Directed by Peter Jackson, this docuseries utilized hours of restored footage to show the intimate, sometimes tense, but deeply collaborative process of the world's greatest band writing an album.

One of the most compelling aspects of entertainment documentaries is their ability to construct a desired identity for their subjects. Whether focusing on a pop star or a professional athlete, these films provide a "highly selective version of Truth".

Of course, not all entertainment docs are fluff. The great ones sneak past the gatekeepers or use structural distance to find truth.

The explosion of the documentary genre is inseparable from the technological shifts that have upended the traditional Hollywood model.

Perhaps the most culturally impactful modern development is the investigative documentary. Films like The Celluloid Closet (discussing LGBTQ+ representation) or the numerous documentaries regarding the Harvey Weinstein scandals serve a watchdog function. They utilize the medium to interrogate the power dynamics, sexual abuse, and financial corruption embedded in the industry’s DNA.