Netflix‘s documentary library is ridiculous — so excellent it is nearly overwhelming. That is why we now have made up our minds to make this listing: Our choices for the easiest Netflix has to supply.
This is how we are breaking issues down. We are beginning with the easiest up most sensible, then the remaining indexed by way of style.
Just right good fortune and satisfied staring at!
The Easiest Documentaries on Netflix
Netflix
Stay Candy: Pray and Obey
There are a large number of Netflix documentaries about cults long past mad, however Stay Candy: Pray and Obey could be probably the most annoying of the lot. In contrast to Homicide A number of the Mormons, which nearly handled its matter like a screwball comedy, Stay Candy is an excessively grim tale a couple of grim human being in Warren Jeffs. It is an implausible documentary, and one of the best Netflix has produced, but it surely comes with an excessively hefty content material caution.
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As excellent as Netflix documentaries are, there is been an inclination to pull true crime out into those bloated multi episode collection. Fortunately Our Father is the other of that. It is a lean, completely done documentary interested by Donald Cline, an Indiana fertility Physician who used his personal sperm to inseminate a daft quantity of girls towards their will.
That is a fantastic piece. A kind of tales that simply escalates and escalates to the purpose the place you are jaw is losing in disbelief.
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The real crime documentary style is completely saturated at this level, however The Staircase sticks out.
That specialize in Michael Peterson and the loss of life of his spouse Kathleen, The Staircase is greater than only a homicide thriller. It is a drawn-out epic that takes position over literal a long time, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his each transfer, however by hook or by crook nonetheless stays goal.
It is a excellent time to look at or revisit this one, since HBO Max have simply introduced a drama mini collection in accordance with it.
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Barack Obama’s is creating a beeline for David Attenborough’s process. And we do not hate the speculation!
Our Nice Nationwide Parks is an international elegance nature documentary within the taste of serious BBC displays like Planet Earth. They have got nailed it right here. In case you are keen on that form of display that is totally unmissable.
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System 1: Pressure to Continue to exist
Absolutely the gold usual for lengthy operating sports activities documentaries. Pressure to Continue to exist is so excellent, and so in style, that it is impressed a complete new stage of hobby in System 1, particularly in the USA. This display is superb at raising the characters that occupy the game. Extra displays like this please.
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This Oscar-winning documentary is an absolute belter.
Icarus begins out as an disclose at the affect performance-enhancing medicine have on sports activities functionality, however a chain of occasions drags director Bryan Fogel right into a internet of geopolitics and conspiracies. To mention extra would break it, however Fogel in the end has created a documentary that had an excessively actual affect on our belief of sports activities as a complete. In that appreciate, Icarus is a literal recreation changer.
Netflix
I have watched various true crime documentaries on Netflix, however not anything has come just about The Keepers. A staggering tale, informed throughout generations, that is respectful of the sufferers, but compelling during.
It is a tale concerning the unsolved homicide of Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught at a Catholic faculty in Baltimore, however The Keepers is going additional than you could be expecting and exposes a possible duvet up of intercourse abuse allegations.
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Who Killed Little Gregory (2019)
Who Killed Little Gregory is a documentary targeted at the horrific homicide of Grégory Villemin. It is arguably the most efficient true crime documentary on Netflix. It is a couple of homicide, and makes an attempt to resolve that homicide, however it is usually a lesson in media illustration and the horrific sexism Grégory’s mom needed to face within the wake her personal son’s homicide.
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In 2020, in the course of a virulent disease, Netflix dropped this piece of sports activities document perfection.
The Ultimate Dance specializes in the Chicago Bulls all over their 97-98 NBA identify successful season, however in point of fact it is a leaping off level for a documentary that tells the existence tale of its central superstar, Michael Jordan.
Because of this, many criticized it for being just a little too Jordan-focused, however The Ultimate Dance used to be an match documentary that lived as much as the hype.
Netflix
thirteenth by way of Ava Duvernay is a staggering documentary that tells the tale of American slavery and its long-lasting affects, lots of which nonetheless resonate nowadays.
Within the wake of the Black Lives Topic motion, this must be necessary viewing.
True crime
Michael Putland/Getty Pictures
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Tale
It is nearly not possible to overstate how well-known Jimmy Savile used to be in the United Kingdom — in particular within the Nineteen Eighties. He used to be past a family title, in some ways he felt like an eccentric Uncle to the country.
