As a type of filmmaking once stereotypically associated with nature shows, it’s easy to hear the word documentary and conjure up a picture of the legendary Sir David Attenborough’s voice wafting over a scene depicting a pride of lions feeding on a gazelle. However, over time, documentary filmmaking has developed into one of the most hard-hitting and important storytelling mediums of our age.
When done right, documentaries can be vehicles of awareness that become catalysts for social change. Whether highlighting dire issues like climate change or celebrating a famous icon, the realism documentaries inherently carry often make them compelling to watch, and even more gripping in the ways they can inspire us to action. This is usually why many of them attract the biggest names in filmmaking and often end up being highly acclaimed.
Well-known actors and celebrities often champion the causes these films highlight, while others are sought for narrating them to add more poignancy and raise the profile of the subjects covered by them. If you think documentaries are just boring and not as fun as a movie, here’s a list of 20 sterling ones that were actually narrated by A-list actors.
20 Wings of Life (2011) – Narrated by Meryl Streep
Far more than just an A-lister, Meryl Streep is more like the Queen of the list. As an actor, she’s won practically every prestigious award during her remarkable career that’s now spanned over four decades. Streep has been nominated for a record 21 Academy Awards, and won three, as well as winning eight Golden Globes with 33 nominations in total. With a wide-ranging list of iconic performances, from her role as the title character in Sophie’s Choice, to Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, she’s proven time and time again why she’s widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in history.
A Film That Highlights the Importance of Ecological Diversity
In 2011, Streep took on the unconventional role of narrating a documentary film. Called Wings of Life, the film was a fascinating look at the ecological underpinnings of winged creatures like butterflies, birds, bees, and even bats as it relates to their role as the pollinators of the natural world.
The relationships between their life-saving roles in the ecological make-up of the world is shown in magnificent detail, with Meryl Streep providing a wonderful accompaniment for it as she personified it all taking place through the beautiful array of slow motion, high-speed, close-up, and time-lapse shots used by the film. Stream on Disney+.
19 Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) – Narrated by Sean Penn
Sean Penn is widely known as one of the finest actors of his generation, with roles in multiple films that have earned him a ton of acclaim. His roles in Mystic River and Milk both earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, amid five Best Actor nominations throughout his career so far. A brilliant actor, he remains one of the most respected performers still working today.
The Film Showcased the Gritty Themes it Was Based on
In 2001, Sean Penn proved an excellent choice to narrate the skateboarding documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys. The film explored the influential legacy of the Z-Boys skateboarding group who were prevalent in an area of Santa Monica, California, known as Dogtown, back in the ’70s. Using a mixture of archival footage and interviews, the film did a great job conveying just the counterculture nature among those who were integral in turning skateboarding from a hobby into a lucrative sport. Stream on Tubi.
18 Inside Job (2010) – Narrated by Matt Damon
Garnering an Oscar nod for Best Actor in his first role, after Matt Damon and Ben Affleck stunned the world with Good Will Hunting, Damon later went on to earn two more Best Actor nominations for The Martian and Ford v Ferrari. His role in Invictus also earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, amid a career that has been highly decorated and respected by his fans and peers alike.
It Became Another Darling of the Oscars
In 2010, Damon further enhanced his Academy Award credentials when he narrated the documentary film, Inside Job. A superbly made film, it tackled the global financial crisis that had gripped the world just two years earlier in terrific detail, but also delved into its finer nuances through brilliant insights, thorough research, and a range of experts who weighed in.
Damon did a great job as its narrator, with the film going on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature the next year. Stream on Prime Video.
17 Trading Women (2003) – Narrated by Angelina Jolie
One of the biggest and most recognizable stars of a generation, Angelina Jolie has been a powerhouse of Hollywood a long time now. Twice Academy Award nominated, with a win for Best Supporting Actress in Girl, Interrupted, Jolie has often shown herself to be both a bankable star, and highly talented too. She’s also proven to be versatile and just as talented as a filmmaker too, with her famous humanitarian work also making a huge difference to millions of people around the world.
A Hard-Hitting Film That Tackled a Heartbreaking Subject
Back in 2003, Jolie’s propensity for aiding humanitarian causes saw her narrating a documentary called Trading Women that looked into the heartbreaking realities of the sex trafficking industry in Thailand. The film examined how neighboring Burma, and countries like Laos and China, together with systemic problems like corruption, all played a role in the industry’s proliferation. Currently not available to stream.
16 March of the Penguins (2005) – Narrated by Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is one of the most beloved actors still alive today. Far from just being popular, he’s been nominated for an Oscar five times to date, winning once for Best Supporting Actor in Million Dollar Baby. After his big break, he quickly made a name for himself, landing roles in iconic films like The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, and The Dark Knight trilogy.
