NoBadPicks

Movies Like Side by Side

If you loved Side by Side's Documentary storytelling, these films deliver a similar experience — carefully selected for tone, themes, and emotional depth. Each pick includes where to watch it right now.

Top Picks

Spielberg
7.6

Spielberg

2017

A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Steven Spielberg.

Woody Allen: A Documentary
6.9

Woody Allen: A Documentary

2011

An intense portrait of the iconic filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen: his life, family and friends; his writing and directing habits, and his relationship with performers.

Back in Time
6.5

Back in Time

2015

Cast, crew and fans explore the 'Back to the Future' time-travel trilogy's resonance throughout our culture—30 years after Marty McFly went back in time.

Love, Antosha
7.4

Love, Antosha

2019

From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, this film looks not just at Anton's impressive career, but at a broader portrait of the man.

Jodorowsky's Dune
7.8

Jodorowsky's Dune

2013

In 1974, Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky embarked on the quixotic project of adapting Frank Herbert's influential novel Dune (1969) for the big screen. After investing two years, and millions of dollars, the gigantic project ended in failure; but the artists Jodorowsky brought together to carry it out continued to work together, and ended up laying the foundations for modern science fiction cinema.

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
7.4

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.

De Palma
7.0

De Palma

2016

An intimate conversation between filmmakers, chronicling De Palma’s 55-year career, his life, and his filmmaking process, with revealing anecdotes and, of course, a wealth of film clips.

Cameraperson
6.7

Cameraperson

2016

As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What emerges is an elegant meditation on the relationship between truth and the camera frame, as Johnson transforms scenes that have been presented on Festival screens as one kind of truth into another kind of story—one about personal journey, craft, and direct human connection.

More Movies Like Side by Side

A Decade Under the Influence
7.9

A Decade Under the Influence

2003

A documentary examining the decade of the 1970s as a turning point in American cinema. Some of today's best filmmakers interview the influential directors of that time.

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
6.8

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

2019

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures
7.4

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

2001

With commentary from Hollywood stars, outtakes from his movies and footage from his youth, this documentary looks at Stanley Kubrick's life and films. Director Jan Harlan, Kubrick's brother-in-law and sometime collaborator, interviews heavyweights like Jack Nicholson, Woody Allen and Sydney Pollack, who explain the influence of Kubrick classics like "Dr. Strangelove" and "2001: A Space Odyssey," and how he absorbed visual clues from disposable culture such as television commercials.

I Know That Voice
7.1

I Know That Voice

2014

Filmmaker Lawrence Shapiro discusses voice-over acting with the talented people behind the characters.

Milius
7.0

Milius

2013

The life story of ‘Zen Anarchist’ filmmaker John Milius, one of the most influential storytellers of his generation.

QT8: The First Eight
7.2

QT8: The First Eight

2019

A detailed account of the life and artistic career of legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, from his early days as a video club manager to the scandalous fall in disgrace of producer Harvey Weinstein. A story about how to shoot eight great movies and become an icon of modern pop culture.

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
7.8

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy

2010

For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters, scaring up over half a billion dollars at the box office across eight terrifying, spectacular films.

The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?
6.7

The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?

2015

The Death of 'Superman Lives': What Happened? feature film documents the process of development of the ill fated "Superman Lives" movie, that was to be directed by Tim Burton and star Nicolas Cage as the man of steel himself, Superman. The project went through years of development before the plug was pulled, and this documentary interviews the major filmmakers: Kevin Smith, Tim Burton, Jon Peters, Dan Gilroy, Colleen Atwood, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and many many more.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
6.8

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return

2022

This special explores the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to the screen, as well as Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen to their classic roles. Director Deborah Chow leads the cast and crew as they create new heroes and villains that live alongside new incarnations of beloved Star Wars characters, and an epic story that dramatically bridges the saga films.

Sly
7.2

Sly

2023

His love of film began as an escape from a rocky childhood. From underdog to Hollywood legend, Sylvester Stallone tells his story in this documentary.

Attack of the Hollywood Clichés!
5.9

Attack of the Hollywood Clichés!

2021

One-man armies, meet-cutes, casual strolls away from huge explosions — stars and industry insiders toast and roast these cinematic chestnuts and more.

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
7.2

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20

2022

An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.

Why These Movies Are Similar

These recommendations share core qualities with Side by Side (2012): Documentary themes, similar narrative structure, and comparable emotional depth. NoBadPicks uses a combination of TMDB collaborative filtering, genre matching, and AI analysis to surface films most likely to resonate with fans of Side by Side.

See full details for Side by Side (2012)

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