Non-fiction films on men and masculinities

Documentary films are a valuable tool for teaching and raising awareness about men, masculinities, and gender. They may be used in classrooms, in community screenings, or in other initiatives. This XY collection describes relevant films on men and masculinities. Additions are most welcome. (We would also love to add a list of fiction films about men and masculinities - I’ve started a list, but please write to me if you would like to put it together.) 

This list was edited and expanded by Leif Phillips in November 2024.

Also see the collection of YouTube (free) videos on men and masculinities, sexualities, and violence prevention here.

The films described below are as follows:

Four other XY collections providing resources for your teaching are these:

A Way to Justice: Engaging Men for Women’s Rights and Gender Transformation (Africa, 2009)

Directed by: William Nesson

A documentary that explores the role of men in promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence in Africa. It features interviews with activists and leaders involved in the MenEngage Africa network. The film emphasizes the importance of men confronting patriarchal norms and advocating for gender justice alongside women. It highlights personal stories and grassroots activism aimed at systemic change for a more equitable society.

Language: English

Run Time: 0:36:52

Availability: https://genderjustice.org.za/video/a-way-to-justice/

Beyond Men and Masculinity (UK, 2021)

Directed by: Alex Gabbay

Beyond Men and Masculinity explores how men see themselves, how they relate to the people they say they care about and how the personal impacts the political. What happens when men are taught to disconnect from their feelings to be strong? (IMDB)

Language: English

Run Time: 1:26:00

Availability: https://thefutureishumane.com/beyond-men-and-masculinity-the-film/

Boys to Men? (USA, 2004)

Directed by: Frederick Marx

In this moving follow-up to the critically acclaimed Hoop Dreams, award-winning filmmaker Frederick Marx continues his exploration of the lives of ordinary young men and the extraordinary challenges they face. Boys to Men? - the second in a proposed trilogy about masculinity in America- trains its focus on the pressures and expectations faced by a diverse group of young urban males. The DVD consists of four films. Are You Listening? It features several teenage boys from different ethnic, racial, and class backgrounds, offering fascinating insights into their own experiences and the meaning of manhood in America. Three additional pieces - Spencer, Cisco, and Al-Tran - give insight into the lives of three 15-year-old boys as they navigate the daily challenges of school, family, and American society. 

Language: English 

Run Time: 2:28:00

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/boys-to-men-p72.aspx

Boys Will Be…Themselves (Canada, 2022)

Directed by: Dylan Rhys Howard

Drawing from over 70 interviews with a diverse group of people from across Canada, this 44 minute documentary is a strong, sensitive look at the way cultural attitudes and approaches to masculinity are evolving and changing in the 21st Century. (IMDB)

Language: English

Run Time: 0:44:00

Availability: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/absolutely-c… (Only available for those who reside in Canada) Email dylan@truthfulworkfilms.com if you live outside of Canada for a screener link

Can’t Just Fold Your Arms (South Africa, 2013)

Directed by: William Nesson

A documentary that showcases Sonke Gender Justice's efforts to engage men in transforming gender relations in post-apartheid South Africa. The film highlights the organization’s work to resist patriarchy, promote gender justice, and create gender transformation by involving men and boys in the fight against gender-based violence and inequality. It emphasizes men's role in advocating for social change and fostering equality in their communities.

Language: English 

Run Time: 0:55:30

Availability: https://genderjustice.org.za/video/cant-just-fold-your-arms/

Daddy Don’t Go (USA, 2016)

Directed by: Emily Abt

Daddy Don’t Go captures two years in the lives of four disadvantaged fathers in New York City as they fight to defy the odds against them. 

