Netflix has a reputation for being home to extremely binge-worthy shows and, recently, even prestige filmmaking.But its most impressive accomplishment may be something else entirely: The documentary collection.Netflix has quietly accumulated an extraordinary collection of original and classic documentaries that you won’t find on any other streamer.From original docuseries that captured the zeitgeist to Best Documentary Oscar winners, Netflix’s documentary collection is an outstanding one.So, if you’re in the mood to learn something new on your next movie night, consider the best documentaries on Netflix you can stream right now.
We’ve also rounded up the best documentaries on Amazon Prime Video and the best documentaries on Hulu if Netflix doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
Cheer (2020) 93% 81% 8.1/10 Genre Documentary Cast Monica Aldama, Gabi Butler, Morgan Simianer Seasons: 2 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix When you think of Texas, you probably think of football before cheerleading.But Cheer will make you question which sport is really more demanding.The original docuseries follows Corsicana, Texas, cheer coach Monica Adams as she works to create the perfect competitive cheer program from a tiny pool of college athletes.
It might remind you of Dance Moms or other popular reality series, but Cheer is a lot more intense.Collapse Read more Voir (2021) 62% 6.5/10 Genre Documentary Created by David Fincher, David Prior tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix From award-winning filmmakers David Fincher and David Prior comes this docuseries celebrating the history of cinema.The six-part series includes visual essays from legends, with insights on character, craft, and the cinematic moments that have captured the zeitgeist over time.Collapse Read more Seaspiracy (2021) 75% 8.2/10 Genre Documentary Stars Ali Tabrizi, Sylvia Earle, Richard O’Barry Directed by Ali Tabrizi r 89m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix The follow-up to Cowspiracy , Seaspiracy takes to the sea to illuminate the truths about the widespread, human-caused environmental destruction of our oceans.Filmmaker Ali Tabrizi set out to create a film celebrating the ocean, but soon found his narrative dragged toward the irreparable damage caused by humans to the seas.From plastics polluting the water to illegal fishing and hunting practices, humanity continuously ravages the oceans, making it exceedingly difficult for the planet to cope.A challenge to the very idea of sustainable fishing and an examination of how sustainable human existence is, Seaspiracy is not for the faint of heart.
Collapse Read more Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019) 8.6/10 Genre Documentary Created by James Gay-Rees Cast Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez Seasons: 3 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Formula 1 isn’t remotely as popular in the United States as it is in the rest of the world, but this high-octane series has slowly been capturing the attention and imagination of American viewers.The docuseries gives viewers extraordinary access to the people behind one of the world’s most popular — and most dangerous — sports.Diving deep into the battle for the heart, soul, and direction of the multibillion-dollar business, you’ll see the drivers, teams, and decision-makers in their element and learn what kind of madness you have to have to drive 235 mph around winding tracks against dozens of other cars.Collapse Read more
Heist (2021) 88% 68% 6.8/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Directed by Derek Doneen, Nick Frew Cast William Guirola, Kate Watson, Emree Franklin Seasons: 1 tv-ma Trailer watch on Amazon Trailer watch on Amazon Netflix has become a master of true crime television.
In this dramatized docuseries, they take it up a notch, telling stories about ordinary people getting away with extraordinary heists.From a career criminal using hypnosis to pull off a theft to a family man convincing his buddies to help him steal the world’s most expensive bourbon, Heist is a fun thrill ride that might just make you wonder if you could pull something off, too.
Collapse Read more Cat People (2021) 6.3/10 Genre Documentary Created by Glen Zipper Seasons: 1 tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix There are dog people and there are cat people.But while you see all kinds of movies about dogs saving people, being loyal partners, or just being totally lovable — cats tend not to get the same treatment.However, to some people, cats are just as loyal and essential allies.And no, they’re not just crazy people as we’ve been led to believe.In Cat People , you’ll meet some of the most interesting “cat people” in the world in a quest to undo the negative stereotypes associated with being a cat person while revealing the true power of the bonds people make with these independent pets.
