The Best Documentaries on Netflix: From Keep Sweet to Our Father

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There are loads of Netflix documentaries about cults gone mad, however Hold Candy: Pray and Obey is perhaps probably the most disturbing of the lot. Not like Homicide Among the many Mormons, which nearly handled its matter like a screwball comedy, Hold Candy is a really grim story a few grim human being in Warren Jeffs. It is a implausible documentary, and among the many greatest Netflix has produced, but it surely comes with a really hefty content material warning.

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Pretty much as good as Netflix documentaries are, there’s been a bent to pull true crime out into these bloated multi episode sequence. Fortunately Our Father is the alternative of that. It is a lean, completely executed documentary centered on Donald Cline, an Indiana fertility Physician who used his personal sperm to inseminate a ridiculous quantity of ladies in opposition to their will.

That is an unimaginable piece. A type of tales that simply escalates and escalates to the purpose the place you are jaw is dropping in disbelief. 

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The true crime documentary style is totally saturated at this level, however The Staircase stands out. 

Specializing in Michael Peterson and the demise of his spouse Kathleen, The Staircase is greater than only a homicide thriller. It is a drawn-out epic that takes place over literal many years, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his each transfer, however by some means nonetheless stays goal. 

It is a good time to observe or revisit this one, since HBO Max have simply launched a drama mini sequence based mostly on it.

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Barack Obama’s is making a beeline for David Attenborough’s job. And we do not hate the concept!

Our Nice Nationwide Parks is a world class nature documentary within the fashion of nice BBC reveals like Planet Earth. They’ve nailed it right here. Should you’re a fan of that kind of present that is fully unmissable.

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Absolutely the gold customary for lengthy operating sports activities documentaries. Drive to Survive is so good, and so fashionable, that it is impressed a complete new degree of curiosity in Formulation 1, particularly within the US. This present is nice at elevating the characters that occupy the game. Extra reveals like this please.

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This Oscar-winning documentary is an absolute belter. 

Icarus begins out as an expose on the affect performance-enhancing medicine have on sports activities efficiency, however a sequence of occasions drags director Bryan Fogel into an internet of geopolitics and conspiracies. To say extra would spoil it, however Fogel in the end has created a documentary that had a really actual affect on our notion of sports activities as a complete. In that respect, Icarus is a literal recreation changer.

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I’ve watched loads of true crime documentaries on Netflix, however nothing has come near The Keepers. A staggering story, instructed throughout generations, that is respectful of the victims, but compelling all through.

It is a story concerning the unsolved homicide of Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught at a Catholic college in Baltimore, however The Keepers goes additional than you would possibly anticipate and exposes a possible cowl up of intercourse abuse allegations.

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Who Killed Little Gregory is a documentary centered on the horrific homicide of Grégory Villemin. It is arguably the perfect true crime documentary on Netflix. It is a few homicide, and makes an attempt to resolve that homicide, but it surely’s additionally a lesson in media illustration and the horrific sexism Grégory’s mom needed to face within the wake her personal son’s homicide. 

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In 2020, within the midst of a pandemic, Netflix dropped this piece of sports activities doc perfection. 

The Final Dance focuses on the Chicago Bulls throughout their 97-98 NBA title successful season, however actually it is a leaping off level for a documentary that tells the life story of its central star, Michael Jordan. 

Consequently, many criticized it for being slightly too Jordan-focused, however The Final Dance was an occasion documentary that lived as much as the hype. 

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thirteenth by Ava Duvernay is a staggering documentary that tells the story of American slavery and its long-lasting impacts, a lot of which nonetheless resonate right now. 

Within the wake of the Black Lives Matter motion, this must be necessary viewing.

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It is virtually not possible to overstate how well-known Jimmy Savile was within the UK — significantly within the Eighties. He was past a family identify, in some ways he felt like an eccentric Uncle to the nation.

Which made revelations he had sexually assaulted actually lots of of underage ladies and boys all of the extra horrific. This was an individual the entire of Britain had invited into their properties. 