Alex is a single father who lives with his toddler son in a decaying Harlem shelter. Nelson is a former Latin King gang member and full-time daddy to his young son and his partner Rebecca’s two daughters. Roy is an ex-offender who won full custody of his son when the boy’s mother succumbed to drug addiction. Omar won full-custody of his three children but struggles to manage his daughter's mental health issues. By allowing the viewer extraordinary access into the lives of its subjects, Daddy Don’t Go removes the negative lens through which underprivileged fathers are currently viewed and shatters the “deadbeat dad” stereotype. (newday.com/films/daddy-dont-go)

Language: English

Run Time: 1:27:00

Availability: https://www.newday.com/films/daddy-dont-go

Debating Masculinity (USA, 2005)

Directed by: Àngels Carabí Ribera

The debate on masculinities is becoming central to explaining what it has meant to "be a man" in different cultures and historical periods and, especially, to understand the complexity of the changes in male roles that are taking place in recent years in our societies The so-called "Studies of masculinities", which arose in the academic framework of gender studies, try to answer some of these questions. The DVD we are presenting includes interviews conducted in New York with renowned specialists in the field who come from various fields of study. From sociology, anthropology, literary and film studies, race and sexuality studies, Michael Kimmel (SUNY), Krin Gabbard (SUNY), David Eng (Rutgers UNIV:) and Carolyn Dinshaw (NYU) offer us the his innovative reflections on this subject. (DVD La Masculinitat a Debat / Debating Masculinity / La Masculinidad a Debate. Angels Carabí Ribera. Publicacions I Edicions de La Universitat de Barcelona, 2024)

Language: Castilian

Run Time: N/A

Availability: https://www.edicions.ub.edu/ficha.aspx?cod=06443

Guyland: Where Boys Become Men (USA, 2015)

Directed by: Michael Kimmel

In this powerful film based on his bestselling book, sociologist Michael Kimmel maps the troubling social world where boys become men -- a new stage of development he calls “Guyland.” Arguing that the traditional adult signposts and cultural signals that once helped boys navigate their way to manhood are no longer clear, Kimmel provides an astonishing glimpse into a world where more and more young men are trying desperately to prove their masculinity to other young men -- with frequently disastrous consequences for young women and other young men. 

Guyland offers a way for all of us -- parents, young men and women, community members, and professors and administrators -- to envision new ways to support young men as they navigate this often perilous world.

Language: English

Run Time: 0:35:00

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/guyland-p101.aspx

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes (USA, 2006)

Directed by: Bryon Hurt

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes is a documentary by filmmaker and activist Byron Hurt, a long-time Hip-Hop fan who became increasingly conflicted with the genre's depictions of masculinity, sexism, violence, and homophobia. Prompted by the stereotypical portrayals of women and materialism in rap videos, Hurt set out to explore the gender politics within Hip-Hop culture. The film features interviews with prominent rappers like Yasiin Bey, Fat Joe, and Chuck D, as well as social commentators like Michael Eric Dyson and Beverly Guy-Sheftall. Through these diverse voices, Hurt critiques how Hip-Hop reflects and perpetuates harmful narratives about manhood, violence, and sexuality, offering a “loving critique” of the music he grew up with. (Bhurt.com.)

Language: English

Run Time: 1:00:45

Availability: http://www.bhurt.com/films/view/hip_hop_beyeond_beatsand_rhymes,  HIP HOP Beyond Beats and Rhymes - Byron Hurt- 2006

I Am A Man: Black Masculinity in America (USA, 1998)

Directed by: Bryon Hurt

Award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt explores what it means to be a black man in America. Traveling to more than fifteen cities and towns across the country, Hurt gathers reflections on black masculinity from men and women of a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and a host of leading scholars and cultural critics. What results is an engaging and honest dialogue about race, gender, and identity in America. Features bell hooks, Michael Eric Dyson, John Henrick Clarke, Kevin Powell, Andrew Young, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, MC Hammer, Jackson Katz, and many others. (Byron Hurt. (2024). Bhurt.com. http://www.bhurt.com/films/view/i_am_a_man)

‌Language: English

Run Time: 1:00:00

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/i-am-a-man-p106.aspx

The filmmakers and individuals from the film are also available to speak at your university or college. To learn more about hosting a screening or would like to view a free, extended clip of the film, please email at info@purelandpictures.com. 