Collapse Read more Digital Trends streaming roundup Best documentaries on Amazon Prime Best documentaries on Hulu Best shows on Netflix Penguin Town (2021) 100% 7.9/10 Genre Documentary Cast Patton Oswalt Seasons: 1 tv-g Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix This heartfelt nature documentary takes you to a picturesque South African town where the coolest kids on the block are an eclectic group of endangered penguins.Narrated by comedian Patton Oswalt, the series takes a humorous look into the lives of the penguins as they try to find mates, raise families, and mix with the local humans.Collapse Read more
Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know (2020) 100% 6.6/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Peter Galison Cast Sheperd Doeleman, Stephen Hawking, Sasha Haco tv-pg watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Black holes are paradoxes, replete with complexity and yet surprising simplicity.
To astrophysicists, they seem to represent the boundaries of knowledge itself.This documentary follows two scientific collaborations, one led by Stephen Hawking striving to show that black holes do not annihilate the past, and another group working in the world’s highest-altitude observatories to capture the first imagery of black holes.In this scientific search to demystify black holes, the documentary takes audiences to the pinnacle of human discovery.Collapse Read more Hell Spa (1992) 81% 70% 4.2/10 Genre Horror Directed by Mike Bowler Cast Lisa Bawdon, Tim Abell, LeOnna Small tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix On the night before Boston’s St.
Patrick’s Day parade in 1990, two men dressed as cops conned their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.After subduing the guards, they spent nearly an hour and a half walking around the museum, slashing millions of dollars’ worth of art out of their frames.The notorious crime is history’s largest art heist and remains unsolved to this day.
In this investigative series, filmmaker Colin Barnicle examines some of the most likely subjects and connects with amateur sleuths and professional art thieves alike to help demystify the case.Collapse Read more Evil Genius (2018) 80% 71% 7.5/10 Genre Crime, Documentary Directed by Trey Borzillieri Cast Kevin G.Calkins, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, Trey Borzillieri Seasons: 1 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix A robbery gone wrong in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2003 resulted in a terrifying public murder that captured the nation’s attention.Soon, a collection of Midwestern hoarders, outcasts, and lawbreakers became engaged in a game of cat and mouse with the FBI.Eventually, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong was arrested and pinned as the mastermind of the heist.
But 15 years later, Evil Genius proves there’s much more to the conspiracy and murders than ever imagined.Collapse Read more My Octopus Teacher (2020) 93% 82% 8.1/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Philippa Ehrlich, James Reed Cast Craig Foster, Tom Foster tv-pg Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Nature has much to teach us, and that is abundantly evident in 2020’s My Octopus Teacher , winner of the Oscar for best documentary.Burned-out filmmaker James Reed retreats to the southwest tip of Cape Town, South Africa, to recharge and go diving in the beautiful underwater kelp forests he visited when he was growing up.While he’s escaping the stressors of the real world and diving in the chilly waters, he strikes up a surprising companionship with an unusually docile octopus in a kelp forest.
Following this almost supernatural lead, the filmmaker delves further into the mysteries and wonders of the ocean.
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Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (2021) 88% 70% 7/10 Genre Documentary, Crime, Drama Stars Matthew Modine, Roger Rignack, Jillian Peterson Directed by Chris Smith r 100m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix For decades, college counselor Rick Singer ran a “side-door” hustle designed to get the children of extremely wealthy families into top American universities.Unlike a “back-door” donation of an entire building, Singer’s side doors paid college coaches and athletic directors to pass off wealthy applicants as athletic admissions and supplied students with fake scores and credentials, all for the tidy price of a few hundred thousand dollars.Through reenactments based on wiretapped phone conversations and court documents, this compelling documentary sheds light on just how corrupt America’s university system is and how wealth really does buy access.
