Best films and documentaries to watch in immersive headsets (2023)
With recent announcements about the new Apple Vision Pro VR headset and the Meta Quest 3, virtual reality (VR) has never been more popular. Pico G3 VR, PSVR 2, Quest Pro... All these XR headsets allow you to play incredibly creative games, fitness, and working apps. But did you know XR, VR, and MR also let you dive into films, shows, and documentaries?
Virtual reality films capture stories in a way that traditional 2D movies and shows cannot. From your headset, you can travel to incredible locations like the South Pole, and Mount Fuji. You connect seamlessly with special people such as Michelin-starred chefs, explorers, ballet dancers, dog trainers, etc.
Whether you are a headset user curious about more immersive content or a fan of true stories and breathtaking landscapes willing to acquire an XR headset, you might ask yourself…
What are the best VR films to watch in my headset?
Good news: you have come to the right place! Here at TARGO, a two-time Emmy®-nominated production studio, we create non-fiction VR documentaries telling extraordinary stories. Here are our top 5 favorite and most captivating virtual reality documentaries, available for free on streaming platforms like Meta Quest TV and Pico Video, and soon on Apple Vision Pro:
Behind the Dish
Behind the Dish is a VR documentary series on three fearless female chefs revolutionizing the food industry. Embark with them on a world tour of Japan, the United States, and France, and discover the secrets of their culinary traditions. Thanks to a revolutionary 3D filming technique, dive into the plates and watch super-sized dishes come to life.
This 360° video show will make your mouth water and tickle your sense of marvel as you immerse yourself in some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
2. Rebuilding Notre Dame
Rebuilding Notre Dame is an immersive film providing a unique and unprecedented immersion in the cathedral before and after the 2019 fire. Listen to interviews with experts on the iconic monument as you travel through History and see breathtaking before-and-after shots in VR 360.
With beautiful VR drone shots and fascinating insights into the reconstruction process, this Emmy®-nominated VR documentary will make you emotional and hopeful.
3. Surviving 9/11
Surviving 9/11 is a 360° film commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks It tells the story of the last woman who survived after being stuck 27 hours under the rubble of Ground Zero, Genelle Guzman-McMillan. Through never-seen-before archive photos and 3D reconstruction of the Twin Towers, Surviving 9/11 lets you travel back in time In Genelle’s memories without showing any triggering action or involving the viewer directly in the story.
This beautiful survivor testimony is the best example of how VR can be a powerful storytelling medium that fosters empathy and keeps important topics alive in our memories.
4. When We Stayed Home
When We Stayed Home is a VR series of four virtual exploration postcards sent from Paris, Venice, Jerusalem, and Tokyo at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Emmy®-nominated immersive docu-series guides you through the empty streets of a world on pause through the moving commentary of locals affected by lockdowns.
Learn about their fears, their hopes, and visit empty emblematic cities like never before.
5. Solo to the South Pole
Solo to the South Pole is a virtual reality documentary that follows a young man's solo mission to the South Pole. Unassisted, Matthieu Tordeur uses the camera to document his 50-day journey under the harsh conditions of the Antarctic. This battle against the elements turns into a fight with his inner demons as he goes beyond his limits to reach his destination.
This 360 film gives you an appreciation for the human spirit and the power of determination to achieve seemingly impossible goals.
These virtual reality documentaries let you explore extraordinary life stories, locations, and themes. One-on-one interviews and breathtaking media provide a powerful perspective that connects you with the world around us.
These VR films are available for free on Meta Quest TV and Pico Video, and soon on Apple Vision Pro.
Do you want more? You can look up “TARGO” on your favorite VR streaming platform and subscribe to our channel for updates on future releases!