Netflix: The 33 finest documentaries to look at

Netflix: The 33 finest documentaries to look at


14 Peaks is the newest traditional documentary from Netflix.

Netflix

Netflix’s documentary choice is unbelievable. True crime, historical past, sports activities… it is obtained all of it.

Almost an excessive amount of. To the purpose the place it is overwhelming. you do not wish to get caught within the limitless scroll we have created the next record. Broken down by style, listed below are our favorite documentaries on Netflix. Good luck and completely satisfied watching! 

True Crime

The Raincoat Killer

Netflix

Nowadays its uncommon to look at a lean, clear direct true to crime present that does not drag issues out, or intentionally obfuscate info for the sake of drama. But that is precisely why The Raincoat Killer is so good, and distinctive.

It’s a complete, nice have a look at The Raincoat Killer, a brutal serial killer in South Korea. It’s one of many higher true crime documentaries on Netflix.

House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths

Netflix

One of the newer true crime documentaries from Netflix, it is a good one.

Focusing on the weird deaths of 11 members of the family in a single home in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018, House of Secrets delves into the theories behind of the strangest suicide/homicide instances in latest reminiscence. Unmissable stuff. 

This Is A Robbery

Netflix

This Is A Robbery is about Netflix because it will get. A four-part collection specializing in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, that is basically a documentary about an artwork heist. Remember Evil Genius? (Which can be on this record.) This Is A Robbery may be very a lot in that fashion. The first episode takes some time to get going, however be affected person — this one has a repay. 

Sophie: A Murder in West Cork

Netflix

Another Netflix true crime documentary collection, Sophie: A Murder In West Cork follows the case of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, a French artist and TV producer who was killed in 1996, in West Cork, Ireland. Justice for her homicide took a long time to enact and this collection follows the case. 

Murder Among the Mormons

Netflix

Some of Netflix’s newer true crime documentaries have been a bit bloated and… sorta dangerous?

Thankfully Murder Among the Mormons is a return to type. Definitely watch this one. 

American Murder: The Family Next Door

Netflix

There are loads of true crime documentaries on the market (and on this record) however American Murder: The Family Next Door stands proud. 

It tells the story of Chris Watts, a seemingly common man who murdered his spouse and youngsters. The entry to footage is staggering and it is edited and produced in a novel means, utilizing textual content messages and social media posts to inform the story. It’s a horrific reminder of the banal, extremely widespread existence of home violence.

The Staircase

Netflix

The true crime documentary style is completely saturated at this level, however The Staircase stands out. 

Focusing on Michael Peterson and the demise of his spouse Kathleen, The Staircase is greater than only a homicide thriller. It’s a drawn-out epic that takes place over literal a long time, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his each transfer, however one way or the other nonetheless stays goal. 

Who Killed Little Gregory

Netflix

Who Killed Little Gregory is a documentary centered on the horrific homicide of Grégory Villemin. It’s arguably the most effective true crime documentary on Netflix. It’s a couple of homicide, and makes an attempt to unravel that homicide, but it surely’s additionally a lesson in media illustration and the horrific sexism Grégory’s mom needed to face within the wake her personal son’s homicide. 

Making A Murderer

Netflix

With the swathe of true crime documentaries and podcasts that got here in its wake, it is easy to overlook that the world as soon as misplaced its collective thoughts over Making A Murderer. In loads of methods it created the template that many Netflix documentaries now observe. An actual authentic.

The Keepers

Netflix

I’ve watched loads of true crime documentaries on Netflix, however nothing has come near The Keepers. A staggering story, advised throughout generations, that is respectful of the victims, but compelling all through.

It’s a narrative in regards to the unsolved homicide of Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught at a Catholic faculty in Baltimore, however The Keepers goes additional than you may anticipate and exposes a possible cowl up of intercourse abuse allegations.

Nature/Science

Seaspiracy

Netflix

Seaspiracy follows within the footsteps of a number of documentaries centered on the impression of meat consuming on the atmosphere. This time the worldwide fishing trade is within the crosshairs. As anticipated this one has stirred up a little bit of controversy from all stakeholders — PETA, Greenpeace and conservation teams can not seem to agree if Seaspiracy is correct or honest. Watch it and make up your individual thoughts.

My Octopus Teacher

Netflix

My Octopus Teacher follows Craig Foster, a filmmaker who spent a 12 months snorkelling and interacting with an octopus off the coast of South Africa. It’s a nature movie, positive, but it surely’s concurrently a documentary designed to encourage awe within the viewer. In brief, octopi are unbelievable. Little aliens on Earth, basically. This is the story of a relationship between people and nature but it surely’s additionally an inspiring name to motion: Don’t ignore the marvel that exists throughout you.

Our Planet

Netflix

David Attenborough nature documentaries are so ubiquitous they’re weak to self parody, however Our Planet is — I imagine — the excessive watermark. Only Planet Earth, one other Attenborough docu, comes shut. But I want this one.

Tiger King Season 2

Netflix

Time could uninteresting its impression, however when Tiger King was first launched on Netflix, all the world could not cease speaking about it. 

Tiger King explores the unusual underbelly of huge cat breeding, specializing in a forged of unforgettable (and in the end harmful) characters. It drags its viewers to bizarre locations. Season 2 is now out there and whereas the present has misplaced loads of its chew, it is intriguing to meet up with this forged of untamed human beings doing wild, utterly outlandish issues. 

Sports 

14 Peaks

Netflix

14 Peaks tells the story of the Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his aim of climbing all 14 mountains above the peak of 8000 metres in a single 12 months. It’s unbelievable. Must watch stuff.

