Shows Like The Runner-Up

If you liked The Runner-Up (2015), a documentary series, here are 20 shows with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
The Circus (2016)
★ 6.5/10Also documentary
Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters…
2
Horizon (1964)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.
3
Doctor Who Confidential (2005)
★ 8/10Also documentary
Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the…
4
Last Chance U (2016)
★ 7.2/10Also documentary
In a docuseries set at one of NCAA football's most fertile recruiting grounds, guys with red flags seek to prove their worth on the field and in class.
5
James May's Cars of the People (2014)
★ 7.8/10Also documentary
James May takes a look at the 'peoples car'. Covering every form of cars for the masses - from the Beetle to the Kei Car, May looks at the many forms of people's car, their origins and their effect on history. Each…
6
Baseball (1994)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and the words of those who contributed to the game in each era. Writers, historians, players, baseball personnel, and fans…
7
TYSON (2026)
★ 8.5/10Also documentary
Explore the explosive life of Mike Tyson — one of the most feared and fascinating figures in sports history.
8
Agents of Chaos (2020)
★ 6.7/10Also documentary
This two-part documentary pulls back the curtain on Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
9
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019)
★ 6.6/10Also documentary
Through the prism of Jeff Goldblum's always inquisitive and highly entertaining mind, nothing is as it seems. Each episode is centered around something we all love — like sneakers or ice cream — as Jeff pulls the…
10
American Experience (1988)
★ 6.5/10Also documentary
TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.
11
Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
Actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a travel show that explores healthy, sustainable ways to live.
12
Mysteries at the Museum (2010)
★ 8.8/10Also documentary
Don Wildman unearths relics from the world's greatest institutions to reveal secrets from the past. He examines each artifact to illuminate history's most incredible triumphs, sensational crimes and bizarre encounters.
13
Pee-wee as Himself (2025)
★ 7.9/10Also documentary
A kaleidoscopic portrait told in two parts tracing the life of the imaginative artist.
14
The Men Who Built America (2012)
★ 8/10Also documentary
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever…
15
The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy (2023)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
Award-winning actor and nervous explorer Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world's most beautiful and intriguing destinations.
16
History 101 (2020)
★ 7.1/10Also documentary
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
17
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (2022)
★ 8.1/10Also documentary
This docuseries captures the remarkable rise and unprecedented success of one of the most dominant and iconic franchises in professional sports. Featuring exclusive access to the Buss Family and probing, revealing…
18
The Movies (2019)
★ 6.6/10Also documentary
Explore American cinema through the decades and the cultural, societal and political shifts that framed its evolution.
19
The New York Times Presents (2020)
★ 7/10Also documentary
A series of standalone documentaries powered by the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time.
20
Captains of the World (2023)
★ 8.4/10Also documentary
From the locker room to the pitch, this docuseries offers exclusive access to all 32 teams as they fight for football glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.