If getting your teen to watch something informative is your struggle, these fascinating documentaries for teens will keep them engaged and educated without boring them to sleep.
There are endless concerning issues facing teens today from the dangers of social media to gun violence, climate change to racism. With so much to fear, it’s hard to encourage kids to engage with these topics without scaring them or overwhelming them.
However, we have a responsibility to keep these soon-to-be-adults informed and we can do that without compromising on keeping them entertained. These easy-to-follow documentaries break down heavy topics and inspirational stories in a way that is digestible and compelling.
For teens and parents of teens looking to use their TV time wisely, we’ve selected documentaries on a wide range of topics that respond to many of the issues teens deal with.
Check out the best documentaries for teens below and, for younger children, check out our list of documentaries for parents to enjoy with their little ones.
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Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection One of Netflix’s latest documentary releases is a must-see for teens who need to learn more about the dangers of social media.
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish follows the investigation into online harassment experienced by a teen and her boyfriend, with plenty of twists as police try to track who is sending them.
Age 16+
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Us Kids
Image Credit: © Alamo Drafthouse / Courtesy Everett Collection Both devastating and hopeful, Us Kids follows survivors of the Parkland school shooting and members of the March for Our Lives movement as they try to make sense of the tragedy they lived through while ensuring no kid ever has to go through it again.
Age 13+
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Crip Camp
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Crip Camp starts in the 1970s at a groundbreaking camp that offers a free-spirited outlet for teens with disabilities. The doc then follows some of those campers as they grow up to become activists fighting for accessibility legislation.
Age 15+
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The Bad Kids
Image Credit: ©Independent Lens/Courtesy Everett Collection Troubled high school kids at a special school in California’s Mojave Desert are followed as they navigate hurdles during their last-chance school year.
The film gives a heart-wrenchingly sympathetic look at the struggles faced by underprivileged teens.
Age 14+
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Boys State
Image Credit: ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection Boys State is about the annual American Legion Boys State in Texas where thousands of teen boys come together to build a representative government. It’s a fascinating look at American politics through the lens of teenage boys.
Age 13+
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A Kid From Coney Island
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection A Kid From Coney Island follows the life and career of former NBA player Stephon Marbury, including the setbacks he overcame to make it as a professional athlete.
Age 13+
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The Cost of Convenience
Image Credit: Apple TV+ The Cost of Convenience is a gripping examination of how technology and social media deteriorate our mental health, threaten democracy, and restructure communities that any teen who is glued to their phone needs to see.
Age 13+
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Cowspiracy
Balancing shock factor and humor, Cowspiracy is an engaging look at the path to a more environmentally-friendly future. It explores the impact of agriculture on our world and investigates environmental policies.
For teens, it’s an accessible, easy to follow examination of some pretty confusing scientific and legislative issues.
Age 13+
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The Trapped 13: How We Survived the Thai Cave
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection The Trapped 13: How We Survived the Thai Cave is a compelling look at a famous 2018 incident in which 13 members of a youth Thai soccer team and their coach were trapped in a cave system for 18 days.
Age 13+
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The Hunting Ground
Image Credit: ©RADiUS-TWC/courtesy Everett Collection Due to the subject matter, this one is a hard watch for teens but a beneficial one nonetheless.
The Hunting Ground examines the shocking phenomenon of sexual assault on college campuses and the failure of college administrations to address this issue.
Some of the more shocking aspects of the documentary include examples of colleges allegedly protecting prepatrators and the rape culture that is exacerbated by college sports.
Age 15+
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Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media
Image Credit: © Joltspace / Courtesy Everett Collection We’re sure you’ve tried all you can to reduce your teens’ screentime but this documentary might help them see the importance of spending more time offline.
Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media follows a legal team representing parents of children whose lives were destroyed by tech companies’ negligence as they try to battle these companies in court.
Through the lawsuit, the harrowing ways corporations profit from social media’s dark sides are exposed.
Age 13+
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Lead Me Home
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection This Oscar-nominated short film follows several homeless people living on the streets of the West Coast, exploring the many ways in which someone can end up unhoused despite their best efforts.
Age 13+
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The Price of Freedom
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection This unflinching look at gun culture in America isn’t just a must-watch for teens but necessary viewing for anyone living in the United States.
The documentary speaks to government leaders on both sides of the debate, NRA representatives and people whose lives have been impacted by gun violence.
Age 13+
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This Changes Everything
Image Credit: © Good Deed Entertainment /courtesy Everett Collection Leading actresses examine gender disparity and discrimination in Hollywood in this inspiring and critical look at the norms we’ve come to accept.
Age 13+
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13th
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection 13th teaches teens a history of racism in America that traditional history curriculums might shy away from.
Focused primarily on the mass incarceration of Black people, the film explores America’s history of slavery, systemic racism and the ways in which the country profits from filling prisons with African Americans.
Age 16+
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The True Cost
For your fashion-focused teens, The True Cost is a fascinating examination of the fast fashion industry and true effects of our clothes.
It explores consumerism, environmentalism and exploitative labor practices in the fashion industry.
Age 13+