Best Documentary Movies of 1951

The highest-rated documentary films from 1951, ranked by MovieMagicScore based on authentic viewer ratings.

Documentary 1950 Documentary 1952 All Time Documentary

Action Comedy Drama Horror Science Fiction Thriller Romance Animation Fantasy Crime

Day of the Fight

1951

Stanley Kubrick’s debut documentary, following Irish-American middleweight boxer Walter Cartier on April 17, 1950—the day of his bout with Bobby James. The film traces Cartier’s quiet morning rituals, training, and anxious hours before the match, culminating in his swift victory that night in Newark. Opening with a brief history of boxing, Kubrick’s tightly crafted short captures the discipline, isolation, and tension behind a fighter’s daily routine.

5.7

Flying Padre

1951

Stanley Kubrick’s short documentary about Father Fred Stadtmueller, a Catholic priest serving a vast 4,000-square-mile parish in rural New Mexico. To reach his scattered congregation, he pilots his own Piper Cub aircraft, the Spirit of St. Joseph. Over two days, Kubrick follows the “flying padre” as he conducts Mass, mediates between quarreling children, attends a funeral, and airlifts a sick child to medical care—capturing both the challenges and quiet heroism of his daily mission.

5.1

Best Documentary Movies of 1951

This ranking features the top documentary movies released in 1951, sorted by MovieMagicScore viewer ratings. Looking for more? Browse all genres from 1951 or see the best documentary movies of all time.