71 best Netflix documentaries that will shock, inspire and warm your heart
Netflix documentaries never leave us disappointed. From the bold and brilliant to the downright horrifying, we have been fascinated and left on the edge of our seats by plenty of real-life stories from across the globe.
Don't miss out on the ultimate deep dive into David Beckham's celebrity and football career with never-before-seen footage, and the exposé of the UK's most prolific cyberstalker in Can I Tell You A Secret?.
The Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal docuseries is an intense eye-opener into the world of privilege, health and corruption in small-town America. Meanwhile, off the back of the allegations directed at the most powerful adult website in the world, Money Shot: The Pornhub Story has brought to light the topic of consent in the online space.
We have also been shocked by documentaries such as The Texas Killing Fields, The Most Hated Man On The Internet, as well as Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. Then there are the critically acclaimed docs based on the success and injustices in the sporting world, such as The Last Dance and Athlete A.
The series covers the horrific crimes of Matthew Hardy.
For something that will pull on your heartstrings, there is The Kalief Browder Story, which details the tragic events that led a 16-year-old boy to get wrongly accused of stealing a backpack, subsequently being imprisoned for three years, including solitary confinement that eventually crippled his mental health and all the traumatic events that followed.
Too heavy for you? Fear not; we can delve deep into the lives of some of your favourite pop stars in some incredible music documentaries. In Miss Americana, Taylor Swift opens up about her life in the most candid ways, while Jennifer Lopez reflects on her showstopping career in Halftime. More of a Little Monster? Gaga: Five Foot Two is just the thing for you.
Just when you thought you had completed all Netflix documentaries, these options will take you on a roller coaster of emotions you may or may not be prepared for. So, luckily for you, we've organised them into categories to fit any mood you may be in, from inspirational stories to crime. Here is our list of 71 best Netflix documentaries to watch...
© 2024 Netflix, Inc.Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Can I Tell You A Secret?
Though undoubtedly a true crime documentary, Can I Tell You A Secret? may hit home harder than most. It tells the story of three survivors of the UK's most prolific cyberstalker, Matthew Hardy, outlining his lengthy stalking campaign via social media, the manipulation of his victims and the painfully long time it took for him to be prosecuted for his crimes. An important but difficult watch.
© 2023 Netflix, Inc.Inspirational Stories:
Beckham
This documentary provides the ultimate peek behind the curtain, following David Beckham's journey into professional football and the world of celebrity. Look out for never-before-seen footage of one of the most famous sports stars in history, as well as his marriage to one of the biggest popstars of the '90s – Posh Spice herself.
Beckham is a fairly unflinching look at his career highs and lows and his take on fame and fortune – definitely not one to be missed, whether you're football mad or not.
Courtesy of NetflixWhen Music Is Life:
Jennifer Lopez: Halftime
We all love Jennifer Lopez, AKA J.Lo, AKA Jenny from the Block, for her singing, acting and dancing endeavours which she makes look so easy. But her grind is unbelievably gruelling, as is depicted in her documentary Halftime. With a significant focus on the weeks before her big Super Bowl LIV halftime show, viewers can expect to see the star reflect on her career, relationships and pressures of being in the spotlight.
NetflixWhen Music Is Life:
Homecoming
First, it was Katy Perry, then Lady Gaga and then Netflix confirmed a feature-length documentary with the one and only Beyonce. Homecoming: A Film By Beyonce will celebrate the singer’s historic 2018 performance at Coachella, which saw her become the first black woman to headline the California festival. Yaaas Queen B!
When Music Is Life:
BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky
In this doc, you will get a real insight into life as a K-POP global phenomenon, the ups and the downs, and their interesting come-up stories as cameras follow all four members of BLACKPINK. You can hear it all from the horses’ mouths!
NetflixWhen Music Is Life:
Voices of Fire
If you love a bit of gospel music (seriously, who doesn't?), you need to check out Voices of Fire. It's a musical docu-series that follows Pharrell and his uncle Bishop Ezekiel Williams as they search for talented singers to build the world's best gospel choir.
NetflixWhen Music Is Life:
What Happened, Miss Simone?
There's a reason this seriously compelling documentary, about the life and work of Nina Simone, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Feature). This remarkable woman was so much more than a singer and musician – she was an activist who wanted real change – and this movie, with her most-loved music, shows that.