His Acclaim Followed Him to Documentaries
With one of the most distinctive and celebrated narration voices around, Freeman’s catalog of documentary narrations includes projects like The Long Way Home, Born to be Wild, The Story of God, and Breaking the Taboo. However, it was the 2005 nature documentary film, The March of the Penguins that was the best received of the lot.
Chronicling the journeys and lives of various Emperor Penguins in Antarctica through amazing visuals and beautifully edited footage, the film won Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards in 2006. Rent on AppleTV+.
15 Anne Frank Remembered (1995) – Narrated by Kenneth Branagh with Readings by Glenn Close
Younger generations may know him best for his time in the Potter-verse as Gilderoy Lockhart, but Kenneth Branagh holds far greater esteem for his career overall. A British actor who built a name for himself as a brilliant actor, stage artist, and director, between his acting credits and the films he directed, Branagh has garnered eight Academy Award and 13 BAFTA nominations to date.
One of the Most Significant Stories in History
While Branagh has been known for his many period roles and Shakespearean productions, back in 1995, he used his talents to narrate a documentary film that touched on one of the most significant stories of our time. Anne Frank Remembered told the tragic story of Anne Frank and her famous diary in poignant detail. Aside from Branagh’s flawless narration, the film also featured readings from Anne Frank’s diary by another acclaimed star in the form of Glenn Close. Stream on Tubi.
14 Before the Flood (2016) – Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
At this point, anyone who has heard of Leonardo DiCaprio knows what an outrageously talented star he is. Revered for his multiple Oscar-nominated roles, like Titanic, which finally culminated in him winning an Oscar for The Revenant, the actor has also become renowned for using his fame to fight climate change. Now with a string of documentaries to his name that have become just as significant to climate activists as his films are to cinephiles, DiCaprio has appeared in and narrated quite a few.
A Champion of the Fight Against Climate Change
Among those, Before the Flood was one of the most thought-provoking. It specifically focused on global warming, with DiCaprio traveling to multiple locations to see how climate change has impacted real people.
Featuring the likes of Barack Obama, Pope Francis, and Elon Musk, the film was just one among many sterling documentaries that Leonardo DiCaprio has produced and narrated as part of his ongoing efforts to help save the planet. Stream on Disney+.
13 Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey (2016) – Narrated by Cate Blanchett
A living legend, Cate Blanchett is one of the most acclaimed actors in history, with a reputation for virtually flawless performances throughout her career. She’s won two Academy Awards and been nominated eight times, with over 160 awards in total from more than 360 nominations in total. Devastatingly brilliant, there aren’t many actors around with the kind of gravitas Cate Blanchett brings to any project she works on.
Her Voice Was Like a Verbal Score
That held true even when she was the narrator of the Terence Malik directed, Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey back in 2016. An absorbing film, it takes viewers on an amazing exploration of the origins of the universe and life itself. Featuring stunning visuals and deep, philosophical musings, even using just her voice, Blanchett was still able to utilize inflection so well she elevated the film with perfect intonations.
The film was released with an alternate version filmed for and released in IMAX theaters. That version was narrated by Brad Pitt. Currently unavailable to stream.
12 Africa: The Serengeti (1994) – Narrated by James Earl Jones
Although a fantastic and acclaimed actor, James Earl Jones is one of the few who fans love more for his voice acting than anything else. That’s because, as far as voice acting goes, Jones has now become legendary for his voice in films like The Lion King, where he voiced Mufasa, and for voicing Darth Vader throughout most of the Star Wars franchise.
The Perfect Fit For a Former Lion King
A prolific and multiple Emmy Award-winning TV actor, and a multiple Tony Award-winning stage actor, Jones and his famous voice were likely the only choice when he narrated the documentary Africa: The Serengeti. As the title suggests, this film featured some amazing shots and narration as it showcased the lives of various animals centered around the famous Serengeti plains, and the events that unfold during the “great migration”. Stream on Pluto TV.
11 I Am Not Your Negro (2016) – Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson
There aren’t many actors out there like Samuel L. Jackson, who can claim to be iconic and hold A-list status because of how they swear. Jackson’s foul-mouthed tirades that audiences love aside, he’s also a terrific actor, was nominated for an Oscar, is currently the highest-grossing actor of all time (all movies combined), and one of the most hardworking in the business, with legendary films like Pulp Fiction and the Star Wars prequel trilogy to his name.
