In a world that’s increasingly becoming information-hungry, documentaries are one of the most entertaining mediums that deliver factual information to those seeking it. Documentaries on intriguing themes such as true crimes, sports, politics, nature, science, etc are very popular among viewers. Insights from experts, ground reporting, captivating narration, and screenplay make documentaries extremely engaging. You will find some of the best documentaries on Netflix, belonging to a wide range of genres that will educate and entertain your curious soul.
The Best Documentaries On Netflix
- House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths
- The Last Dance
- The Tinder Swindler
- Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
- Icarus
- A Suitable Girl
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive
- Fantastic Fungi
- Bad Boy Billionaires: India
- The Social Dilemma
- Crime Stories: India Detectives
- Challenger: The Final Flight
- Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
- Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
- Miss Americana: Taylor Swift
- Becoming
- What The Health
- The Great Hack
- Three Songs for Benezair
- Coded Bias
- Untold: Caitlyn Jenner
- Rotten
- Seaspiracy
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
- Period. End Of Sentence.
- Blackpink: Light Up the Sky
- Money Heist: The Phenomenon
- The Game Changers
- The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
Picking the best documentaries to watch on Netflix from an enormous content library can get really confusing. This is why we have taken care of the hard part for you! We have narrowed down some of the best documentaries on Netflix that you must check out.
House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths
What police discovered on the morning of 1st July 2018, at the Chundawat Residence was nothing short of horrifying. Ten dead bodies hung from the ceiling while one lay strangulated. All of the deceased were identified as members of the Chundawat family that lived together in that very house. The three-part crime documentary tries to unravel the real motive behind this seemingly bizarre mass suicide amongst a pool of conspiracies.
Genre: True crime documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
The Last Dance
A ten-part docu-series about the most celebrated basketball player- Michael Jordan. Through never-seen-before BTS footage of his 1997-98 season with the Chicago Bulls, get to know the decorated Hall of Famer like never before. This is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that also sheds light on some of the other career-defining moments of Micheal’s sporting career and his emergence as a global brand.
Genre: Sports documentary
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
The Tinder Swindler
In a time where online dating is the norm, can you trust anyone you meet on the internet? The Tinder Swindler is among the best documentaries on Netflix that tells the tale of a real-life con man pretending to be a billionaire gentleman on the popular dating app. He managed to swindle millions of dollars out of ladies looking for love on the app before some of his victims plot a plan to get their revenge.
Genre: True crime documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians
Take a look behind the scenes of the most successful IPL franchise- The Mumbai Indians. This 8-episode documentary takes you on a journey with the team, seeking to defend their title in the 2018 IPL season. Hop on the emotional roller coaster through the good times and the bad, showing what it really takes to win the biggest T20 competition in the world. It is one of the best Netflix documentaries, and is a must-watch for all the cricket fanatics and especially fans of Mumbai Indians.
Genre: Sports documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
A four-part documentary showing how Jefferey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, repeatedly got away with his crimes for a long time leveraging his money and power. The documentary crew interviews several survivors who open up about the abuse, manipulation and emotional scars that they suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, exposing an international sex trafficking ring.
Genre: True crime documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Icarus
The Olympics is undoubtedly the biggest sporting spectacle in the world. The event however has always had its fair share of scandals that have brought its credibility into question. Bryan Fogel, a filmmaker curious about an alleged doping culture in sport is on a mission to find some answers. In his mission, he meets Grigory Rodchenkov, head of an anti-doping lab in Russia, and stumbles upon an Olympic doping program sponsored by the state itself. It is only on further investigation that Bryan realizes the depth of what he has uncovered and its ramifications on the sport. Icarus is one of the best documentaries on Netflix, and is a must-watch!
Genre: True crime documentary, Sports documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
A Suitable Girl
The documentary follows the lives of three young women in India, fighting for a life of freedom in a society drenched in patriarchy. With an ever-increasing pressure to get an arranged marriage looming over them, the girls find themselves yearning for identity detached from their husbands. This eye-opening documentary does a tremendous job of highlighting the trials and tribulations that millions of young women in our country still go through because of existing orthodox social ills.