NetflixWhen Music Is Life:
Miss Americana
Ever wondered what it is really like to be Taylor Swift? This documentary takes a BTS look at the life of the pop star as she navigates making new music, haters and a new relationship. She is truly a queen.
When Music Is Life:
Gaga: Five Foot Two
Picking up where Katy Perry's documentary left off, this film reveals the woman behind the meat dress. Filmmaker Chris Moukarbel follows Lady Gaga as she records her latest album, Joanne and her journey towards her now infamous Super Bowl half-time performance, including her battles with severe illness.
Courtesy of NetflixInspirational Stories:
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story
This is an inspiring watch of celebrated skateboarder Leo Baker, who reflects on his rise to fame within the sport and his career clash with his self-discovery of coming out as a trans man.
Inspirational Stories:
Knock Down The House
Your weekend viewing is sorted by way of Knock Down The House, a compelling feature-length film about four remarkable women who ran primary campaigns in the 2018 midterm elections. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – the youngest woman in history to be elected into Congress at 29 – stands out as the star of the show.
Inspirational Stories:
Becoming
If you are looking for an inspirational story about an inspirational woman, you don’t have to look too far from former yet forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama. This “intimate” and “feel-good” documentary chronicles Obama’s experiences after her husband's presidency ended, in her own words, and we simply can't get enough of it.
NETFLIXInspirational Stories:
Naomi Osaka
An intimate series based on one of the most gifted young tennis players Naomi Osaka, which follows the tough decisions she faced and the triumphs that helped shape her into becoming the celebrated athlete she is today.
NETFLIXInspirational Stories:
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
The awe-inspiring journey of Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja, who embarks on a seemingly impossible challenge to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in seven months. Impressive stuff.
Inspirational Stories:
RBG
Talking about inspirational women. This Oscar-nominated 2018 documentary gives you an intimate insight into the women's rights activist, liberal hero, millennial pop culture icon, the ultimate feminist Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A true testament that although the passing of RBG in 2020 was a devastating moment for the world, her legacy lives on. This is a must-watch.
Inspirational Stories:
The Last Dance
A deep-dive into basketball's biggest cultural star, Michael Jordan, and the iconic era of the 1990s Chicago Bulls. Using unaired footage from the 1997-98 season, when they went for their sixth NBA title in eight seasons, The Last Dance follows Jordan's remarkable career as well as the multiple championship-winning sides that would make sporting history.
NetflixSurvivors Stories:
Room 2806: The Accusation
This documentary is based on the sexual assault case of French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the height of his career.
Survivors Stories:
Athlete A
A new documentary from Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk sheds new light on the years of abuse female gymnasts on Team USA suffered at the hands of Olympic doctor, Larry Nassar. It is a very powerful one-off documentary film about the power of survivors.
Survivors Stories:
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
This documentary gives insight into the life of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and how he used his wealth and power to be able to manipulate others and carry out his abuse, including stories directly from survivors.
Survivors Stories:
Seeing Allred
This popular women's rights attorney Gloria Allred is known for taking on the biggest domestic abuse and sexual violence allegations in the USA for decades. In this documentary, we can see her take on two of the biggest adversaries of her career: Bill Cosby and Donald Trump.
NetflixDirty Politics:
Trump: An American Dream
If the above wasn’t enough (we don’t blame you, American politics got us hooked like a bad futuristic dystopian drama), then you should tune in to this documentary. There were red flags all along, but if you want to dig deep into DT’s crazy and privileged life story. Trump: An American Dream is a four-part series looking at Trump's life through five decades, including his career path leading up to his presidential run.
Dirty Politics:
Get Me Roger Stone
Have you ever heard of Roger Stone? Republican political strategist and lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime advisor and spin doctor to Donald Trump. This documentary runs you through this spin doctor’s fascinating, almost satirical and yet sickening tricks of manipulation to get DT to the white house. Come to find that behind all the madness, there are even more mad people.
Dirty Politics:
Dirty Money
This brilliant investigative docu-series shows how some of the systems that make rich people richer may not always be done through legal and moral methods. Each episode takes a look at stories of scandal and corruption in business, exposing acts of corporate greed and corruption. Exposing brands like big banks and their roles in drug money laundering, car companies and Donald Trump's business empire.
