Top 10 Celebrity Documentaries That BOMBED

#10: “Britney vs Spears” (2021)

The “Toxic” singer’s life and conservatorship have drawn much public attention over the years. The 2021 documentary “Framing Britney Spears” offered an unflinching look at the same and was widely acclaimed. When Erin Lee Carr tried to address the same subject in “Britney vs Spears” in 2022, it missed the mark. Although the documentary underwent several changes to make sure it was different from Samantha Stark’s work, it still felt derivative and was met with mixed reviews. Some critics appreciated the sincerity behind the project, but others asserted that it lacked focus and structure. Overall, it failed to make a splash.

#9: “Miley: The Movement” (2013)

The Grammy-winning musician has led many lives. “Miley: The Movement” zooms into her rebellious phase. It was released before her album “Bangerz” dropped in 2013, giving fans a glimpse into the singer’s creative process. As the title of the documentary suggests, it was supposed to be all about the making of a movement. However, critics argued it was too sanitized to be considered revolutionary. The pop star comes across as genuine and dedicated, even addressing the controversy she stirred up after her performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. However, the lack of deeper insight kept the documentary from striking a chord with audiences.

#8: “Justin Bieber's Believe” (2013)

Given the immense success of the “Baby” singer’s 2011 documentary “Never Say Never”, a sequel focusing on his Believe Tour was probably projected as a great idea. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. “Justin Bieber's Believe” was a major disappointment at the box office, even if it wasn’t technically a flop. Commercial performance aside, it was also panned for saying nothing new about the pop sensation. We hardly get to know more about the human behind the artist, though there are fleeting moments of vulnerability. By the end of the film, he’s still perched atop the pop pedestal, and that’s one of the reasons why critics weren’t too impressed.

#7: “Rihanna 777 Documentary... 7Countries7Days7Shows” (2013)

On paper, the Barbadian icon had a fantastic concept for this documentary. She’d be performing seven concerts in seven days in seven different countries across the world. Through these shows, she’d promote her sixth and seventh studio albums, “Talk That Talk” and “Unapologetic”. Even more interestingly, she would be joined by a group of lucky fans and journos on this ambitious trip aboard the Boeing 777. Unfortunately, logistics left the chat. The hectic schedule led to RiRi being sleep-deprived, while the media entourage reportedly resented her absence during celebrations. Travel disruptions were unavoidable, and most of the footage that made it to our screens was slammed for being subpar in quality. There was simply no saving this one.

#6: “The Goop Lab” (2020)

The public has a strange relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow. Fans love her for her extraordinary talent and timeless style. At the same time, critics have bashed her for living in her own bubble. Her business ventures, especially Goop, have also been the focus of intense media scrutiny. The brand, which operates in the lifestyle and wellness space, has been linked to pseudoscience. The Netflix series “The Goop Lab” doesn’t help its case. Despite claiming to ‘entertain and inform’, the show comes across as a vehicle for woo-woo theories. Topics covered included psychedelic substances, mediumship, and the battle against aging. Many critics perceived the content as questionable and lacking social accountability. Despite this, “The Goop Lab” earned two Critics' Choice Real TV Award nominations.

#5: “Polo” (2024)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, co-executive produced this sports documentary for Netflix under the banner of Archewell Productions and Boardwalk Pictures. Unfortunately, it was a swing and a miss. It drew modest viewership and hardly made the kind of impact the royals hoped it would. Rather than portraying polo as ‘accessible’, which is what the pair were going for, the docuseries rendered the ‘sport of kings’ decidedly out of reach. There wasn’t much the everyday audience could connect with in the glossy world of elite players like Nacho Figueras and Adolfo Cambiaso. Word on the street, according to The Daily Mail, was that Netflix was allegedly ‘exhausted’ from collaborating with the Sussexes after “Polo” failed to gain traction.

#4: “Melania” (2026)

Directed by the disgraced Brett Ratner, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several individuals, this documentary is a portrait of the first lady of the United States. The highly publicized project, estimated to have cost $75 million, follows Melania Trump in the days before her husband was sworn in as POTUS for the second time. Not only did it draw political criticism over the budget, but it was also protested against. The film ultimately flopped at the box office, with critics describing it as uninspired and likening it to propaganda.

#3: “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” (2024)

Back in 2024, a clip of Jennifer Lopez musing about being, quote, ‘16 in the Bronx running up and down the block’ went viral. The reflection from her documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” was supposed to be a relatable nod to her past as a ‘crazy little girl’ with ‘no limits, all dreams’. As this wasn’t the first time J.Lo had opened up about her ‘wild’ youth, the moment didn’t resonate with audiences. Instead, they turned it into a meme. Meanwhile, critics were unimpressed with how the film, which delved into the making of the album “This Is Me... Now”, seemed carefully curated. Interestingly, the record and its accompanying musical, “This Is Me... Now: A Love Story”, were comparatively more successful.

#2: “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me” (2023)

Director Ursula Macfarlane’s attempt at humanizing the “Skyscraper” actress in this documentary ended up being self-defeating. Created with the help of archival recordings of Anna Nicole Smith, it explores the highs and lows of the former Playboy model’s tragically short life. It details her insecurities and struggle with substance use as well as her interpersonal relationships. However, the film falters in its apparent mission. Despite aiming to call out the media’s unhealthy obsession with the 90s icon, it itself delves into the intense controversy surrounding her, making it a focal point. With limited fresh perspective, “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me” fell flat.

#1: “Pauly Shore Is Dead” (2003)

While this is technically not a documentary, it just had to make the list. “Pauly Shore Is Dead”, directed by the “Encino Man” actor himself, is a semi-autobiographical mockumentary about his rise and fall. At one point, the comedian stages his own death to generate publicity, though that part is thankfully fiction. Despite cameos by the who’s who of the entertainment world, such as Pamela Anderson, Eminem, Ben Stiller, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears, the film failed to find an audience. It reportedly made around $11,000, and was widely regarded as a spectacular flop.

Did you enjoy any of these documentaries despite their poor performance? Tell us in the comments!