In addition to the many educational benefits, documentaries remind us cinephiles that we don’t know everything about our favorite movies. They can delve into a certain subject in great depth, and that also applies to the filmmaking itself. Sure, it’s quite a meta to make a movie about movies, but for decades it’s been an interesting topic for filmmakers looking to shed light on one of their favorite directors, movies, or genres. They go beyond the average ‘making-of’ documentary and become compelling as a film itself. For anyone looking for creative inspiration behind Hollywood’s most iconic franchises, don’t miss the docs on our list below.
5/5 Making the Shining (1980)
This is not the only documentary about The shiningthat, per rolling stone, still tops critics’ lists for one of the greatest horror films of all time. Let’s not forget Room 237 as a solid honorable mention on our list. It collects all the important theories about The shining and are explained by film analysts. However, the 35-minute behind-the-scenes snapshot of Stanley Kubrick’s daughter, Making it radiant, takes the cake for the authenticity of capturing production in real time. A real treat for Kubrick fans, this documentary lives in the nuances and little dramas on the set of The shining. By taking a look behind the curtain, the audience gets an intimate picture of big names like Jack Nicholson.
And on a franchise note, Stephen King’s acclaimed novel had become such a hit that a miniseries adaptation also graced the small screen in 1997. Then the book’s sequel was brought to life on the big screen in 2019 with Doctor Sleep.
4/5 The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
A must-see for anyone attempting to enter the mailroom of a Hollywood studio or talent agency, Tthe child stays in the picture follows the rapid rise, fall and rise again of legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans. The documentary is based on the telling autobiography of Mr. Evans and takes the audience on an intimate journey through the spirit of the legend. His film career began in 1956, when he was “discovered” at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Norma Shearer landed him a movie role, and after a short-lived career as a movie star, Evans decided to try his hand at producing. At age 34, he landed a job as head of production at Paramount Pictures, which led to: the godfatheran Oscar-winning franchise that also gave rise to the recent behind-the-scenes story series The offer.
3/5 Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013)
Not only is Dune a cult classic created by David Lynch, but it’s also been remade into a huge hit with an ensemble cast of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem and Stellan Skarsgård. Years earlier, however, there was an adaptation of the film that was bright and colorful and was to be directed by the violently surreal Chilean film director Alejandro Jodorowski, but unfortunately it never came to fruition. The dune of Jodorowski interviews the director and shows beautiful artwork from when he was working on the ill-fated film.
Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation was an Oscar-winning success that kick-started a promising franchise. The public is taken back 10,000 years before the events of Dune in an upcoming HBO Max spin-off titled Dune: the sisterhood. Meanwhile, the upcoming feature film sequel, Dune: part two, is also currently in production.
2/5 Los Angeles plays itself (2003)
Blade Runner fans anyone? The franchise was revived not long ago with the Oscar-winning Blade Runner 2049, with a spin-off series now in the works at Amazon Studios. The original movie can be seen in Los Angeles plays itself, Thom Andersen’s historical documentary that explores the relationship between the films and their birthplace as seen through the films themselves. Other iconic films seen here include: DOA and from 1967 Point empty.
1/5 DePalma (2015)
Brian De Palma’s extensive filmography dates back decades. The acclaimed director headed the original Mission Impossible movie, for example, and we can’t wait for the upcoming Tom Cruise episode in the MI franchisee. Back to the award-winning director of the OG movie — in de Palma, he uses his own words to take us through his professional life and a career that redefined movie horror and suspense. Meanwhile, he also confesses the challenges of working in Hollywood and the price even the great artists pay to be a part of it. Other notable works by him include: The untouchables, dressed to killand Blow out. But the 2015 documentary that is de Palma is a cinematic treat for all the movie buffs out there.