Genre: Social documentary
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Formula 1: Drive To Survive
The Drive To Survive series has been responsible for bringing in loads of new fans to the sport every year. Curious to know what goes on behind closed doors in the world of F1? Watch the series to find out! Every season of the show captures the drama of the recently concluded F1 Championships. Exclusive interviews with the drivers, team principles, and F1 journalists combined with the adrenaline-fueled on-track action produce gripping storylines that will keep you engaged throughout. This is among the best documentaries on Netflix that you’ve gotta watch!
Genre: Sports documentary
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Fantastic Fungi
Our planet earth is a majestic place filled with fascinating organisms performing functions that are vital to the sustenance of the ecosystem. Believe it or not, fungi are one of those organisms that we often overlook but are rather indispensable. Through a descriptive time-lapse, the documentary explains the role of fungi in the regeneration of life on Earth. It is a treat to watch for all the curious souls hungry for scientific knowledge!
Genre: Nature documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Bad Boy Billionaires: India
Bad Boy Billionaires is one of the best documentaries on Netflix which investigates monetary scams of four Indian business tycoons accused of corruption. The documentary sheds light on how Vijay Mallaya, Subrata Roy, Nirav Modi, and Ramalinga Raju raked in millions before each of their individual scams surfaced.
Genre: Investigative docuseries
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
The Social Dilemma
It’s no secret that the biggest social media platforms have tweaked their algorithms such that it keeps the users engaged, which eventually has detrimental effects on their mental wellbeing. The Social Dilemma is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that exposes these unethical social engagement algorithms through testimonies of ex-employees that had previously worked in social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
Genre: Documentary-drama
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Crime Stories: India Detectives
Live the life of law enforcement personnel of the Bengaluru City Police vicariously through this documentary on Netflix. Follow police officials from the time a case is reported and throughout its investigation. Gain insights on how the police operate and the work that is done to bring the criminals to justice.
Genre: True crime documentary series
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Challenger: The Final Flight
January 28, 1986- Just 73 seconds post-launch, the space shuttle challenger disintegrated into pieces, killing all the 7 astronauts on board. The live feed of the launch was televised to millions of Americans, who all got to witness the fatal disaster on their television sets. Challenger: The Final Flight is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that explores the circumstances that lead to the disaster, its aftermath on NASA, the national space program, and generations of American citizens.
Genre: Historical docuseries
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Ted Bundy Tapes is one of the best documentaries on Netflix about an infamous American serial killer that confessed to the homicides of 30 women between 1974 and 1978. The documentary features a collection of interviews that were taped while Ted Bundy was on death row. The chilling interview tapes let you get into the mind of the notorious serial killer who used his charm to lure young women before killing them in a gruesome fashion.
Genre: Biographical documentary, Crime documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
Bikram Chaudhary was the poster boy for the sudden surge of popularity of Yoga in North America during the 70s. He garnered a cult-like following of yoga devotees that saw him as a revered guru, which fuelled his rise as a business tycoon, owning multiple yoga studios in the States. However, the #MeToo movement brought forward a series of allegations of sexual assault against him by former devotees and aides. The documentary features interviews with the victims while also shedding light on his rise and how he continues to grow while evading investigation.
Genre: True crime documentary
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Miss Americana: Taylor Swift
There are already countless reasons to love Taylor Swift and this documentary provides us with many more. It is among the best documentaries on Netflix and it focuses on a transformational period in Taylor’s life, after the conclusion of her “Reputation Stadium Tour” in 2018. In the documentary, she talks about her struggles with body dysmorphia, her eating disorder, her mother’s cancer diagnosis, the toxic internet culture, and much more. She also talks about realizing the power her voice has, to bring social change and represent the voices of millions of women who idolize her.
Genre: Music documentary, Biographical documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Becoming
Follow Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States, on a tour where she is promoting her bestselling book: Becoming. Get behind the scenes access to the tour filled with unscripted moments and snippets of her powerful and moving speeches. The documentary serves as a great opportunity to learn more about the amazing lady.
Genre: Biographical documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
What The Health
What The Health is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that will help you gain perspective about highly processed food and its consequential impact on our well-being. The documentary’s narrative of possible collusion between the government, food producers, health organizations, and pharmaceutical companies to keep this eye-opening information a secret makes it an intriguing watch.
