The Nine Funniest Documentaries You Can Stream Right Now

Meet the ex-TV news anchor whom the internet dubbed “The Angriest Man in the World.” Jack Rebney became one of the first viral superstars when profane outtakes from a Winnebago sales video made their way around the early days of the web. A movie made up of f-bomb-laden corporate video flubs would be funny enough on its own, but Winnebago Man is surprisingly touching as filmmaker Ben Steinbauer tracks down the reclusive, angrier-than-ever Rebney. Can you remake a legacy after the internet beats you down? Winnebago Man says yes.

How many variations are there on the world’s dirtiest, most disgusting joke? According to The Aristocrats, the answer is “infinite.” Johnny Carson’s favorite gag is actually a template with three parts that goes a little something like this. Part one: A man walks into a talent agency to describe his new act. Part two: The comic telling the joke improvises the most degrading, obscene and shocking scenario imaginable. Part three: The agent asks the man, “What do you call your act?” The answer (nearly always) is “The Aristocrats!” The documentary features nearly 100 comics spewing their own repugnant twists on the old joke. Great for family holiday gatherings!

Two young punks move into a San Francisco dive apartment in 1987. After the lease is signed, they receive a single warning from the landlord: The neighbors might be a little loud. The two roomies soon discover they live next to some very angry older men, whose screaming matches first intimidate, then entertain. Next thing you know, the young dudes are recording the fights, cassette tape after cassette tape, and sharing the audio with their dirtbag friends. You know how these things go — the recordings attracted a cult following, then became a phenomenon. Eavesdrop on some of the funniest squabbles you’ve ever heard. A spiritual cousin to Winnebago Man — apparently, early internet users loved them some angry rants.

Documentary dignitary Errol Morris usually travels on more serious highways, though his work always has a sly sense of humor. Hitch a ride with him here as he turns off onto the sleazier side road, telling the story of a young beauty queen who attempts to rescue her true love from a Mormon mission by roping him to a bed and having sex with him for days. Do we need to go on? It gets complicated, of course. The young woman, Joyce McKinney, is accused of kidnapping and rape, setting off a major tabloid battle in Great Britain. Absurd, outlandish and lurid — you know, the good stuff.

Are sex, horror and violence your thing? Sure they are! So you’ll delight in Not Quite Hollywood, an Aussie travelogue through the world of 1970s and 1980s exploitation cinema down under. The Australian scene seems similar to what was happening in the United States, but somehow with even more gratuitous nudity and outlandish gore. Quentin Tarantino can barely contain himself (and we’re guessing you’ll see a few scenes that he ripped off… er, to which he paid homage.) Crocodile Dundee could have done with a few more exploding faces, if you ask us. Oi!

Dana Gould and Bobcat Goldthwait were all set to film a documentary about their two-man comedy project when they had to go and get in a horrific car accident — on the way to their first show. Somehow, the comics recovered and the show went on. The fact that the comedians weren’t exactly pals for most of their careers adds friction and laughs. Note to Bobcat’s parole officer: No talk-show sets were engulfed in flames during the filming of Joy Ride. 

Imagine if Spinal Tap was a real band. That’s the pitch. Enjoy.