In recent years, software construction, operation, and evolution have encountered many new requirements, such as the need for efficient switching or configuration in development and testing environments, application isolation, resource consumption reduction, and higher efficiency of testing and deployment. These requirements pose great challenges to developers in developing and maintaining software. Container technology has the potential of releasing developers from the heavy workload of development and maintenance. Of particular note, Docker, as the de facto industrial standard for containers, has recently become a popular research area in the academic community. To help researchers understand the status and trends of research on Docker containers, this study conducts a systematic literature review by collecting 75 high-level papers in this field. First, quantitative methods are used to investigate the basic status of research on Docker containers, including research quantity, research quality, research areas, and research methods. Second, the first classification framework for research on Docker containers is presented in this study, and the current studies are systematically classified and reviewed from the dimensions of the core, platform, and support. Finally, the development trends of Docker container technology are discussed, and seven future research directions are summarized.