The Guardian Ranks the 20 Best Behind-the-Scenes Film Documentaries
The Guardian has published a ranked list of the 20 best 'making-of' documentaries, highlighting films that explore the chaotic, often disastrous processes behind iconic or abandoned movies. The list features entries ranging from the 1991 classic 'Hearts of Darkness' about Francis Ford Coppola’s 'Apocalypse Now' to recent releases like 'Boorman and the Devil' (2025) and 'From Darkness to Light' (2024). Key themes include production failures, creative struggles, and the human cost of ambitious filmmaking, with notable mentions of George A. Romero, Terry Gilliam, and Jerry Lewis.
Key points
- The Guardian ranked 20 behind-the-scenes documentaries, with 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse' (1991) taking the top spot for its coverage of the troubled production of 'Apocalypse Now'.
- 'American Movie' (1999) ranked second, chronicling the relentless but ultimately unfinished attempt by Mark Borchardt to complete his horror short 'Coven'.
- 'Burden of Dreams' (1982) ranked third, documenting Werner Herzog’s logistical nightmares while filming 'Fitzcarraldo' in the South American rainforest, including a relocation due to a border war.
- Recent entries include 'Boorman and the Devil' (2025), which explores John Boorman’s experience with 'Exorcist II: The Heretic', and 'From Darkness to Light' (2024), covering Jerry Lewis’s abandoned Holocaust drama 'The Day The Clown Cried'.
- The list highlights various production disasters, such as the storm that destroyed equipment for Terry Gilliam’s 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' and the legal issues surrounding Jerry Lewis’s script option.
Background
This list provides a retrospective view of cinema history through the lens of production struggles, complementing recent coverage of concert documentaries like the Oasis reunion tour film. It contrasts with current news on drug development and social studies by focusing on the artistic and logistical challenges of filmmaking, offering insight into how iconic films are often born from chaos.
Why it matters
This ranking offers a curated guide to understanding the often-hidden realities of filmmaking, illustrating how creative ambition, logistical failures, and personal struggles shape the final product. It highlights the resilience and eccentricity of directors like Coppola, Herzog, and Gilliam, providing viewers with a deeper appreciation for the complexities behind well-known films and the stories that never made it to the screen.
What to watch
The Guardian notes that 'Boorman and the Devil' is currently in cinemas in the UK and Ireland, while 'Making Marie Antoinette' is set to release in cinemas in the UK, Ireland, and US from October 23, with streaming on Mubi from November 6. Additionally, a new behind-the-scenes documentary titled 'Megadoc' about Francis Ford Coppola’s 'Megalopolis' is forthcoming, directed by Mike Figgis.
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