The Best Documentaries on Netflix: Whether it’s acquiring knowledge about a new religion, learning new facts about a momentous event, looking into the lives of a successful capitalist or a monstrous serial killer, real-life docs are on a rise in the modern era. Especially, with streaming giants like Netflix producing more content than ever before, we’re fortunate enough to chill on the couch and watch every bit on-screen rather than spending hours reading a book. So, we’ve made up your mind to go-through, curate and select some of the Best Documentaries on Netflix in terms of quality and content. Here are the results!
Last Updated on July 13, 2020.
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[Ranked in no particular order]
Brimming with love, peace, and affection and spreading positivity through his eloquent and radiant personality, Mucho Mucho Amor provides a peek behind the curtain of the world’s greatest astrologer, Walter Mercado, and his extravagant, intriguing and mysterious lifestyle. Starting with his initial beginnings in Puerto Rico as a young mystic to his early endeavors as an actor and a theater artist.
Shooting his first TV show by accident, earning global popularity, legal troubles, and his sudden exit off the television, it is indeed fascinating to watch everything operating behind this extravagant personality, and the filmmakers did a phenomenal job piecing everything together flawlessly. However, the primary objective of this documentary is to highlight Walter’s positive message to the world, mainly now when it’s the most needed, and this delightful documentary does it’s job decently. A must-watch. – Surya Komal
[This excerpt comes from Nirmal’s ‘Don’t F*ck With Cats’ review]
Directed by Mark Lewis, Don’t F*ck With Cats – a three-episode series on Netflix that focuses on a group of internet vigilantes who try to track down an asinine individual who posted videos of himself killing kittens on the interwebs. With a run time less than 180 minutes, Don’t F*ck With Cats could be a good backup to watch if you have nothing else. It is dark, disturbing-yet-intriguing to know about the life of a psychopath.
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator’ review]
A man who applauds himself by saying that he’s the most spiritual person you’ll ever meet in your life, the purest soul, and the divine entity who will change your life forever. “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator†recounts the life of Bikram Choudhury. The self-proclaimed inventor of Hot Yoga, multiple times “Yoga Champion†of India back in the 70s. And the Bad Boy of Yoga, who successfully manipulated a good amount of people, and used his immense power to take control of his students. Bhagwan Rajneesh vibes anyone?
Overall, “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator†effectively displayed the sinister character behind the man who masqueraded as Yoga’s greatest prodigy. Not denying the fact that his presence and teachings helped a huge amount of people but, it also equally destroyed quite a few of them mentally and emotionally. The documentary further proves the point to use your commonsense and not blindly follow someone despite all the warnings.
[This excerpt comes from Surya’s ‘The Devil Next Door’ review]
Premiered on November 4, 2019, the new Netflix documentary, The Devil Next Door recounts one of the most notorious criminal cases in history involving John Demjanjuk, who was accused of committing war crimes as a gas chamber guard at the Nazi concentration camps. This five-part limited series unfolds everything from the beginning until the end of the case and tries to give us a fair share of information of both the sides in a clear-cut manner. One of the Best Documentaries on Netflix.
What if someone told you that drinking milk is bad for you? And also, eating an egg will reflect on your health? You would be shocked! Right? You would end up saying “What Nonsense!†Well, in that case, there is something you need to know. Netflix has recently released a documentary called The Game Changers. And as the title appropriately suggests, the theme is based on a new ideology that will blow your mind away.
It showcases us a way of life we never imagined before. Hopefully, people realize this and start using it to their advantage. This will also improve the harmony between humans and animals and reduce further extinctions. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Watch The Game Changers and be illumed. – Shreeya Agarwal
Best Documentaries on Netflix: Recounting the events of Camp Fire – the deadliest and the most destructive wildfire in California history, “Fire in Paradise” showcases the harrowing trauma the city of Paradise went through before, during and after the incident.
In detail, the documentary opens during the early morning of November 8, 2018, when the people of Paradise (at least half of them) woke up to multiple emergency alerts that ordered them to evacuate immediately. Filled with testimonies by the residents and the police, accompanied by some cell phone and dashcam footage that displays the enormous scale and the massive wreckage the fire caused. This 40-minute documentary sheds light on the tragic stories and experiences of the civilians and the immediate realization of losing everything you love in a matter of hours.
“Fire in Paradise” is a must-watch not only to understand the colossal magnitude of the incident but, it also makes you recognise that you can lose everything that you own and love at any moment. – Surya Komal
Distributed by Obama’s production company, American Factory, an American-Chinese documentary sheds light on a few issues in the blue-collar job sector in America in the most appealing way possible. The general premise of this docu-film follows the establishment of Fuyao Glass, a Chinese glass manufacturing company in Dayton, Ohio. The company went on to employ over 2,000 local citizens of America and created a renaissance in their deteriorating neighborhood.
