What is the ruling on watching video films in general, and documentary films?

Watching movies, if they contain forbidden elements such as looking at nakedness (awrat) or listening to forbidden things like music and obscenity, is prohibited. If they are free from such things, then there is no harm, provided that they do not distract from the remembrance of Allah or divert from an obligation. They have negative effects such as arousing desires, spreading immorality, teaching crime, corrupting marital relations, propagating false beliefs, and wasting time. Sheikh Ibn Jibreen prohibited looking at alluring images in movies due to the temptations they cause, which lead to indecencies.