Browse documentary series in Australia
Dive into the world of documentary series in Australia. From timeless classics to trending hits, explore an exciting collection of titles that define the documentary genre.
Explore critically acclaimed blockbusters, hidden gems, and trending new releases that showcase the diversity and creativity of documentary storytelling. Use our filters to find top-rated titles, recent hits, or beloved classics tailored to your taste.
With Popcorn Time, uncover your next favorite series and enjoy the best of documentary entertainment. Start browsing now and bring documentary into your watchlist today!
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Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall leaves the comfort of River Cottage to change the way we fish, both here and abroad.
Hugh's Fish Fight (2011 )
Beast Hunter (2011 )
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Two-part docudrama recreating the famous investigation using reenactments and state-of-the-art CGI.
Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Story (2011 )
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Housos is an Australian comedy television series created by Paul Fenech for SBS, that screens on SBS One. The series is a satirical parody of low income Australian residents of fictional suburb Sunnyvale, who are living in Housing Commission public housing. On 1 November 2012, a film based on the series was released in Australian cinemas, titled Housos vs. Authority. On 9 September 2012 it was announced that Housos would return for a second series, which premiered 22 July 2013.
Housos (2011 )
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Ross Kemp travels around the world talking to people involved in illicit trades, locals who have been affected by violence and hardship, and the authorities who are attempting to combat the problems. In each episode he attempts to establish contacts within the groups in order to get close to the ringleaders.
Ross Kemp: Extreme World (2011 )
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Tipped as the most exciting British magician to emerge in decades, Dynamo: Magician Impossible is the story of an ordinary boy from Bradford living an extraordinary life. The series sees the 28-year-old travelling the globe as the unassuming anti-hero who just happens to astound everyone he meets, whether it's an international footballer or Hollywood actor. Throughout the series, Dynamo: Magician Impossible will take viewers on his magical journey before stunning them with incredible, headline-grabbing stunts beyond the realms of possibility.
Dynamo: Magician Impossible (2011 )
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Structured around the most compelling shows on television today, each episode focuses on one character archetype that has remained a staple of primetime through the generations.
America in Primetime (2011 )
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In Jurassic CSI, dino detective Dr. Phil Manning launches a full-scale investigation to unearth how dinosaurs really looked and lived. Jurassic CSI goes into the minds, under the skin and inside the bones of the biggest, most impressive beasts ever to walk the planet. Dr. Manning doesn’t stick to convention –or even his own discipline– on his perpetual quest to expand what we know about dinosaurs. With privileged access to some of the world’s most sophisticated technologies –from crime scene 3D mapping technology to an image machine one million times stronger than a chest X-ray– Jurassic CSI challenges long-held assumptions and poses radical questions about our understanding of dinosaurs.
Jurassic C.S.I. (2011 )
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Human beings may have roamed the Earth for over 315,000 years — a mere blip in geological terms, but one with far-reaching consequences: wherever people have ventured, they’ve left behind permanent traces of their presence. In fact, we’ve changed the Earth itself. The distinguished Cambridge historian Sir Christopher Clark takes us on the ultimate world tour of man-made masterpieces, cultural achievements, and miracles of nature from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to over a thousand sites of incredible treasures listed by the UNESCO world heritage organisation today. A whistle-stop tour across space and through time to some of the most astonishing testaments of human ingenuity and nature’s gems. This is a glossy and gripping series tracing the rise of human civilisation and its astonishing impact on our planet.
Planet of Treasures (2020 )
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Take a peek inside some of the country's most stunning properties, as three judges travel the length and breadth of the nation in search of Scotland's Home of the Year. Architect Michael Angus, interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones, and lifestyle blogger Kate Spiers will visit some truly unique homes over the course of the series, looking for stand-out design and impressive interiors. From Arran to Aberdeen and Boat of Garten to Coupar Angus, there's a vast array of property styles to consider, from renovated period farmhouses to innovative contemporary builds. The regional heats take place over seven 30-minute episodes, building to the one-hour final in which Scotland's Home of the Year is decided.
Scotland's Home of the Year (2019 )
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Dr Kwane is on a mission to help the pets and people of America who need it the most – the homeless. From treating simple ailments on the side of the road, to major emergencies that require dashing to a hospital for surgery, the series follows Dr Kwane as he offers the pets, and the people, much needed help, advice and hope.
The Street Vet (2019 )
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Told through a unique collection of iconic archival footage brought to life in stunning colour for the very first time, Australia in Colour tells the story of how Australia came to be what it is today. Narrated by Hugo Weaving, the series is a reflection on our nation’s character, its attitudes, its politics and its struggle to value its Indigenous and multicultural past. Australia in Colour gives us a chance to look at Australia’s history from a fresh perspective. This four-part series curates classic historical footage, as well as home movies and never-before-seen archival material to chart how Australia has developed as a nation. From the oldest surviving footage captured in Australia – in 1896 in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park – to the beginning of colour television in the mid-1970s, each sequence has been lovingly restored and colourised with historical accuracy. The effect is remarkable, bringing to light history that is both shared and deeply personal.
Australia in Colour (2019 )
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The 8 part series reveals a raft of great Australian inventors who turned game-changing ideas into a reality and forever changed how we live.