The entire one-hour fifty-minute narrative focuses on a bunch of individuals working in the company; American and Chinese. It concentrates more on their working habits, personal lives and so on, and gives us a brief explanation of the sacrifices they make to reach the company’s requirements. From the beginning till the end, this film is an interesting eye-opening observation on the process, requirements and the various problems these big-money corporation face on a day to day basis. And it is indeed equally surprising and fascinating to watch. – Surya Komal
Produced by Aamir Khan, Rubaru Roshni displays three different stories which have a common theme of forgiveness and kindheartedness. More on the general premise, the three stories focus on the bonding relationship between the family who lost their loved one through murder and the accused who committed the murder. Each story relays us with a significant message of grace and compassion and open-mindedness of people who are ready to forgive their enemies.
It is a film that will make you question yourself and the decisions you make in life and illustrates how a bit of forgiveness can change people lives. Rubaru Roshni is deeply emotional, and a heartwarming Best Documentaries on Netflix which needs more exposure. A must watch! – Surya Komal
The Great Hack recounts the Cambridge Analytica scandal which primarily comprised of targeted adverts run on Facebook during the time of the 2016 US Presidential Elections. The documentary follows the trials and tribulations as the whistle blowers describe how this whole plan came to fruition. And the enormous amount of data that this British-based company were able to obtain illegally. If you’re unaware or briefly know about this scandal, watch this documentary to understand how it single-handedly changed the result of the 2016 election. – Surya Komal
Documenting the never-attempted, mostly deadly and almost impossible free climb by two professional climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson. The Dawn Wall, presented by Red Bull Media House is and will remain as one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix and the most intense, inspiring documentary feature experiences you’ll ever watch. Recounting a remarkable story of love, confidence, hard work, perseverance, determination, courage and teamwork, this documentary will inspire you inside and out with the right amount of appeal and emotion. – Surya Komal
Writer/director Ava DuVernay’s four-part Netflix miniseries When They See Us is a timely reminder of a fragmented justice system and black prejudice that still exists in America. Built on true events and the 2012 documentary, The Central Park Five, When They See Us develops beyond the manifest content of racism and injustice and actually portrays the feelings and the struggles of the wrongfully accused boys and their families.
This mini-series asks the hard questions and makes you think. What is it like to look dead in the eyes of authority and feel helpless knowing that there is absolutely no one out there to save you? One of the Best Documentaries on Netflix that takes a look at systematic racism, the effects and the cause, strikes a note with its spellbinding performance and compelling storytelling. – Siddharthen
Amanda Knox, the 2016 American documentary chronicles an important phase in Amanda Knox’s and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito’s lives when they’re wrongfully convicted twice for the murder of Amanda’s roommate, Meredith Kercher. The entire 93-minute documentary features Amanda moving to Italy, dating her boyfriend, making friends around the town and ultimately getting her name involved in this complex murder case.
What’s fascinating about the story of Amanda is the amount of media attention it received throughout the world and how her trial became a commercial root to print and showcase several clichéd headlines. Additionally, the lack of negligence in the investigation shown by the Italian Police Department and the amount of chaos some of the verdicts caused among the communities were utterly fascinating to watch. One of the Best Documentaries on Netflix and highly recommended if you’re into the lore of true-crime. – Surya Komal
Best Documentaries on Netflix: This 2017 documentary feature documents the horrific bombing on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA on April 19, 1995. During the entire runtime, director, Barak Goodman investigates a series of racialism based events which invigorated the bomber and inspired him to strategize and successfully execute the plan as an answer to the whole American government. This horrid event was remembered as one of the most devastating incidents in the city’s history with over 160 killed and 680 injured. Additionally, it also explains how a single person with few radical thoughts can be responsible for the entire city’s future. – Surya Komal
This seven-episode docuseries investigates the mysterious murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, an English teacher at a women’s Catholic School in Baltimore. With an interesting premise and disturbing revelations, this series is a fascinating watch and showcases the disturbing secrets and truths of many Christian missionaries and the priests working for them. If true crime is your jam, watch The Keepers, which one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix available in the genre. – Surya Komal
Holy Hell, the 2016 grotesque 103-minute documentary feature about a Los Angeles based spiritual group called the Buddhafield, recounts the filmmaker (also a member for 22 years) Will Allen’s experience with the cult and their crackpot leader who introduced himself as Michel. What sets off as a normal presentation of people who want a free life filled with love and affection transpires into this zany world full of lies and decisions which lacked foresight and common sense.
Although the series of horrid events which unfolded over the years doesn’t seem as crazy when compared to what happened in Wild Wild Country. This docu-film will serve as another prime example of how a charismatic and gentleman-looking figurehead can manipulate and mentally torture a large number of people who blindly believe in everything he says. – Surya Komal
David Gelb’s adoring billet-doux dedicated to a man and a job that he loves is a quintessential representation of hard work, loyalty and perseverance. Documenting the everyday routine of an 85-year old highly acclaimed chef, Jiro Ono and his stubborn attitude of enhancing his craft and managing his Michelin three-star restaurant, Jiro Dreams of Sushi takes us through the journey of making a perfectly done sushi and the complete process which is involved. Regarded more as an inspirational tale of an unadorned genius, this, one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix teaches quite a few life lessons which are significant and pivotal in every man’s life. – Surya Komal
Directed by Theo Love, The Legend of Cocaine Island is an incredibly ridiculous narrative that your (already high) friend would tell you while sitting around a bonfire. Chronicling the story of a Florida Man who went all out to get a bag of cocaine worth $2 million off from a deserted island in Puerto Rico, this documentary is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. It was shot, edited and presented cinematically, practically giving the movie a heist-comedy look.
