Miranne Khaled
Netflix gained its popularity for producing captivating series and films from all over the world. However, in the past few years, people were starting to discover that mysterious section that is the ‘documentaries.’ It turns out to be quite far from any boring documentary film that many people dread sitting before for hours in the past.
Netflix documentaries come under different sections and topics, revealing the reality of things. What could be more interesting than watching snippets of the real world? People of today love to learn about their surrounding environment, hear about the dreadful events of the past, and learn all the elements that make up today’s world.
We have gathered some of the best Netflix documentaries you wouldn’t want to miss. Different genres are presented to fulfil your passion and add to your knowledge. This section leaves no room for boredom and fills the need to know about everything that happens around us.
Crime Programmes
Upon watching a crime film, those five words “based on a true story” that comes up in the beginning can give it a whole new edge and make it more interesting. An entire crime genre section in Netflix documentaries is taken from real-life events. They may as well be the most popular genre on the streaming app.
Not only do they tell us some gruesome stories that happen at some point in life, but they also give us a glimpse into the minds of serial killers. Speaking of serial killers, these mind-twisted persons are not an enthralling element of a good crime film, and they are real. Here are some of the most famous crime documentaries on Netflix that you need to watch.
1. The Girl in the Picture (2022)
The Girl in the Picture is a horrifying story of a young woman who was found dead on the side of the road. Tracing all evidence turns out she lived for decades with different identities. She lived under the roof of a man who raised her as his own, then married her, and they had a son. Who exactly is that girl? And who killed her?
2. Our Father (2022)
Our Father is a mind-blowing crime story that reveals the story of a man with 94 children, Donald Cline. The unethical doctor unknowingly inseminated women with his own sperm. His little sick game was discovered when Jacoba Ballard, who turns out to be one of his children, makes an at-home DNA test and learns about multiple siblings.
3. My Daughter’s Killer (2022)
My Daughter’s Killer is one of the most popular crime documentaries on Netflix that will leave you outraged upon learning the story of this poor father. His daughter, Kalinka Bamberski, was found dead as a teenager in her own bed. He spends 30 years of his life fighting to bring his daughter’s killer to justice.
4. Lost Girls (2020)
Lost Girls is a story that follows a heartbroken mother who is desperate to find her daughter, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Her turned-into-obsession attempts widely opened unsolved cases of many sex worker girls. Was her daughter one of them? Was it the same serial killer who murdered them all? Were the girls forced into this field? All of those answers are found in this heartbreaking film.
5. Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
This series is one of Netflix documentaries that tells true stories over the course of a few episodes rather than a one-hour-long film. It revolves around a group of animal lovers who got enraged over a video of a man gruesomely murdering two kittens in a video he posted himself. In their attempt to bring this man to justice, they found themselves involved in some dark underworld.
History Documentaries
History buffs will be enthralled to learn about the existence of historical documentaries on Netflix. There are plenty of them about many significant historical events you would love to know about. You don’t really have to be a history guru to watch these documentaries. They are anything but boring.
Besides, it is really interesting to learn about the past of everything around us. In the end, the events of the past are what make the world we see today in terms of cultures, beliefs, politics, and even nature.
6. Misha and the Wolves (2021)
A holocaust survivor narrates her story in an emotional memoir that took the world by a story. She managed to get away from that gruesome war and lived a great part of her life among the wolves. When she decided to publish her amazing story of a survivor, a feud took place with her publisher, who turned into a detective and proved her fraudulent.
7. Anne Frank – Parallel Stories (2019)
Who hasn’t read the diary of Anne Frank and got too emotional with the cruel reality she lived and endured? This is one of the historical Netflix documentaries that leave you feeling helpless before the savagery of World War II. Not only does it narrate the story of young Anne Frank, but it also tells the stories of real-life women who managed to escape the holocaust.
8. Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb (2020)
Ancient Egypt is one of the world’s most prosperous and most advanced civilisations of the ancient world. The mummies, tombs, pyramids, and other monuments and artefacts tell tales of people with a bright spark and sharp as a tack. This is one of the great documentaries that unveil a lot of secrets of the Pharaonic civilisation. You will be exposed to amazing discoveries and secrets unearthed by a team of Egyptian archaeologists for two straight hours.
9. Hitler’s Circle of Evil (2018)
The story of the rise and fall of Hitler’s pure evilness is told in a dramatic sequence. The whole world was aware of the wicked nature of Hitler, yet he had a group of other Nazi devils that he worked in harmony with to bring their ungodly plan to the world to life. Hitler’s Circle of Evil is not just one of the personal documentaries of a political leader; and it also reveals the hidden agendas and schemes of the Nazi Party.