Collapse Read more Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator (2019) 96% 68% 6.7/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Directed by Eva Orner Cast Larissa Anderson, Francesca Asumah, Sarah Baughn tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Bikram is a household name these days as the yoga craze has officially gone mainstream.But many don’t know the story of the hot yoga founder, Bikram Choudhury.Based on the 30 for 30 podcast miniseries, director Eva Orner takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of Choudhury, who was considered near-divine by many of his followers before disturbing revelations came to light about his predatory impulses.Collapse Read more Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021) 73% 72% 7.5/10 Genre Documentary, Crime, Mystery Directed by Tiller Russell, Tim Walsh, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman Cast Gil Carrillo, Frank Salerno, Pearl Carrillo Seasons: 1 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix This limited series about one of California’s most notorious and terrifying serial killers has earned criticism for being too overtly graphic and sensationalizing both the violence and the pursuit of the murderer dubbed the Night Stalker.
It’s not for the faint of heart.That said, for genuine true crime fans, Night Stalker is pulse-pounding and thrilling as it doggedly investigates the peripatetic, seemingly-random series of murders and sexual assaults that plagued Los Angeles County in the summer of 1985.
On the hunt are LA County Sheriff’s Department detective Gil Carrillo and homicide investigator Frank Salerno.The series is told through first-person interviews, gripping archival footage, and original photography, painting a supremely grim (yet undeniably exciting) picture of one of LA’s most iconic horror stories.
Collapse Read more Surviving Death (2021) 80% 6.1/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Ricki Stern Cast Ansuman Bhagat, Sourav Kumar Seasons: 1 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix We’ve all wondered what happens after you die, but nobody can really say for certain what the afterlife looks like — or if it even exists at all.This series, however, aims to investigate that question as much as possible.Based on Leslie Kean’s book of the same name, the series uses innovative new research and personal stories of near-death experiences, reincarnation, and paranormal phenomena to investigate the subject.Collapse Read more Pelé (2021) 81% 61% 7/10 Genre Documentary Stars Pelé, Zagallo, Gilberto Gil Directed by David Tryhorn, Ben Nicholas 108m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix The life of Pelé, arguably the greatest player to ever compete on a soccer field, has been documented numerous times.
Among the highlights are a 2004 documentary, Pelé Forever , and Pelé: Birth of a Legend , a 2016 biopic about the star.Next comes the eponymous Pelé , which will include black-and-white archival footage of the star from an early age, as well as interviews with him and some of his former teammates.It will have a particular focus on the 12-year period from 1958 to 1970, when the Brazilian took the sporting world by storm.Collapse Read more Strip Down, Rise Up (2021) 100% 5.3/10 Genre Documentary Stars Sheila Kelley, Jenyne Butterfly, Elizabeth Mihelich Directed by Michèle Ohayon 112m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix The healing process after a trauma can be an ongoing process that takes some a whole lifetime.Some women have found strength and healing through the unconventional practice of pole dancing.Once seen as the activity of circus performers or exotic dancers, the women in Strip Down, Rise Up use pole dancing as a way of unlocking issues and reclaiming power taken from them by those who inflicted trauma.
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Fyre (2019) 93% 75% 7.2/10 Genre Documentary, TV Movie Stars Billy McFarland, Ja Rule, Jason Bell Directed by Chris Smith 98m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix In 2018, the festival destination of the year was Fyre Fest.Organized by Ja Rule and Billy McFarland, the festival boasted to be the most exclusive and exciting event of the decade, hosted on a private island with a litany of extraordinary amenities for big spenders and a performance lineup headlined by Blink-182.Fyre Fest, immortalized by its solid orange square logo, was so hyped it gained its own mystique that took the world by storm practically overnight.For those who actually attended and became stranded on the little Caribbean island where it was held, Fyre Fest became a nightmarish hellscape.This is the history of one of the largest social frauds in history.Collapse Read more The Social Dilemma (2020) 85% 78% 7.6/10 Genre Documentary, Drama Stars Skyler Gisondo, Kara Hayward, Vincent Kartheiser Directed by Jeff Orlowski pg-13 94m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix One of the more shocking documentaries of 2020, The Social Dilemma shines a light on something most of us already suspect: Big tech and social media are potentially extremely dangerous.