The visuals, slow-mo shots, the color combinations were all rendered to perfection on a grand production scale and it successively made the film help achieve that non-documentary look. The storyline is also fascinating and at the same time stupid enough to keep you glued to the screen as this film is an example of a dapper product with little tweaks and changes made to the genre. – Surya Komal
Directed by Fab 5 Freddy, Grass is Greener tells a very important narrative about the evolution and the misjudgment of cannabis over the years and how it affected the lives of innocent people, especially from the African-American communities. Additionally, this documentary feature also recounts how the transformation of pot is linked with the history of specific music genres like Jazz in the 30s, Reggae in the 70s, Hip-Hop in the late 80s and how it is viewed as a 50 billion dollar market by end of 2024. Overall, this film is an interesting watch, if you’re interested in learning the history of marijuana. – Surya Komal
Michael Moore’s extremely controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11 is a documentary about the 9/11 attacks and how that led to the USA to invade Iraq in 2003. The film is extremely critical look at George W. Bush’s presidency and how corporate interests fueled that war which led to many American soldiers dying or injured. This film is, one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix and is a must watch to understand the aftermath of 9/11 but beware that it makes no attempt to be balanced and is only told from one point of view. – Anushree
Best Documentaries on Netflix: In the 2018 Oscar Winner and one of the Best Documentaries on Netflix, Icarus, film maker, Bryan Fogel sets out to explore whether ‘doping’ or consuming performance enhancing drugs, could be the norm in high stake competitive sporting events since the anti-doping tests currently in place are not equipped to detect whether athletes are engaging in doping. Most times Oscar wins are debatable.
However, this win seems well deserved for it truly highlights the power of documentary film making. Since the movie captures the unfolding of extremely high-profile events in real time, one cannot stop wondering how lucky the film maker was to be in the right place at the right time. This one’s a must watch! – Pallavi Sridhar
Created by Joe Berlinger, Conversations with a Killer gives you an in-depth look inside the mind of Ted Bundy, America’s most charming and notorious serial killer of the 1970s. Bundy went on to rape, torture and murder 30+ victims and successfully broke out of two prisons in his entire lifetime. And the four-part documentary series analyses the dark inhumane character of a law-school graduate who postured a sweet, loving and a friendly facade in front of others even at his darkest times. A must watch! – Surya Komal
On the fascinating side of things, Wild Wild Country is a testament of how easily people can be blindsided and persuaded to do bad things. Revolving around the popular Indian guru, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), who built an entire empire of followers of different ethnicities was deemed controversial and deranged for his thoughts concerning socialism, communism and anarchism.
Bhagwan Rajneesh and his one-time assistant, Ma Anand Sheela were also involved in quite a few legal endangerments and so forth and this six-episode utterly spellbinding docu-series covers it all. Watch it not only because it’s one of Best Documentaries on Netflix, but, if you haven’t already cause I’m sure you’re unaware of everything that went down in the late 70s and early 80s. – Surya Komal
Stupidity can fool you once or maybe twice, but, imagine the same thing happening over and over and over again. Abducted in Plain Sight, recounts the anomalous kidnappings of an Idaho teenager named Jan Broberg Felt by her neighbor and goes into detail of how a married man trapped an entire family with lies, deceit, blackmail and charm for a considerable amount of time.
This entire 91-minute docu-film will make you go “Wait a minute! How did that happen?” or “How did this family find a way to fall inside the same trap once again?” It’s mind-boggling, and at the same time you can’t help but feel sorry for this normal fun, loving family who have witnessed the worst days of their lives in the 70s. – Surya Komal
On the not-so-sorry side of things, Fyre Festival is a classic example of a modern-day fraud and perfectly exemplifies of what’s wrong with today’s social media influencer culture. Marketed and advertised as the Greatest Party of the Decade, Fyre is a disaster, a debacle from the beginning till the end. Everything you imagine could go wrong went wrong, and it also provides you with a tip-top lecture of how not to organize a gigantic event when multiple big-name celebrities were involved.
It is tough to laugh and make fun of people who worked day and night on this project, but, this film will remain as an observation and displays how ignorance, recklessness and non-understanding of the situation can direct you to make blunders. – Surya Komal
Acclaimed as one of the best documentaries in recent years, Making a Murderer, is an inspiration behind quite a few Netflix shows like Wild Wild Country and even mockumentaries like American Vandal. The series follows the unfortunate journey of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, both convicted and behind-bars for a crime they didn’t ‘allegedly’ commit.
They’re only a handful of shows which make me emotional and Making a Murderer successfully overawed me by making me feel about these real-life human beings and the anguish that they had to go through every day restricted in a secluded world. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this is one of the The Best Documentaries on Netflix right now, and if you’re one of those ‘binge-watchers’ who hasn’t had the chance to check it out, please do immediately. – Surya Komal
Your picks for the Best Documentaries on Netflix list? Sound off in the comments!
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