9 Documentaries About Child Stars That Are Tough to Watch, but Worth It

Behind the glitz and glamor of Hollywood lies some truly shocking secrets and downright deplorable behavior that often goes on behind the scenes, with many of the entertainment industry’s young up-and-coming talents falling victim to the pitfalls of fame. In recent years, more and more courageous actors, producers, writers, and filmmakers have been speaking out against the ugly realities of Tinseltown, with riveting documentaries chronicling the mistreatment that runs rampant within the star-studded world.

Earlier this year, audiences were left utterly stunned when shocking allegations against former Nickelodeon producer and showrunner Dan Schneider were exposed in the powerful docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, as former child actor Drake Bell also bravely came forward to share his harrowing experiences growing up in front of the camera. Let’s take a look at some of the most poignant and impactful documentaries about child stars that are tough to watch but are worth it in the end.

9 Child Star

Child Star

Release Date September 17, 2024

Singer and former Disney star Demi Lovato collaborated with Nicola Marsh to direct the engrossing 2024 documentary Child Star, which chronicles the many trials and tribulations young children experience while in Hollywood as they become swept up in the glamor and fortune that comes with the stardom as well as the shocking dark side of fame. The film explores the historical background and economic impact that young actors create for the country, going back to the days when Shirley Temple ruled the land.

The Allure and Impact of Fame

Lovato sits down and has meaningful and intimate discussions with some of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable former child stars, including Drew Barrymore, Raven-Symoné, Keenan Thompson, and Christina Ricci, as they reveal their own personal journeys and the impact fame had on their respective lives. The songstress, via GMA, set out to explore “why people get into the industry at such a young age” and “how it affects us” while reflecting on her own struggles and experiences with being a celebrity. Stream on Hulu.

8 Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV

Release Date March 17, 2024

Cast Drake Bell , Alexa Nikolas , Marc Summers , Kyle Sullivan , Katrina Johnson , Giovonnie Samuels , Christy Stratton , Bryan Hearne

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One of the most poignant and deeply disturbing docuseries is 2024’s Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which took the world by storm after it exposed the shocking alleged behavior of Nickelodeon showrunner and producer Dan Schneider during his small screen reign in the ’90s and 2000s. Schneider was accused of fostering a hostile and toxic work environment, as former child stars like Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas and Drake & Josh alum Drake Bell came forward to courageously share their traumas and stories.

Related Has Nickelodeon’s Reputation Been Permanently Tarnished?

The ID docuseries Quiet on Set exposed just how deep the toxicity and abuse runs through this network. Will we ever see them in the same light again?

A Deeply Disturbing Docuseries

The disquieting five-part series features interviews with female Nickelodeon writers who accused Schneider of misogyny and underpaying them during their tenures, while Bell’s sexual abuse by then-dialogue coach Brian Peck also came to light. Bell was just 15 years old when the incidents occurred, and Peck was arrested in 2003 for child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 16 months in prison. Quiet on the Set addresses the mounting pressures, exploitation, and mental health struggles Nickelodeon stars painfully endured. Stream on Freevee.

7 An Open Secret

Detailing the abuse five former child stars endured during their time in the limelight, Amy J. Berg’s 2014 film An Open Secret exposes the predators in the industry that targeted these young and vulnerable actors, with Diff’rent Strokes’ Todd Bridges being one of the brave participants in the unsettling documentary. Berg boldly addresses how Hollywood is a breeding ground for inappropriate behavior and how the industry fails to provide protection for these children while advocating for harsher penalties for offenders.

An Epic Battle For Distribution

Screened at the Cannes Film Festival, An Open Secret faced an uphill battle for its release as no Hollywood studio wanted to distribute the documentary. However, it ultimately went viral and racked up over three million viewers after briefly becoming available on Vimeo. Berg, who had previously directed the Oscar-nominated Deliver Us from Evil, was chosen by producer Matthew Valentinas because “We chose Amy because we didn’t want it to be exploitative or tabloid. We wanted it to be empowering for the victims.” Currently unavailable for streaming.

6 Hollywood’s Children

An older but nonetheless eye-opening documentary is from directing duo Gene Feldman and Suzette Winter, with 1982’s Hollywood’s Children delving into the history of child stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood as acting legend Roddy McDowell narrates the engrossing picture. The filmmakers take audiences on a journey through the origins of the profession since the conception of motion pictures, highlighting the troubling realities that come with being young in Tinseltown.

A Timeless Cautionary Tale

The early careers of silver screen staples like Jackie Coogan, Jodie Foster, Melissa Gilbert, and Judy Garland are all featured in the captivating documentary, as the ugly and shocking realities of child stardom in the 20th century are delved into. Hollywood’s Children reveals the exploitation these young performers faced as well as the rampant misconduct they experienced at the hands of adults, with the picture serving as a cautionary tale that sadly was unable to shield future child stars. Stream on Tubi.

