Movies Like Behind the Curtain: Joseph McBride on Writing Film History

If you liked Behind the Curtain: Joseph McBride on Writing Film History (2011), a movie directed by Hart Perez, 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
Love, Antosha (2019)
★ 7.4/10
From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family…
2
Spielberg (2017)
★ 7.5/10
A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Steven Spielberg.
3
Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011)
★ 6.9/10
An intense portrait of the iconic filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen: his life, family and friends; his writing and directing habits, and his relationship with performers.
4
Being Eddie (2025)
★ 6.8/10
From teen comedian to Hollywood legend, Eddie Murphy revisits his extraordinary showbiz ride with raw honesty and humor.
5
De Palma (2016)
★ 7/10
An intimate conversation between filmmakers, chronicling De Palma’s 55-year career, his life, and his filmmaking process, with revealing anecdotes and, of course, a wealth of film clips.
6
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025)
★ 7.5/10
The authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors alongside Steven Spielberg, top…
7
John Candy: I Like Me (2025)
★ 7.9/10
Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews.
8
The Eyes of Orson Welles (2018)
★ 6.9/10
A poetic journey into the visual world of the legendary filmmaker and actor Orson Welles (1915-85) that reveals a new portrait of a unique genius, both of his life and of his monumental work: through his own eyes…
9
Altman (2014)
★ 6.6/10
Robert Altman's life and career contained multitudes. This father of American independent cinema left an indelible mark, not merely on the evolution of his art form, but also on the western zeitgeist. With its use of…
10
The Pervert's Guide to Cinema (2006)
★ 7.3/10
A hilarious introduction, using as examples some of the best films ever made, to some of Slovenian philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek's most exciting ideas on personal subjectivity, fantasy and reality, desire…
11
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes (2022)
★ 6.3/10
This documentary explores the mystery surrounding the death of movie icon Marilyn Monroe through previously unheard interviews with her inner circle.
12
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
★ 7.8/10
A compilation of over 30 years of private home movie footage shot by Lithuanian-American avant-garde director Jonas Mekas, assembled by Mekas "purely by chance", without concern for chronological order.
13
I Am Heath Ledger (2017)
★ 7.4/10
The life and career of an actor, artist, and icon. His own journey through his own camera.
14
Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)
★ 7.8/10
In 1974, Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky embarked on the quixotic project of adapting Frank Herbert's influential novel Dune (1969) for the big screen. After investing two years, and millions of dollars…
15
Experimenter (2015)
★ 6.5/10
Yale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram designs a psychology experiment that still resonates to this day, in which people think they’re delivering painful electric shocks to an affable stranger strapped into a chair in…
16
Milius (2013)
★ 7.1/10
The life story of ‘Zen Anarchist’ filmmaker John Milius, one of the most influential storytellers of his generation.
17
Mifune: The Last Samurai (2016)
★ 7/10
An account of the life and work of legendary Japanese actor Toshirō Mifune (1920-97), the most prominent actor of the Golden Age of Japanese cinema.
18
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
★ 6.4/10
Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.
19
Cameraperson (2016)
★ 6.7/10
As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What…
20
Peeping Tom (1960)
★ 7.4/10
Loner Mark Lewis works at a film studio during the day and, at night, takes racy photographs of women. Also he's making a documentary on fear, which involves recording the reactions of victims as he murders them. He…