Documentary can seem, sometimes, like a genre of movie. And it’s true, of course, that most documentaries have some basic elements in common. What any real fan of the documentary form knows, though, is that great documentaries can come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. 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.
If you’re looking for great docs, then Netflix is not a bad place to start. 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.
Here are 13 of the best documentaries to cue up on Netflix right now.
If you’re caught up on all of these, you can also check out the best movies or TV shows to watch on Netflix.
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.
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.
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