Browse documentary movie and series in New Zealand
Dive into the world of documentary movie and series in New Zealand. 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 movie or TV show and enjoy the best of documentary entertainment. Start browsing now and bring documentary into your watchlist today!
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Jamie Johnson takes the exploration of wealth that he began in Born Rich one step further. The One Percent, refers to the tiny percentage of Americans who control nearly half the wealth of the U.S. Johnson's thesis is that this wealth in the hands of so few people is a danger to our very way of life.
The One Percent (2006 )
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Halfway between a sports documentary and an conceptual art installation, "Zidane" consists in a full-length soccer game (Real Madrid vs. Villareal, April 23, 2005) entirely filmed from the perspective of soccer superstar Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006 )
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Private Journeys / Public Signposts turns the camera on photographer Ans Westra. Dutch emigree Westra has captured iconic images of New Zealanders since the late 1950s, expressively observing Aotearoa societal changes, particularly Māori urban drift. This film explores her remarkable life and work, and includes commentary from family and friends, fellow photographers, and colleagues, as well as discussion of the Washday at the Pa controversy. Luit Bieringa, curator of Westra's retrospective photo exhibition, directed the film, his first. - NZOnscreen
Ans Westra - Private Journeys / Public Signposts (2006 )
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Bear strands himself in popular wilderness destinations where tourists often find themselves lost or in danger.
Man vs. Wild (2006 )
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Architect Danny Forster takes you inside some of the most head-scratching builds in the world. Join Danny as he meets the men and women tackling the unique challenges of constructing the tallest buildings, the most effective military tanks, the largest luxury cruise ships, and the most extreme thrill rides. How do you build a 3,113-foot-long wooden roller coaster in winter temperatures of minus 40 degrees? Or get your workers safely to and from a worksite on a skyscraper that's 1,614 feet above street level? Or dig a water tunnel - along the San Adreas Fault and 1,000 feet below the earth's surface - without it collapsing on itself ... or flooding? Our intrepid host answers these puzzles and more. Don't miss the big stories behind these even bigger engineering marvels.
Build It Bigger (2006 )
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Choppertown is the world’s first motorcycle documentary about the renowned hot rod and motorcycle club, the Sinners. Modern day greasers, the Sinners are all about the old school. None of them is old enough to have experienced the hot rod heydays of the ‘50s and ‘60s, but still they live on the edge of society chopping cars and bikes and searching for vintage parts to make their “Rat Rods”, “Trumps”, “Mercs”, and “Bobbers” into rolling works of art.
Choppertown: The Sinners (2005 )
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Between 1405 and 1433, Admiral Zheng He of China led seven epic voyages to more than 30 countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Kenya and Tanzania. The admiral and his crew gathered knowledge and wealth from Indochina to Africa for China's Ming empire. These voyages were the biggest naval expeditions mounted at the time. Zheng He was bigger than life and could have changed the course of history. But after the seven voyages, he and his Treasure Fleet were forgotten by China, and the world, for six hundred years. National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita sets sail to discover why. To celebrate the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's maiden exploration voyage, Michael Yamashita traveled over 10,000 miles from Yunnan in China to Africa's Swahili coast taking over 40,000 pictures for the feature story on this great explorer, published in the July 2005 edition of National Geographic.
Treasure Fleet: The Epic Voyage of Zheng He (2005 )
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BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK goes behind the scenes of a social revolution to explore the philosophy that fuels it, the social contract that drives it, and the transcendent experience that makes it a worldwide cultural force. Granted unprecedented access to the inner workings of the Burning Man organization, the filmmakers spent 18 months with the founders, organizers, artists and participants to document the full complexity and diversity of the Burning Man community. But, true to its title, the film goes beyond the city they raise in the desert - revealing the Burning Man's plans to bring its unique culture to the rest of the world. BEYOND BLACK ROCK tells, for the first time ever, the real story of Burning Man - from the inside out.
Burning Man: Beyond Black Rock (2005 )
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Filmmaker Sabina Vajraca documents her Bosnian Muslim family's return to their home of Banja Luka, Bosnia, to recover their stolen belongings many years after being forced to flee to the United States. In Bosnia, they witness the devastation of the city, visit war crimes sites, and confront the family that has been living in their former apartment -- with all their furnishings -- for a decade.
Back to Bosnia (2005 )
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On the northern bank of the Sand River in the Mala-Mala Game Reserve in South Africa, seven magnificent creatures reside in an area the size of Manhattan Island. Tracking them for 24 hours reveals a never-ending daily drama.
Africa's Super Seven (2005 )
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Explore the world of 1893 through a cinematic visit to Chicago's Columbian Exposition. Many of the world's greatest achievements in art, architecture, science, technology and culture are unveiled there. The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for his design of New York City's Central Park, and constructed under the supervision of Daniel Burnham. The Fair was an engineering marvel. On opening day, President Grover Cleveland depressed a golden telegraph key which sent the first courses of electricity throughout the Fair powering fountains, machines, electric railways and thousands of lights. It was the first use of electricity on such a massive scale. Nearly 28 million visit the "White City," which inspires future innovators like Henry Ford, Walt Disney and Frank Lloyd Wright, and debuts the Ferris Wheel and Cracker Jack.
EXPO: Magic of the White City (2005 )
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With unprecedented access to the UN Department of Peacekeeping, The Peacekeepers provides an intimate and dramatic portrait of the struggle to save "a failed state" The film follows the determined and often desperate maneuvers to avert another Rwandan disaster, this time in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the DRC). Focusing on the UN mission, the film cuts back and forth between the UN headquarters in New York and events on the ground in the DRC. We are with the peacekeepers in the "Crisis Room" as they balance the risk of loss of life on the ground with the enormous sums of money required from uncertain donor countries. We are with UN troops as the northeast Congo erupts and the future of the DRC, if not all of central Africa, hangs in the balance. In the background, but often impinging on peacekeeping decisions, are the painful memory of Rwanda, the worsening crisis in Iraq, global terrorism, and American hegemony in world affairs.
