In the early days of home video, the "making-of" featurette was born. These were short, sanitized promotional pieces packaged as DVD extras, largely consisting of actors praising their directors and producers celebrating smooth shoots. They were infomercials disguised as documentaries.

Entertainment industry documentaries do not just document history; they actively alter it.

Where Star Machine stumbles is its third-act pivot to TikTok . The final 30 minutes rush through the 2020s, treating algorithmic fame as a wholly new beast rather than a logical extension of the 1990s TRL playbook. A fascinating subplot about a group that unionized against their label is introduced and then abandoned after just seven minutes—presumably for time, but it feels like a lost chapter.

The entertainment industry thrives on illusion. For over a century, Hollywood and the global media landscape have carefully manufactured glamour, stardom, and seamless storytelling. However, a powerful genre of filmmaking has broken through this polished facade. Entertainment industry documentaries—films and docuseries that investigate show business itself—have exploded in popularity.

Film enthusiasts, music fans, industry professionals, and anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes stories of their favorite movies, TV shows, and music.