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story does a fantastic job of going via the archives, combining footage that’s totally weird in hindsight, and including implausible interviews with a few of the main gamers in British TV throughout Savile’s heyday. An enchanting, albeit disturbing documentary. Be warned: It is a troublesome watch, 

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A documentary centered on Shimon Hayut, AKA “Tinder Swindler”, a conman who used courting apps to defraud a number of ladies throughout Europe to fund a lavish life-style.

A barely totally different matter in comparison with most true crime documentaries on Netflix. Undoubtedly value a gander.

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These days its uncommon to observe a lean, clear direct true to crime present that does not drag issues out, or intentionally obfuscate information for the sake of drama. However that is precisely why The Raincoat Killer is so good, and distinctive.

It is a complete, nice have a look at The Raincoat Killer, a brutal serial killer in South Korea. It is one of many higher true crime documentaries on Netflix.

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One of many more moderen true crime documentaries from Netflix, it is a good one.

Specializing in the weird deaths of 11 members of the family in a single home in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018, Home of Secrets and techniques delves into the theories behind of the strangest suicide/homicide circumstances in current reminiscence. Unmissable stuff. 

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This Is a Theft is about Netflix because it will get. A four-part sequence specializing in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, that is primarily a documentary about an artwork heist. Keep in mind Evil Genius? (Which can also be on this listing.) This Is a Theft may be very a lot in that fashion. The primary episode takes some time to get going, however be affected person — this one has a repay.

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A few of Netflix’s more moderen true crime documentaries have been a bit bloated and… sorta unhealthy?

Fortunately Homicide Among the many Mormons is a return to type. Undoubtedly watch this one. 

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There are loads of true crime documentaries on the market (and on this listing) however American Homicide: The Household Subsequent Door stands proud. 

It tells the story of Chris Watts, a seemingly common man who murdered his spouse and youngsters. The entry to footage is staggering and it is edited and produced in a singular method, utilizing textual content messages and social media posts to inform the story. It is a horrific reminder of the banal, extremely frequent existence of home violence.

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With the swathe of true crime documentaries and podcasts that got here in its wake, it is simple to overlook that the world as soon as misplaced its collective thoughts over Making A Assassin. In loads of methods it created the template that many Netflix documentaries now observe. An actual unique.

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Seaspiracy follows within the footsteps of a number of documentaries centered on the affect of meat consuming on the atmosphere. This time the worldwide fishing trade is within the crosshairs. As anticipated this one has stirred up a little bit of controversy from all stakeholders — PETA, Greenpeace and conservation teams can not seem to agree if Seaspiracy is correct or truthful. Watch it and make up your personal thoughts.

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My Octopus Instructor follows Craig Foster, a filmmaker who spent a 12 months snorkelling and interacting with an octopus off the coast of South Africa. It is a nature movie, positive, but it surely’s concurrently a documentary designed to encourage awe within the viewer. In brief, octopi are unimaginable. Little aliens on Earth, primarily. That is the story of a relationship between people and nature but it surely’s additionally an inspiring name to motion: Do not ignore the marvel that exists throughout you.

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David Attenborough nature documentaries are so ubiquitous they’re susceptible to self parody, however Our Planet is — I imagine — the excessive watermark. Solely Planet Earth, one other Attenborough docu, comes shut. However I choose this one.

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Time might uninteresting its affect, however when Tiger King was first launched on Netflix, your complete world could not cease speaking about it. 

Tiger King explores the unusual underbelly of huge cat breeding, specializing in a solid of unforgettable (and in the end harmful) characters. It drags its viewers to bizarre locations. Season 2 is now out there and whereas the present has misplaced loads of its chew, it is intriguing to meet up with this solid of untamed human beings doing wild, fully outlandish issues. 

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14 Peaks tells the story of the Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his purpose of climbing all 14 mountains above the peak of 8000 metres in a single 12 months. It is unimaginable. Should watch stuff.

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Netflix might need burned the True Crime documentary into the bottom, but it surely’s on fireplace relating to sports activities. Unhealthy Sport is the most recent entry into this burgeoning sub class, and it is superior. Specializing in unusual controversies in sports activities historical past, Unhealthy Sport is much less about main gamers doing main issues, it is about what occurs when sport goes unhealthy, will get down within the dust. All of those episodes are nice. Hoping for a season 2. 