An Unyielding Look At Racism Through The Words of a Literary Master
Linking the historical legacy of racial discrimination with contemporary forms of racism still prevalent today, I Am Not Your Negro is a raw and uninhibited documentary. Based on playwright and essayist, James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript, Samuel L. Jackson gives direct readings from it, making for a unique narrator who adds as much spice to the content depicted than the subject itself. Stream on Prime Video.
10 Oceans (2008) – Narrated by Pierce Brosnan
With a brilliant list of acting credits to his name, Pierce Brosnan is one of the most recognizable actors of the early ’00s. While he might not be the most decorated of actors, he’s certainly earned his stripes as an A-Lister after playing the iconic James Bond across four films. Highly popular, talented, and always suave no matter the role, Brosnan brought all his charm to bear when he narrated a documentary film back in 2009.
A Film With a Message More Dire Today Than Ever
A French documentary, Oceans was a documentary film that paid homage to the amazing diversity found in the five oceans of the world. Stunning as it depicts the magnificent array of sea creatures our oceans are home to, it also acts as a cautionary tale that examines how much of that beautiful marine diversity is being threatened by our own activities in the oceans. Stream on Disney+.
9 Love Thy Nature – Narrated by Liam Neeson
From one iconic Irish actor to another, Liam Neeson was once asked to play James Bond himself, back in the early ’90s, when he was still hot from the Oscar nod he earned for Schindler’s List. According to Rolling Stone, Neeson turned down the role at the behest of his late wife, Natasha Rochardson.
She gave me a James Bond ultimatum, and she meant it! Come on, there’s all those gorgeous girls in various countries getting into bed and getting out of bed, I’m sure a lot of her decision-making was based on that!
It’s safe to say he went on to still have a pretty decent career, with roles in now iconic franchises like the Taken films and The Dark Knight trilogy to name a few.
A Tale of Human Beings’ Place Among the Natural World
By showcasing how much humans have lost touch with our connection to nature, Love Thy Nature looks at the impact we’ve had on the natural world. Tackling questions of how we believe we’ve transcended nature, only for “biomimicry” to continuously show us that we’re still very much of nature and dependent on it, Neeson’s exquisite narration helped the film to dozens of awards for its sharp and incisive take on the natural world and our place in it. Stream on Peacock.
8 The Bloody Hundredth – Narrated by Tom Hanks
A six-time Oscar-nominated actor, and the last actor to date to have won the Best Actor award two years in a row, Tom Hanks is one of the most brilliant leading men Hollywood has to offer. From films like Philadelphia to Forrest Gump, and Cast Away, Hanks has proven his formidable acting abilities time and time again, and remains one of the most sought-after actors still working today.
A Riveting Film About Bravery and Recklessness
In 2024, Hanks signed on as the narrator for a documentary film called The Bloody Hundredth. It told the remarkable story of various airmen from bombing groups during WWII.
The men were known for their fearlessness, but also their ill discipline, often showing levels of hyper-aggression that led to them dying at record rates during air combat. A swashbuckling film, it aptly portrays how the men were heroic, but ultimately also reckless too. Stream on AppleTV+.
7 Climate of Change (2010) – Narrated by Tilda Swinton
A multi-award-winning actor, Tilda Swinton won the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in Michael Clayton. Her wide-ranging talents have seen her star in everything from period dramas to MCU films, and even music videos. Highly talented, and with a voice that wafts over a film like a rose garden catching the breeze, she frequently narrates documentaries too.
A Film That Celebrated Ordinary Heroes
Swinton’s usual documentary narrations were for TV films. In 2010, she provided her voice talents for the film, Climate of Change, a documentary that examined how real everyday people were doing their part to help ease the effects of climate change, and it’s easily one of the best she’s ever worked on. Stream on Peacock.
6 Turtle Odysse (2018)y – Narrated by Russell Crowe
By the early ’00s, Russell Crowe went on an Oscar run that saw him nominated for the Best Actor award three years in a row. Winning one of them for Gladiator, he has been widely hailed as one of the greatest living actors ever since. Still active and as brilliant as ever, Crowe continues to add prestige to any picture he appears in.
It Followed the Journey of a Turtle Named Bunji
An amazing Australian-made documentary, Turtle Odyssey, features the journey of a turtle named Bunji and his amazing life. Depicting everything from the perilous journey every turtle must make in the natural world, to their often blissful lives in the sea, and why these graceful creatures are so well-loved, Russell Crowe’s brilliant narration helped add layers of added intrigue to the film. Stream on Hoopla.