Which made revelations he had sexually assaulted actually masses of underage boys and girls all of the extra horrific. This used to be an individual the entire of Britain had invited into their houses.
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Tale does an excellent process of going in the course of the archives, combining photos this is completely atypical in hindsight, and including implausible interviews with one of the crucial primary gamers in British TV all over Savile’s heyday. An enchanting, albeit annoying documentary. Be warned: This can be a tricky watch,
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The Tinder Swindler (2022)
A documentary interested by Shimon Hayut, AKA “Tinder Swindler”, a conman who used relationship apps to defraud a couple of ladies throughout Europe to fund a lavish way of life.
A relatively other matter in comparison to maximum true crime documentaries on Netflix. Undoubtedly value a gander.
Netflix
The Raincoat Killer (2021)
This present day its uncommon to look at a lean, blank direct true to crime display that does not drag issues out, or intentionally obfuscate details for the sake of drama. However that is precisely why The Raincoat Killer is so excellent, and distinctive.
It is a complete, nice have a look at The Raincoat Killer, a brutal serial killer in South Korea. It is one of the vital higher true crime documentaries on Netflix.
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Space of Secrets and techniques: The Burari Deaths (2021)
One of the most newer true crime documentaries from Netflix, this can be a excellent one.
That specialize in the atypical deaths of eleven members of the family in a single space in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018, Space of Secrets and techniques delves into the theories in the back of of the strangest suicide/homicide instances in fresh reminiscence. Unmissable stuff.
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This Is a Theft is set Netflix because it will get. A four-part collection that specialize in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, that is necessarily a documentary about an artwork heist. Take note Evil Genius? (Which could also be in this listing.) This Is a Theft may be very a lot in that taste. The primary episode takes some time to get going, however be affected person — this one has a repay.
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Homicide A number of the Mormons (2021)
A few of Netflix’s newer true crime documentaries were slightly bloated and… sorta dangerous?
Fortunately Homicide A number of the Mormons is a go back to shape. Undoubtedly watch this one.
Netflix
American Homicide: The Circle of relatives Subsequent Door (2020)
There are a large number of true crime documentaries in the market (and in this listing) however American Homicide: The Circle of relatives Subsequent Door stands out.
It tells the tale of Chris Watts, a reputedly common man who murdered his spouse and youngsters. The get right of entry to to photos is staggering and it is edited and produced in a singular manner, the use of textual content messages and social media posts to inform the tale. It is a horrific reminder of the banal, extremely not unusual lifestyles of home violence.
Netflix
Making A Assassin (2015-2018)
With the swathe of true crime documentaries and podcasts that got here in its wake, it is simple to overlook that the sector as soon as misplaced its collective thoughts over Making A Assassin. In a large number of techniques it created the template that many Netflix documentaries now apply. An actual unique.
Nature/science
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Seaspiracy follows within the footsteps of a couple of documentaries targeted at the affect of meat consuming at the setting. This time the worldwide fishing trade is within the crosshairs. As anticipated this one has stirred up slightly 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 Trainer (2020)
My Octopus Trainer follows Craig Foster, a filmmaker who spent a 12 months snorkelling and interacting with an octopus off the coast of South Africa. It is a nature movie, certain, however it is concurrently a documentary designed to encourage awe within the viewer. Briefly, octopi are improbable. Little extraterrestrial beings on Earth, necessarily. That is the tale of a courting between people and nature however it is usually an inspiring name to motion: Do not forget about the sweetness that exists throughout you.
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David Attenborough nature documentaries are so ubiquitous they are at risk of self parody, however Our Planet is — I consider — the prime watermark. Best Planet Earth, every other Attenborough docu, comes shut. However I desire this one.
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Time might boring its affect, but if Tiger King used to be first launched on Netflix, all of the global could not forestall speaking about it.
Tiger King explores the unusual underbelly of huge cat breeding, that specialize in a solid of unforgettable (and in the end unhealthy) characters. It drags its target market to bizarre puts. Season 2 is now to be had and whilst the display has misplaced a large number of its chunk, it is intriguing to meet up with this solid of untamed human beings doing wild, totally outlandish issues.
Sports activities
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14 Peaks tells the tale of the Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his objective of hiking all 14 mountains above the peak of 8000 metres in 12 months. It is improbable. Should watch stuff.