Blending drama and documentary, The Social Dilemma is driven by tech experts who have created many of the systems that drive our current social networking-obsessed age.But they’re not promoting their work, they’re sounding the alarm of what it can do.Collapse Read more
American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020) 86% 67% 7.2/10 Genre Documentary, Mystery, Crime Directed by Jenny Popplewell Cast Nickole Atkinson, Jim Benemann, Luke Epple tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix American Murder is a true-crime documentary that reconstructs the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her two young children, beginning with the initial 9-1-1 call and culminating with the infamous trial of Chris Watts, the husband and father.Told through archival footage, text messages, and interviews with friends, family, and legal experts, American Murder is a cutting chronicle of the Watts family and those near to them — their struggles, their horrors, and their pain.
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Long Shot (2017) 7.4/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Jacob LaMendola Cast Larry David, Juan Catalan, Todd Melnik, Tim Gibbons tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Read more
Last Breath (2019) 93% 7.7/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Alex Parkinson, Richard Da Costa Cast Duncan Allcock, Kjetil Ove Alvestad, Stuart Anderson tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Chris Lemons and his crewmates were veteran deep-sea divers carrying out a routine repair, 100 meters below the surface in the North Sea.What started as a normal day on the job quickly became everyone’s worst nightmare as Chris’ umbilical cord (the harness securing him to the repair vessel) severed, trapping Chris at the bottom of the ocean with a quickly-depleting air supply.
Told through archival footage of the day’s events, as well as filmed interactions with the vessel crew, Last Breath is a pulse-pounding look at the ocean blue and an endearing display of humanity, as told by a group of men that were just doing their jobs.Collapse Read more
Becoming (2020) 93% 66% 6.8/10 Genre Documentary Stars Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Phoebe Robinson Directed by Nadia Hallgren pg 89m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix In 2018, former First Lady Michelle Obama wrote a book called Becoming about her life’s journey.
In 2020, director Nadia Hallgren released a documentary with the same name that followed Obama during her book tour.Michelle Obama also provides some perspective on her years in the White House alongside her husband, former President Barack Obama.Michelle Obama’s story, however, is compelling enough on its own, especially given how she relates the challenges she’s faced and overcome.Collapse Read more I Am Not Your Negro (2017) 99% 95% 7.9/10 Genre Documentary Stars Samuel L.
Jackson, James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr.Directed by Raoul Peck pg-13 93m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Before his demise, James Baldwin planned to tell the story of his experiences in the civil rights movement in Remember This House .Baldwin was a contemporary of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers, and he offered his own perspective on history in his unfinished book.Documentary filmmaker Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro recruited Samuel L.Jackson to narrate Baldwin’s thoughts on the most important movement of his lifetime.It’s an ongoing battle that has never truly ended, and it’s only become more timely.
Collapse Read more Athlete A (2020) 100% 85% 7.6/10 Genre Documentary Stars Maggie Nichols, Jamie Dantzscher, Mark Alesia Directed by Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen pg-13 104m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix For more than two decades, Larry Nassar was a doctor for the USA Gymnastics national team.
Nassar betrayed the trust placed in him, however, by sexually assaulting the young female gymnasts in his care.Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk’s Athlete A follows the journalists from The Indianapolis Star who broke the story that helped send Nassar to jail.More importantly, the film also provides the victims with another opportunity to share their stories about the abuse they endured and the challenges they faced when they dared to break their silence.Their harrowing tales can be difficult to hear, but it’s necessary viewing.
