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Documentary Movies: Real Stories That Resonate!

by Paul Bastante | The Movie Club Podcast


New Episodes Drop Every Thursday!
New Episodes Drop Every Thursday!

Documentary films don’t just tell a story—they reveal it. With heart, honesty, and a punch of reality, they pull us into the raw, unfiltered corners of our world. From powerful profiles of iconic figures to deep dives into pressing social issues or awe-inspiring journeys through nature, documentaries captivate by showing what actually happened. There’s a unique kind of power in watching a narrative that isn’t fictionalized—it’s the truth, unscripted and often uncomfortable, unfolding right in front of us

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At The Movie Club Podcast, we recently explored the documentary genre and how it has evolved into one of the most compelling storytelling formats in modern cinema. We broke down some of the genre’s signature tropes (like archival footage, narration, real interviews, and vérité-style cinematography), and how they work together to create emotional resonance and urgency.


After a passionate roundtable with our guest expert, Rob Errera and co-host Tony T, we proudly landed on our Top 5 Documentary Films of All Time—a mix of cultural game-changers and deeply personal storytelling that reflect the genre’s wide range.



The Movie Club Podcast Top 5 Documentary Movies


1. Hoop Dreams (1994)


A heart-wrenching, poetic exploration of two inner-city teens chasing basketball glory. This isn’t just a sports documentary—it’s a deeply human story about dreams, class, race, and the cost of ambition.


2. The Thin Blue Line (1988)


Errol Morris redefined true crime documentaries with this haunting investigation into a wrongful conviction. Its reenactments, moody score, and investigative narrative helped overturn a murder conviction—and rewrote the rules of the genre.


3. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)


Fred Rogers’ quiet revolution of kindness and compassion is the focus of this tearjerker. It’s more than nostalgia—it’s a reflection on what empathy and authenticity look like in the public eye.


4. 13th (2016)


Ava DuVernay’s gripping and urgent documentary connects the dots between slavery, mass incarceration, and systemic racism in the U.S. A searing piece of visual scholarship that is as informative as it is enraging.


5. Free Solo (2018)


With stunning visuals and nerve-racking suspense, this film captures Alex Honnold’s attempt to climb El Capitan without ropes. It’s as much a psychological deep dive as it is a death-defying athletic achievement.

From personal triumphs to social justice, breathtaking natural feats to courtroom revelations, the documentary genre proves that real life truly is stranger—and often more inspiring—than fiction.

Got a favorite doc we missed? Drop it in the comments and tell us why it moved you. And don’t forget to tune in to The Movie Club Podcast every Thursday as we spotlight a new genre and rank the greatest films that defined it.








 
 
 

Biagio Invades FlixPop Radio January 18, 2025

January 18, 2025 - WGHT & WTBQ Warwick, N.Y. FlixPop Radio and WTBQ & WGHT Opened its doors to welcome "Italian Singing Sensation" Biagio on Saturday January 18, 2025 and he and Sal Pags absolutely had the best show. Many things were discussed including the weirdest thing ever thrown on stage during a Biagio concert, The height of Sal Pag's Nana (4'10") and our shared Italian heritage.

Here is the rebroadcast of the radio program.


Next week on FlixPop Radio will feature fashion photographer, John John Agnello!




 
 
 

FLIXPOP RADIO Ranks Their Favorite Comedy Films by Genre Ahead of Biagio!

FlixPop Radio ranks the top comedy sub-genres. The opinions expressed in this list are most certainly the opinions of FlixPop Radio hosts, contributors and people related to FlixPop Radio by marriage or otherwise. 


When one attempts to look at a certain genre like say, the comedy genre of film, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a significant amount of genre’s just under the surface of each genre and especially the comedy genre. This exercise is also subjective and you may not agree with our selections. Maybe you feel we left a movie off of the list, feel free to message us and we will consider these once more, but these are our comedy sub-genre selections ahead of Season 1 Episode 2 of FlixPop Radio, January 18th, with Italian Singing Sensation, Biagio.


Horror Comedy Genre


The Horror Comedy Genre is pretty competitive in terms of which is the best. To us, there is nothing funnier than a door on the floor of the kitchen in the cabin in the woods, but then you throw in chain saws and stuff and Evil Dead is absolutely next level and has to be number one. This is the End makes the list just on cameo cast alone and Shaun of the Dead is a laugh each second and is easily as absurd as they come. Classics make out the rest of this who’s who list of horror comedy genre movies.


  1. Evil Dead

  2. Beetlejuice

  3. Shaun of the Dead

  4. Young Frankenstein

  5. Ghostbusters

  6. Rocky Horror Picture Show

  7. ZombieLand

  8. This is the End

  9. Gremlins

  10.  American Werewolf In London


Cop Comedy Genre


The cop comedy genre is alive and well, continuing to pump out film after film for the future of the world. A true gift! To us, when you consider funny cop movies you have to add the one that also qualifies in the “Stoner” comedy Genre, SuperTroopers! In our humble opinion, the opening scene of this hilarious film is the most classic in film history, not just the comedy genre either. 


