Netflix documentaries have all the time been the very best within the enterprise, however with so many alternative reveals and films to select from, it may be onerous to make a choice. That is why we have made this listing.
We’re beginning with the the very best new documentaries launched previously 12 months. After that we have divided the rest of our picks by style. We’re updated for January.
There’s loads to get by. Seize some popcorn and completely satisfied watching!
The Greatest New Documentaries on Netflix
Netflix
Pepsi, The place’s My Jet? is one among my favourite forms of documentary. It is an offbeat documentary on a weird matter with a solid of actually charismatic and insane individuals.
The premise: Within the mid-’90s Pepsi had some extent system designed to encourage individuals to drink extra Pepsi. One advert confirmed off a Harrier Jet you would purchase with 7 million of those factors. John Leonard, a 21-year-old enterprise pupil, discovered a loophole that allowed him to purchase factors for 10 cents and tried to drive Pepsi to make good on their advertising promise. Chaos ensues.
Netflix
An enchanting documentary on an extremely compelling topic, Pamela, A Love Story is a reevaluation of Pamela Anderson, one of the vital compelling celebrities of 90s. Directed by Ryan White it combines diary readings, interviews with Anderson herself alongside time spent with Anderson’s sons to create an unbelievable portrait of a misunderstood human being. Should watch stuff.
Netflix
Nearly as good as Netflix documentaries are, there’s been a bent to pull out true crime into these bloated multiepisode collection. Fortunately Our Father is the other of that. It is a lean, completely executed documentary targeted on Donald Cline, an Indiana fertility physician who used his personal sperm to inseminate a ridiculous variety of ladies towards their will.
That is an unbelievable piece, a kind of tales that simply escalates and escalates to the purpose the place your jaw drops in disbelief.
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Break Level is the most recent in what appears like a zillion documentaries exploring the on daily basis drama of sports activities. You realize those I imply — All or Nothing, Drive to Survive. Cricket has one, AFL has one — there’s even a golf one approaching Netflix later this yr.
Break Level focuses on Tennis and — fortunately — picks the very best athletes to concentrate on. Watch this for the legendary Nick Kyrgios on the very least.
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With the Qatar World Cup actually happening proper now, there could not be a greater time to get caught into FIFA’s murky behind-the-scenes conduct. It is a actually surprising documentary. Be warned: The allegations listed below are so wild you may even really feel compelled to cease watching the World Cup.
Netflix
Untold is the most recent from the parents behind Wild Wild Nation.
It is a sports activities documentary collection, with every episode going in-depth on controversial sports activities matters. The primary 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.
Untold is now in its second season, and it’s absolute must-watch stuff. The brand new episodes are arguably higher than the stellar first season. Possibly the very best sports activities documentary collection on Netflix
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Preserve Candy: Pray and Obey (2022)
There are numerous Netflix documentaries about cults gone mad, however Preserve Candy: Pray and Obey may be probably the most disturbing of the lot. In contrast to Homicide Among the many Mormons, which just about handled its matter like a screwball comedy, Preserve Candy is a really grim story a few grim human being in Warren Jeffs. It is a incredible documentary, and among the many finest Netflix has produced, nevertheless it comes with a really hefty content material warning.
Netflix
Keep on Board: The Leo Baker Story (2022)
Skateboarding as a sport makes for a terrific documentary matter. Dogtown and Z Boys, All That Mayhem — completely legendary. Keep on Board: The Leo Baker Story is one other in an extended line of classics.
It focuses on Leo Baker, the skater who got here out as trans and needed to give up competing on the Olympics within the course of. Wonderful, should watch stuff.
Michael Putland/Getty Photographs
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
It is nearly unattainable to overstate how well-known Jimmy Savile was within the UK — notably within the Nineteen Eighties. He was past a family identify, in some ways he felt like an eccentric uncle to the nation.
Which made revelations that he had sexually assaulted a whole bunch of underage women and boys all of the extra horrific. This was an individual the entire of Britain had invited into their properties.
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story does a terrific job of going by the archives, combining footage that’s completely weird in hindsight, and including incredible interviews with among the main gamers in British TV throughout Savile’s heyday. An enchanting, albeit disturbing documentary. Be warned: It is a tough watch.
Netflix
Our Nice Nationwide Parks (2022)
Barack Obama is making a beeline for David Attenborough’s job. And we do not hate the concept!
Our Nice Nationwide Parks is a world-class nature documentary within the type of nice BBC reveals like Planet Earth. They’ve nailed it right here. In case you’re a fan of that sort of present, that is utterly unmissable.
Netflix
The Most Hated Man on the Web (2022)
Netflix has been on fireplace with its documentaries currently, and The Most Hated Man on the Web is the most recent. From the producers of Tinder Swindler and Dont F**ok with Cats, it is a three-part documentary that tells the story of Hunter Moore, one of the vital infamous purveyors of “revenge porn.” Undoubtedly price watching this one.