NetflixDirty Politics:
Flint Town
This is another new docu-series which is gathering serious attention. And we can see why. From the point of view of the police force in Flint, Michigan, we're taken into the heart of the town's troubles, from poisonous water to crime, drugs and poverty.
Drugs But No Rock & Roll:
How To Fix a Drug Scandal
Two respected drug lab chemists, Sonja Farak and Annie Dookhan, start tampering with evidence, and things start to unravel. With the after-effects involving potentially the freedom of hundreds of innocent people, this case cripples a state's judicial system and keeps you gripped for all four episodes.
Drugs But No Rock & Roll:
Drug Lords
If Narcos has fuelled your curiosity on the rise and fall of the biggest kingpins, their terrifying enforcers and the front-line soldiers in the war against drugs, then this docu-series is for you.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Capturing The Killer Nurse
This real-life shocker became the premise of a movie in 2022 starring Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne. However, this documentary takes a closer look at how investigators proved that serial killer Charles Cullen took the lives of multiple patients while working in several hospitals and nursing homes as a nurse across the United States.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
The Texas Killing Fields
If there is one thing Netflix has taught us about ourselves, it's that we all love a good ol' crime doc. So prepared to get hooked on the latest crime saga, Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, which focuses on the brutal slayings of thirty females between the seventies and nineties across a 25-acre stretch of land between Houston and Galveston.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Unsolved Mysteries
The first season of Netflix's true crime documentary Unsolved Mysteries dominated the 'Top 10' list, with viewers trying to figure out what had happened in the mysterious cases which were never solved. And now it's back for a second series, and we couldn't be more excited.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Carmel: Who Killed María Marta?
María Marta García Belsunce's murder led to one of the most controversial criminal cases Argentina has ever seen. María was found dead in her bathtub in 2002, and officials believed she had fallen and hit her head on a tap. But the autopsy revealed that María had been shot in the head five times before being left in the bath.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Amanda Knox
Amanda Knox was twice convicted and acquitted of the murder of 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher in their year abroad in Italy. Amanda Knox herself and the people closest to her case speak out in this dividing and intriguing.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Tiger King
This documentary has it all: murder, multiple marriages, cults, hit men, drug lords and big cats as we follow the life of Joseph Schreibvogel, a zoo keeper in America who comes up against an animal rights activist.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Don't F**k With Cats
A group of online amateur detectives attempt to track down a killer who starts by uploading videos of him torturing cats before he takes it another step further. It's dark.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
This documentary shows how Aaron Hernandez went from a celebrated NFL star to a convicted killer as Netflix traces his spiralling mind through interviews with fellow players, friends and family. There are so many twists and turns you won't believe your eyes.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
This heartbreaking documentary is about an eight-year-old boy who was tortured and abused by his mother and her boyfriend until he died. We get a shocking insight into how law enforcement and family services ignored signs of abuse, into the trial of Gabriel's killers, and the charges brought against the four social workers assigned to the case — something that had never happened before.
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Devil Next Door
Five-part documentary series Devil Next Door explores the real-life case of John Demjanjuk, who was sentenced to death in 1988 for having been a guard at a Nazi concentration camp during WW11, which he vehemently denied. Was he guilty? Was he wrongfully convicted? You'll have to tune in to find out.
Yet Demjanjuk adamantly insisted it was a case of mistaken identity and that he wasn't the man people said he was. So was he wrongfully convicted, or was he trying to deny his disturbing past?
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
The Disappearance of Madeline McCann
Another absorbing documentary all about the case of Madeline McCann’s disappearance! I can assure you for eight hours; you are glued to the tv, watching back-to-back episodes, wanting to know more. This gripping series leaves you bringing your inner detective to the surface…. What happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen?
NetflixCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Ted Bundy Tapes
This engrossing series is all about the notorious killer Ted Bundy. This includes archival footage and audio recordings made on death row and present-day interviews… this leaves you with all-over body shivers and every hair standing upright!
