Movies like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale (2025)
The best movies like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale (2025) are The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014), Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013) and 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021). If The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest rated14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)7.3/10 from 415 votes
- NewestLearning to Fly (2026)Released 2026
The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014)
In its first 25 years only 10 people have finished The Barkley Marathons. Based on a historic prison escape, this cult like race tempts people from around the world to test their limits of physical and mental endurance in this documentary that contemplates the value of pain.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDrew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013)
A documentary on legendary movie-poster artist Drew Struzan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like this14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)
In 2019, Nepalese mountain climber Nirmal “Nims” Purja set out to do the unthinkable by climbing the world’s fourteen highest summits in less than seven months. (The previous record was eight years). He called the effort “Project Possible 14/7” and saw it as a way to inspire others to strive for greater heights in any pursuit. The film follows his team as they seek to defy naysayers and push the limits of human endurance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisIn the Realms of the Unreal (2004)
In the Realms of the Unreal is a documentary about the reclusive Chicago-based artist Henry Darger. Henry Darger was so reclusive that when he died his neighbors were surprised to find a 15,145-page manuscript along with hundreds of paintings depicting The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is Known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glodeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Cased by the Child Slave Rebellion.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOur Planet: Behind the Scenes (2019)
Years spent recording footage of creatures from every corner of the globe is bound to produce a bit of drama. Here's a behind-the-scenes look.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisUndefeated (2011)
Set against the backdrop of a high school football season, Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin’s documentary UNDEFEATED is an intimate chronicle of three underprivileged student-athletes from inner-city Memphis and the volunteer coach trying to help them beat the odds on and off the field. For players and coaches alike, the season will be not only about winning games — it will be about how they grapple with the unforeseeable events that are part of football and part of life.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisTo Kill a Tiger (2023)
Ranjit, a farmer in India, takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the victim of a brutal gang rape. His decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like this28 Up (1985)
Just two years away from turning 30, participants in Michael Apted's documentary series are facing serious questions of identity and purpose, wondering whether they've found their place in the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Toxic Love Story (2026)
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like this180° South (2010)
The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff (2018)
In 1976, reggae icon Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt as rival political groups battled in Jamaica. But who exactly was responsible?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOne Day in September (1999)
The full story of the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli revenge operation 'Wrath of God.' The 1972 Munich Olympics were interrupted by Palestinian terrorists taking Israeli athletes hostage. Besides footage taken at the time, we see interviews with the surviving terrorist, Jamal Al Gashey, and various officials detailing exactly how the police, lacking an anti-terrorist squad and turning down help from the Israelis, botched the operation.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Class of ‘92 (2013)
A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisS4: The Bob Lazar Story (2026)
Over 35 years after Bob Lazar's revelations, this documentary exposes secrets of a facility the government still denies. Featuring Lazar's testimony, recreations, and new evidence, it reopens a case that continues to spark global curiosity
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe Crystal Calls - Making The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
Go behind the scenes with stars, puppeteers and creators as they bring Jim Henson's magical world of Thra back to life in a sweeping fantasy series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEx Libris: The New York Public Library (2017)
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFrida (2024)
An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo. Told through her own words for the very first time — drawn from her diary, revealing letters, essays, and print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisUnknown: Cave of Bones (2023)
Scientists examine underground clues from over 250,000 years ago that raise questions about our early relatives — and what it truly means to be human.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHappy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010)
In the center of the story is the life of the indigenous people of the village Bakhtia at the river Yenisei in the Siberian Taiga. The camera follows the protagonists in the village over a period of a year. The natives, whose daily routines have barely changed over the last centuries, keep living their lives according to their own cultural traditions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBrian Reynolds: The Leadville Trail 100 (2024)
