7 documentaries to watch if you liked ‘Trainwreck: Balloon Boy’

Trainwreck: Balloon Boy documentary revisits one of the most bizarre news-media events of the twenty-first century: a national incident involving a homemade flying saucer balloon. The documentary examines allegations of a hoax, the legal consequences faced by the Heene family, and the impact of constant media attention.

The documentary focuses on the 2009 incident where the Heene family claimed that their 6-year-old son was trapped inside a helium runaway balloon. Written and directed by Gillian Pachter, Trainwreck: Balloon Boy was released on July 15, 2025. Viewers enjoyed the scandals and unanswered questions that the show offered with its real-life plot.

Several other documentaries, such as BalloonFest and Fyre, are equally engaging for viewers. The following seven documentaries explore related themes to Trainwreck and are perfect for fans.

---

Balloonfest, Balloon Boy: In Richard Heene’s Own Words, and 5 other movies to watch if you liked Trainwreck: Balloon Boy

1) Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99

Released in 2022, Trainwreck: Woodstock is a Netflix original three-part docuseries about the Woodstock '99 music festival. It covers the chaos of Woodstock '99, where poor planning and hype led to disaster.

The series explores group dynamics and media amplification, similar to Trainwreck: Balloon Boy. It's worth watching because it shows how widespread panic can cause events to spiral out of control.

Where to Watch: Netflix

---

2) BalloonFest

Balloonfest (image via MUBI)

Nathan Trusdell's short documentary film was released in 2017. BalloonFest uses archival footage to explore the disastrous events that followed United Way's 1986 Cleveland Balloon Festival.

The film demonstrates how a public balloon stunt went wrong through historical evidence. It should be viewed as a case study of a genuine spectacle gone wrong, with structural similarities to the Balloon Boy incident.

Where to Watch: MUBI

---

3) Project Grizzly

Project Grizzly (image via Apple TV)

Directed by Peter Lynch, Project Grizzly is a 1996 documentary about Canadian inventor Troy Hurtubise, who aims to create a suit capable of withstanding a grizzly bear attack. It explores themes of obsession, spectacle, and media fascination, similar to what is shown in Trainwreck: Balloon Boy.

It is worth watching to understand the factors that motivate individuals to undertake extreme projects and how they may result in unforeseen consequences.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

---

4) Info Wars

Info Wars (image via info wars. com)

Directed by Sebastian J. F., Info Wars is a documentary that explores information warfare and its tactics. This film, released in 2004, investigates media manipulation and contemporary information conflicts.

While covering more topics, it also explains how stories spread through media outlets, similar to Trainwreck's focus on profit-driven media cycles and sensationalism.

Where to Watch: Info Wars' official website

---

5) Fyre

Chris Smith's 2019 American documentary film details the history, planning, failure, and aftermath of the 2017 Fyre Festival. A major music event was planned to celebrate the launch of the Fyre app, which was used to book famous artists.

False promises, influencer-driven hype, and legal issues are all explored in this documentary about the collapse of a luxury festival. It examines spectacle and public deception closely related to themes in Trainwreck: Balloon Boy.

Where to Watch: Netflix

---

6) The Imposter

The Imposter (image via MUBI)

Released in 2012, the documentary directed by Bart Layton examines the 1997 case of French confidence trickster Frédéric Bourdin. It recounts the story of a man who exploits grief and investigative oversights by impersonating a missing child.

The Imposter encourages viewers to think critically about evidence, trust, and how public sentiment can be manipulated. Similar to Trainwreck: Balloon Boy, the film demonstrates how lies and truth clash within the media.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

---

7) Capturing the Friedmans

Capturing The Friedmans (image via Prime Video)

Capturing the Friedmans, released in 2003, is a documentary film directed by Andrew Jarecki. It follows a Jewish family from the upper middle class whose world is suddenly upended when the father and his youngest son are taken into custody and accused of heinous crimes.

This true-crime documentary explores a family caught in a media scandal and facing serious accusations, highlighting how such allegations impact family dynamics. The film offers an alternative perspective on scandal, investigation, and ambiguity.

Where to Watch: Netflix

---

Other documentaries to watch if you liked Trainwreck: Balloon Boy are Married To The Eiffel Tower, Brother's Keeper, American Nightmare, and Killer Sally.

Edited by Shreya Das