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Abducted in Plain Sight
Literally, everyone is talking about this mind-blowing documentary about an Idaho family whose sociopathic neighbour becomes fixated on their 12-year-old daughter. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Making A Murderer
After spending nearly twenty years in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit, Steven Avery took revenge against his prosecutors and filled a law suit against Manitowoc County and the key characters in his arrest. Whether or not, he did in fact commit the murder of twenty-five-year old, Teresa Halbach the case has become of the most discussed crime mysteries of recent times.
NETFLIXCrime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story
A horrifying look at the 450 allegations of sexual assault and abuse against UK television personality Jimmy Savile shortly after he died in 2011.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
The Staircase
Novelist Michael Peterson called 911 in 2001, claiming he had found his wife covered in blood, having fallen down the stairs of their house. However, the police and medical team who attended the scene believed the injuries were that of someone who had been murdered. The husband became the chief suspect, and a blaze of publicity followed his trial before he was acquitted of any crime. Featuring interviews with the suspect, his legal team, family and friends, this documentary is one of the best 'who did it' docuseries around.
Crime (Because This Is What You Really Came For):
Trial by Media
As the name suggests, this true crime series shows how six different trials were examined with a focus on how the media may have impacted the verdicts.
Social Media Gone Wrong:
Money Shot: The Pornhub Story
With the help of interviews with performers, activists and past employees, this candid, eye-opening documentary sheds light on the scandals and success of the most famous adult website in the world, which has faced allegations of non-consensual material and trafficking content on the site. Significantly Money Shot: The Pornhub Story has helped drive essential conversations about sex and consent online and in the real world.
NetflixSocial Media Gone Wrong:
The Social Dilemma
The Social Dilemma, Netflix's freaky documentary, takes a deep dive into the terrifying reality of social media apps and how tech giants have altered human psychology. Digital detox, anyone?
NETFLIXSocial Media Gone Wrong:
The Most Hated Man On The Internet
This doc follows the shocking wrongdoings of Hunter Moore and his website Is Anyone Up?; a pornographic site based on stolen and hacked photos, and the struggle to take the website down and bring justice to his victims.
Social Media Gone Wrong:
Fyre
Directed by Chris Smith, this mind-blowing investigative documentary tracks the infamous story of ‘the greatest party that never happended’. Prepare to be gripped, entertained and horrified in one 90 minute sitting.
NetflixGuilty Until Proven Guilty - Vindication Stories:
Trial 4
This true crime documentary follows the story of Sean K. Ellis, a man charged as a teen for the 1993 killing of a Boston cop, who fights to prove his innocence while taking on systemic racism poisoning the justice system and corrupting the police force.
Guilty Until Proven Guilty - Vindication Stories:
TIME: The Kalief Browder Story
This devastating and heartbreaking series depicts the tragic case of Kalief Browder, a Bronx teenager who spent three horrific years in jail, accused of stealing a backpack, despite never being convicted of the crime. This is a tear-jerker, so not for sensitive eyes.
Guilty Until Proven Guilty - Vindication Stories:
Oprah Winfrey Presents: When They See Us Now
You may or may not have heard of Central Park 5 or seen when They See Us, but before you jump into this heartbreaking reunion, please watch the series first. The cast and the exonerated men once known as the Central Park Five from the actual story sat down with Oprah Winfrey to tell their story in their own words.
Guilty Until Proven Guilty - Vindication Stories:
Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story
You might have heard of this name through celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, who were natural advocates for her freedom and helped convince the Tennessee Governor to grant Brown clementine. The premise of the documentary, though revolves around Cyntoia Brown herself, who was 16 years old when she shot and killed Johnny Michael Allen in 2004.
Guilty Until Proven Guilty - Vindication Stories:
Long Shot
This unbelievable real-life story of an innocent man who is accused of murder, leading his attorney on a wild chase to confirm his alibi using CCTV from a televised baseball match, will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
NetflixWorld Views:
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
We all love a celeb-fronted documentary – and it's even better when we learn a thing or two. Former High School Musical star Zac Efron fronts the docuseries Down to Earth which sees him travel across the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a bid to find healthy, sustainable ways to live.
NetflixWorld Views:
The Ivory Game
As African elephants become even more endangered, filmmakers and wildlife activists take on poachers and ivory dealers in this must-watch doc.
NetflixWorld Views:
Daughters of Destiny
Filmed over seven years, Daughters of Destiny follows a group of girls in rural India who are part of the country's most impoverished families. The girls attend the Shanti Bhavan school, which provides free education to poverty-stricken children. You'll be totally absorbed in and bowled over by their journey for a brighter future.