10. The Devil Next Door (2019)
The Devil Next Door is yet another real-life story related to the terrible events of the holocaust. However, this time, the story doesn’t follow any of the survivors or victims but rather one of the wicked abusers known as Ivan the Terrible. In five episodes, we get to see the guard of the notorious Nazi death camp, John Demjanjuk. He was brought to trial for being convicted of thousands upon thousands of accessory to murder.
Mysterious Reality
Life can be quite fascinating when it is all game and fun. However, we are still left with so many unanswered questions about our reality. Are we the only ones in the universe? Are aliens real? What is death, and where do we go? Is there really an afterlife?
Well, these Netflix documentaries give us a glimpse of this mysterious reality. Science still hasn’t got full answers, but they have achieved great successes that still give indications of our reality and its mysteries.
11. Surviving Death (2021)
Surviving Death is such a paradoxical title that it successfully gets one’s attention. This docuseries predicts the possibility of another life after death based on real-life incidents. It revolves around personal stories which have come in contact with death or beings of different forms. It is a great documentary that opens your mind to the beliefs of paranormal phenomena, reincarnation, and the afterlife.
12. Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified (2021)
Some people think that extraterrestrial is a crazy notion that millennial films have come up with; others believe in their pure existence. In fact, there are programmes that monitor the sightings of UFOs and secret facts about their actuality. The Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified is one of Netflix’s spellbinding documentaries that reveal a lot about a different realm.
13. Alien Worlds (2020)
Aliens? Again? Well, yes, it is hard to believe that outside of our planet, there are plenty of others with no sign of intelligent life on them. This documentary is an interesting combination between fiction and science in an attempt to speculate on the possibility of other creatures existing and what their life would be like.
14. Life After Death with Tyler Henry (2022)
Tyler Henry is a clairvoyant medium and psychic known as Hollywood Medium that somehow has an eerie connection with spirits. He helps people get closure and clarity over the passing of their loved ones. Grieving is a painful journey that many of the bereaved seek answers to give their mind some peace. It is one of the great documentaries that bring hope to many people.
Social and Cultural Docs
This section offers a great variety of documentaries that tackle topics related to our daily lives. It also gives us a beautiful insight into how humans connect with one another and how technology and social media play a great role in shaping humanity. Here are some of the best Netflix documentaries that will let you see the world from a different perspective:
15. The Future Of (2022)
Every time people try to imagine the future, we exaggerate the possibility of technological advancement. Yet, with all the great progress we see today, nothing is impossible. The Future Of is one of the greatest documentaries ever made. In the form of a series, fascinating predictions and assumptions about the future are explored. It shows the reality of our constantly changing world, and that will continue to do so.
16. The Tinder Swindler (2022)
Social media may have brought people closer, but just like everything else, it comes at a price. The Tinder Swindler is one of the most popular documentaries on Netflix so far. It narrates the story of real-life women who were affected by a dating app in multiple ways by a fraudster who played them and stole their money. These women come together in order to hunt this man down and take what belongs to them.
17. Dark Tourist (2018)
Unlike many tourists worldwide, journalist David Farrier doesn’t check the most popular destinations and attractions off his bucket list. Instead, he goes for places that people tend to avoid, given the dark superstitions and beliefs associated with them. In this interesting docuseries, Farrier visits different countries and checks out every area associated with death and tragedy. He explores the road less travelled to show the world the forgotten half.
18. The Social Dilemma (2020)
Another one of the prominent documentaries that explore the possible dangers that social media has on us is The Social Dilemma. This documentary emphasises the great benefits that we reap from social media. However, it also sheds light on how this kind of obsession can turn against people and only benefit big companies and organisations.
Science and Nature Docs
Facts can provide us with new insights into the world we live in. Documentaries about science and nature help us understand our bodies, the surrounding world, ecosystems, and even the world of animals. These documentaries are deeper and more profound than many people give them credit. Netflix offers many science and nature docs that you wouldn’t want to miss.
19. The Mind Explained (2021)
Our awareness resides in mind. Since our minds are the core of our being, learning about how it works is essential. Netflix presents one of its greatest documentaries, explaining how our brains function and exploring the different disorders it goes through. It also explores the dreaming process. The beauty Emma Stone narrates all this interesting information throughout 10 episodes.