Macho (Nicaragua & Scotland 2000)

Directed by Lucinda Broadbent

MACHO, a documentary by Lucinda Broadbent, profiles the organization Men Against Violence, which emerged in Nicaragua following a high-profile sexual abuse case involving Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega. Despite Ortega’s acquittal due to legislative immunity, the scandal inspired a group of men to combat domestic violence and machismo. The film highlights their efforts to challenge male chauvinism and its violent consequences in Latin America. It also showcases their global influence, offering a powerful model for engaging men in discussions about power, abuse, and gender equality, ultimately addressing the worldwide epidemic of violence against women. (Macho. (2024). Wmm.com. https://www.wmm.com/catalog/film/macho/)

Language: Spanish w/ English subtitles

Run Time: 0:26:00

Availability: https://www.wmm.com/catalog/film/macho/

Manhood and Violence: Fatal Peril (USA, 2003)

The Resolve to Stop the Violence Program places male convicts in highly structured encounter groups, helping them recognize the warped concepts of masculinity behind their violent behavior. This documentary follows nine inmates through the rigorous self-discovery process, recording their growing sense of accountability and willingness to change. With commentary from law enforcement officers, violence-prevention experts, victims’ relatives, and the inmates themselves, the video also follows up on RSVP participants after their release, highlighting the ultimate benefit of the program—a dramatic reduction in recidivism among its graduates. (Manhood and Violence: Fatal Peril. (2024). Films Media Group. https://www.films.com/id/12128)

Language: English

Run Time: 0:58:00

Availability: https://www.films.com/id/12128 

ManUp! (South Africa, 2016)

Directed by: Mia Cilliers

South Africa is a violent country with some of the highest levels of gender-based violence in the world. Men are the primary perpetrators of such violence. Man Up! offers a critical look at manhood in South Africa by unpacking the realities of men’s life experiences in order to make sense of their violence. The film follows the stories of Sikhangele Mabulu and Monwabisi Mbetane as they reflect on their childhood socialisation that made violence an acceptable form of male expression.

Man Up! suggests that it is the narrow construction of masculinity that makes powerless men resort to violence as a means of asserting their manhood. Through the work of the NGO Sonke Gender Justice, the film looks at the powerful role men can play in bringing about change within their homes and communities to lead more gender equitable and fulfilling lives.

Language: English

Run Time: 0:29:00

Availability: https://guidedoc.tv/documentary/man-up-documentary-film/#

Man Up (Australia, 2016)

Directed by: Max Bourke & Ben Lawrence

Harden up. Suck it up. Man up. We’ve been telling our men this for years, but is it healthy? Suicide is now the leading cause of death for Australian men aged 15-44. And alarming new research suggests that some men choose to take their own life, rather than appear weak by asking for help. Man Up is a three-part documentary series and social awareness campaign funded by the Movember Foundation and hosted by Triple M radio personality Gus Worland. It aims to get to the bottom of the male suicide crisis, effect real social change and hopefully even save lives.

Language: English

Run Time: 3x1:00:00 (3 Episodes)

Availability: https://manup.org.au/tv-series/

Men Against the Tide (India, 2014)

Directed by: Priyali Sur

This film profiles diverse male role models from around India who empower women using everything from sports to skills training to religious participation to community theater. The film was produced as part of the Hero Project - Women and Girls Lead Global’s campaign in India. 

The Hero Project encourages young men and boys to take heroic actions against gender-based violence and discrimination in their own communities. 

Language: English

Run Time: 0:20:44

Availability: https://youtu.be/gSqUtHAm8_0?si=8YELbiyU_RxFl4Pk

My Masculinity Helps (USA, 2013)

Directed by: Marc A. Grimmett & David Hambridge

My Masculinity Helps explores the role of African American men and boys in the prevention of sexual violence.  It shows African American male allies (psychologist, professor, peer educator, attorney, pastor, athlete, middle and high school students, activist) demonstrating understanding and support for survivors of sexual violence.  Strategies for assistance and prevention are provided.  Survivors also share their stories and what has helped them.  The film serves as a counter-narrative to often inaccurate and misleading portrayals of African American masculinity.  Our goal is to engage boys and men in the deconstruction of gender roles, masculinity, and power and in the prevention of sexual violence.  It can be used in schools, colleges, and athletic, professional, community, and faith-based organizations.

