical spectacle worthy of its subject. The documentary is expected to hit HBO in 2023. 

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'Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off' -

Tony Hawk's life has been made legendary as the most well-known skateboarder in the world. HBO Max's 'Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off' offers a never-before-seen look at the pioneer of modern vertical skating. It features fresh footage and interviews with Hawk and other prominent figures in the sport including Stacy Peralta, Rodney Mullen, Sean Mortimer, and Christian Hosoi. The director Sam Jones, also a skateboarder, was a big fan of Hawk from a very young age, and he said he was surprised at how honest Hawk got about the struggles he's faced along his journey, from being a father and husband to his own mental, physical, and emotional health, People reports.  

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'The Larry David Story' -

Fans were looking forward to the two-part HBO documentary 'The Larry David Story,' which “shines a new light on the infamous cynic who remains a singular voice in comedy today," and was supposed to give a peek behind the comedy genius' road to success. The doc was canceled late on February 28, the day before it was scheduled to premiere. Sources close to the comic explained that David wants to not just premiere the doc in front of an audience at a theater, but actually create a live stage version of the show. It's unclear if the doc will ever see the light of day, but HBO will reportedly follow David’s lead on how he wants to share his journey “from his humble beginnings as an unfunny Brooklyn kid to becoming America’s favorite misanthrope.” 

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'Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy' -

Netflix released a three-part docuseries about Kanye West which pieces together footage captured over the last 21 years of the rapper's life, from his incredible rise to success as a young artist, his achievements as a businessman in the music industry, and his later public controversies and mental health struggles. His relationship with his mother, who passed away in 2007, is central to the story the filmmakers want to tell. Many documentaries about celebrities are self-promoting branding tools, but West did not have a say on the editing of the final cut in this case. The Los Angeles Times has called it "a raw, candid and empathetic look at the man behind the platinum albums, public meltdowns and tabloid frenzy." 

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Janet Jackson, 'Janet' -

A two-part documentary called 'Janet' was released in January in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the star's debut album. In the documentary, the singer addresses the child sexual abuse allegations made against her brother Michael Jackson, which he'd denied, and which she rarely ever commented on. "There's a great deal of scrutiny that comes with having that last name," Janet says alongside footage of her and Michael leaving a courthouse during his 2005 child molestation trial. Janet is then asked if the allegations affected her career, to which she responds yes. "Guilty by association. I guess that's what they call it, right?" Janet also addressed the infamous 2004 Super Bowl "Nipplegate" incident with Justin Timberlake, a scandal that has come under more intense scrutiny this year following heightened attention towards how the media has treated female stars. 

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'What Happened, Brittany Murphy?' -

'Clueless' (1995) and '8 Mile' (2002) star Brittany Murphy was reaching the peak of her career when she suddenly passed away at the age of 32 in 2009. The cause of death was somewhat mysterious, and the situation became even more tragic and bizarre when her husband, Simon Monjack, died of similar causes a few months after her. An HBO documentary called 'What Happened, Brittany Murphy?' explores the circumstances surrounding her death in two shocking episodes. Initial trailers allude to a troubled relationship with her husband. 

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'The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart' (2020) -

The wonderful trio are shown in their true colors in this documentary. It's made from interviews with the still living Barry Gibb and old interviews with his brothers, Robin and Maurice Gibb.

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'Miss Americana' (2020) -

Taylor Swift gives us a peek into her life with this documentary. For the first time, she talks about her battle with an eating disorder, her political awakening, and her relationships.

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'Amy' (2015) -

She was an iconic singer that died too young. This award-winning documentary gives the viewer an intimate look at her career and personal struggles with heartbreak and addiction.

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'I Am Ali' (2014) -

Muhammad Ali was the most famous boxer in history. This documentary gives us a unique insight into his life through his personal audiotapes and interviews with his inner circle.

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'Gaga: Five Foot Two' (2017) -

Lady Gaga is metaphorically stripped bare in this documentary about her performance at the Super Bowl in 2017. You see how she practices, perfects, and completely rocks it.

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'Michael Jackson's This Is It' (2009) -

This documentary is a compilation of interviews, recordings, and footage from Jackson's last scheduled tour. He planned to make it the best he'd ever put on, but he died 18 days before the tour began.

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'Bright Lights' (2016) -

The mother and daughter relationship between Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher was not a normal one due to their fame. Nevertheless, Reynolds and her children, Todd and Carrie Fisher, have an intimate bond that makes this documentary a lovely watch.

