Documentaries come in so many different shapes and sizes that any movie fan can find one they’re interested in. Documentaries can be about your next great travel destination, or the best ways to find and appreciate great food, or about a murder case that has been unsolved for decades. What unites great documentaries are the stories they tell, and the powerful emotions they evoke. The best documentaries on Netflix also come with the same diversity described here.
It can definitely be overwhelming trying to find the best titles from among their expansive library, though, so we’ve decided to do some of that for you. These 14 docs are sure to fascinate and entertain any audience. If you’re caught up on all of these, you can also check out the best movies or TV shows to watch on Netflix.
American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing (2023)
The Boston Marathon is supposed to a celebration of athletic perseverance and Northeastern grit. These cultural touchstones took on a whole new meaning when the 2013 edition of the marathon ended in tragedy with a terrorist bombing. This documentary sheds new light on the violence that took place in Massachusetts with interviews and expert analysis one decade after the horrors of that day.
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (2021)
Tales by Light (2015)
Korean Pork Belly Rhapsody (2020)
Flint Town (2018)
Wild Wild Country (2018)
An award-winning documentary, Wild Wild Country follows a little-known cult that blew up in eastern Oregon back in the 1980s. Like most off-the-grid communities, this one, with its followers dubbed the rajneeshees and clad in signature burgundy clothes, is led by a brilliant but conniving leader. This docuseries is highly addictive, and is likely to leave viewers baffled as they try to reckon with the bloody legacy that this particular cult left in its wake.
Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami (2021)
The Alpinist (2021)
Pelé (2021)
Athlete A (2020)
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
The Toys That Made Us (2017)
This docuseries offers all the context even the geekiest fan would need about why certain childhood toys came into existence. We’re talking about things like Legos and Barbie and every other toy that most kids love growing up. You’ll love returning to your childhood while taking on some factoids and background info that’ll serve as great icebreakers and conversation starters during your next communal meal or cocktail party.
Becoming (2020)
Quincy (2018)
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