20 Documentary Movies You Must See Before You Die

3. The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Without a doubt one of the most influential documentary films ever made, The Thin Blue Line centres on the arrest and conviction of a man names Randall Adams, who was accused of murdering a police officer in 1976. Directed by Errol Morris (was a memorable score courtesy of one Philip Glass), the film changed the way that documentaries were perceived and paved the few for a new generation of filmmakers.

The Thin Blue Line's use of reconstructions was deemed to be revolutionary at the time, as the lines between feature film and documentary are blurred. Many of the documentaries that audiences take for granted today were influenced by Morris' approach.

The most interesting thing about The Thin Blue Line, perhaps, was in the way that it paved the way for an innocent man's release. It also opened up the floor for a huge and necessary debate on the criminal justice system, as Morris' findings led to evidence that ultimately allowed an innocent man to go free. Gripping and unnerving, this is a real masterpiece.