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'Simply Complicated' (2017) -

This clever oxymoron captures Demi Lovato's life perfectly. She was famous from an early age and has faced many troubles in the past. Bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addiction have all plagued Lovato. In this documentary, she reflects on her past and her road to sobriety.

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'Beyoncé: Life Is But a Dream' (2013) -

This documentary puts you right into Beyoncé's home. It follows her busy career, marriage, and pregnancy. If you want to get to know the star a little better, here is a good place to start.

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'Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé' (2019) -

In this latter documentary, Beyoncé lets her audience see how she transformed her artistic ideas into reality at her marvelous Coachella performance in 2018. If you want to be creatively inspired, give this one a gander.

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'Katy Perry: Part of Me' (2012) -

Everybody remembers Katy Perry's song 'California Girls' (2010). The video that went with it was a wonderland of candy and beautiful women. If you want more, look at this documentary that follows her on tour.

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'One Direction: This Is Us' (2013) -

Sadly, One Direction has parted ways, but if you'd like to relive the band's golden days, this documentary is for you. It follows their huge life change from working-class boys to major stars.

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'Chasing Happiness' (2019) -

The Jonas Brothers have been out of the spotlight for a while until their recent album 'Happiness Begins' (2019) came out. This documentary covers the intense process they went through to create music together again.

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'Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of' (2015) -

It's quite remarkable that, while many '90s bands have fallen into the shade, the Backstreet Boys have survived. They are the best-selling boy band of all time! This documentary records their career from the beginning until their recent work.

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'I Am Heath Ledger' (2017) -

Heath Ledger amazed many as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight.' Sadly he died of an accidental overdose on prescription drugs in 2008, the same year the film was released. This documentary looks at him through his career, family, and friends.

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'O.J.: Made in America' (2016) -

The infamous life of O.J. Simpson is covered in this documentary. It gives a concise overview of O.J. himself, as well as the racial controversy that the murder case against him brought about.

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'What Happened, Miss Simone?' (2015) -

This Netflix documentary is about the "High Priestess of Soul," Nina Simone. It follows the highs and lows of a tumultuous and genius mind.

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'I Am Patrick Swayze' (2019) -

The 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) legend passed away from cancer in 2009. This documentary gives you access to all parts of his life and reveals how he was such a great actor.

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'For the Love of Spock' (2016) -

Leonard Nimoy is the original, best-loved Spock, but why? This documentary explores how he played his role so successfully on 'Star Trek: The Original Series' (1966-1969).

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'McQueen' (2018) -

Fashion icon Alexander McQueen has not yet been rivaled in creativity. Still, despite taking his own life in 2010, his designs continue to inspire. 'McQueen' is a moving view of one of the world's most prolific designer.

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'Cobain: Montage of Heck' (2015) -

Kurt Cobain was undoubtedly the voice of the early '90s youth. His anti-establishment lyrics and inner torture made him an MTV star with his band Nirvana. This documentary takes a look at his diaries to decipher his complex personality and shocking death.

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'Marley' (2012) -

Bob Marley was a legendary reggae musician who helped popularize the genre around the world. From his home in Jamaica to his death from skin cancer in 1981, this doc covers his life, loves, and music.

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'Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly' (2019) -

Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner open their home up to a film crew and let the viewer see their family life. It also goes through Scott's rise to fame in the music industry up until he had his first child, Stormi Webster.

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'I Am Bolt' (2016) -

Usain Bolt holds three world records and is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist. The perseverance and difficulty of an athlete's life are well captured in this documentary about his rise to success.

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'I Am Chris Farley' (2015) -

Chris Farley was a brilliant comedian who made a name for himself on 'Saturday Night Live.' He died of a cocaine and morphine overdose in 1997. This documentary follows his tremendous career and tragic end.

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'King in the Wilderness' (2018) -

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. This doc looks at the mounting anger against him in his final years of life.

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'Exit Through the Gift Shop' (2010) -

The mysterious Banksy has also produced a documentary. As funny as it is controversial, it chronicles two people who try and search for Banksy, but he is actually the one following them.

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'I Am Greta' (2020) -

The environmental activist of our time gives us insight into her life before her fame, and how she lives now. It's a beautiful glimpse into the heart and mind of a very brave girl.

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'A Ballerina's Tale' (2015) -

Misty Copeland is one of the world's most famous ballerinas, and also one of the first African-American ballet dancers to rise to the top. She tells of her survival and success in the savage world of ballet.

Sources: (Insider)(IMDb)

See also: The most dangerous documentaries ever made

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