Best Observational Documentary Movies & TV Shows

Master dog trainer Graeme Hall finds long-lasting solutions for dogs with issues.

Observational documentary series following the work of staff at one of Britain's largest water companies, United Utilities, as they work tirelessly to keep the country's vital sewer systems running freely.

Raising Bertie is a longitudinal documentary feature following three young African American boys over the course of six years as they grow into adulthood in Bertie County, a rural African American-led community in Eastern North Carolina. Through the intimate portrayal of these boys, this powerful vérité film offers a rare in-depth look at the issues facing America's rural youth and the complex relationships between generational poverty, educational equity, and race. The evocative result is an experience that encourages us to recognize the value and complexity in lives all too often ignored.

The Hotel Inspector is an observational documentary television series which is broadcast on the British terrestrial television station, Channel 5, and by other networks around the world. In each episode, a celebrated hotelier visits a struggling British hotel and tries to turn its fortunes by giving advice and suggestions to the owner.

An access-all-areas look at the step-by-step process of how to construct the most impressive cars on the planet, told by the specialists who do it every day.

Observational documentary series following auctioneer Angus Ashworth and his staff throughout the process from house viewings to auction day as they travel around the UK looking for antiques and collectables to sell.

Set inside Wood Green, The Animals Charity, where staff are committed to matching their homeless dogs with hopeful dog owners.

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.

Investigates a wide range of historically compelling topics and the mysteries surrounding each including the Titanic, D.B. Cooper, Roswell, John Wilkes Booth, and more. Fresh, new evidence and perspectives will be showcased, such as never-before-released documents, personal diaries and DNA evidence.

Observational documentary series following the devoted vets at Wear Referrals in County Durham as they help furry patients and the owners who travel from far and wide with their beloved pets.

Bangers & Cash follows the Mathewsons - a dynasty of classic car auctioneers from picturesque North Yorkshire. The charismatic and friendly family hunt for rare vehicles to sell and they uncover some remarkable and heartwarming stories behind the cars as they do.

Going behind the scenes with staff at Birmingham New Street station to provide a vivid insight into the variety of situations they face, from flooding to industrial action, irate passengers, parties on the concourse and even nudity on the platforms.

Fox Rich, indomitable matriarch and modern-day abolitionist, strives to keep her family together while fighting for the release of her incarcerated husband. An intimate, epic, and unconventional love story, filmed over two decades.

Dina, an outspoken and eccentric 49-year-old in suburban Philadelphia, invites her fiancé Scott, a Walmart door greeter, to move in with her. Having grown up neurologically diverse in a world blind to the value of their experience, the two are head-over-heels for one another, but shacking up poses a new challenge. Scott freezes when it comes to physical intimacy, and Dina, a Kardashians fanatic, wants nothing more than to share with Scott all she’s learned about sensual desire from books, TV shows, and her previous marriage. Her increasingly creative forays to draw Scott close keep hitting roadblocks—exposing anxieties, insecurities, and communication snafus while they strive to reconcile their conflicting approaches to romance and intimacy.

Super-sized transport jobs require even bigger trucks to perform them. Lifting the lid on the heavy recovery business, featuring industrial strength trucks capable of towing and lifting the biggest and heaviest machines on the nation's roads.

With the 00s now firmly in our rear view mirror, the decade is ripe for re-evaluation. From 9/11 to the financial crisis, the decade shows not only a period of turmoil in the United States but its also a golden age when the Internet hadnt been colonized by corporations, when social media was still young and fresh and when it was easy to make money.

Heather Ewart swaps reporting from political corridors of power to a new beat around the bush. Along the way she visits remote towns and regions to discover some of this country's most remarkable and inspiring communities.

Observational documentary unlocking the doors of Britain's hidden swinging scene via access to one of the country's most popular swinging clubs and candid interviews with the club's founder, staff and clientele.

Series looking at the life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Observational documentary following young bricklayers trading banter, earning cash and building their futures through fallouts and friendships, life-changing purchases and relationship dramas.

Documentary following emergency patrol teams on the M1 as they face medical problems, fast-lane pile-ups and bad driving on the motorway that connects London and Leeds.

In a rapidly changing America where mass inequality and dwindling opportunity have devastated the black working class, three Detroit men must fight to build something lasting for themselves and future generations.

Documentary series following three sets of characterful Brits, who have fallen in love with France and made it their new home. A funny and irreverent look beneath the surface of the French dream

Following the work of enforcement agents as they execute High Court writs on behalf of people desperate to recover money they are owed.

Behind-the-scenes series following the staff and patients of the UK's leading veterinary charity.

Following the dramatic work of recovery crews as they trace, track and tow vehicles driven illegally on Britain's roads. With access to two recovery companies, featuring the action from the moment they are called in, to the trucks arriving on scene.

An unfiltered and uncensored new observational documentary following the outrageous Bradford-based rap trio who shot to stardom after becoming viral sensations.

Observational documentary going behind the scenes to follow the work of staff at London's Kew Gardens - 320 acres of the most diverse, exciting and important plant life in the world nestled in the suburbs of London.

Series celebrating inspirational farming families and the rural events where they showcase their hard work, as they try to win the top prizes.

The Age of Steam was born in Britain, it was one of the greatest technological breakthroughs the world had ever seen. It changed everything from the food we could eat to the jobs we could do and it powered Britain's rise to the summit of imperial power. It lasted 130 years and then was gone. Lines were axed and steam was replaced by diesel and electric trains. Yet out of the ashes the steam lines rose again as enthusiasts re-opened old lines and fired up long silent steam engines. Today the heritage lines are thriving bringing the age of steam back to life and with it bringing joy to 8 million passengers every year.

One-off documentary following the Davies-Monk family from Oxfordshire as they try to break out of the seclusion that has been enforced on them by other people's negative reactions to their two children who both have Tourette's Syndrome.