1. Olympia: Part One – Festival of the Nations (Olympia - Fest der Völker)
Commissioned to make a propaganda film about the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, director Leni Riefenstahl created a celebration of the human form. This first half of her two-part film opens with a renowned introduction that compares modern Olympians to classical Greek heroes, then goes on to provide thrilling in-the-moment coverage of some of the games' most celebrated moments, including African-American athlete Jesse Owens winning a then-unprecedented four gold medals.
It has an average vote of 6.9 on TMDB.
2. Olympia: Part Two – Festival of Beauty (Olympia - Fest der Schönheit)
Commissioned to make a propaganda film about the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, director Leni Riefenstahl created a celebration of the human form. Where the two-part epic's first half, Festival of the Nations, focused on the international aspects of the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, part two, The Festival of Beauty, concentrates on individual athletes such as equestrians, gymnasts, and swimmers, climaxing with American Glenn Morris' performance in the decathalon and the games' majestic closing ceremonies.
It has an average vote of 6.7 on TMDB.
3. Untold: Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner's unlikely path to Olympic glory was inspirational. But her more challenging road to embracing her true self proved even more meaningful.
It has an average vote of 6.5 on TMDB.
4. World Debut: From Outsiders to the Olympics
What were once lifestyle fads have evolved into some of the world's fastest-growing sports and are now set to debut on the world’s biggest stage – the Olympic Games. Step inside the journey of three new sports born on the fringes of society – skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing – alongside names like Tony Hawk, Emily Harrington, and Sofia Mulanovich.
5. Die kalten Ringe (Die kalten Ringe)
19 years after the dropping of atomic bombs in Japan, the Olympic Games of 1964 took place in Tokyo. In the midst of the cold war, the games are supposed to become a symbol for a peaceful world. Especially the divided Germany is expected to prove this: By order of the IOC, both German states must participate in Tokyo with a joint team despite deep ideological rifts. The fact that athletes from both German states still had to compete against each other in order to form a joint team for the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck and in Tokyo is all but forgotten. The film tells the story of the East-West German team of 1964 for the first time and is simultaneously a current document about the relation of sports and politics in international relations.
6. Sex: My British Job
Nick Broomfield met Hsiao Hung Pai, a journalist who was working for the Guardian, when making his feature film 'Ghosts' . As an experiment and using the latest in undercover technology, Nick worked with Hsiao to make a Undercover film set in a Chinese brothel in Finchley. There are over 2000 'illegal' brothels in London,largely ignored by the police and the authorities, which employ 80% foreign nationals, mostly illegal, that are easily exploited by the brothel owners.
It has an average vote of 5.4 on TMDB.
7. Athens 2004: Olympic Opening Ceremony (Games of the XXVIII Olympiad) (Athens 2004: Olympic Opening Ceremony (Games of the XXVIII Olympiad))
With the Olympics returning to Greece, the opening ceremony of Athens 2004 sought to show the entire development of the Olympics over the centuries, until arriving at the modern Olympics.
It has an average vote of 8 on TMDB.
8. VI. zimní olympijské hry v Oslo (VI. zimní olympijské hry v Oslo)
(VI. zimní olympijské hry v Oslo)
9. Looking at London
A colorful travelogue of London's most historic buildings and the residual damage still left from WWII.
It has an average vote of 6 on TMDB.
10. Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Here's a Special Edition DVD that captures the most dramatic and exciting moments from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the competition was held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Ten thousand five hundred athletes competed in 302 events in 28 sports. The 2008 Summer Olympics did bring athletes from around the world together as they competed for the bronze, silver and gold medals. More importantly, television coverage united citizens from all nations, who rooted for their own countrymen as well as the world's best athletes. These games were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in high definition, and did garner upwards of four billion viewers. This exclusive highlights DVD features the greatest athletes in the world, united in the most important competition of their lifetimes.
It has an average vote of 7.909 on TMDB.
11. Churandy: De Eindsprint (Churandy: De Eindsprint)
(Churandy: De Eindsprint)
12. The Making of Leni Riefenstahl’s Olympia
In the spring of 1937 Leni Riefenstahl had only just started editing the 1st part of her magnum opus Olympia and it became clear that the film would not be ready for another year. The German authorities, who were financing the film, began to fear that these delays would have a negative impact on the future commercial success of the two Olympia films and so it was decided to create a promotional film, in English and in French, in order to maintain public interest for the film.
13. Olympiada – Helsinki 1952 (Olympiada – Helsinki 1952)
(Olympiada – Helsinki 1952)
14. L'Odyssée des Jeux olympiques (L'Odyssée des Jeux olympiques)
(L'Odyssée des Jeux olympiques)
It has an average vote of 8 on TMDB.
15. Stephen Fry's Key to the City
Stephen Fry tours the City of London, discovering the hidden mysteries of this rich and powerful square mile. Along the way, he visits the Bank of England's vaults, witnesses high drama at the London Metal Exchange as dealers buy and sell stocks, and experiences Dead Man's Walk at the Old Bailey, where many condemned criminals trod their final steps. Plus, as a recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, Stephen finds out just what privileges this gives him.
16. Tenório and the Dreams of Judo (Tenório e os Sonhos de Judô)
Antônio Tenório and the Brazilian Paralympic Team are invited to a rare training camp in Japan. Passing through the main temples of Judo, our visually impaired athletes face the many challenges of training in an unknown country. The encounter with their Japanese hosts generates strangeness and difficulties, but also discoveries and joys. Step by step, these situations strengthen our athletes, who find themselves increasingly united.</p><p> Led by the charisma and sensitivity of champion Tenório, a new generation of judo is revealed and inspired.
It has an average vote of 7 on TMDB.
17. The Road to the Tokyo Olympics (東京オリンピックへの道)
A documentary film that includes footage of past Olympics held in different countries with an particular emphasis on the activities and successes of Japanese athletes and how they are currently improving themselves.
18. Dance for All
(Dance for All)
19. Cœurs d'athlètes (Cœurs d'athlètes)
(Cœurs d'athlètes)
It has an average vote of 9 on TMDB.
20. 448 BC: Olympiad of Ancient Hellas
Through the eyes of the Narrator and ancient Philosophers of the time, we are taken on a dramatic journey through history; recounting the incredible and exciting dramas, ceremonies, games, and chariot races of the Ancient Greek OLYMPIAD; the Olympic Games of the 5th Century BC.