5 Showbiz Kids

Showbiz Kids

Release Date July 14, 2020

Director Alex Winter

Cast Baby Peggy , Henry Thomas , Cameron Boyce , Milla Jovovich , Todd Bridges , Mara Wilson , Jada Pinkett Smith , Wil Wheaton , Evan Rachel Wood , Marc Slater , Demi Singleton , Jeff Slater , Alex Winter , Mickey Rooney , Shirley Temple , Christopher Walken , Ron Howard , Corey Feldman , River Phoenix , Chris Columbus , Matthew Lawrence , Sue Lyon , Brooke Shields , Willow Smith , Jaden Smith

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Actor and beloved Bill & Ted franchise alum Alex Winter helmed 2020’s Showbiz Kids, a celebration of both the highs and lows of Hollywood that gives former child actors a chance to share their stories and speak their truths on growing up in the industry. From abusive directors to overbearing parents, financial exploitation, and shameful media behavior, Winter’s film highlights the risks and rewards of working in the complicated world of television and cinema.

The Pitfalls and Rewards of Hollywood

Viewers will enjoy seeing some of the most prominent and celebrated former child actors be interviewed in the refreshing documentary, as famous faces like Mara Wilson and Evan Rachel Wood all reflect on how fame helped shape who they became while growing up in front of the camera while acknowledging the mental struggles and overwhelming pressures it also caused (issues some are still fighting in their adulthood). Showbiz Kids does not present Hollywood as black and white, making it a compelling ride for curious audiences. Stream on Max.

4 Gary

The heartbreaking life and legacy of legendary TV star Gary Coleman is explored in the aptly named 2024 film Gary, which chronicles the late actor’s spectacular rise to prominence during the ’70s after he began portraying the lovable Arnold Jackson in the smash hit sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. Coleman became the highest-paid child star on television but had a difficult time navigating fame and constantly being in the spotlight.

A Shocking Look at Sitcom Life

Widely regarded as one of the most influential child actors in the world, Coleman was forced to work extremely long hours while on the set of Diff’rent Strokes despite his young age and persistent health issues, both of which caused him to spiral into depression. Gary discusses how Coleman’s family took advantage of him and kept millions of dollars from him during his eight years on the show, with the documentary also detailing the personal and professional struggles he experienced until his death at 42 in 2010. Stream on Peacock.

3 Kid 90

kid 90

Release Date March 12, 2021

Director Soleil Moon Frye

Cast David Arquette , Soleil Moon Frye , Stephen Dorff , Balthazar Getty , Mark-Paul Gosselaar , Brian Austin Green , Tori Leonard , Heather McComb , Buzz Aldrin , Dana Ashbrook , Jonathan Brandis , Marlon Brando , Adam Carolla , Leonardo DiCaprio , Corey Feldman , Sara Gilbert , Jenny Lewis , Sasha Jenson , Emmanuel Lewis , Mario Lopez , Paul Newman , Justin Pierce , Charlie Sheen , Michael Rapaport , Jonathan Silverman

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Soleil Moon Frye directed, produced, and starred in the nostalgia-fueled 2021 documentary Kid 90, in which the Punky Brewster alum shares intimate and never-before-seen footage of her life and experiences in Hollywood throughout the 1990s as she navigated fame. The actress carried her trustee video camera everywhere she went during the decade, capturing thrilling and meaningful clips featuring not only herself but also her famous friends and fellow performers.

Frye Reveals the Tragic Pitfalls of Stardom

In preparation for the project, Frye spent four years looking through extensive footage, diaries, and voicemails from the formidable period in her life, as popular stars, including Mark Wahlberg, David Arquette, and Leonardo DiCaprio all appeared in the movie via video clips. Frye also wanted to respectfully shine a light on the struggles so many of her young peers battled as a result of their stardom, with drug addiction and suicide plaguing many of her close friends like Jonathan Brandis and Rodney Harvey. Stream on Hulu

2 Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

Hollywood veteran Brooke Shields has been a constant staple on both the big and small screen for decades, having risen to fame at just 12 years old when she appeared in the controversial 1978 drama Pretty Baby. The film caused a massive public outcry upon its release due to its depiction of child exploitation and the semi-nude scenes that Shields was featured in, and the actress’ shocking career origins and more are chronicled in 2023’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields.

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Shields’ Startling Rise to Stardom

In the Lana Wilson-directed documentary, Shields’ early days as a child model and her experiences as a young actress are highlighted, as she was heavily sexualized during the beginning of her career, which prompted her to step away from Hollywood to focus on her studies at Princeton University. Pretty Baby examines Shields’ stunning transformation from being an extremely exploited movie star to her discovering her own true identity and becoming liberated from the pressures of the entertainment industry. Stream on Hulu.

1 Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter

The personal and professional lives of brothers and Hollywood musicians Nick and Aaron Carter are deeply explored in the 2024 miniseries Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter, with the riveting original delving into the assault allegations made against the Backstreet Boys member while also shining a light on the substance abuse battles and mental health struggles that plagued Aaron, ultimately leading to his tragic death in 2022 at just 34-years-old.

A Family Plagued By Tragedy and Addiction

The revealing four-part docuseries offers insight into the lives of the Carter clan as they endured hardship after hardship in their pursuit of fame, including the devastating loss of three family members due to drug overdoses. Fallen Idols analyzes the assault accusations directed at Nick Carter by three different women, one of which is former Dream singer Melissa Schuman, who also shares her personal experiences in the series. The pitfalls and dark side of fame are heavily showcased, as well as the impact on those closest to the entertainers. Stream on Max.

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