The satirical portrayal of all of the people in this film keeps you rolling throughout. Police Academy the guy with the sound effects…Big Momma’s House is crazy funny but those classics and consensus picks for funniest include The Naked Gun, Beverly Hill’s Cop & 21 Jump Street still make the list for our tastes.  


  1. Supertroopers

  2. Police Academy

  3. The Naked Gun

  4. 21 Jump Street

  5. Beverly Hills Cop

  6. Miss Congeniality

  7. Big Momma’s House

  8. Kindergarten Cop


Action Adventure Comedy Movies


Bruce Willis is the funniest while being the baddest at the same time, he carries this list. Tropic Thunder is the absolute classiest in the field of action adventure comedies. Bad Boys and Rush Hour could have been included in Cop Comedies but elbow their way to the table on this list for sure. Men In Black, Whether punching aliens or Chris Rock…Will Smith is great in this one and easily gets the nod over 21 Jumpstreet, we don’t care what you say! And number 10 on the list? Let’s just say that Cocaine Bear is a movie way ahead of it’s time, and because we chose not to include the funniest animal movies, we had to include this loveable and impulsive carnivore to round out the list.


  1. Die Hard

  2. Tropic Thunder

  3. Rush Hour

  4. Bad Boys

  5. Ghostbusters

  6. Baywatch

  7. Men In Black

  8. 21 Jumpstreet

  9. Cocaine Bear


Romantic Comedy Genre


Nothing on this includes Linsey Lohan. Coincidence? When Harry Met Sally gets the nod strictly on Meg Ryan’s performance in the famous restaurant scene (I’ll have what she’s having). Albert Brooks graces this list as does Woody Allen and in Something’s Gotta Give, Jack Nicholsan in a “Rom-Com”...Cmon!!


  1. When Harry Met Sally

  2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

  3. Sleepless in Seattle

  4. Groundhog Day

  5. Annie Hall

  6. Something’s Gotta Give

  7. Four Weddings & A Funeral

  8. You’ve Got Mail

  9. 50 First Dates

  10.  Defending Your Life


Stoner Comedy Genre


This list is most certainly 420 friendly as is the performance of Cheech & Chong in number 2, Up In Smoke. Soul Plane got the nod simply because the list Gods prohibit a list in this category that does not include Snoop Dog. Friday? Yes, please! Reefer Madness, how can you leave that one off? Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times gets best actor in history of this genre.


  1. Supertroopers

  2. Up In Smoke

  3. Easy Rider

  4. Knocked Up

  5. Reefer Madness

  6. Breakfast Club

  7. Friday

  8. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

  9. The Big Lebowski

  10.  Soul Plane


Teen Comedy Genre


This could also be called, “The coming of age” genre for it’s high supply of acne and teenage angst. But Mathew Broderick is not to be left off of this hallowed list. Breakfast Club is an ageless classic “The chicks can’t hold they smoke!” Porky’s and Animal House are on everyone’s list, especially if you “came of age” in the 80’s. There should be an honorable mention for this list!


  1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

  2. Breakfast Club

  3. Back to the future

  4. Porky’s

  5. Animal House

  6. Superbad

  7. The Karate Kid

  8. Fast Times At Ridgemont High

  9. Risky Business

  10.  Sixteen Candles


Honorable Mention: Mean Girls, Cruel Intentions, Pretty In Pink, Never Been Kissed.


Sports Comedy Movies


Caddyshack is the undisputed king of all comedy movies, with the exception of “This is Spinal Tap”, but we will get to that genre in a second. Momma says, “The WaterBoy is the best comedy of all time”, many love Dodgeball and The Longest Yard, some very funny films left off of this list.


  1. CaddyShack

  2. Dodgeball

  3. The Waterboy

  4. Talladega Nights

  5. Slapshot

  6. The Bad News Bears

  7. The Longest Yard

  8. A League of Their Own

  9. CannonBall Run

  10.  Happy Gilmore


Fish Out of Water Comedy Genre


This definitely a thing, My Cousin Vinny is no doubt the biggest fish out of water in this genre but Borat creeping up on them faster than a tighty whitey wedgey from the 80’s! Will Ferrel’s Elf character crushes it as best character ever! Another classic sub list for you.


  1. My Cousin Vinny

  2. The Jerk

  3. Borat

  4. Back To The Future

  5. Pretty Woman

  6. Elf

  7. Trading Places

  8. Coming to America

  9. The Jerk

  10.  City Slickers

 
 
 
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