Skip to content

Movies like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story (2026)

The best movies like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story (2026) are O.J.: Made in America (2016), Deliver Us from Evil (2006) and Tread (2020). If Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story hooked you with its documentary and crime, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. O.J.: Made in America (2016)

    A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  2. Deliver Us from Evil (2006)

    Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg investigates the life of 30-year pedophile Father Oliver O'Grady and exposes the corruption inside the Catholic Church that allowed him to abuse countless children. Victims' stories and a disturbing interview with O'Grady offer a view into the troubled mind of the spiritual leader who moved from parish to parish gaining trust ... all the while betraying so many.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both crime & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  3. Tread (2020)

    Pushed to his breaking point, a master welder in a small town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains quietly fortifies a bulldozer with 30 tons of concrete and steel and seeks to destroy those he believes have wronged him.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  4. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

    In 2001, Andrew Bagby, a medical resident, is murdered not long after breaking up with his girlfriend. Soon after, when she announces she's pregnant, one of Andrew's many close friends, Kurt Kuenne, begins this film, a gift to the child.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  5. Predators (2025)

    In the mid-aughts, Dateline NBC's To Catch a Predator drew millions of weekly viewers to watch sting operations: men planning to meet minors for sex would instead be confronted by polished host Chris Hansen, then by the police — all on hidden camera.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  6. The Invisible War (2012)

    An investigative and powerfully emotional documentary about the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US military, the institutions that perpetuate and cover up its existence, and its profound personal and social consequences.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  7. The Untold History Of The United States (2012)

    Oliver Stone charts the history of the United States from the Second World War to the present.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  8. The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014)

    Programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz achieved groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing. His passion for open access ensnared him in a legal nightmare that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  9. Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995)

    "Trinity and Beyond" is an unsettling yet visually fascinating documentary presenting the history of nuclear weapons development and testing between 1945-1963. Narrated by William Shatner and featuring an original score performed by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, this award-winning documentary reveals previously unreleased and classified government footage from several countries.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. The Thin Blue Line (1988)

    One night in November 1976, after his car breaks down on a road outside Dallas, Randall Dale Adams accepts a ride from teenager David Harris. Harris is driving a stolen vehicle and, later that night, when Dallas police officer Robert Wood pulls the car over to check its headlights, he is shot and killed. A jury believes Adams is the killer, but stylized reenactments and interviews with key figures, conflicting testimonies and evidence are presented to argue that Adams was framed by a corrupt justice system, ultimately leading to his exoneration.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both crime & documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  11. Red Army (2015)

    A documentary highlighting the Soviet Union's legendary and enigmatic hockey training culture and world-dominating team through the eyes of the team's Captain Slava Fetisov, following his shift from hockey star and celebrated national hero to political enemy.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  12. Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)

    Michael Moore comes home to the issue he's been examining throughout his career: the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default, the rest of the world).

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  13. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)

    Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  14. Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000)

    Revisiting the 1994 Arkansas murder of three 8-year-old boys and the three teenagers convicted of the crime. A follow up to Paradise Lost, Revelations features new interviews with the convicted men, as well as with the original judge and police investigators.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. Ronaldo (2015)

    Filmed over 14 months with unprecedented access into the inner circle of the man and the sport, this is the first official and fully authorised film of one of the most celebrated figures in football. For the first time ever, the world gets vividly candid and un-paralleled, behind-closed-doors access to the footballer, father, family-man and friend in this moving & fascinating documentary. Through in-depth conversations, state of the art football footage and never before seen archival footage, the film gives an astonishing insight into the sporting and personal life of triple Ballon D'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo at the peak of his career. From the makers of ‘Senna’ and ‘Amy’, Ronaldo takes audiences on an intimate and revealing journey of what it’s like to live as an iconic athlete in the eye of the storm.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron (2017)

    For the 20th anniversary of "Titanic," James Cameron reopens the file on the disaster.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  17. Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019)

    The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  18. The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011)

    Examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in US society from 1967 to 1975. It features footage of the movement shot by Swedish journalists in the United States during that period and includes the appearances of Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and other activists, artists, and leaders central to the movement.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)

    An immersive look at the eventful life and brilliant artistic career of visionary American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991).

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & history

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  20. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2012)

    A further investigation into the arrest of three teenagers convicted of killing three young boys in Arkansas who spent nearly 20 years in prison before being released after new DNA evidence indicated they may be innocent.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & crime

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  21. Loving forever (2026)

    Edoardo Iaschi (known as Eddie Brock) is an Italian indie singer born and raised in Rome. When his song “Non è mica te” unexpectedly goes viral on TikTok, Edo is thrust into the spotlight and forced to confront the realities of adulthood, fame, and a world far bigger than he ever imagined…

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary & history

  22. A Movie About Movies of White City (2024)

    Short documentary about movies locations from Yugoslavian movies and how they look nowadays.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  23. Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006)

    Documentary film exploring the making, and legacy of 'Forbidden Planet'

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  24. Happy Pills (2023)

    A journey through six different countries and characters into a world where chemistry is the ultimate response to human pursuits of well-being.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  25. Chêne de vie : l'amour aux temps du cancer (2025)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  26. Antonico: Por Onde Andam os Migrantes Nordestinos? (TBA)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  27. Hot House (2006)

    In a candid and unflinching portrait of Palestinian prisoners, Shimon Dotan takes viewers inside the highest security prisons in Israel where thousands of Palestinians fill these detention facilities.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  28. Soviet Submarine (2021)

    On March 26th, 2020, seven boys locked themselves in a house for 48 hours, with only potatoes, bread, and red light for survival. Watch the chaos unfold and tension rise between the comrades as they struggle to find a cure before it's too late.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  29. Serpico (1973)

    New York cop Frank Serpico blows the whistle on the rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both crime

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  30. Longing For Innocence (2023)

    Between 1963 and 1976, filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl spent months living among in the Nuba people in the Kordofan Province of Sudan, documenting their cultural traditions as well as the everyday activities crucial to their very survival.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

Like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story and something else?

Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story?

The closest matches to Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story are O.J.: Made in America (2016), Deliver Us from Evil (2006) and Tread (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story?

Start with O.J.: Made in America (2016), the closest match to Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story.

What is the highest-rated movie like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story?

O.J.: Made in America (2016), rated 8.4/10 by 271 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story?

Loving forever (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story?

Yes: O.J.: Made in America (2016), Deliver Us from Evil (2006) and Tread (2020).

How are movies similar to Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Breathe Freedom: the John McNeil story, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

↑ ↓ to move · Enter to open · Full search page