Whether you’re a true believer or a rational skeptic, UFOs are a polarizing subject that’s been debated on and off for decades. And while military and governmental hearings have been largely fruitless in recent years, there has been a growing acceptance of the phenomena.
We’ve curated a short list of UFO documentaries to stoke the ufological fires. After all, Agent Fox Mulder said it best: “I want to believe.”
7 best UFO documentaries to watch this World UFO Day
- The Phenomenon (2020)
- Mirage Men (2014)
- I Know What I Saw (2009)
- Out of the Blue (2003)
- Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
- Need to Know (2022)
- David Grusch on the Joe Rogan Experience (2023)
The Phenomenon (2020)
Available on: Tubi for FREE
The newest entry on this list features an in-depth look at various famous international UFO cases including the Westall UFO incident and the Ruwa UFO incident. The Phenomenon is directed by James Fox, who is also responsible for Out of the Blue and I Know What I Saw.
Mirage Men (2014)
Available on: Tubi for FREE and YouTube for FREE
Mirage Men explores the methods used by the U.S. government to cover up purported advanced aerial technologies. The film features interviews with several former special agents, pilots, and engineers.
I Know What I Saw (2009)
Available on: Tubi for FREE and YouTube for FREE
The second entry on this list by director James Fox, I Know What I Saw covers such cases as the Phoenix Lights incident and a deep dive into the (now declassified) Project Blue Book study into UFOs conducted by the United States Air Force.
Out of the Blue (2003)
Available on: Tubi for FREE and YouTube for FREE
James Fox’s first documentary Out of the Blue covers the modern history of ufology and includes segments on the Rendlesham Forest incident, the Jimmy Carter UFO incident, and the UFO sightings made by former Mercury 7 astronaut Colonel Gordon Cooper.
Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
Available on: Tubi for FREE
Bob Lazar is no stranger to controversy. His name has been spoken in paranormal and UFO forums for decades; and up until a few years ago, nobody really knew if he was real or not. In 2018, filmmaker Jeremy Corbell released Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers with Lazar about the latter’s supposed time working in the famed Area 51 facility in Nevada.
While the documentary is a great watch, Lazar and Corbell’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience delves deeper into the subject of ufology and is a fascinating watch.
Need to Know (2022)
Available on: YouTube for free
Need to Know is a podcast hosted by journalists Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel that explores the latest in the world of UFOs. In 2022, the duo put together a documentary in collaboration with Australia’s 7News. Coulthart in particular is a notable figure as he has been a rare journalist at the forefront of pushing governments to release secrets surrounding UFOs.
David Grusch on the Joe Rogan Experience (2023)
Available on: Spotify
Not a documentary but worth a mention. David Grusch was the main whistle-blower to appear before the U.S. Congress in 2023. He is respected for a stellar military career, with very little for him to gain by speaking out. By appearing on Rogan’s show, he was able to offer candidness, with Rogan getting unfettered, somewhat unfiltered access to all that Grusch wanted to share.
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Comments
Article does not mention the very important documentaries by Dr. Steven Greer. A case can be made that the lengthy Greer documentaries are the very best — far more credible than anything disinformation/misinformation adepts like Bob Lazar, Richard Doty and Luis Elizondo have ever spouted.
Pretty good list just wish more current event stuff would come out. I am quite tired of the Area 51 and Roswell stories. These were better clips without doing repeats of the old over played out and told stories. Thanks for that.
Richard Doty and his history is a whole other kind of topic. What do others think of him? One moment he is adding to the complications with the death of Paul Bennewitz and now he is telling all about the different ways he was used by the government and those coverups he was a part of. I am not much of a fan of his. Maybe he has answered some of those questions and I have not seen that lip yet.
Hello. Yes, Richard Doty. I personally don’t feel he has any credibility … he’s been deceiving the UFO community for many years and now he is telling us he has switched sides and well, I don’t recall hearing an “I’m sorry” for the years of misdirection. Having never seen a UFO/UAP myself, I take pretty much all documentaries with much caution. There are plenty of “rabbit holes” to go down.
Great list, but I would avoid the Conservative idiocracy that Is Rogan. He’s just too Libertarian to be taken seriously.
You’re an idiot
Ya, he’s no Donald Trump. That’s for sure…
Love this list! Love Lazar. Heard about the new film Ariel Phenomenon? If you remember the last 12 minutes of The Phenomenon, about the Ariel School student sighing, it’s a full doc just on that topic! And super deep and disturbing. Kind of like a non-narrative doc that just happens to be about UFOs, and not all the sci fi / talking narrator stuff. Just told by those that were there. Highly recommend. Right now it’s on their website of the same name, but it’s brand new so will be on other platforms soon i bet.