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Furthermore, streamers are now racing to produce docs about current events in real-time. We are likely only months away from the first major documentary about the 2024-2025 strikes (WGA and SAG-AFTRA), which will frame the battle between labor and AI in Hollywood. The entertainment industry documentary has killed the idea of the movie star as a deity. In their place, we have something better: the movie star as a survivor, a craftsman, or a cautionary tale.
The watershed moment for the was arguably Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010), which blurred the lines between street art and media manipulation. But the true explosion came with O.J.: Made in America (2016), which used the entertainment industry as a lens to examine race and fame.
However, the paradigm shifted with the rise of streaming giants like Netflix, HBO, and Hulu. These platforms realized that the drama behind the camera often rivals the drama on screen.
So, the next time you sit down to watch a film, remember: the credits are just the beginning of the story. The documentary is where the truth lives. Are you a fan of behind-the-scenes storytelling? Which entertainment industry documentary changed the way you watch movies? Share your thoughts in the comments below.