5 Longevity Hackers (2024) – Narrated by Edward Norton
From narrowly missing out on a Best Actor Oscar for American History X, to becoming a cult icon for Fight Club, and an MCU fan favorite with The Incredible Hulk, Edward Norton is an amazing actor who more than deserves his spot among A-listers. A rare kind of talent that’s seen him often play dual roles, Norton is also famous for being a narrator, not just with Fight Club, but now for an upcoming documentary film too.
A Film That Seeks to Answer If We Can Live Forever
Longevity Hackers, will take a truly fascinating look at the ongoing medical and scientific efforts to actually make immortality real. Featuring scientists and experts in a range of fields, the film will provide insights into the cutting-edge research that seeks to answer if immortality may be actually be achievable one day.
Norton’s calm, self-assuredness as an actor is sure to make for a great choice that will likely only heighten the intrigue of this one. Not yet available to Stream.
4 Fantastic Fungi (2019) – Narrated by Brie Larson
Ever since her terrific performance in Room, Brie Larson‘s career has never been the same. Winning the Oscar for Best Actress meant she got the chance to play lead characters in blockbusters like Kong: Skull Island and got herself a headlining franchise opportunity as the MCU’s Captain Marvel. Now firmly an A-lister, she’s continued to prove time and time again that she’s well worth her billing as one.
An Unexpected Choice but Ultimately a Terrific One
Given Brie Larson’s Oscar-winning credentials, she’s since had greater autonomy over what work she takes on. When she chose to narrate a documentary in 2019, it initially seemed an odd choice. As the title suggests, the fact that Fantastic Fungi was about different types of fungi made the decision even more puzzling. That is, until you watch it and realize it’s an amazing and visually spectacular look at an almost alien world that sometimes lives right in our backyards.
Josh Kupecki probably summed it up best during his review for the Austin Chronicle:
It’s heady stuff, and Brie Larson’s gentle narration helps you navigate this quite complex topic. But visual affectations aside (I haven’t even mentioned the inordinate but predictable use of kaleidoscopes),
Fantastic Fungi
is an engaging look at the scope of an organism that is so much more than a pizza topping or an ingredient in beef stroganoff.
Stream on Netflix
3 Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2005) – Narrated by Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. is the epitome of grit and an actor who has become iconic for overcoming his demons and many dark moments to reach that status. Now one of the most respected and highest-earning actors around, his time as Iron Man in the MCU has been a testament to his popularity, with his performances in films like Oppenheimer a reminder of his amazing talent.
A Significant Project at a Crucial Time for RDJ
With his tumultuous past being well known, the early years of the 21st century finally heralded the change RDJ and his fans had hoped for. In 2005, while firmly on the comeback trail, he narrated the documentary, Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow, a film based on the life of the eponymous writer. An intimate portrayal of HSJ, wonderfully narrated by RDJ, The film was a significant one for the star, since it came at a crucial time when he needed every project he could get to help him steady his career. Stream on Tubi.
2 Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001) – Narrated by Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is an actor who needs no introduction. Having been one of the biggest and most recognizable movie stars across multiple generations now, his talents and A-List status are well established. Whether it’s thrilling audiences with his ridiculously daring stunts from the Mission: Impossible franchise, or astounding critics with his Oscar-nominated performances in films like Jerry Maguire, Cruise has always been a bona fide superstar.
The Pair Had Collaborated on a Film Before
At the turn of the century, Tom Cruise took on a more unconventional role when he narrated the documentary, Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures. He and the iconic director, of course, worked together when Kubrick directed him and Nicole Kidman in the erotic thriller, Eyes Wide Shut. The documentary was a brilliant look back at Kubrick’s greatest films, told through segments and interviews with the likes of Nicole Kidman, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. Rent on AppleTV+.
1 10 Mountains 10 Years (2010) – Narrated by Anne Hathaway
Twice nominated for an Academy Award, and once a winner for Best Supporting Actress in Les Misérables, Anne Hathaway has come a long way since she burst onto the scene in 2001 with The Princess Diaries. Having won practically every major honor as an actor, and appeared in a myriad of superb blockbuster films and many highly acclaimed ones too, she’s easily been one of the biggest stars of the 21st century.
A Dazzling Goal with an Amazing Reason for Taking it on
By narrating the film, Anne Hathaway’s involvement in 10 Mountains, 10 Years helped raise its profile significantly. A mountaineering documentary, it closely followed the efforts of a group of climbers as they ambitiously aimed to climb 10 of the world’s toughest mountains in 10 years.
Already a beautiful and challenging endeavor, the film adds poignancy through the fact that each climber has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons, and uses the climbs as a way to raise awareness and funds for sufferers. Currently unavailable to stream.
If you’re looking for another hard-hitting documentary film to watch, check out the trailer below for Food, Inc. 2