Language: English

Run Time: 0:31:21

Availability: http://mymasculinityhelps.com/

Raise Our Men (New Zealand, 2017)

Produced by: White Ribbon New Zealand

Raise Our Men is a documentary by White Ribbon New Zealand that explores how traditional male stereotypes, or the "man box," contribute to domestic violence and sexual harm. Featuring interviews with nine New Zealand men, the film examines four key issues: the belief in male entitlement to power, rigid gender roles enforced through violence, the expression of anger as aggression, and the shaping of masculine identity by peers and media. The documentary aims to inspire change by encouraging men to adopt healthier, more respectful behaviors and use White Ribbon’s resources to foster respectful relationships. It serves as a tool for those working with men and young men to promote positive change. 

Language: English

Run Time: 0:35:56

Availability: https://whiteribbon.org.nz/2017/11/06/raise-our-men-white-ribbon-film/
- Communities that wish to put on free screenings should contact White Ribbon    at contact@whiteribbon.org.nz 

RUSH (Australia, 2010)

Produced by: Philippe Charluet

This is a contemporary look at the increasing phenomenon of ‘joyriding’  and its consequences, reflecting important issues for boys on the brink of manhood. The obsession with speed, ‘joyriding’, and car theft is the catalyst for telling the personal stories of three young Australian men. The implications of their worlds and a ‘culture’ that has caused them to break the law provide a deeper understanding of their motivations and lives. 

Language: English

Run Time: 0:56:00 (13 parts)

Availability: https://www.stellamotion.com.au/wordpress/rush/

Sons (Canada, 2024)

Directed by: Justin Simms

Set against the backdrop of his son’s first five years of life—from cooing infant to hurricane of a boy—filmmaker Justin Simms looks at modern masculinity through the lens of fatherhood as he asks an increasingly urgent question: How do we teach our boys to be better men? (https://mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/sons/)

Language: English

Run Time: 1:10:00

Availability: https://mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/sons/

The Bro Code: How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men (USA, 2011)

Directed by: Thomas Keith

Filmmaker and philosophy professor Thomas Keith examines how cultural forces condition boys and men to disrespect women. Through various media aimed at young men, Keith unpacks "bro culture" and the "bro code" to reveal how these ideals perpetuate misogyny and gender violence. He explores movies, music videos, pornography, comedians, and media that normalize—and even celebrate—controlling and humiliating women as central to manhood. Featuring interviews with experts like Michael Kimmel and Shira Tarrant, The Bro Code argues against this toxic version of masculinity. It urges young people to reject the narrative that being a "bro" means endorsing sexism and abuse.

Language: English

Run Time: 0:58:00

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/the-bro-code-p148.aspx

The Empathy Gap: Masculinity and the Courage to Change (USA, 2015)

Directed by: Thomas Keith

In The Empathy Gap, filmmaker Thomas Keith delves into how American culture’s sexist messages hinder men’s ability to empathize with women, respect them as equals, and take feminism seriously. Building on themes from *The Bro Code* and *Generation M*, Keith explores the ideals boys absorb about manhood—pursuing wealth, meeting conflict with aggression, suppressing emotions except anger, and objectifying women. He argues that these values not only devalue women but also erode men’s capacity for empathy. Drawing parallels between sexism and racism, Keith shows how defying these cultural norms can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives. Featuring voices like Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Tony Porter, *The Empathy Gap* calls for a break from toxic masculinity.

Language: English 

Run Time: 1:10:00 

Availability: https://films.mediaed.org/film/F460961F-46F7-4A88-AE1B-E69F75FCF012

The Feminist in Cellblock Y (2018)

Directed by: Contessa Gayles

Richard Edmond Vargas, also known as “Richie Reseda,” has been incarcerated in an all-male prison in Soledad, California, for armed robbery since his teens. The documentary The Feminist on Cellblock Y, produced by Contessa Gayles, follows the now 25-year-old Reseda and his fellow inmates participating in a rehabilitation program centered around feminist literature. Highlighting how “a lot of them come out even worse than they were before,” the film shows these men countering this trend by learning about patriarchy, embracing vulnerability, and challenging toxic masculinity. The program pushes them to confront how these ideals have shaped their lives, with Reseda stating, “We cannot challenge our harmful behavior without challenging patriarchy.”

