Netflix has a bountiful of great documentaries that cover a diverse range of subjects, from true crime to sports to even filmmaking. Below, we’ve assembled a list of what we believe are the best documentaries on Netflix right now
1) Our Planet
Documentary series focusing on the breadth of the diversity of habitats around the world, from the remote Arctic wilderness and mysterious deep oceans to the vast landscapes of Africa and diverse jungles of South America.
2) The Last Dance
Charting the rise of the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, one of the most notable dynasties in sports history.
3) David Attenborough: A
Life On Our Planet
One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. This unique feature documentary is his witness statement. In his 93 years, David Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder.
4) Greatest Events Of WWII
A series of colorized archive footage of important events during World War II.
5) Headspace: Guide to
Meditation
Over the course of eight animated episodes, Andy Puddicombe former Buddhist monk and co-founder of the globally beloved Headspace meditation app takes viewers through the benefits and science behind meditation.
6) Formula 1: Drive To
Survive
It is a documentary series produced in collaboration between Netflix and Formula One to give an exclusive behind the scenes look at the drivers and races of the 2018 and 2019 Formula One World Championships. The first season covering the 2018 World Championship premiered on 8 March 2019, and the second season covering the 2019 World Championship was released on Netflix on 28 February 2020.
7) My Octopus Teacher
After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking her movements for months on end he eventually wins the animal’s trust and they develop a never before seen bond between human and wild animal.
8) The Trials of Gabriel
Fernandez
In 2013, 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez died as a result of horrific and prolonged abuse by his mother and her boyfriend. In the wake of the tragedy, a demand for justice and accountability exploded in Los Angeles County. This six-part documentary series from award-winning documentarian Brian Knappenberger (Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press) offers an inside look at the trial as well as an eye-opening investigation into the government systems that failed to protect Gabriel, despite multiple reports and warning signs. Along with shedding light on an important story, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez serves as a wake-up call to reexamine the structures designed to protect children in need.
9) Rise Of Empires: Ottoman
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.
10) Don’t F**k With Cats:
Hunting An Internet Killer
A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens
11) Diana: In Her Own Words
This documentary uses the recordings Princess Diana made for the book that was written by Andrew Morton. In this documentary Diana narrates her life and the events that surrounded her.
12) The Social Dilemma
Set in the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley, The Social Dilemma fuses investigative documentary with enlightening narrative drama. Expert testimony from tech whistle-blowers exposes our disturbing predicament: the services Big Tech provides-search engines, networks, instant information, etc.-are merely the candy that lures us to bite. Once we’re hooked and coming back for more, the real commodity they sell is their prowess to influence and manipulate us.
13) Blackpink: Light Up The
Sky
Chart the meteoric rise of the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK in director Caroline Suh’s documentary
14) Secrets Of The Saqqara
Tomb
It is heralded as one of the most jaw-dropping, exciting, and important Ancient Egyptian discoveries in decades. And the discoveries have only just begun. Join a team of local archaeologists as they excavate never before explored passageways, shafts, and tombs, while piecing together the secrets of one Egypt’s most remarkable tombs. News of the tomb discovery has gone around the world and it has been heralded as the most significant find in almost fifty years. The condition of the tomb is remarkable – but the real excitement lies in what is to come. The archaeologists hope they are going to unearth the possessions, grave goods, and mummies of the high-priest and his family – and with that information hoping to transform our understanding of this period of Old Kingdom history.
15) American Murder:The
Family Next Door
In 2018, 34-year-old Shanann Watts and her two young daughters disappear in Colorado. With the heartbreaking details emerging, the family’s story made headlines around the world.
16) Inside The World’s
Toughest Prisons
Imagine being in jail. Now imagine living in a foreign country. Scary? Paul Connelly takes you inside these jails. He shows what living conditions are for the inmates, as well as the guards. You’ll never look at prison the same.
17) Tony Parker: The Final
Shot
Examines the background and the career of the french basketball player Tony Parker.
18) History 101
It is a new type of history show for a new type of audience: Big History delivered in an unadulterated hit of premium archive and jaw-dropping infographics.
19) 72 Dangerous Animals:
Asia
Asia is the largest continent of the world. Home to over half of the earth’s population, a vast array of cultures and diverse landscapes, it is also home to a multitude of animal species, some of which are the world’s most dangerous creatures. This series counts down 72 of these species.
20) Surviving Death
Explores questions that have been contemplated throughout time: What does it mean to die, and is death the end of our existence? Weaving together innovative new research with firsthand accounts from those who’ve been close to death.