18 Celebrity Documentaries That Revealed Some Of Their Deepest, Darkest Secrets

These documentaries didn't leave anything unearthed.

Liezel

• Published in Film & TV
• June 25, 2022

Get your popcorn popping! You're going to want a snack for this session of spilled tea.

Celebrity documentaries are one of the latest trends in content production in the celebrity world. Just like true-crime documentaries, they keep popping up from one star to another and you know what?

We've never been more intrigued. In fact, most people love it more than the dramas and films that these celebs are in.

That's mostly because, in the past, the behind-the-scenes lives of celebs away from the cameras were mostly kept in the dark. Most of the time, the public depended on the paparazzi who are constantly following these celebs around and on social media to get to know their favorite celebs better.

But that's not enough. There's just something about how the rich and famous live their lives that keeps people wanting to know more about how they spend their spare time.

Now with these documentaries, people get to have a glimpse of not only the behind-the-scenes moments of the projects these celebs are partaking in but also the moments away from the majority of cameras. And, of course, we get to see a lot of drama which is often what people are waiting for anyway.

From Michael Jackson to Britney Spears, celebrity documentaries are definitely must-watch items. Keep scrolling to find out which are the juiciest ones so far.

1. Amy

Many of Amy Winehouse's fans were devastated when they received news of her death in 2011. The 2015 documentary 'Amy' was made to explore the reasons behind the singer-songwriter's death.

It chronicled some of the details in her personal life that may have led to her alcohol and substance abuse which then led to her death from alcohol poisoning.

2. Dancing With The Devil

Three years after nearly passing away from an overdose, Demi Lovato worked with YouTube to produce her docuseries Dancing With the Devil.' There, Demi reveals intimate details about that fateful night and the months-long recovery she went through.

3. Homecoming

Beyonce has never failed to put a smile on her for her fans and deliver amazing performances but in the 2018 Netflix documentary 'Homecoming,' Bey revealed every struggle she's faced as a celebrity of her status including body image issues that became more of a concern to her after she gave birth to her daughter Blue Ivy.

4. Gaga: Five Foot Two

As shown by her creativity in her songs and performances, Lady Gaga's mind is a fascinating place unlike any other and fans got to take an inside peek into it with the Netflix documentary "Five Foot Two.' It followed the singer around as she worked and lived and also featured her battle with fibromyalgia and the impacts of the increasing pressures of her role as a celebrity.

5. The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

As the title of the documentary says, it reveals how Marily truly felt about herself, her celebrity status, and generally Hollywood through never before heard recordings of the late star.

6. The Last Dance

Even avid Michael Jordan fans were a bit shocked at everything they didn't know about the basketball legend that was all revealed in the documentary 'The Last Dance.' The docuseries covered almost the entire life of Jordan from his childhood to the present day with never before seen footage and interviews with the star himself and many of his former teammates.

7. Michael Jackson's This Is It

The documentary came out just a few months after the music icon's death and that's because the film was just about complete when Jackson died. It covers the months immediately before his death and it follows him as he prepares to go on tour.

It gives fans a more intimate look at who Michael was off-camera and it also gives insights into what his mental state was just before he died.

8. Jeen-Yuhs

This 2022 documentary followed embattled rapper Kanye West. The first two episodes of the three-part series dive into his relationship with his mom as well as the work he put in to be taken seriously as a rapper.

In the third episode, fans see how his mental health deteriorates and how his persona changes after the death of his mother.

9. Miss Americana

Miss American shows how Taylor Swift emerged from being a teenybopper country singer and became one of the biggest pop sensations in the world. It features plenty of behind-the-scenes moments, concert footage, and plenty of peeks into her personal life and her growing feminism.

10. Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly

This Netflix original documentary offers an intimate look at the rise of the rapper. It covers everything from his relationship with Kylie Jenner to home video releasing his come-up and it also offers a deeper look at the man beyond the 2021 Astroworld tragedy.

11. This Is Paris

Paris Hilton seemingly suddenly disappeared from the public eye for a while but she did try to make a comeback in 2020. And one of her projects then was the YouTube documentary This Is Paris where she reveals how her entire image fell apart.

One particular incident that she delves deep into was her time at a treatment center where she says she was abused. She also discusses the impact of the skewed public perception has had on her life in the past decade.

12. Framing Britney Spears

Even before she went into hiatus, Britney never really left the collective consciousness of fans but when The New York Times released the documentary 'Framing Britney Spears,' fans were surprised to learn more about the pop star and her so-called "mental breakdown."

This documentary had the masses gathering behind her which actually helped end the 14-year conservatorship her father had over her.

13. Tiger

Golfer Tiger Woods has had his fair share of scandals and the HBO Max documentary Tiger gets into all of it. The documentary details his dedication to the sport, his rise to fame, the disturbing personal issues he had that almost ruined his life, and his comeback both as an athlete and changed human being.

14. Kid 90

The 90s were a time when child actors quickly rose to fame but once they passed adolescence, the industry left them in the dust. Actress Soleil Moon Frye reveals what it was like to be part of that world in the documentary.

It also featured interviews with many other former child actors like Brian Austin Green and David Arquette.

15. Surviving R. Kelly

If you want to watch Surviving R. Kelly, you might need a stomach of steel to withstand the misdeeds of the imprisoned R&B singer. Each episode of the documentary was told from the perspective of his victims who were brave enough to speak their truth to a camera.

It also features commentary from public figures including civil rights activists and celebrities.

16. What Happened, Miss Simone?

This is a revealing documentary about the legendary singer and activist Nina Simone. It features intimate details about her life, career, and passions all told through archival footage and exclusive recordings.

17. Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

It might seem like Billie's rise to fame was lightning fast but she has actually been in the public eye for years ever since she was 14. She started drawing attention back then because of her lyrics that seemed far too mature for a child her age but that didn't stop her fans from relating to it.

The documentary about her delves into her story from her teenage years until now as she writes, records, and performs her chart-topping songs.

18. Seasons

Justin Bieber started in the industry early but as fans saw, he struggled in his transition into adulthood. His 2020 documentary Seasons gives a first-hand look into his struggles and his ongoing efforts to overcome them.

It also features interviews with his wife Hailey Bieber.

It's a well-known fact that while celebrity life may be glamorous, it's not all that easy and these documentaries show us the raw behind-the-scenes moments that most of us wouldn't even have known about. It also helps us see our fave celebs from a different perspective that has us respecting them even more.

Which of these do you want to watch if you haven't watched them yet?

Liezel