Among its many educational benefits, documentaries remind us cinephiles that we don’t know quite everything about our favorite films. They can delightfully dig deeper into a particular topic, and that extends to the filmmaking craft itself. Sure, it’s quite meta to make a movie about movies, but for decades now, it’s been an interesting topic for filmmakers who want to shed light on one of their favorite directors, films or genres. They go beyond the average “making-of” documentary and become compelling as films themselves. For anyone looking for creative inspiration behind Hollywood’s most iconic franchises, the docs on our list below are not to be missed.

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5 Making The Shining (1980)

     Eagle Film SS

This isn’t the only documentary about The Shining, which, per Rolling Stone, still tops critics’ lists for one of the best horror films of all time. Let’s not forget Room 237 as a solid honorary mention to our list. It compiles all the major theories surrounding The Shining and are explained by film analysts. However, Stanley Kubrick’s daughter’s 35-minute behind-the-scenes snapshot, Making The Shining, takes the cake due to its authenticity of capturing the production in real-time. A true treat for Kubrick fans, this documentary lives in the nuances and little dramas on-set of The Shining. By taking a peek behind the curtain, the audience gets an intimate view of big names like Jack Nicholson.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

And on a franchise note, Stephen King’s acclaimed novel had become such a hit that a miniseries adaptation also graced the small screen in 1997. Then, the book’s sequel was brought to life on the big screen in 2019 with Doctor Sleep.

4 The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

     Paramount Pictures

A required viewing for anyone trying to get into the mailroom of a Hollywood studio or talent agency, The Kid Stays in the Picture traces the meteoric rise, fall, and rise again of legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans. Adapted from Mr. Evans’ tell-all autobiography, the documentary takes the audience on an intimate journey into the mind of the legend. His film career started in 1956, when he was “discovered” at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Norma Shearer him a film role, and after a short-lived career as a movie star, Evans decided to try his hand at producing. At age 34, he landed a job as chief of production at Paramount Pictures, which gave rise to The Godfather, an Oscar-winning franchise that also spawned the recent behind-the-scenes narrative series The Offer.

3 Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013)

     Highline Pictures

Not only is Dune a cult classic crafted by David Lynch, but it has also been remade into a massive hit with an ensemble cast of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Stellan Skarsgård. However, years earlier, there was another adaptation of the movie that was bright and colorful and set to be directed by the violently surreal Chilean movie director, Alejandro Jodorowski, but it unfortunately didn’t come to fruition. Jodorowski’s Dune interviews the director and features stunning artwork from when he worked on the ill-fated movie.

Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation was an Oscar-winning success that has set a promising franchise back into motion. Audiences will be taken back 10,000 years before the events of Dune in an upcoming spinoff from HBO Max titled Dune: The Sisterhood. Meanwhile, the forthcoming sequel to the feature film, Dune: Part Two, is also in production as we speak.

2 Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

     The Ladd Company

1 De Palma (2015)

     Cruise/Wagner Productions

Brian De Palma’s expansive filmography dates back for decades. The acclaimed director helmed the original Mission: Impossible film, for example, and we can’t wait for Tom Cruise’s upcoming installment in the M:I franchise. Back to the O.G. film’s award-winning director — in De Palma, he uses his own words to take us through his professional life and a career that redefined film horror and suspense. All the while, he also confesses the challenges of working in Hollywood and the price even the great artists pay for being a part of it. Other notable works of his include The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill, and Blow Out. But the 2015 documentary that is De Palma is a cinematic treat for all the film buffs out there.