Heart Warming:
Pamela: A Love Story
Baywatch icon Pamela Anderson reflects on her rise to fame from a small-town Canadian girl to a bonafide glamorous Hollywood bombshell. She reclaims her power as she speaks on her rocky romances and what really happened with the infamous sex tape scandal that turned her life upside down.
Heart Warming:
Dogs
A documentary series that celebrates the deep bonds between humans and their canine companions. Heaven!
NetflixHeart Warming:
Babies
Ever wondered what babies are thinking? Or what do they really want? Well, this documentary series takes a look at the brain waves of babies, and it goes some way in answering the long-asked question, is it nature or nurture when it comes to human development?
NetflixHeart Warming:
Tig
Do you ever find yourself laughing uncomfortably when the universe is against you? Those times when everything seems so bleak, you find yourself saying “You’ve just got to laugh!”
That’s exactly what comic Tig Notaro did, and her legendary stand-up set is the basis for this documentary. The set where, in 2012, she announced her breast cancer diagnosis shortly after being diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection and the death of her mother. Her search for humour amid devastation is unforgettable.
NetflixPulling On Your Heartstrings:
Living Undocumented
Selena Gomez's eye-opening Netflix documentary about the shocking reality of undocumented immigrants living in the United States has been widely praised for highlighting a growing problem. “A huge part of why I wanted to be a part of this is to also be a voice for so many people who can’t and are terrified to speak about it,” stated Selena. You won't want to miss a minute.
Wild Stories:
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
It was a scandal indeed when it landed on Netflix and showed us just how much you can get away with while growing up in privilege before your pst inevitably comes back to haunt you. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal centres on the titular Murdaughs, a prominent family in South Carolina whose supposed legacy unravels following a fatal boating accident and brings to light the most unimaginable corruption, mishandling of power and cover-ups.
Wild Stories:
Our Father
Probably one of the most shocking documentaries on our list, Our Father unravels the story of fertility specialist Doctor Donald Cline and a horrifying scheme involving donor sperm after a woman's at-home DNA test revealed a whole set of multiple half-siblings she never knew about.
Wild Stories:
Three Wives, One Husband
In this fascinating Netflix documentary, filmakers spend one year in the Mormon community of Rockland Ranch where it is tradition for men to have more than one wife. While it will leave the feminist in you raging, it is SO addictive. We challenge you to not binge the whole series in one sitting.
NETFLIXWild Stories:
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
A shocking look into the fraudulent methods used by Rick Singer to get the children of rich and famous families into top American universities. Lori Loughlin used this method to get her daughter Olivia Jade into USC.
NetflixWild Stories:
Wild Wild Country
You’ve probably heard of Wild Wild Country as it’s been storming our social media feeds since its worldwide release on 16 March. The six-part documentary follows Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, an Indian spiritual guru and alleged sex cult leader, who created a ‘utopian city’ in the desert in 1980s Oregon. It’s a story ‘full of unbelievable twists’, so it’s no wonder the series has already received a 100% rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes.
NETFLIXSporting Stories
Icarus
The 2019 documentary Icarus follows filmmaker Bryan Fogel as he sets out to uncover the truth about dropping in sports, especially within amateur cycling. A chance meeting with Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory, unexpectedly elevates his research.
NETFLIXSporting Stories:
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
This documentary, produced in a collaboration between Netflix and Formula One, is an exhilarating watch by all means as it gives viewers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the drivers and races of the Formula One World Championship.
NETFLIXOur Planet:
Seaspiracy
Told by British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi, Seaspiracy is a harrowing documentary film about the environmental impact of fishing and its impact on marine life.
NETFLIXOur Planet:
Our Great National Parks
Narrated by former US President Barack Obama, this docuseries discovers the power of the planet's greatest national parks and wild spaces.
NETFLIXOur Planet:
My Octopus Teacher
This documentary follows a filmmaker who develops an unusual friendship with an octopus in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa. Were invested!
NETFLIXInjustice:
13th
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay sets out to explore the issue of racial inequality in the USA. She focuses on the fact that America's prisons are disproportionately filled with African-American inmates.