Collapse Read more 13th (2016) 97% 83% 8.2/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Ava DuVernay Cast Jelani Cobb, Angela Davis, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix The story of race in America is a long, bloody, systemically inequitable one.And that systemic inequality seems hellbent on perpetuating itself, as illustrated in Ava DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated 13th .This doc tells the story of post-slavery America by drawing attention to the 13th Amendment, which — on its surface — appears to abolish slavery.There’s a loophole, however, that permits slavery as punishment for a crime.DuVernay argues, through meticulous statistical research and archival evidence, that the criminal justice system and mass incarceration have become a modern, more insidious means of perpetuating racial inequality and bolstering racial biases, both culturally and systemically.In today’s turbulent political environment, 13th should be mandatory viewing for all Americans.
Collapse Read more Chasing Coral (2017) 100% 86% 8.1/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Jeff Orlowski Cast Andrew Ackerman, Pim Bongaerts, Neal Cantin tv-pg Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Although they only cover less than 2% of the ocean floor, coral reefs are essential to marine ecosystems, providing support for nearly 25% of ocean species.It’s disturbing, then, to see the vibrant reefs of the world turn bone-white and die.Director Jeff Orlowski’s latest documentary, Chasing Coral , follows a team of researchers as they try to document the slow death of the world’s reefs.The documentary is informative, laying out for viewers why coral reefs are important in maintaining healthy oceans, and how increasing ocean temperatures are destroying them.Chasing Coral provides a human element, too.The researchers involved display a great passion for their work, and their zeal may be more persuasive than any facts or figures.
Collapse Read more Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020) 85% 76% 7.5/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Created by Eric Goode Cast Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin Seasons: 2 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix 2020 will forever be known as the year of the coronavirus and the year of Joe Exotic, Tiger King.Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin’s docuseries on the big cat trade in the United States became a bona fide meme and take factory.
It’s a documentary for the internet age, somehow consistently re-upping itself with the weirdness and insanity of its characters and stories episode after episode.Joe Exotic is an openly gay, polygamous, country-singing, gun-toting, mullet-sporting redneck who owns and operates a private big cat zoo in Oklahoma.
His story is, somehow, even stranger.Collapse Read more Amanda Knox (2016) 82% 78% 6.9/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Directed by Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn Cast Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito, Giuliano Mignini tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Amanda Knox is a controversial figure — and a well-known one at that.In 2007, the foreign-language student and her boyfriend were wrongly convicted of murdering her fellow flatmate while in Italy, resulting in an eight-year legal battle that saw rampant misogyny, shaky forensic evidence, and shoddy journalism placed at the forefront.
In the aptly titled Amanda Knox , directors Brian McGinn and Rod Blackhurst don’t so much recount the events as much as they examine the web of incompetence pervading the sexualized tabloid narrative, thus creating a riveting procedural that’s chock-full of enlightening interviews with Knox and those closest to her.Collapse Read more The Ivory Game (2016) 77% 73% 7.9/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani Cast Ofir Drori tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix In this Netflix Original, filmmakers Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani tell the story of elephant poaching and the inner workings of the ongoing ivory trade — from the inside out.The film paints a dire picture of the economies, both political and financial, that have emerged as a result of ivory’s value in regions where legal loopholes allow the black-market commodity to move unfettered.From Africa to China to Italy, the film looks to expose the brutality of the ivory trade and help support those looking to make it extinct.
It exists in the same vein as heartbreaking documentaries such as Blackfish and The Cove , and as such, it often feels more like a loudspeaker for animal-rights activists than a work of pure journalism.
Collapse Read more The Short Game (2013) 84% 51% 7.3/10 Genre Documentary Stars Edd Hall, Jennifer Van Horn Directed by Josh Greenbaum pg 100m Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Ever seen the excellent 2002 documentary Spellbound ? Well, The Short Game is kind of like that, though it focuses on eight entrants in the 2012 U.S.Kids Golf World Championship and their overzealous parents, instead of a national spelling bee in Washington, D.C.Director Josh Greenbaum’s inspiring film follows the young athletes — five of whom are boys and three of whom are girls — beginning six months before the competition, profiling their athletic drive and personal interests in equal measure.Some of the athletes hog more of the spotlight than others, such as tennis superstar Anna Kournikova’s younger brother, but they all wind up participating in a competition that spurs both laughter and tears for the children and their parents.Collapse Read more Icarus (2017) 92% 68% 7.9/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Bryan Fogel Cast Bryan Fogel, Dave Zabriskie, Don Catlin tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Bryan Fogel’s first documentary, Icarus , began as an attempt to document the effects of doping, with Fogel taking drugs to compete in a bicycle race.In an act of journalistic serendipity, Fogel meets a Russian doctor, Grigory Rodchenkov, who leads Fogel to a far bigger story: a Russian, state-sponsored doping program that could cast doubt on the validity of international sports.