The Peacekeepers (2005 )
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Documentary on the life of late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood.
Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story (2005 )
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Go inside the intense training to become a USAF Pararescue Jumper. Meet the trainees and be there as they endure one of the longest and toughest special operations training courses in the world! Find out who will make it through so "That Others May Live."
Rescue Warriors (2005 )
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An intimate portrait of a Chinese-European couple in New Zealand, and their journey to get a blessing for marriage from traditional Chinese parents. The story that led to the film, My Wedding and Other Secrets.
Banana in a Nutshell (2005 )
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A mixture of remembrances from friends and family, home movies, clips from Spikes work, and several interviews with Spike this tries to set the record straight and portray Spike as a person and not the "Godfather of Comedy".
I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan (2005 )
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Rash is a contemporary story of Melbourne Australia and the artists who make it a living host for illegal artwork called street art.
Rash (2005 )
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It's 1945, World War II. The Place, Okinawa. The Scene, an impregnable 400-foot high cliff-AKA Hacksaw Ridge. The Engagement, a battle so fierce the odds of survival were 1 in 10. The Act, Medic Pfc. Desmond T. Doss braved intense enemy fire to rescue 75 wounded GI's over the precipice. The Story, Infantrymen who once ridiculed and scoffed at Desmond's simple faith and refusal to carry a weapon-now owed their lives to him. Director Terry Benedict tells Desmond's incredible story through the eyes of the men who witnessed this humble man's heroic acts. Winning the respect of his fellow soldiers, they recommended him for the highest honor America can bestow on one of her sons-The Medal of Honor.
The Conscientious Objector (2004 )
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Torture chambers, acid vats, greased chutes and gassing rooms were just some of the devices of death designed by the Torture Doctor, H.H. Holmes in his castle of horrors. Follows Holmes' entire life as a criminal mastermind.
H.H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer (2004 )
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Overhaulin' is an American automotive reality TV show that ran for five seasons on TLC between 2004–2009, and currently on Velocity and Discovery.
Overhaulin' (2004 )
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The fascinating cases of every day, seemingly average moms, wives and girlfriends accused of murder. Did they really do it? And if so, why?
Snapped (2004 )
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Beyond Invention is a 8-part documentary television series that premiered on February 12, 2004 on Discovery Channel Canada and, as of 2007, airs on the Science Channel. The series was produced by Mystique Films in partnership with Gryphon Productions and is narrated by John Payne. It primarily focuses on future and fictional technology that inspires many movies we see today.
Beyond Invention (2004 )
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Eminem AKA (2004 )
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Celebrated comedians Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and Ron White are reunited by popular demand to bring back more of their blue collar humor. The first movie was a runaway hit and the latest installment of this concert experience allows you to once again see them perform their original material on stage, up close and personal, from the best seat in the house.
Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again (2004 )
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There are some movies that are so bad they're good. And there are some movies that are so bad- that they're just bad...
The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (2004 )
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On March 6, 1836 the 13-day siege of the Alamo ended. Among the dead were three men destined to become martyrs and heroes: David Crockett, James Bowie and William B. Travis. Though considered a "small affair" at the time by victorious Mexican commander, General Santa Anna, the Alamo would take its place in history as a key battle of the Texas Revolution. Cries of Remember the Alamo! would eventually fuel an American victory over Mexico.
The Alamo Documentary: A True Story of Courage (2004 )
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Jane Goodall's Return to Gombe (2004 )
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The rise of terrorism and the persistence of social liberation movements highlight the question: what is the right way to respond to a corrupt government, oppression and injustice? The exploits of Ned Kelly, Australian icon and notorious outlaw, raise the same question. Thought a hero by some and a terrorist by others, this documentary sets out to examine the man and the issues and to tell the historically accurate story...Was Ned Kelly an outlaw, a freedom fighter or simply a murderer?
Besieged - The Ned Kelly Story (2004 )
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Border Security: Australia's Front Line is an Australian television program that airs on the Seven Network. The show follows the work of officers of Australian Customs and Border Protection, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship as they enforce Australian customs, quarantine, immigration and finance laws. Most of the programme is filmed at Sydney and Melbourne airports. Occasionally, the program features other locations such as Brisbane Airport, Perth Airport, seaports, international mail centres, raids on workplaces suspected of employing persons contrary to the restrictions of their visa or immigrant status and the work of Customs vessels and aircraft in the waters of Northern Australia.
Border Security: Australia's Front Line (2004 )
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Norman is not just an admirer of nature, he's a part of it. He survives the harshness of the climate and the wildlife by coexisting with it. With his wife Nebraska, they live almost entirely off the land, making money by selling their furs.
The Last Trapper (2004 )
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For two years, filmmaker and music video director Anthony Scarpa followed the all-girl punk rock band Betty Blowtorch, documenting their ferocious sound and dangerously low-tech pyrotechnic shows, unaware of the turmoil and tragedy that he will ultimately capture. From their near rise to the top of the major labels, to their ultimate sad end, this critically-acclaimed rock n roll tragedy features the band Betty Blowtorch, as well as other rockers such as Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver), Vanilla Ice, Dez Cadena (Black Flag), Jennifer Finch (L7), Kevin Baldes (LiT), and many others.
Betty Blowtorch: And Her Amazing True Life Adventures (2003 )
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Actresses best known for the power of their lungs in horror classics and cult favorites discuss what it's like to work within the B-movie industry and have a career based in horror.
Something to Scream About (2003 )
