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Movies like Documentary Movie: Idol (2018)

The best movies like Documentary Movie: Idol (2018) are Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026), OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (2022) and Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020). If Documentary Movie: Idol hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026)

    With unprecedented access to the official archives and intimate recollections from the band, both current and past, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition invites fans to experience one of the most iconic journeys in music history. Spanning five decades, this electrifying documentary charts the band’s rise from the pubs of East London to the world’s biggest stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden’s uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

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  2. OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (2022)

    Grammy® winner singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo takes a familiar road trip from Salt Lake City, where she began writing her debut album “SOUR,” to Los Angeles. Along the way, Rodrigo recounts the memories of writing and creating her record-breaking debut album and shares her feelings as a young woman navigating a specific time in her life. Through new live arrangements of her songs, intimate interviews and never-before-seen footage from the making of the album, audiences will follow Olivia along on a cinematic journey exploring the story of “SOUR.”

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  3. Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020)

    A portrait of singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes' life, chronicling the past few years of his rise and journey.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  4. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022)

    After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness. This uniquely raw and intimate documentary spans her six-year journey into a new light.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  5. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (2026)

    Captured during Billie Eilish's sold-out world tour, a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  6. Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron (2024)

    A documentary that chronicles the making of The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli across an astonishing seven years.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  7. ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas (2019)

    The story of how three oddball teenage bluesmen became one of the biggest, most beloved bands on the planet.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  8. The Beach Boys (2024)

    A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  9. Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams (2018)

    An in-depth and intimate portrait of Coldplay's spectacular rise from the backrooms of Camden pubs to selling out stadiums across the planet. At the heart of the story is the band's unshakeable brotherhood which has endured through many highs and lows.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. One Direction: This Is Us (2013)

    "One Direction: This Is Us" is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it's really like to be One Direction.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  11. The 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 this
  12. Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (2026)

    Experience the meteoric rise of Oasis through rare footage and untold stories as the band reunites for Oasis Live '25, chronicling their journey from Manchester streets to global rock stardom.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  13. Fuck (2006)

    A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  14. The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story (2019)

    A documentary chronicling Queen and Lambert's incredible journey since they first shared the stage together on "American Idol" in 2009.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. Amazing Grace (2018)

    A behind-the-scenes documentary about the recording of Aretha Franklin's best-selling album finally sees the light of day more than four decades after the original footage was shot.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (2018)

    In 1977, a book of photographs captured an awakening - women shedding the cultural restrictions of their childhoods and embracing their full humanity. This documentary revisits those photos, those women and those times and takes aim at our culture today that alarmingly shows the need for continued change.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  17. Western Stars (2019)

    The incomparable Bruce Springsteen performs his critically acclaimed latest album and muses on life, rock, and the American dream, in this intimate and personal concert film co-directed by Thom Zimny and Springsteen himself.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  18. Live Aid (1985)

    Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. 21 Up (1977)

    After another 7 year wait, director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born children from Seven Up! and 7 Plus Seven. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  20. Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy (2025)

    Never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews celebrate the life and legacy of iconic Mexican American singer Selena Quintanilla and her family band.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  21. Dear Sa Bastida (2025)

    For generations, Sa Bastida has been much more than a house: it has been a refuge, a witness, and a vital centre for the Barceló family. Today, however, solitude has settled into every room, and Joan, the last one who remains, carries the living memory of all that it once was. As the arrival of new rhythms, infrastructures, and urban landscapes threatens this fragile environment, the documentary delves into the tension between the persistence of the past and the relentless advance of modernity. With an intimate and contemplative gaze, Dear Sa Bastida portrays not only the physical decay of a home, but also the emotional and symbolic value of a space that is quietly fading away. It is a tribute to the spaces that disappear, to the people who endure within them, and to the need to preserve memory before progress completely erases what defines us.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  22. The Tuskegee Airmen: Return to Ramitelli (2023)

    Narrated by Country Music Superstar Darius Rucker. We return to Ramitelli airfield in Italy to chronicle the legacy of World War II's famed Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots who helped break stereotypes and helped win World War II with their incredible fighter escorts of American bombers.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  23. Cheech & Chong's Last Movie (2025)

    Exploring their 5-decade career performing stand-up, making records, and starring in hit films. It covers their lives, comedy partnership, and lasting influence on pop culture.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  24. Les Glucksmann, une histoire de famille (2026)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  25. The Architects of Hope: The First Steps in Rebuilding Ukraine (2024)

    This feature documentary follow 5 architects on their determined journeys to continue building during wartime, as they seek a new people-focused identity for Ukrainian architecture. While Russia continues to turn former Ukrainian cities to dust, Ukraine’s leading architects are already building upwards & advanced new buildings are rising again as symbols of hope.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  26. Bala (1976)

    A documentary about the aging prima ballerina Balasaraswati (popularly known as "Bala"), the most famous exponent of the Bharatanatyam dance.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  27. The 11th Hour (2007)

    A look at the state of the global environment including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet's ecosystems. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolse

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  28. Sulawesi - Am Anfang war die Höhlenmalerei (2026)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  29. Marvin Gaye - Visionär des Soul (2026)

    He was the gentle rebel of soul: Marvin Gaye, one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. With his unmistakable voice and hits, he left an indelible mark on American pop culture—one that endures to this day.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  30. Halloween Home Haunts (2013)

    The new documentary from Apprehensive Films follows eight Home Haunters in their pursuit to transform their nice suburban homes into visions of the macabre. Their obsession with Halloween has lead them to spend thousands, dedicate countless hours and resources to acheive their horrific attractions and to scare the daylights out of unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. We'll meet all sorts of different haunters from basic yard haunts to one's so extreme they go beyond their property lines. Special features include: Trailers, Spotlight on Hauntcast, Larry Scholl's Tiki Room, Alternate Opening and Behind the Scenes at Night Frights.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Documentary Movie: Idol?

The closest matches to Documentary Movie: Idol are Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026), OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) (2022) and Shawn Mendes: In Wonder (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Documentary Movie: Idol?

Start with Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (2026), the closest match to Documentary Movie: Idol.

What is the highest-rated movie like Documentary Movie: Idol?

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (2022), rated 8.4/10 by 623 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Documentary Movie: Idol?

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there Japanese movies like Documentary Movie: Idol?

Yes: Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron (2024).

How are movies similar to Documentary Movie: Idol chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Documentary Movie: Idol, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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