Movies Like Side by Side (2012)

Side by Side is a 2012 documentary film from Christopher Kenneally with a MovieMagicScore of 7.2/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Lumière! and Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.

Documentary

Lumière!

2016

A collection of restored prints from the Lumière Brothers.

8.0

MagicScore

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

2025

The authorized documentary celebrating the film that redefined Hollywood, 50 years after its premiere. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with acclaimed Hollywood directors alongside Steven Spielberg, top shark scientists, and conservationists, the film uncovers the behind-the-scenes chaos and how the film launched the summer blockbuster, inspired a new wave of filmmakers, and paved the way for shark conservation that continues today.

7.5

MagicScore

78/52

2017

The most famous murder scene in movie history comprises 78 camera settings and 52 cuts: the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. 78/52 tells the story of the man behind the curtain and his greatest obsession.

7.2

MagicScore

Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno

2009

In 1964, Henri-Georges Clouzot's production of L'Enfer came to a halt. Despite huge expectations, major studio backing and an unlimited budget, after three weeks the production collapsed. This documentary presents Inferno's incredible expressionistic original rushes, screen tests, and on-location footage, whilst also reconstructing Clouzot's original vision, and shedding light on the ill-fated endeavor through interviews, dramatizations of unfilmed scenes, and Clouzot's own notes.

7.2

MagicScore

A. K.

1985

An intimate chronicle of the shooting of Ran (1985), a film directed by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

6.3

MagicScore

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

2020

The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Addressing the biggest challenges facing life on our planet, the film offers a powerful message of hope for future generations.

8.4

MagicScore

2040

2019

A three year self-described labour of love, 2040 takes the form of a visual letter from the filmmaker to his four-year-old daughter Velvet, showing her what the year 2040 could look like “if we simply embraced the best solutions that exist today.”

6.7

MagicScore

Elon Musk: The Real Life Iron Man

2018

Discover the meteoric rise of Elon Musk, the man who is transforming the way we think about travel technology through electric cars, the Hyperloop, and revolutionary ideas on how we live through artificial intelligence and colonizing Mars.

5.2

MagicScore

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

2006

This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.

6.8

MagicScore

#10

His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th

2010

A retrospective documentary about the groundbreaking horror series, Friday the 13th, featuring interviews with cast and crew from the twelve films spanning 3 decades.

6.7

MagicScore

#11

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

2009

An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.

6.6

MagicScore

#12

King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen

2018

A feature-length documentary focusing on the acclaimed work and eclectic career of maverick filmmaker Larry Cohen, writer-director of "Black Caesar," "It's Alive," "God Told Me To," "Q," "The Stuff," and many more.

6.4

MagicScore

#13

How the Beatles Changed the World

2017

The fascinating story of the cultural, social, spiritual, and musical revolution ignited by the coming of the Beatles. Tracing the impact that these four band members had, first in their native Britain and soon after worldwide, it reappraises the band and follows their path from young subversives to countercultural heroes. Featuring fresh, revealing interviews with key collaborators as well as a wealth of rarely-seen archival footage, this is a bold new take on the most significant band in the history of music and their enduring impact on popular culture.

7.4

MagicScore

#14

TINA

2021

Tina Turner overcame impossible odds to become one of the first female Black artists to reach a mainstream international audience. Her road to superstardom is an undeniable story of triumph over adversity. It’s the ultimate story of survival – and an inspirational story of our times.

7.8

MagicScore

#15

Visions of Light

1992

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

7.0

MagicScore

#16

Putin's Witnesses

2018

Russian Federation, December 31, 1999. After President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin becomes acting president of the country. From that day and for a year, Vitaly Mansky's camera documented Putin's rise to power. The story of a privileged witness. The harsh explanation of the reason why politics is the art of possibility of achieving the best with the support of many, but also of giving the worst in return.

6.3

MagicScore

#17

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5

2026

An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final installment of the Duffer Brothers' generation-defining series.

7.7

MagicScore

#18

Re-Animator Resurrectus

2007

Features interviews with the cast and crew of Re-Animator (1985), except for the late David Gale.

7.3

MagicScore

#19

Wick Is Pain

2025

Witness the never-before-seen footage and true story behind the John Wick phenomenon – from independent film to billion-dollar franchise.

7.5

MagicScore

#20

The Walking Dead: The Return

2024

Stars of "The Walking Dead," Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, walk down memory lane and visit iconic locations where pivotal moments between their characters, Rick and Michonne, were filmed.

7.3

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Side by Side?

The top films similar to Side by Side by MovieMagicScore are Lumière! (8.0), Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (7.5), 78/52 (7.2). Each shares documentary themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Side by Side worth watching?

Side by Side holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.2/10 from 300 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Side by Side?

Side by Side (2012) is a documentary film directed by Christopher Kenneally, starring Keanu Reeves, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron.

Where can I find more recommendations like Side by Side?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more documentary recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Lumière!Movies like Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Movies like 78/52 Movies like Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno Movies like A. K.Movies like David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

About movies like Side by Side

This ranked list pairs Side by Side (2012), a documentary film from Christopher Kenneally, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Keanu Reeves take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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