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The Woman within the Image (2022)
The Woman within the Image is the most recent true crime documentary from Netflix. It is up there with the service’s very best work.
It appears like, after a interval of needlessly bloated multiepisode documentaries, Netflix has began trimming the fats, releasing lean, extremely compelling documentaries once more. First Preserve Candy: Pray and Obey and Our Father, now this.
The Woman within the Image tells the story of a younger lady, murdered at age 20. To say an excessive amount of would spoil the affect, however this can be a layered, brutal documentary with countless twists. It must be seen to be believed.
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The Tinder Swindler (2022)
A documentary targeted on Shimon Hayut, aka the “Tinder Swindler,” a conman who used courting apps to defraud a number of ladies throughout Europe to fund a lavish way of life.
A barely completely different matter in comparison with most true crime documentaries on Netflix. Undoubtedly price a gander.
True crime
Netflix
I’ve watched loads of true crime documentaries on Netflix, however nothing has come near The Keepers. A staggering story, informed throughout generations, that is respectful of the victims, but compelling all through.
It is a story concerning 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 coverup of intercourse abuse allegations.
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The true crime documentary style is completely saturated at this level, however The Staircase stands out.
Specializing in Michael Peterson and the demise of his spouse Kathleen, The Staircase is greater than only a homicide thriller. It is a drawn-out epic that takes place over literal a long time, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his each transfer, however in some way nonetheless stays goal.
It is a good time to observe or revisit this one, since HBO Max has simply launched a drama miniseries primarily based on it.
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Home of Secrets and techniques: The Burari Deaths (2021)
One of many newer true crime documentaries from Netflix, this can be a good one.
Specializing in the weird deaths of 11 relations in a single home in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018, Home of Secrets and techniques delves into the theories behind of the strangest suicide/homicide circumstances in latest reminiscence. Unmissable stuff.
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This Is a Theft 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. Bear in mind Evil Genius? (Which can be on this listing.) This Is a Theft could be very a lot in that type. The primary episode takes some time to get going, however be affected person — this one has a payoff.
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Homicide Among the many Mormons (2021)
A few of Netflix’s newer true crime documentaries have been a bit bloated and… sorta dangerous?
Fortunately Homicide Among the many Mormons is a return to kind. Undoubtedly watch this one.
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Who Killed Little Gregory (2019)
Who Killed Little Gregory is a documentary targeted on the horrific homicide of Grégory Villemin. It is arguably the very best true crime documentary on Netflix. It is a few homicide, and makes an attempt to resolve that homicide, nevertheless it’s additionally a lesson in media illustration and the horrific sexism Grégory’s mom needed to face within the wake of her son’s homicide.
Netflix
American Homicide: The Household Subsequent Door (2020)
There are numerous true crime documentaries on the market (and on this listing) however American Homicide: The Household Subsequent Door stands out.
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 singular manner, utilizing textual content messages and social media posts to inform the story. It is a horrific reminder of the banal, extremely frequent existence of home violence.
Netflix
Making a Assassin (2015-2018)
With the swath 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 Assassin. In numerous methods it created the template that many Netflix documentaries now observe. An actual unique.
Sports activities
Netflix
In 2020, within the midst of a pandemic, Netflix dropped this piece of sports activities doc perfection.
The Final Dance focuses on the Chicago Bulls throughout their ’97-’98 NBA title-winning season, however actually it is a leaping off level for a documentary that tells the life story of its central star, Michael Jordan.
In consequence, many criticized it for being a bit too Jordan-focused, however The Final Dance was an occasion documentary that lived as much as the hype.
Netflix
This Oscar-winning documentary is an absolute belter.
Icarus begins out as an expose on the affect performance-enhancing medication 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 affect on our notion of sports activities as an entire. In that respect, Icarus is a literal sport changer.
Netflix
Components 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
Absolutely the gold commonplace for long-running sports activities documentaries. Drive to Survive is so good, and so common, that it is impressed an entire new degree of curiosity in Components 1, particularly within the US. This present is nice at elevating the characters that occupy the game. Extra reveals like this, please.
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Athlete A is a good function size expose on Larry Nassar, the workforce physician of USA Gymnastics, who had been sexually abusing feminine athletes for many years.
Be warned: This one is harrowing.
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14 Peaks tells the story of the Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his aim of climbing all 14 mountains above the peak of 8,000 meters (26,000 ft) in a single yr. It is unbelievable. Should-watch stuff.
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Netflix may need burned the true crime documentary into the bottom, nevertheless it’s on fireplace in the case of sports activities. Unhealthy Sport is the most recent entry into this burgeoning subcategory, and it is superior. Specializing in unusual controversies in sports activities historical past, Unhealthy Sport is much less about main gamers doing main issues, it is about what occurs when sport goes dangerous, will get down within the dust. All of those episodes are nice. Hoping for a season 2.
Netflix
The River Runner is sorta like Free Solo for kayaking. Take into account {that a} praise.