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The River Runner is sorta like Free Solo for kayaking. Think about {that a} praise.

Specializing in Scott Lindgren, a kayaking legend who was an early pioneer of the game, it is a conventional story of an excessive sports activities star overcoming odds, but it surely runs slightly deeper than that. Preventing in opposition to a mind tumour and his personal private demons, Lindgren is a compelling case research. Should watch stuff.

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Untold is the most recent from the oldsters behind Wild Wild Nation.

It is a sports activities documentary sequence, with every episode going in-depth on controversial sports activities matters. The primary episode focuses on Malice on the Palace, the infamous basketball match the place Ron Artest waded into the group and wailed on followers again in 2004.

The second episode focuses on Christie Martin, the feminine boxer from the 80s who turned well-known after preventing on Mike Tyson’s undercard. 

It is launched weekly and, to date so good. It’s extremely 30 for 30 — which is an efficient factor.

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Naomi Osaka has turn into one of the well-known and talked about athletes on the planet. This fascinating documentary explores totally different phases of her profession and gives unimaginable entry into the lifetime of a younger girl battling the pressures of sport and fame. A should watch.

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Athlete A is a superb characteristic size expose on Larry Nassar, the crew doc of US Gymnastics, who had been sexually abusing feminine athletes for many years.

Be warned: This one is harrowing.

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Should you’re in search of a barely extra uplifting documentary, you might do far worse than The Pace Cubers, a have a look at the world of aggressive rubix… cubers? It is quick, however packs an unimaginable emotional punch. Put together your self, this one would possibly break you.

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Within the wake of the Capitol siege, the Fb/Cambridge Analytica controversy virtually seems like historical historical past, however that does not make this documentary any much less essential. If you have not seen it, then watch it.

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Lately launched, Operations Varsity Blues: The Faculty Admissions Scandal has a reputation so long as a few of Netflix’s current documentaries. Fortunately, this is not as bloated as, say, the recent Cecil Hotel docu, but it surely might nonetheless use some trimming. 

Operation Varsity Blues centered on the FBI investigation into school admissions that put actress Felicity Huffman into jail. Its director Chris Smith beforehand labored on the Fyre Pageant documentary. This is not fairly as compelling, however continues to be nicely value watching. 

Sundance

No matter your views on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Knock Down The Home is an unimaginable underdog story that can’t be missed. Specializing in progressive feminine candidates through the 2018 congressional major campaigns, it is an insightful have a look at the democratic course of. It is an inspiring reminder that we have to combat with the intention to make the voices of unusual folks rely.

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Not gonna say a lot right here. Nina Simone is a legend and that is possibly top-of-the-line documentaries I’ve ever seen. 

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Overlong and bloated, Wild Wild Nation is nonetheless one of the fascinating documentaries I’ve ever watched on Netflix. 

It tells the story of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajnees, who tried to construct a big sprawling commune, for what was primarily a intercourse cult, in america. It is a unusual story that by some means turns into stranger with age. Very like Tiger King the story plumbs depths you will not imagine. At instances it is a slog, however Wild Wild Nation is completely worthwhile.

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I completely adore this documentary. 5 present acclaimed administrators (together with Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola) assist inform the story of 5 well-known film administrators from the ’30s and ’40s who did frontline work through the Second World Conflict. It wraps their legacies alongside the affect of the warfare itself into a really compelling story of Hollywood’s golden age.

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One other Oscar winner for Netflix, this documentary is the primary produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Increased Floor Productions crew. 

American Manufacturing unit tells the story of Fuyao, a Chinese language firm that constructed a manufacturing facility in Ohio that inhabits a now-closed Normal Motors plant. You need to watch this film.

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By this level all of us have some kind of understanding of Jeffrey Epstein’s story however Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy does itself a fantastic service by specializing in the tales of the survivors of his abuse. 

The Cinemart/Hulu

Hulu also has a great Fyre festival documentary, however I choose this Netflix one. Not like many Netflix documentaries, that are stretched and bloated into multi-part episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and strong gold your complete method via.