While the cinematic landscape continues to be dominated by superheroes and mega-franchises, 2015 has also been a terrific year for documentary releases.

With acclaimed police corruption exposé Precinct Seven Five arriving on DVD next week, we’re taking a look back at some of this year’s best documentaries…

 

Precinct Seven Five

This incredible true story looks at the notorious police corruption that existed in New York in the 1980s, focusing on Mike Dowd, a police officer who considers himself “half a cop, and half a gangster”.

It’s a shocking exposé made all the more fascinating by being true, and having Dowd – recently released from prison – on hand to tell his own side.

 

How To Change The World

This documentary charts the early days of conservationist charity Greenpeace, and explores the curious bunch of misfits who inadvertently kick-started the entire environmental movement.

Fascinating, funny, and at times difficult to watch, this is as much a film about the trappings of power, leadership and responsibility as it is a few men in a boat trying to save the world.

 

Amy

This heartbreaking documentary depicts the tragic life of singer Amy Winehouse, whose meteoric rise to success led to media harassment and a battle with addiction that ultimately claimed her life.

Home videos and rare archive footage provide a fascinating insight into one of the best regarded artists of the 21st century, and the demons that plagued her.

 

Cobain: Montage of Heck

Another documentary following the tragic story of a musical icon, Cobain: Montage of Heck isn’t the first film to depict the story of Nirvana’s legendary and troubled front-man, but it may be the best, showing as it does the man behind the legend.

With an emphasis on Kurt Cobain as a man, rather than the troubled figurehead of a generation of music fans, this documentary is essential viewing for any Nirvana fan.

 

The Nightmare

A documentary that explores the frightening medical phenomenon of sleep paralysis. Eschewing much in the way of facts or any medical context, The Nightmare instead depicts the accounts of several people who suffer not only from the paralysis, but also suffer nightmare visions that haunt them when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Using recreations of the terrors they see, the film puts you firmly in their position, and straddles documentary and horror. You won’t want to go to sleep after this one.

 

Precinct Seven Five is released on DVD on Monday 28 December 2015.

> Buy Precinct Seven Five on DVD on Amazon.

What’s the best documentary you’ve seen this year? Let us know below…

[This is a sponsored post.]