The story behind Icarus is interesting enough to recommend it, and it is essentially a real-life political thriller.Collapse Read more American Factory (2019) 96% 86% 7.4/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert Cast Junming ‘Jimmy’ Wang, Sherrod Brown, Dave Burrows tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Winner of the 2020 Best Documentary Oscar, American Factory will not make you feel good about the state of American institutions.This look into a defunct General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio, is the first release from Higher Ground, a production company founded by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.But before that, it was made by Participant Media, who screened it at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it also won Best Documentary.
The doc depicts the Dayton plant receiving new life when a Chinese billionaire invests in it as a new American glass-making facility for his company, Fuyao.The skilled labor force subsequently struggles as human skill is sacrificed for a few pennies’ worth of savings.American Factory shows the plight of the skilled labor force, both American and Chinese, as they fall victim to the rich and powerful.It’s a good, hard look at the American Dream and whether it still exists.Collapse Read more Our Planet (2019) 93% 83% 9.3/10 Genre Documentary Cast David Attenborough Seasons: 1 tv-g Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Earth is a living, breathing sphere of air and water, filled with the tallest mountains and the largest oceans.Our Planet is a special collaboration between Silverback Films, Netflix, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Taking place over four years, Our Planet takes viewers on a breathtaking journey from the deepest seas to the driest deserts to the thickest jungles.Our Planet not only showcases the majestic wildlife of our world but also highlights the challenges faced, as well as how humans can learn to coexist with the natural world.Our Planet is narrated by David Attenborough ( Blue Planet ) for English-speaking audiences, and it’s also narrated by Salma Hayek for Latin America and Penelope Cruz for Spanish audiences.Collapse Read more Night on Earth (2020) 93% 83% 9.3/10 Genre Documentary Cast Samira Wiley Seasons: 1 tv-pg Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Night On Earth is a revolutionary new nature documentary, utilizing state-of-the-art cinematography to view the natural world at night.
Even in the pitch blackness of the night, Night On Earth illuminates the land as if the sun were out, showcasing nocturnal creatures and their behaviors under the cover of darkness.This cutting-edge filmmaking unearths an entirely new world that’s rarely seen by humans — but that can now be seen with every detail.Narrated by Samira Wiley ( A Handmaid’s Tale ), Night On Earth is a mesmerizing experience, bringing to light the world of the dark.Collapse Read more Birders (2019) 6.4/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Otilia Portillo Padua Cast Esteban Berrones, Chris Birchfield, Mark Conway tv-g Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Birders offers a thought-provoking view of bird-watching from opposite sides of the border between the United States and Mexico.Bird-watchers from Mexico observe birds crossing into the U.S., and watchers in the U.S.see the return.Man-made obstacles pose a threat to the birds and their habitats, which cause untold destruction to their populations and ecosystems.
This short documentary showcases a world without borders and members of two countries working together to protect the habitat of these magnificent birds.Collapse Read more Into the Inferno (2016) 92% 76% 7.2/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Werner Herzog Cast Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer, Mael Moses tv-pg Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Director and writer Werner Herzog created a feature-length documentary that focuses on one of the most powerful and destructive forces on our planet: Volcanoes.Volcanoes wield great power, and they’re able to decimate any land — but also create new land as their thunderous force completely changes the land around them.Herzog sends viewers deep into the magma-filled heart of volcanoes, as their destructive forces breed creation and civilizations praise their raw power.With breathtaking filmmaking, Into the Inferno showcases the pure power of volcanoes and how they have impacted our world.
