Best Asian documentary movies
Get ready to binge. We've found a collection of must-watch documentary films from Asia, now streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!
The Act of Killing (2012)
The Act of Killing (2012)
In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres, from gangster epics to musicals. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia’s 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky (2020)
Free to Play (2014)
Free to Play (2014)
Follow three professional video game players as they overcome personal adversity, family pressures, and the realities of life to compete in a $1,000,000 tournament that could change their lives forever.
Period. End of Sentence. (2018)
Period. End of Sentence. (2018)
In an effort to improve feminine hygiene, a machine that creates low-cost biodegradable sanitary pads is installed in a rural village in Northern India. Using the machine, a group of local women is employed to produce and sell pads, offering them newfound independence and helping to destigmatize menstruation for all.
Born in China (2016)
Born in China (2016)
Venturing into the wilds of China, "Born in China" captures intimate moments with a panda bear and her growing cub, a young golden monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard struggling to raise her two cubs.
The Elephant Whisperers (2022)
The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013)
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case (2023)
Shirkers (2018)
Shirkers (2018)
In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan shot Singapore's first indie road movie with her enigmatic American mentor Georges – who then vanished with all the footage. Twenty years later, the 16mm film is recovered, sending Tan, now a novelist in Los Angeles, on a personal odyssey in search of Georges' vanishing footprints.
Cem Yılmaz: CM101MMXI Fundamentals (2013)
Cem Yılmaz: CM101MMXI Fundamentals (2013)
The funny little details of everyday life, simple things that make us laugh. An unforgettable performance from Cem Yilmaz. Yilmaz captures the audience with his hilarious stories about relationships, humankind's struggle with the technology and professional life. Yilmaz proves us that a food delivery or even a funeral might be amusing when considered correctly. Written by Elmalma Brand Communication
Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror (2022)
Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror (2022)
Anonymous and exploitative, a network of online chat rooms ran rampant with sex crimes. The hunt to take down its operators required guts and tenacity.
Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (2023)
He Named Me Malala (2015)
He Named Me Malala (2015)
A look at the events leading up to the Taliban's attack on the young Pakistani school girl, Malala Yousafzai, for speaking out on girls' education and the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations.
The Search for General Tso (2014)
The Search for General Tso (2014)
From New York City to the farmlands of the Midwest, there are 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S., yet one dish in particular has conquered the American culinary landscape with a force befitting its military moniker—“General Tso’s Chicken.” But who was General Tso and how did this dish become so ubiquitous? Ian Cheney’s delightfully insightful documentary charts the history of Chinese Americans through the surprising origins of this sticky, sweet, just-spicy-enough dish that we’ve adopted as our own.
The White Helmets (2016)
Cem Yılmaz: Diamond Elite Platinum Plus (2021)
Cem Yılmaz: Diamond Elite Platinum Plus (2021)
In an irreverent but heartfelt stand-up show, Turkish comedian Cem Yılmaz shares stories about childhood, social media and Turks on holiday abroad.
The House Is Black (1963)
Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
Burn the Stage: the Movie is the first movie from BTS, going behind-the-scenes of the BTS WINGS TOUR to reveal the full story of the band’s meteoric rise to fame. This unmissable film provides an intimate look at what happens when the most successful global boy band of all time breaks down barriers and invades the mainstream music scene. Exclusive tour footage and brand-new one-on-one interviews with BTS members give fans an unprecedented glimpse into their lives and an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together worldwide.
In the Absence (2018)
In the Absence (2018)
When the MV Sewol ferry sank off the coast of South Korea in 2014, over three hundred people lost their lives, most of them schoolchildren. Years later, the victims’ families and survivors are still demanding justice from national authorities.
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000)
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000)
Documentary on the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, with a focus on the production of his unfinished film Game of Death. Using interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, Lee aficionado John Little paints a portrait of the world's most famous action hero, concluding with a new cut of Game of Death's action finale, reconstructed from Lee's notes and recently-recovered footage.
Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso (2023)
Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso (2023)
This documentary delves into the unanswered questions surrounding the trial of Jessica Wongso — years after the death of her best friend, Mirna Salihin.
This Is Not a Film (2011)
This Is Not a Film (2011)
Renowned Iranian director Jafar Panahi received a 6-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban from filmmaking and conducting interviews with foreign press due to his open support for the opposition party in Iran's 2009 election. In this film, which was shot secretly by Panahi's close friend Mojtaba Mirtahmasb and smuggled into France on a USB stick concealed inside a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes, Panahi documents his daily life under house arrest as he awaits a decision on his appeal.
Jackie Chan: My Stunts (1999)
Jackie Chan: My Stunts (1999)
Jackie Chan: My Stunts shows some of the tricks of the trade that Jackie and his stunt team utilize to perform their stunts. This is not an endless gag reel of stunts gone wrong, but an in depth look at how timing and camera placement can make or break a shot. Jackie will show you what is done to enhance fights and protect the stuntmen from getting injured. Of course, if the character you are portraying is wearing shorts and a tank top, you just have to get hurt!
Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
A glimpse into K-pop group BTS’ world away from the stage, featuring intimate group discussions alongside spectacular concert performances from their world tour.