20. Human: The World Within (2021)
These fascinating docuseries provide us with great scientific facts about the complexity of our bodies. It is not one of those purely medical documentaries that explain the anatomy, but it rather reveals how our bodies react to different situations and how it fuels our goals and passions. The season consists of 6 episodes, narrating personal stories of different people from all over the globe.
21. The Hidden Lives of Pets (2022)
Animals are a great part of nature; they offer more than they seem, even the smallest of them. Pets are not just some furry creatures that run around the house. We, humans, love to care for them, seek comfort, and just melt in their cuteness. However, rarely do people pay attention to how pets develop different personalities. They are not all alike. This is one of the interesting documentaries that will give you an insight into the mind of your little furry buddy.
22. Unnatural Selection (2019)
Our genes make up almost all of our characteristics, but have you ever wondered how they really work? Well, the study of genetics is quite broad, yet the brand new aspect is the technique of editing the gene by the usage of artificial intelligence. Pioneers in the field have found ways to select the trait of a child before it is born. Unnatural Selection is a fascinating development and an ultimate hacking method in the world of biology.
Biographical Documentaries (Celebrities’ Lives)
Many celebrities happen to be important icons that offer a lot to the world. Some of them fall into the entertainment category, yet that doesn’t change the fact that their personal lives can be quite inspiring. This section offer documentaries about iconic figures, giving a glimpse into how they lived and continue to live, their life, the obstacles they faced, and how they rose to the hall of fame.
23. I Am Georgina (2022)
Documentaries about celebrities’ lives are meant to be inspiring, and that is what the story of Georgina Rodriguez ought to be. This biographical documentary narrates Georgina’s story before she became the businesswoman she is today. It also goes way back to when she first met the international football player Cristiano Ronaldo.
24. Halftime (2022)
JLo is a successful actress, lovable singer, and a great performer, but such great talent comes with a price and responsibility. Halftime is one of those documentaries that reveal the hidden side of fame and the pressure of being in the spotlight all the time. Superstar Jennifer Lopez reflects on her character development throughout her career years, making her the iconic star she is today.
25. Becoming (2020)
Netflix documentaries added a valuable biographical film to its list upon the release of ‘becoming’. In this documentary, we get to see the many hats that the former first lady, Michelle Obama, has worn throughout the last years. This film takes an up-close look at the life of Lady Obama and how her transition journey took place after leaving the White House.
26. The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes (2022)
Marilyn Monroe became one of the world’s iconic figures, given her natural beauty and unbeaten attractiveness. However, her charm doesn’t save her from leading a cruel life or dying alone. This documentary tells a lot about the late actress through archival footage and real tapes that were out to the public for the very first time.
27. Britney Vs Spears (2021)
The feud between the iconic pop star Britney Spears and her father was exposed to the whole world. This documentary reflects Britney’s private and public life under the conservatorship of her father. She spent 13 years of her life searching for freedom in almost every aspect. Britney managed to earn her freedom in September 2021, yet it is may pique your interest to dig deeper into the details of this conflict and learn how she overcame her obstacles.
Food and Travel
Travelling around the world is a captivating experience, where you get to observe new attractions and meet new people. Another factor that plays a great role in shaping the culture and history of countries and affects our travelling experience is food. Tasting new food that doesn’t exist in your culture is a great way to please your taste buds as well as get to know the people behind the dish.
28. Street Food: USA (2022)
Travelling is never complete without taking a few bites from the local food of the country you’re exploring. You don’t only get to know the history of the place you’re visiting, but you also get to learn a lot about the culture from the way they cook their meals and the special ingredients they use. This documentary revolves around the top dishes you can try while exploring American cities.
29. Chef’s Table: Pizza (2022)
Chef’s Table: Pizza is one of the greatest food documentaries that you will enjoy big time if you have a knack for pizza. Most of us like to enjoy pizza every once in a while. This show will take you on a mouthwatering journey through the different ways pizzas are made. It features a group of renowned chefs displaying the best pizzas to find in different spots worldwide.
30. A Nation of Broth (2022)
Asian foods may vary greatly from country to country, yet a good bowl of soup sits on top of the list, especially in Korea. A Nation of Broth is one of the Netflix documentaries that embark on a pretty journey of the evolution of Korean soup. Even if Asian food is not your thing, this show will urge you to try a new recipe.
31. Street Food: Latin America (2020)
This series is one of the interesting documentaries on Netflix that explore street foods around different countries in the world. This time, it is Latin America. Latin America is rich in history and culture, along with some succulent dishes of a great variety. Each episode explores the street food of one of the Hispanic or Latin countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, and more.