Collapse Read more Team Foxcatcher (2016) 100% 76% 7.3/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Jon Greenhalgh Cast Dave Schultz, Nancy Schultz, John E.du Pont tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Utilizing home video footage, Team Foxcatcher recounts the downward spiral of John du Pont and the tragic murder of Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz with authenticity and depth.Team Foxcatcher sees exclusive interviews with du Pont and the families impacted by this tragedy.Directed by Jon Greenhalgh, Team Foxcatcher received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary.
The tragedy was the central focus of this dark and dramatic film.Collapse Read more World War II in Colour (2009) 6.1/10 Genre Documentary, Reality, War & Politics Created by Jonathan Martin Cast Robert Powell, Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill Seasons: 1 tv-ma watch on Netflix watch on Netflix It’s a good time to catch up on history, and World War II in Colour captures the biggest moments of World War II.Newly revealed and restored footage showcases the realities of World War II from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the Battle of Midway to the siege of Stalingrad to the bombing of Hiroshima.Unlike other World War II documentaries, these moments are restored in color, giving clarity to these momentous moments in military history.
With commentary from researchers and historians, World War II in Colour is an excellent series for those wishing to learn more about World War II.Collapse Read more Spitfire: The Plane that Saved the World (2018) 94% 7.6/10 Genre Documentary, History, War Directed by David Fairhead, Ant Palmer Cast Charles Dance, Mary Ellis, Geoffrey Wellum tv-14 Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix There were many aircraft that flew over the skies of World War II, but the Spitfire is revered as one of history’s greatest.Spitfire: The Plane that Saved the World is a feature-length documentary film about the Supermarine Spitfire, the legendary combat aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force through hundreds of combat engagements, including The Battle of Britain.Through restored archival footage, historians, researchers, and combat veterans, Spitfire: The Plane that Saved the World is a critically acclaimed documentary that tells the story of heroism, bravery, sacrifice, and love.Collapse Read more The Universe (2007) 8.7/10 Genre Documentary Cast Various Seasons: 9 tv-14 watch on Netflix watch on Netflix Where do you go when the world is not enough? The Universe lives up to its title by expanding the focus beyond Earth as it explores the cosmos in a unique way.
The series invites experts in multiple fields to share their knowledge while using CGI graphics to illustrate universal objects and concepts.Nine seasons were produced, but Netflix only has a selection of episodes from the second season that focus on the really fun stuff.That means alien planets, dark matter, the moon, supernovas, space travel, and more.
Collapse Read more Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019) 67% 8.0/10 Genre Documentary, Crime Directed by Mark Lewis Cast Deanna Thompson, John Green Seasons: 1 tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Ten years ago, Luka Magnotta posted a video of himself killing two kittens on camera.A few outraged viewers launched their own online manhunt, as chronicled in Don’t F**k With Cats .Several internet sleuths closely examined the video hoping to find clues about Magnotta’s identity and where he could be found.Meanwhile, Magnotta went on to kill an international student, and he proved to be even more dangerous than previously believed.Exposing Magnotta was only the beginning — the real trick was catching him.Collapse Read more The Great Hack (2019) 85% 67% 7.1/10 Genre Documentary Directed by Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer Cast Brittany Kaiser, David Carroll, Paul-Olivier Dehaye tv-ma Trailer watch on Netflix Trailer watch on Netflix Do the words “Cambridge Analytica” mean anything to you? It’s the name of the company that illegally lifted personal information from Facebook users during the 2016 election.
More surprisingly, Cambridge Analytica was working for U.S.Sen.Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, as well as the Brexit campaign in the United Kingdom.The Great Hack examines this story by talking to the people who were chasing the story and other individuals who were involved in the scandal.The scary thing is that the past may be prologue for companies that are stealing information from public Facebook pages.It may be a long time before the full extent of the damage is revealed.
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