Brian Reynolds, a double amputee below the knee athlete, has triumphed over numerous challenges throughout his life. Growing up without a role model to guide him, he has embarked on a mission to empower para athletes by demonstrating that nothing is beyond reach. Join us in this documentary as we follow Brian's journey to make history by becoming the first double amputee to conquer the legendary Leadville 100 Ultra Trail Marathon in Colorado.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Jelly Roll: Save Me (2023)
An inside look as the 38-year-old prepares to perform at the famed Bridgestone Arena in his hometown of Nashville, featuring never-before-seen tour footage and interviews with the musician and those closest to him. It also shows how Jelly Roll balances life on tour with philanthropic work, including a visit to a juvenile detention facility where he was incarcerated multiple times to share his story in the hopes of inspiring positive change in others.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
A Long Way From Nowhere (2023)
What compels a person to run 150 miles through the desert at the height of summer? Is it the need for achievement, the competitive instinct, or something deeper? A Long Way From Nowhere is a different sort of extreme sports film—one centered not around winning or extraordinary spectacle—but instead one focused upon the human spirit—on why individuals, knowingly or not, seek out some of the harshest climates on earth—in this case, southern Utah in June—and push themselves to, and sometimes beyond, the breaking point. Amongst the disparate cast of characters in this film is a veteran suffering from PTSD, a widowed single father, and a female police officer working in the field of human trafficking. Each undertakes the 150-mile Desert Rats stage race, each their darkest hour, and each, through the curious alchemy of extreme hardship and desert solitude, emerges with a new understanding of what it is to be human.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Nazoranai (2015)
In March 2014, Nazoranai, an experimental improvisation trio came together for their U.S. premiere, at the Big Ears festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. This documentary, part of Sam Stephenson and Ivan Weiss’s Big, Bent Ears: A Serial in Documentary Uncertainty series on The Paris Reviews, goes behind the scenes, spending time with members Stephen O'Malley, Oren Ambarchi, and Keiji Haino.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Vol State 500k (2027)
129 ordinary people dare to achieve the extraordinary on a 314-mile journey across the state of Tennessee, relying solely on local Volunteer State communities for aid.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Coming SoonMovies like thisLearning to Fly (2026)
Aisha McAdams, a former competitive runner turned photographer, embarks on a journey to document the triumphs and struggles of famed ultra trailrunners, including Jim Walmsley and Eszter Csillag. Traveling to mythical races—the Western States Endurance Run in the mountains of eastern California, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in the French Alps—the film marvels at athletes who maintain their intensity as they run 100 miles of mountain trails while climbing thousands of vertical feet.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Touch the Gate (2023)
The Barkley Marathons are a race unlike any other. With over 100 miles of wild terrain, and twice the elevation of climbing and descending Mt. Everest from sea level, it's a race that expects runners to fail. In 38 years, only 15 runners have completed the Barkley Marathons, but that doesn't stop hundreds of athletes from applying for entry every year. This film documents Joe McConaughy's first attempt at one of the most challenging races in the world.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Out There - A Journey to the Barkley Marathons (2020)
Out There is the story of Belgian ultrarunner Karel Sabbe, who holds the world records on two of the most epic trails in the world: the 4279km long Pacific Crest Trail and the 3500km long Appalachian Trail. How did setting these world records prepare Karel for a race as brutal as The Barkley Marathons? How did these adventures help Karel to find the necessary mindset to do well at this Spartan challenge?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Solace (2021)
On | Solace – Running the Alps in 30 days – Karel Sabbe's Via Alpina FKT In the summer of 2021, ultrarunner Karel Sabbe ran the Via Alpina trail in just 30 days. Averaging two marathons on a daily basis, he navigated the route 14 days faster than anybody else. As well as the Alps, Karel overcame sleep deprivation, illness and extreme weather. And he did it all with a camera crew in tow, documenting every step.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale?
The closest matches to The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale are The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014), Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013) and 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale?
Start with The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014), the closest match to The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale?
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021), rated 7.3/10 by 415 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale?
Learning to Fly (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale?
Yes: The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young (2014), Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (2013) and 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021).
How are movies similar to The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.