Bad Sport

Netflix

Netflix might need burned the True Crime documentary into the bottom, but it surely’s on fireplace in the case of sports activities. Bad Sport is the newest entry into this burgeoning sub class, and it is superior. Focusing on unusual controversies in sports activities historical past, Bad Sport is much less about main gamers doing main issues, it is about what occurs when sport goes dangerous, will get down within the grime. All of those episodes are nice. Hoping for a season 2. 

The River Runner

Netflix

The River Runner is sorta like Free Solo for kayaking. Consider {that a} praise.

Focusing on Scott Lindgren, a kayaking legend who was an early pioneer of the game, it is a conventional story of an excessive sports activities star overcoming odds, but it surely runs a bit deeper than that. Fighting towards a mind tumour and his personal private demons, Lindgren is a compelling case examine. Must watch stuff.

Untold

Netflix

Untold is the newest from the oldsters behind Wild Wild Country.

It’s a sports activities documentary collection, with every episode going in-depth on controversial sports activities subjects. The first episode focuses on Malice on the Palace, the infamous basketball match the place Ron Artest waded into the group and wailed on followers again in 2004.

The second episode focuses on Christie Martin, the feminine boxer from the 80s who turned well-known after combating on Mike Tyson’s undercard. 

It’s launched weekly and, thus far so good. It’s very 30 for 30 — which is an efficient factor.

The Last Dance

Netflix

In 2020, within the midst of a pandemic, Netflix dropped this piece of sports activities doc perfection. 

The Last Dance focuses on the Chicago Bulls throughout their 97-98 NBA title successful season, however actually it is a leaping off level for a documentary that tells the life story of its central star, Michael Jordan. 

As a end result, many criticized it for being a bit too Jordan-focused, however The Last Dance was an occasion documentary that lived as much as the hype. 

Naomi Osaka

Netflix

Naomi Osaka has develop into one of the crucial well-known and talked about athletes on the planet. This fascinating documentary explores totally different phases of her profession and affords unbelievable entry into the lifetime of a younger girl battling the pressures of sport and fame. A should watch.

Athlete A

Netflix

Athlete A is a good characteristic size expose on Larry Nassar, the staff doc of US Gymnastics, who had been sexually abusing feminine athletes for many years.

Be warned: This one is harrowing.

Icarus

This Oscar-winning documentary is an absolute belter. 

Icarus begins out as an expose on the impression performance-enhancing medicine have on sports activities efficiency, however a sequence of occasions drags director Bryan Fogel into an online of geopolitics and conspiracies. To say extra would spoil it, however Fogel in the end has created a documentary that had a really actual impression on our notion of sports activities as a complete. In that respect, Icarus is a literal recreation changer.

The Speed Cubers

Netflix

If you are in search of a barely extra uplifting documentary, you might do far worse than The Speed Cubers, a have a look at the world of aggressive rubix… cubers? It’s brief, however packs an unbelievable emotional punch. Prepare your self, this one may break you.

Politics/History 

Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal

Netflix

Recently launched, Operations Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal has a reputation so long as a few of Netflix’s latest documentaries. Thankfully, this is not as bloated as, say, the latest Cecil Hotel docu, but it surely may nonetheless use some trimming. 

Operation Varsity Blues centered on the FBI investigation into school admissions that put actress Felicity Huffman into jail. Its director Chris Smith beforehand labored on the Fyre Festival documentary. This is not fairly as compelling, however remains to be effectively price watching. 

Knock Down the House

Sundance

Regardless of your views on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Knock Down The House is an unbelievable underdog story that can’t be missed. Focusing on progressive feminine candidates in the course of the 2018 congressional major campaigns, it is an insightful have a look at the democratic course of. It’s an inspiring reminder that we have to struggle in an effort to make the voices of bizarre individuals depend.

Wild Wild Country

Netflix

Overlong and bloated, Wild Wild Country is nonetheless one of the crucial fascinating documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix. 

It tells the story of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajnees, who tried to construct a huge sprawling commune, for what was basically a intercourse cult, within the United States. It’s an odd story that one way or the other turns into stranger with age. Much like Tiger King the story plumbs depths you will not imagine. At occasions it is a slog, however Wild Wild Country is completely worthwhile.

thirteenth

Netflix

thirteenth by Ava Duvernay is a staggering documentary that tells the story of American slavery and its long-lasting impacts, lots of which nonetheless resonate right this moment. 

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter motion, this ought to be necessary viewing.

Five Came Back

Netflix

I completely adore this documentary. Five present acclaimed administrators (together with Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola) assist inform the story of 5 well-known film administrators from the ’30s and ’40s who did frontline work in the course of the Second World War. It wraps their legacies alongside the impression of the struggle itself into a very compelling story of Hollywood’s golden age.

American Factory

Netflix

Another Oscar winner for Netflix, this documentary is the primary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions staff. 

American Factory tells the story of Fuyao, a Chinese firm that constructed a manufacturing facility in Ohio that inhabits a now-closed General Motors plant. You have to look at this film.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich

Netflix

By this level all of us have some type of understanding of Jeffrey Epstein’s story however Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich does itself an ideal service by specializing in the tales of the survivors of his abuse. 

The relaxation…

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

The Cinemart/Hulu

Hulu additionally has an ideal Fyre competition documentary, however I want this Netflix one. Unlike many Netflix documentaries, that are stretched and bloated into multi-part episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and strong gold all the means by way of.

What Happened, Miss Simone?

Netflix

Not gonna say a lot right here. Nina Simone is a legend and that is perhaps among the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. 

The Great Hack

Netflix

In the wake of the Capitol siege, the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy virtually seems like historical historical past, however that does not make this documentary any much less necessary. If you have not seen it, then watch it.

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