Movies Like The Machine That Made Us
If you liked The Machine That Made Us (2008), a documentary and history movie directed by Patrick McGrady, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.
- 1
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary and historyThe history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.
- 2
The Soviet Story (2008)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary and history“The Soviet Story” is a story of an Allied power, which helped the Nazis to fight Jews and which slaughtered its own people on an industrial scale. Assisted by the West, this power triumphed on May 9th, 1945. Its…
- 3
9/11: Inside the President's War Room (2021)
★ 6.9/10Also documentary and historyExperience the events of September 11, 2001 through the eyes of President Bush and his closest advisors as they personally detail the crucial hours and key decisions from that historic day.
- 4
The Unknown Known (2013)
★ 6.8/10Also documentary and historyFormer United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld discusses his career in Washington D.C. from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to planning the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
- 5
The Untold History Of The United States (2012)
★ 8.2/10Also documentary and historyOliver Stone charts the history of the United States from the Second World War to the present.
- 6
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2022)
★ 7.2/10Also documentaryAn inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.
- 7
The Age of Stupid (2009)
★ 6.6/10Also documentary and historyPete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
- 8
They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
★ 7.8/10Also documentary and historyA documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of Armistice Day, and the end of the war.
- 9
Inside Deep Throat (2005)
★ 6.4/10Also documentary and historyIn 1972, a seemingly typical shoestring budget pornographic film was made in a Florida hotel: "Deep Throat," starring Linda Lovelace. This film would surpass the wildest expectation of everyone involved to become one…
- 10
Cover-Up (2025)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and historyHe's devoted his career to uncovering stories the powerful want buried. From My Lai to Abu Ghraib, dig into the life's work of journalist Seymour Hersh.
- 11
Directed by John Ford (1971)
★ 7/10Also documentaryA documentary about the life and films of director John Ford.
- 12
Come See Me in the Good Light (2025)
★ 7.1/10Also documentaryIn an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
- 13
The Captains (2011)
★ 6.4/10Also documentaryThe Captains is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by William Shatner. The film follows Shatner as he interviews the other actors who have portrayed starship captains in the Star Trek franchise.
- 14
Naqoyqatsi (2002)
★ 6.2/10Also documentaryA visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.
- 15
No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad (2013)
★ 8.5/10Also documentaryA documentary about the making of season five of the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad.
- 16
Harmontown (2014)
★ 6.6/10Also documentaryA comedic, brutally honest documentary following self-destructive TV writer Dan Harmon as he takes his live podcast on a national tour.
- 17
The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
★ 6.6/10Also documentaryDocumentary about legendary Paramount producer Robert Evans, based on his famous 1994 autobiography.
- 18
Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary and historyThe epic life story of Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), a French screenwriter, director and producer, true pioneer of cinema, the first person who made a narrative fiction film; author of hundreds of movies, but banished…
- 19
A Toxic Love Story (2026)
★ 6.4/10Also documentaryA string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
- 20
Apollo: Missions to the Moon (2019)
★ 7.3/10Also documentary and historyNational Geographic's riveting effort recounts all 12 crewed missions using only archival footage, photos and audio.