Genre: Food documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The Great Hack
The Great Hack is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that puts forth the alarming issue of data mining and the misuse of personal data for nefarious purposes. Using Cambridge Analytica as an example, the documentary reveals how the 2016 US Elections and the Brexit referendum were influenced using bots that manipulated social sentiment to skew the result in one way. A chilling expose on how democratic systems are now under threat and how public opinion can be distorted to create more friction.
Genre: Internet documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Three Songs For Benazir
A short heart-warming documentary about a newly married couple, Shaista and Benazir, starting a life together in a camp for the displaced in war-torn Kabul. A young Shaista must learn to balance his new matrimonial responsibilities along with his commitments towards the Afghan National Army. Surrounded by a volatile and hostile environment, Shiasta’s actions will have consequences on the life of his beloved Benazir.
Genre: Short documentary
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
Coded Bias
Is it silly to think that A.I., just like humans, have a racial bias? Joy Buolamwini, a media lab researcher at MIT is stunned to unravel the incompetence of facial recognition technology to identify dark-skinned faces. This is one of the best documentaries on Netflix that follows the journey as she sets off to get legislation in the US against the bias seeded in the algorithms by design.
Genre: Science documentary
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Untold: Caitlyn Jenner
A former celebrated male US Olympian’s struggle to find self-acceptance and transition into a female makes the premise for this documentary. In a world where the trans community still battles for basic rights, can Caitlyn Jenner’s journey help and inspire others like her?
Genre: Biographical documentary film
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Rotten
Are we truly aware of the consequences our eating habits have on the environment? Rotten investigates corporate corruption and food waste, a seemingly rampant problem among food producers. It does that by investigating high-profile scandals in each of its episodes, helping uncover the truths that have been hidden from us for a long time. This is among the best documentaries on Netflix that you just can’t miss.
Genre: Investigative documentary series
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Seaspiracy
Seaspiracy is undeniably one of the best documentaries on Netflix! Dive into the depth of the seas to witness the tragic effect human activities have had on marine life. From extraordinary volumes of plastic dumped in the ocean to fishing exponentially more than we need and the disastrous aftermath of many other human-introduced factors on the aquatic ecosystem shown in the documentary serve as an eye-opener.
Genre: Environmental documentary
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
What’s possibly more wholesome than listening to David Attenborough’s voice as he talks about nature? A Life on Our Planet is a call-to-action from David to all his viewers to do their part in preserving nature. In this documentary, he reflects on his life’s most memorable moments and comments on the impact human activities have had on nature.
Genre: Biographical documentary
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Period. End Of Sentence.
Simply one of the best documentaries on Netflix that talks about the social stigma around menstruation and how women still face discrimination because of it. Period. End Of Sentence. is a short film highlighting the story and struggles of a group of women in the rural outskirts of Delhi. After being devoid of access to feminine hygiene products for a long time, these women started manufacturing and marketing their brand of sanitary pads, in a bid to empower women who are victims of the orthodox mindset.
Genre: Short documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Blackpink: Light Up The Sky
There is no denying that K-Pop fever has taken over the world in no time. The all-female K-Pop group is one of those few music groups that have enjoyed an exponential rise to the top with a dedicated army of fans supporting them. Light Up The Sky takes you behind the scenes with interviews of group members, their recording process, and the performance rehearsal for Coachella 2019.
Genre: Music documentary, Biographical documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Money Heist: The Phenomenon
Miss watching Money Heist now that it’s over? Well, you are in luck because your favorite characters are back, taking you along to experience the riptide the show has created around the world! If you are a fan of Money Heist, this is one of the best documentaries on Netflix you can watch about it.
Genre: Behind-the-scenes documentary film
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
The Game Changers
A hard-hitting documentary that will compel you to relearn whatever you know about nutrition from meat-based diets. The Game Changers documents the adaptation of plant-based, sustainable diets by top-tier athletes and people of special forces. The documentary tears down some age-old myths that have been peddled for a long time to the detriment of our collective health.
Genre: Lifestyle documentary
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
The Puppet Master easily makes it to the list of the best documentaries on Netflix due to its intriguing story about a cunning conman. Robert Freegard, a British con artist, attained a cult-leader-like status after convincing his victims to abandon their friends and family and later extorting money from them. Although he was convicted in 2005 and put behind bars, he walks a free man today, but is he a changed person now? Watch to find out!
Genre: True crime docuseries
IMDb Rating: 7/10
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Featured Image: IMDb