Language: English

Run Time: 1:15:00

Availability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYxTzsabkH8.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/04/18/the-feminist-on-cellblock-y-doc-orig.cnn

The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics from Nixon to Trump (USA, 2020)

Directed by: Peter D. Hutchison & Lucas Sabean

"The Man Card" explores the right's five-decade mastery of white male identity politics. Ranging from Richard Nixon's tough-talking, law-and-order campaign in 1968 to Donald Trump's hyper-macho revival of the same fear-based appeals in 2020, the film shows how the right has mobilized dominant ideas about manhood and enacted a deliberate strategy to frame Democrats and liberals as soft, brand the Republican Party as the party of "real men," and position conservatives as defenders of white male power and authority in the face of demographic change and the ongoing struggle for racial, gender, and sexual equality. (IMDB)

Language: English

Run Time: 0:56:00

Availability: https://www.themancardmovie.com/ 

The Mask You Live In (USA, 2015)

Directed by: Jennifer Siebel Newsom

The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to remain true to themselves within America’s rigid definition of masculinity. Pressured by media, peers, and adults, they face messages to suppress emotions, devalue friendships, objectify women, and use violence to solve conflicts. These stereotypes, complicated by race, class, and personal circumstances, create an identity maze they must navigate to become "real" men. Experts from various fields provide insights on the “boy crisis” and suggest strategies for change, ultimately showing how society can foster a healthier generation of boys and young men.

Language: English

Run Time: 1:37:00

Availability: http://therepresentationproject.org/film/the-mask-you-live-in-film/about-the-film/

The Men’s Story Project: Out Loud! (Chile, 2014)

Directed by: Jocelyn Lehrer

This documentary spotlights diverse Chilean men, including celebrities and community leaders, sharing personal stories with a live Santiago audience to explore masculinity, gender relations, and links to health and justice issues. With striking openness, they discuss family, fatherhood, violence, substance abuse, LGBTQ+ rights, evolving male roles, and the healing power of community. Presenters include top comic Coco Legrand, Mapuche leader Pedro Sánchez Melivilo, and Andrés Rivera Duarte, Chile’s first transgender man to change his sex legally. Supported by Amnesty International, the Men’s Story Project uses these testimonials to promote healthy masculinities and gender justice, offering educational tools and community initiatives to further this movement.

Language: Spanish with English subtitles

Run Time: 1:47:00

Availability: https://vimeo.com/86582221. Spanish-language educator’s guide:  http://mensstoryproject.org/films/the-mens-story-project-out-loud/ 

The Smell of Burning Ants (USA, 1994)

Directed by: Jay Rosenblatt

The Smell of Burning Ants is a haunting documentary on the pains of growing up male. It explores the inner and outer cruelties that boys perpetrate and endure. The film provokes the viewer to reflect on how our society can deprive boys of wholeness. (Fullframefest.org)

Through formative events of a boy’s life, we come to understand the ways in which men can become emotionally disconnected and alienated from their feminine side. The common dismissal that “boys will be boys” evolves into the chilling realization that boys frequently become angry, destructive and emotionally disabled men. The Smell of Burning Ants illustrates how boys are socialized by fear, power and shame. The film is a catalyst for discussion and an opportunity to begin the process of healing the wounds of childhood.

Language: English

Rune Time: 0:21:00

Availability: https://www.jayrosenblattfilms.com/smell_of_burning_ants.php

Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity (USA, 1999)

Directed by: Sut Jhally 

Acclaimed anti-violence educator Jackson Katz argues that the epidemic of male violence that plagues American society needs to be understood and addressed as part of a much larger cultural crisis in masculinity. Whether he’s looking at bullying and school shootings or gay bashing, sexual assault, and violence against women, Katz makes a powerful case that male violence, misogyny, and homophobia are inextricably linked to how we define manhood as a culture. The film gives special attention to how American media have glamorized increasingly regressive and violence masculine ideals in the face of mounting social and economic threats to traditional white male heterosexual authority. Katz’s innovative cultural approach to gender violence prevention has been adopted by the NFL, the NCAA, and the U.S. Marine Corps. 

