If you enjoyed the quirky, slice-of-life documentary 'Vernon, Florida' (1981), you'll love these 10 similar films and shows that capture the same offbeat charm and eccentric characters. This list is perfect for fans of unconventional storytelling and small-town oddities.

Salesman (1969)
Description: A cinéma vérité documentary that follows the lives of door-to-door Bible salesmen, offering an intimate and unvarnished look at their struggles and personalities.
Fact: The film was one of the first American documentaries to adopt the fly-on-the-wall approach, influencing generations of filmmakers. It was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.


Gates of Heaven (1978)
Description: A documentary that explores the lives of people connected to pet cemeteries, capturing the eccentricities and quiet profundity of everyday life with a non-judgmental, observational style.
Fact: The film was famously praised by Roger Ebert, who included it in his list of the greatest films ever made. It was also the subject of a famous bet between Ebert and filmmaker Gene Siskel.


The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Description: A groundbreaking documentary that uses reenactments and interviews to explore a wrongful conviction, blending true crime with a meditative, almost poetic approach to storytelling.
Fact: The film played a crucial role in overturning the conviction of Randall Dale Adams, the subject of the documentary. It is often cited as one of the most influential documentaries ever made.


Crumb (1994)
Description: A deeply personal documentary that delves into the life and art of Robert Crumb, revealing the eccentricities and dark undercurrents of his creative process and family dynamics.
Fact: The film took nearly six years to complete due to the director's meticulous approach. It was almost not released when Crumb himself initially objected to its content.


Hoop Dreams (1994)
Description: A sprawling documentary that follows two inner-city basketball players over several years, offering a poignant and unflinching look at their dreams, struggles, and realities.
Fact: The film was originally intended to be a 30-minute short but expanded into a nearly three-hour epic. It was famously snubbed for an Oscar nomination, leading to changes in the documentary category rules.


American Movie (1999)
Description: A documentary that follows an aspiring filmmaker's quixotic quest to complete a low-budget horror film, capturing both the absurdity and the earnestness of his ambition.
Fact: The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It was shot over two years and originally intended to be a short film.


Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
Description: A documentary that explores the fractured dynamics of a family embroiled in scandal, using home videos and interviews to create a complex, ambiguous portrait of truth and memory.
Fact: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It sparked debates about the reliability of memory and the nature of documentary filmmaking.


The Cove (2009)
Description: A gripping documentary that exposes the brutal dolphin hunting practices in Japan, combining investigative journalism with a visceral, almost thriller-like narrative style.
Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was shot covertly using hidden cameras and military-grade equipment.


The Act of Killing (2012)
Description: A chilling documentary that invites former Indonesian death squad leaders to reenact their crimes, blurring the lines between reality and performance in a surreal and unsettling way.
Fact: The film was executive produced by Errol Morris and Werner Herzog. It sparked international controversy and debate about accountability and memory.


Man on Wire (2008)
Description: A documentary that chronicles Philippe Petit's daring high-wire walk between the Twin Towers, blending suspense, artistry, and a touch of madness in its storytelling.
Fact: The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Petit's walk was performed without a safety net and is considered one of the most audacious feats in history.
