Library Guides: Sociology Research Guide: Films and Documentaries

Films and Documentaries for Sociology

In the field of Sociology, it can often be useful to consult films and documentaries to better understand a topic of interest. The following movies and streaming video platforms are highlighted because they feature a good breadth of content in the discipline of Sociology.

Best Bets

Kanopy This link opens in a new window
The Kanopy platform includes documentaries and films, including closed captions and English subtitles. It includes more recent films and documentaries, such as "Young Lakota: A Native American Leader Fights for Reproductive Rights"
Creating a personal account is not required with this resource.
Docuseek2 Complete Collection This link opens in a new window
Docuseek2 has a focus on environmental studies and sciences, sociology, anthropology, global studies, area studies, women’s studies, history, political science, criminal justice, health, psychology, the arts, and more.
Filmakers Library Online This link opens in a new window
This streaming video collection provides more than 1000 award-winning documentaries in the social sciences, humanities, & sciences. The titles cross nearly all academic disciplines and educate students on critical and thought-provoking issues, figures, and cultures.
Films on Demand This link opens in a new window
This streaming video collection provides hundreds of educational documentaries, television news programs, and more. One fun feature is its "featured this month" section, where timely or popular videos are highlighted on the platform.

Frontline (PBS)
From PBS, Frontline is a long-form news and current affairs series. Select episodes and video clips are available to view on the PBS site. To request a DVD or streaming video purchase, please contact your subject librarian.

Special Topics

American Experience (PBS)
This platform contains films and videos from the popular "American Experience" series by PBS. Topics include civil rights, crime, the environment, and more.
Folkstreams.net
Eclectic collection of documentaries "about American roots cultures." Subjects include race and ethnic studies; agriculture; arts & crafts; festivals, folk music; healing & medicine; religion; urban life; women, and more. Includes details regarding Rights & Policy issues that determine use.
P.O.V. (PBS)
Another film collection from PBS, POV is the longest-running independent documentary showcase on American television. Since 1988, POV has presented films on PBS that capture the full spectrum of the human experience, with a long commitment to centering women and people of color in front of, and behind, the camera.

60 Minutes: 1997-2014 This link opens in a new window
This is nearly a two-decade catalog of TV footage from the CBS News archives. Contains 3,466 videos and about 350 hours of episodes. Content include investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people who made the news. Each video includes closed captions and searchable transcripts.

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