It’s almost the weekend, and that means you should book in another Gizmodo movie night. This week, dive into the trove of documentaries available on Australian streaming services — the one area we are remarkably rich in content. To get you going, here are 15 brilliant documentaries exploring different aspects of humanity and civilisation.
We’ve re-jigged our existing Netflix Movie Night series, and brought in Australia’s other popular subscription video on demand services — Presto and Stan — to give you a broader selection of movies and TV shows to enjoy. On all three services, you can watch from your tablet or smartphone, on your PC or laptop, through your Smart TV, or through a media streaming dongle like the Google Chromecast, although specifics can vary.
Presto costs $10 to $15 a month depending which package you choose. Stan is a flat $10 per month, and Netflix can cost from $9 to $15 per month.
Not what you’re after? Check out some other Gizmodo Movie Night suggestions:
15 Animated Movies You Should Watch Again
15 Of The Most Mind-Bending Movies Streaming Right Now
Get A Bit Fancy With These Costumed Extravaganzas
Presto
Citizenfour
Presto: Whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed America’s collaboration in illegal surveillance activities with spy agencies worldwide. This brilliant Oscar-winning documentary tells his story like a thriller.
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Going Clear
Presto: In this documentary, an Oscar-winning filmmaker interviews former members of the Church of Scientology and reveals abuses and strange practices within the controversial institution.
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That Sugar Film
Presto: A man embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body, consuming only foods that are commonly perceived as ‘healthy’.
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Walking The Camino
Presto: A brilliant chronicle of modern-day pilgrims on the 800 km Camino de Santiago trek across Spain to the shrine of St James. No one can predict what demons, angels or transformations await along the way.
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All This Mayhem
Presto: The boom and bust tale of Tas and Ben Pappas, brothers from Melbourne who once ruled professional skateboarding. A searing study of self-destruction and the dark side of a mainstream sport.
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Stan
Man on Wire
Stan: A spectacle of human achievement, tenacity and sheer amazement, in which archival footage and dramatic re-enactment are used to tell the story of Petit and his rebellious team of artistic innovators
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Freakonomics
Stan: The film examines human behaviour through consistently provocative and often hilarious case studies, bringing together a dream team of filmmakers responsible for some of the most acclaimed and entertaining documentaries in recent years.
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Gasland
Stan: The Billion Dollar Energy Industry has a Dirty Little Secret. In September 2006, theatre director Josh Fox received an unexpected letter: a natural gas company offering him $100,000 for permission to explore his family’s upstate New York property.
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Food, Inc.
Stan: Food, Inc. lifts the veil on America’s food industry, exposing how the food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations.
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Hearts of Darkness: A Filmakers Apocalypse
Stan: Documentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems–nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director..
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Netflix
Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory
Netflix: This moving documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen as he uses music to unblock memory in nursing-home patients afflicted with Alzheimers disease.
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Girl Rising
Netflix: Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century.
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Living on One Dollar
Netflix: Four American friends travel to rural Guatemala, where they attempt to exist on a dollar a day for two months to experience life in extreme poverty.
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The Internet’s Own Boy
Netflix: This probing documentary details what became of Web programming legend and information activist Aaron Swartz after he was charged with computer fraud.
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Starring Aadam West
Netflix: Follow the story of Hollywood survivor and family man, Adam West. Best known as TV’s Batman from the ’60s, his enduring legacy is explored.
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Disclosure: Stan is a 50/50 joint venture between Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media. Allure Media, the company which publishes Gizmodo Australia, is also owned by Fairfax.