Specializing in Scott Lindgren, a kayaking legend who was a pioneer of the game, this can be a conventional story of an excessive sports activities star overcoming odds, nevertheless it runs a bit deeper than that. Preventing towards a mind tumor and his personal private demons, Lindgren is a compelling case examine. Should watch stuff.
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Naomi Osaka has turn out to be one of the vital well-known and talked-about athletes on the planet. This fascinating documentary explores completely different phases of her profession and gives unbelievable entry into the lifetime of a younger girl battling the pressures of sport and fame. A must-watch.
Netflix
In case you’re searching for a barely extra uplifting documentary, you would do far worse than The Velocity Cubers, a have a look at the world of aggressive… Rubik’s Cubers? It is brief, however packs an unbelievable emotional punch. Put together your self, this one may break you.
Nature/science
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Seaspiracy follows within the footsteps of a number of documentaries targeted on the affect of meat consuming on the setting. This time the worldwide fishing business 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 truthful. Watch it and make up your individual thoughts.
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My Octopus Instructor (2020)
My Octopus Instructor follows Craig Foster, a filmmaker who spent a yr snorkeling and interacting with an octopus off the coast of South Africa. It is a nature movie, certain, nevertheless it’s concurrently a documentary designed to encourage awe within the viewer. In brief, octopuses are unbelievable. Little aliens on Earth, basically. That is the story of a relationship between people and nature, nevertheless it’s additionally an inspiring name to motion: Do not ignore the surprise that exists throughout you.
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David Attenborough nature documentaries are so pervasive, they’re susceptible to self parody, however Our Planet is — I imagine — the excessive watermark. Solely Planet Earth, one other Attenborough doc, comes shut. However I desire this one.
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Time could uninteresting its affect, however when Tiger King was first launched on Netflix, your complete world could not cease speaking about it.
Tiger King explores the unusual underbelly of massive cat breeding, specializing in a solid 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 numerous its chew, it is intriguing to meet up with this solid of untamed human beings doing wild, utterly outlandish issues.
Politics/historical past
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thirteenth by Ava Duvernay is a staggering documentary that tells the story of American slavery and its long-lasting impacts, a lot of which nonetheless resonate immediately.
Within the wake of the Black Lives Matter motion, this ought to be necessary viewing.
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Within the wake of the Capitol siege, the Fb/Cambridge Analytica controversy nearly appears like historic historical past, however that does not make this documentary any much less vital. If you have not seen it, then watch it.
Netflix
Operation Varsity Blues: The School Admissions Scandal (2021)
Lately launched, Operations Varsity Blues: The School Admissions Scandal has a reputation so long as a few of Netflix’s latest documentaries. Fortunately, this is not as bloated as, say, the latest Cecil Lodge doc, nevertheless it may nonetheless use some trimming.
Operation Varsity Blues targeted on the FBI investigation into faculty admissions that put actress Felicity Huffman into jail. Its director, Chris Smith, beforehand labored on the Fyre Competition documentary. This is not fairly as compelling, however remains to be nicely price watching.
Sundance
Knock Down the Home (2019)
No matter your views on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Knock Down the Home is an unbelievable underdog story that can not be missed. Specializing in progressive feminine candidates throughout the 2018 congressional main campaigns, it is an insightful have a look at the democratic course of. It is an inspiring reminder that we have to struggle as a way to make the voices of unusual individuals rely.
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What Occurred, Miss Simone? (2015)
Not gonna say a lot right here. Nina Simone is a legend and that is possibly probably the greatest documentaries I’ve ever seen.
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Overlong and bloated, Wild Wild Nation is however one of the vital fascinating documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix.
It tells the story of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who tried to construct a big sprawling commune, for what was basically a intercourse cult, in the USA. It is a unusual story that in some way turns into stranger with age. Very similar to Tiger King, the story plumbs depths you will not imagine. At instances it is a slog, however Wild Wild Nation is totally worthwhile.
Netflix
I completely adore this documentary. 5 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 throughout the Second World Struggle. It wraps their legacies alongside the affect of the conflict itself into a really compelling story of Hollywood’s golden age.
Netflix
An Oscar winner for Netflix, this documentary is the primary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Larger Floor Productions workforce.
American Manufacturing unit tells the story of Fuyao, a Chinese language firm that constructed a manufacturing unit in Ohio that inhabits a now-closed Normal Motors plant. You need to watch this film.
Netflix
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy (2020)
By this level all of us have some kind of understanding of Jeffrey Epstein’s story however Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy does itself a terrific service by specializing in the tales of the survivors of his abuse.
The Cinemart/Hulu
Fyre: The Biggest Occasion That By no means Occurred (2019)
Hulu additionally has a terrific Fyre pageant documentary, however I desire this Netflix one. In contrast to many Netflix documentaries, that are stretched and bloated into multipart episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and stable gold your complete manner by.