Language: English

Run Time: 0:1:22:00

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/tough-guise-p163.aspx

Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood & American Culture (USA, 2013)

Directed by: Sut Jhally

Jackson Katz explores how outdated ideals of manhood fuel America’s ongoing epidemic of men’s violence. Analyzing issues like mass shootings, violence against women, and bullying, Katz argues that American culture promotes violent and regressive masculinity through media, sports, and politics. The film challenges the myth that "real manhood" requires aggression and bravado, aiming to inspire young men and women to redefine masculinity and reject harmful stereotypes.

The 52-minute version has been edited for length, and the 46-minute “clean” version has been edited for violence, sexual content, and strong language. While both versions are ideally suited for viewing in a single classroom period, the clean version may be more appropriate for junior high and high school-aged audiences. (toughguise2.org)

Run Time: (Full) 1:18:00, (Abridged) 0:52:00, (Abridged - Clean) 0:46:00

Language: English

 Subtitles: English and Spanish

Availability: https://shop.mediaed.org/tough-guise-2-p45.aspx

We Will Be Brave (Canada, 2023)

Directed by: Chrisann Hessing

A group of racialized men in Toronto known collectively as “The Good Guise” are on a mission to dismantle toxic masculinity in their communities, using art to create radically-loving alternatives to shame and punishment. In their inner worlds, their commitment to unpacking their own harmful patterns is challenged by the daily burdens of racism, poverty, and patriarchy. WE WILL BE BRAVE is a story about transformation, healing and an unlikely brotherhood forged in vulnerability. (chrisannhessing.com/films/we-will-be-brave)

Language: English

Run Time: 1:18:00

Availability: https://www.wewillbebrave.ca/

When Men Change (Brazil, 2015)

Produced by: Promundo 

When Men Change tells the story of four men who changed the way they think about gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and violence. In recent years, there has been increased interest in exploring how men can contribute to promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and girls. As the evidence base grows, now is the time to answer the question: “What works to engage men in achieving gender equality?” (promundoglobal.org)

Language: English

Run Time: 0:03:54

Availability: https://youtu.be/DXaFRrl-l70 

Who is Albert Woo? (Canada, 2000)

Directed by: Hunt Hoe

Western cinema and a heavy dose of Hong Kong cinema has cultivated an image of the Asian man as an asexual martial arts warrior, a worker, or a mean and domineering oppressor. Chinese-Canadian director Hunt Hoe questions the stereotype of the Asian male represented in Western culture. As a starting point, he begins with the question, “Who is Albert Woo?” a character he played in the film “Foreign ghost”. Director and narrator Hoe draws on comments by Asian men from all sectors of life, including a performer, a musician, a businessman, a war veteran and, interestingly, a yo-yo champion. The men talk candidly of their experiences with racism, their role models, their sexuality, what they consider to be truisms of men in their race, how they feel about the issue of inter-racial marriages and the historical segregation of those who have made this choice. One woman, an ex love of Hoe’s, is interviewed on her view on whether/why Asian women are more attracted to non-Asians than men of their own race. On his journey Hoe travels to Golden Studios to speak at length with Jackie Chan, as well as providing a brief overview of his genealogy. (Who Is Albert Woo? | Hunt Hoe | 2000 | ACMI Collection)

Language: English 

Run Time: 0:52:00

Availability: “This work has not been digitized and is currently unavailable to view online. It may be possible for approved researchers to view onsite at ACMI.”

Yes All Men (Australia, 2018)

Produced by: SBS

Is masculinity killing Aussie men? They drink more, smoke more, do more drugs, deal more drugs and die younger. Men get bashed, robbed and murdered more - mostly by other men. The Feed asks why.

Rune Time: 0:27:01 min.

Language: English

Availability:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4QYEX1_bGA&ab_channel=SBSTheFeed