Aussie Inventions That Changed The World (2019 )
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In this documentary series, much loved and celebrated actor Noni Hazlehurst meets Australians who are grappling with a family secret. Over three weeks, participants travel around the world uncovering powerful truths about themselves, their families and Australia.
Every Family Has a Secret (2019 )
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A blue chip, continent-wide series ranging from Australia's highest snow peaks to the depths of the frigid and wild southern seas; from its last populations of wild numbats to its largest diorama of giant cuttlefish. It's a land of diverse beauty, that delights and surprises. The series both entertains and deepens our understanding of how the natural world is made up of not just unique species, but distinct individuals, whose lives are far from predictable.
Magical Land of Oz (2019 )
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Covering thousands of miles, Sir Tony Robinson takes a whirlwind journey around the globe by train.
Around the World by Train With Tony Robinson (2019 )
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A chronicle of the creative process of the legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, a passionate artisan, a steadfast trailblazer, and a father butting heads with his son…
10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki (2019 )
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Ainsley's Australian Market Menu sees Ainsley Harriott traversing Australia on a fun-filled food adventure through some of Australia's most diverse and colourful produce markets.
Ainsley's Australian Market Menu (2019 )
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In this four-part documentary series, comedic actor Chua Enlai embarks on a zany, international exploration of artificial intelligence. He examines A.I.’s potential to become like us and how it will transform humanity such as redefining love and relationships; expanding the boundaries of creativity and intelligence; recalibrating the international balance of power; and testing the limits of ethics, morality and spirituality. Will A.I. change us for the better or for the worse?
Becoming Human (2019 )
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Special series looking at the defining moments of the last century, caught on camera. Hear the stories behind world-changing photos from photographers, eyewitnesses, reporters, historians and more.
Photos That Changed The World (2019 )
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International trade has been ferried around the world via boat for centuries. If the business of shipping stopped tomorrow, half the world would starve, and the other half would freeze. A testament of humanity's will to tame the elements and expand our reach; shipping has pioneered new technologies, revolutionized the global economy and reshaped the world as we know it.
Shipping the World (2019 )
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Documentary series filmed over 12 months and featuring unparalleled access to the elite Parachute Regiment following the process by which new recruits are turned into elite soldiers trained to kill.
The Paras: Men of War (2019 )
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In Australia, there are over 40,000 men and women currently behind bars. Many of them have done very bad things. They have shattered countless lives, destroyed families and been responsible for unspeakable criminal acts. What did they do? How did they get here? And what are their lives like now?
Australia's Most Dangerous Prisoners (2024 )
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A dramatised-documentary series giving a unique insight into the compelling history of the Torres Strait Islands, told through key stories by the men and women of the region.
Blue Water Empire (2019 )
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RPA is an Australian reality television show that is filmed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and shows the everyday workings of this major hospital in Sydney, Australia. Premiering in 1995, the program is based on the British series Jimmy's which was filmed at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.
RPA
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Taxicab Confessions is a television series of hidden camera documentaries that have aired on HBO since January 1995. In segments taped in New York City and Las Vegas, the taxi drivers are also producers who steer both the vehicle and the conversations with passengers. When passengers enter the cab, they are recorded with several small cameras hidden in the taxi. The producer prompts passengers into discussing their past and/or present circumstances. This has led some participants to reflect on their life, recalling extreme tragedies or triumphs. Much is verbally or visually graphic, including explicit sex talk and sex acts performed in the back seat. At the end of the taxi ride, passengers are asked to sign waivers allowing the hidden camera footage to be used on the program, and footage of this revelation is sometimes seen during the closing credits.
Taxicab Confessions (1995 )
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The eccentric but highly acclaimed British Chef Keith Floyd goes in search of the true flavour of Spain. Floyd celebrates the food and drink of regional Spain in restaurants and bars, mountain tops and the length and breadth of this rich and diverse country.
Floyd on Spain (1992 )
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Classicist Dr Michael Scott journeys to Athens to explore how drama first began. He discovers that from the very start it was about more than just entertainment - it was a reaction to real events, it was a driving force in history and it was deeply connected to Athenian democracy. In fact, the story of theatre is the story of Athens.
Ancient Greece: The Greatest Show on Earth (2013 )
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Each week, Julia will invite one of Australia’s finest comics to take a trip down Memory Lane. And Memory Bus Route. And Memory Bike Path. Julia and her guest will make their way from the seat of childhood memories, the family home, through the surrounding neighbourhood and all the way to the school gate, reliving formative moments, talking about life, love and achievement, about the past, present and future. What Julia discovers about her guests will explain, well, almost everything. Time-travelling guests Carl Barron, Noeline Brown, John Safran, Alan Brough and Shane Jacobson will share with Julia where they stacked their first bike, stole their first kiss and learned the art of a withering comeback.
Julia Zemiro's Home Delivery (2013 )
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Presented with humour and verve, Australian Encounters celebrates ten historic encounters, each between a renowned Australian and an international mover and shaker.
Australian Encounters (2013 )
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A compelling yet cautionary insight into the experiences of young people affected by disturbing 21st century crime, focusing on shocking real crimes that resulted in the deaths of young people, and the unsettling role social media played in bringing together the culprit and the victim.
Social Media Murders (2021 )
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A series examining prison life that visits facilities in California, Ohio and Minnesota for reports on prison conditions, gang activity and supermax incarceration of dangerous criminals.
Lockdown (2006 )