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Netflix would possibly have burned the True Crime documentary into the bottom, however it is on fireplace in terms of sports activities. Dangerous Game is the newest access into this burgeoning sub class, and it is superior. That specialize in unusual controversies in sports activities historical past, Dangerous Game is much less about primary gamers doing primary issues, it is about what occurs when game is going 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 Unfastened Solo for kayaking. Believe {that a} praise.
That specialize in Scott Lindgren, a kayaking legend who used to be an early pioneer of the game, this can be a conventional tale of an excessive sports activities superstar overcoming odds, but it surely runs just a little deeper than that. Preventing towards a mind tumour and his personal non-public demons, Lindgren is a compelling case learn about. Should watch stuff.
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Untold is the newest from the parents in the back of Wild Wild Nation.
It is a sports activities documentary collection, with every episode going in-depth on arguable sports activities subjects. The primary episode specializes in Malice on the Palace, the infamous basketball fit the place Ron Artest waded into the gang and wailed on enthusiasts again in 2004.
The second one episode specializes in Christie Martin, the feminine boxer from the 80s who become well-known after combating on Mike Tyson’s undercard.
It is launched weekly and, thus far so excellent. It is very 30 for 30 — which is a superb factor.
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Naomi Osaka has change into one of the crucial well-known and mentioned athletes on this planet. This interesting documentary explores other levels of her profession and provides improbable get right of entry to into the lifetime of a tender lady suffering with the pressures of game and status. A should watch.
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Athlete A is a brilliant characteristic period disclose on Larry Nassar, the staff document of US Gymnastics, who have been sexually abusing feminine athletes for many years.
Be warned: This one is harrowing.
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In case you are on the lookout for a relatively extra uplifting documentary, it’s good to do a ways worse than The Pace Cubers, a have a look at the sector of aggressive rubix… cubers? It is brief, however packs a fantastic emotional punch. Get ready your self, this one would possibly smash you.
Politics/historical past
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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 noticed it, then watch it.
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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 fresh documentaries. Fortunately, this is not as bloated as, say, the fresh Cecil Lodge docu, however it will nonetheless use some trimming.
Operation Varsity Blues targeted at the FBI investigation into school admissions that put actress Felicity Huffman into prison. Its director Chris Smith prior to now labored at the Fyre Competition documentary. This is not moderately as compelling, however continues to be neatly value staring at.
Sundance
Knock Down the Space (2019)
Irrespective of your perspectives on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Knock Down The Home is a fantastic underdog tale that can’t be overlooked. That specialize in revolutionary feminine applicants all over the 2018 congressional number one campaigns, it is an insightful have a look at the democratic procedure. It is an inspiring reminder that we want to combat to be able to make the voices of abnormal other people depend.
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What Came about, Pass over Simone? (2015)
No longer gonna say a lot right here. Nina Simone is a legend and that is perhaps one of the vital perfect documentaries I have ever noticed.
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Overlong and bloated, Wild Wild Nation is nonetheless one of the crucial interesting documentaries I have ever watched on Netflix.
It tells the tale of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajnees, who tried to construct a big sprawling commune, for what used to be necessarily a intercourse cult, in the US. It is a unusual tale that by hook or by crook turns into stranger with age. Just like Tiger King the tale plumbs depths you will not consider. Now and then it is a slog, however Wild Wild Nation is admittedly profitable.
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I completely adore this documentary. 5 present acclaimed administrators (together with Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola) lend a hand inform the tale of 5 well-known film administrators from the ’30s and ’40s who did frontline paintings all over the 2d Global Conflict. It wraps their legacies along the affect of the conflict itself right into a really compelling tale of Hollywood’s golden age.
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Any other Oscar winner for Netflix, this documentary is the primary produced by way of Barack and Michelle Obama’s Upper Floor Productions staff.
American Manufacturing unit tells the tale of Fuyao, a Chinese language corporate that constructed a manufacturing facility in Ohio that inhabits a now-closed Normal Motors plant. It’s important to watch this film.
Netflix
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy (2020)
Through this level all of us have some type of figuring out of Jeffrey Epstein’s tale however Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy does itself an excellent carrier by way of that specialize in the tales of the survivors of his abuse.
The Cinemart/Hulu
Fyre: The Largest Celebration That By no means Came about (2019)
Hulu additionally has an excellent Fyre competition documentary, however I desire this Netflix one. In contrast to many Netflix documentaries, that are stretched and bloated into multi-part episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and cast gold all of the manner thru.