TVLine has compiled a list of the top 15 HBO original documentaries, highlighting the network's rich history in the genre from true-crime investigations to music festivals and corporate scandals. The ranking spans decades of acclaimed programming available on HBO Max. Standouts include 'The Jinx' at number one for its shocking revelations about Robert Durst.
Overview of the Ranking
HBO has long excelled in documentary programming, covering diverse topics like scandals, true crime, and cultural icons. Published on November 9, 2025, TVLine's list celebrates this legacy, noting the network's evolution from prestige series to in-depth docs since the 1990s. All featured titles are streamable on HBO Max, offering viewers a mix of limited series and films that explore public figures, societal issues, and historical events.
Top Entries Highlighted
At number one, 'The Jinx' (2015, with a 2024 second season) chronicles real estate heir Robert Durst's links to three murders, culminating in his accidental hot-mic confession and eventual conviction before his 2022 death in prison. The series is praised for its tight narrative and historical impact on true-crime storytelling.
Number two, 'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief' (2015), adapts Lawrence Wright's book to expose the Church of Scientology's secretive practices, founder L. Ron Hubbard's history, and allegations of abuse through interviews with ex-members.
Other notables include 'Hoop Dreams' (1994) at number three, a sports doc following two Chicago basketball prospects' journeys amid racial and personal challenges; 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' (2020) at number four, which details author Michelle McNamara's pursuit of the Golden State Killer; and 'Spielberg' (2017) at number five, featuring interviews with collaborators like Harrison Ford and John Williams on the director's career.
Lower ranks cover 'Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage' (2021) on the infamous festival's chaos, 'Crossfire Hurricane' (2012) on the Rolling Stones' wild years, and recent entries like 'The Yogurt Shop Murders' (2025) exploring a 1991 unsolved quadruple homicide in Austin, Texas.
The list underscores HBO's unflinching approach, blending entertainment with social commentary, from opioid crises in 'The Crime of the Century' (2021) to tech frauds in 'The Inventor' (2019).