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The 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics

From a profile of boxer Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef, the best documentaries capture real-life phenomena in a larger-than-life fashion.

Some of the greatest moments in cinematic history are scenes of non-fiction.

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From a profile of boxing legend Muhammad Ali to a portrait of a renowned sushi chef

Here are the 50 best documentaries of all time, according to critics:

50. "Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me" (2014)

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User score: 79%

49. "The Overnighters" (2014)

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User score: 84%

48. "The Look of Silence" (2015)

User score: 90%

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47. "When We Were Kings" (1996)

User score: 93%

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46. "Bill Cunningham New York" (2011)

User score: 92%

45. "Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time" (2002)

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User score: 90%

44. "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" (2005)

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User score: 86%

43. "Nostalgia for the Light" (2011)

User score: 84%

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42. "We Were Here" (2011)

User score: 86%

Summary: "A deep and reflective look at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco and how individuals rose to the occasion during the first years of this unimaginable crisis."

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41. "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" (2011)

User score: 85%

40. "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara" (2003)

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User score: 93%

Summary: "John F. KennedyLyndon JohnsonRobert McNamara

39. "Cobain: Montage Of Heck" (2015)

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User score: 81%

Summary: "Kurt CobainNirvana

38. "This Is Not a Film" (2012)

User score: 69%

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37. "The Invisible War" (2012)

User score: 84%

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36. "Last Train Home" (2009)

User score: 84%

35. "Sound City" (2013)

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User score: 90%

34. "The Act Of Killing" (2013)

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User score: 85%

33. "Iris" (2015)

User score: 80%

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32. "Capturing the Friedmans" (2003)

User score: 89%

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31. "How to Survive a Plague" (2012)

User score: 83%

30. "The Interrupters" (2011)

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User score: 82%

29. "Waltz with Bashir" (2008)

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User score: 90%

28. "Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr." (1999)

User score: 86%

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27. "Citizenfour" (2014)

User score: 87%

Summary: "Edward Snowden

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26. "Afghan Star" (2009)

User score: 76%

25. "Hoop Dreams" (1994)

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User score: 92%

24. "Amy" (2015)

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User score: 87%

Summary: "my Winehouse."

23. "Waste Land" (2010)

User score: 90%

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22. "Project Nim" (2011)

User score: 84%

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21. "The Square (Al Midan)" (2013)

User score: 90%

20. "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" (2017)

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User score: 85%

Summary: "Debbie ReynoldsCarrie FisherTodd Fisher

19. "Spellbound" (2002)

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User score: 83%

18. "Seymour: An Introduction" (2015)

User score: 80%

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17. "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" (2012)

User score: 92%

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16. "The Missing Picture" (2014)

User score: 76%

15. "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" (2009)

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User score: 90%

14. "Inside Job" (2010)

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User score: 91%

13. "Deliver Us from Evil" (2006)

User score: 89%

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Summary: "Oliver O'Grady

12. "Jodorowsky's Dune" (2014)

User score: 89%

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11. "Kedi" (2017)

User score: 85%

10. "Murderball" (2005)

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User score: 89%

9. "Blackfish" (2013)

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User score: 90%

8. "Tower" (2016)

User score: 90%

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7. "Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007)

User score: 88%

Summary: "Alex Gibney exposes the haunting details of the USA's torture and interrogation practices during the War in Afghanistan."

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6. "Weiner" (2016)

User score: 83%

Summary: "An examination of disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner's mayoral campaign and today's political landscape."

5. "The Last Waltz" (1978)

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User score: 94%

Summary: "A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band."

4. "20 Feet From Stardom" (2013)

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User score: 82%

3. "Life Itself" (2014)

User score: 89%

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Summary: "Roger Ebert

2. "Man on Wire" (2008)

User score: 87%

Summary: "Philippe Petit

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1. "I Am Not Your Negro" (2017)

User score: 84%

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