Documentaries connect us all. Even in cases where the film’s overall focus is narrowed to fit a pre-conceived narrative, there’s an unmistakable feeling of intimacy, of being let into a filmmaker’s brain for a quick flash. In using snippets of the real world, in a variety of forms, great documentaries use images of universal, familiar existence to impart something tremendously personal.Netflixhas a bounty of great documentaries that cover a diverse range of subjects, fromtrue crimetosportsto evenfilmmaking. Below, we’ve assembled a list of what we believe are the best documentaries on Netflix right now.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best movies onNetflixor the best documentaries onHuluandPrime Video.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
Editor’s note: This article was updated February 2025 to include Will & Harper.
‘Will & Harper’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 7.4/10
Will & Harper
The release ofWill & Harperin 2024 had everyone talking, with this one of the most popular docs of the past year. The movie follows legendary comedian and Hollywood iconWill Ferrellas he embarks on a road trip across America with his long-time friendHarper Steeleafter the latter has transitioned. At a time when the subject is on the tip of everyone’s tongue,Will & Harpersees a trusted and honest celebrity tackle the strange and abhorrent treatment of the trans community with poise and humility. A powerful, personal tale of hope and joy,Will & Harpershould be on the top of everyone’s watchlist. -Jake Hodges
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‘Martha’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.2/10
This fascinating documentary from directorR.J. Cutlerlooks into the professional and private life ofMartha Stewart, the famous businesswoman, writer, and television personality. Featuring never-before-seen access into the most private corners of Stewart’s life, including interviews with the woman herself,Marthais a thorough and excellent example of how to craft a documentary around a single subject. Despite Stewart herself exclaiming her frustration with the final cut,Marthais still well worth your time if you’re a fan of the controversial figure or simply documentaries in general. -Jake Hodges
‘Skywalkers: A Love Story’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 72% | IMDb: 7.2/10
Skywalkers: A Love Story
Following Russian rooftopping coupleAngela NikolauandVanya Beerkus,Skywalkers: A Love Storyis a documentary that climbs to heights not meant for the faint of heart. The act of rooftopping is a death-defying venture to free climb to the peak of towers that often requires this couple to battle against their fears, harsh weather, and the law itself. FilmmakerJeff Zimbalist(Give Us This Day) dives into the heist-level prep the couple does before sneaking into a new building and weaves a narrative around their fraying relationship as they set off to conquer their white whale: Merdeka 118, the second-highest building in the world.
‘Power’ (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 5.7/10
Poweris a documentary film that explores the centuries-long history of policing in America, directed and narrated byYance Ford, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentaryStrong Island. Through archival footage, expert commentators, and Ford’s own observations, the film forms a clear-eyed visual essay on the very nature of policing, as well as the past, present, and possible future of American police. The documentary had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. Through the film, Ford draws a clear historical genealogy of modern police that begins with slave patrols and the forced clearing of Indigenous people and evolves through union-breaking and anti-protest brutality during the civil rights movement, nurtured by the bipartisan support of the establishment. Stepping beyond the limits of contemporary conversations,Powerreveals the fundamentally oppressive purposes for which the police have been used by those in power across history, underlining the fact that a state must be held accountable for the actions of its police force.
‘Sly’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 7/10
Read Our ReviewSlyis a documentary film about film legendSylvester Stalloneand his 50-plus-year career. Directed byThom Zimmy(The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash), the film explores the journey of Stallone’s humble beginnings in New York to becoming a Hollywood action icon. Produced bySean M Stuart(The Challenger: The Final Flight), the documentary premiered at the 2023Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)to great reviews from critics.
Now streaming onNetflix, the film has an incredible host of celebrity appearances, from fellow action iconArnold Schwarzenegger(Terminator) toAcademy Award-winning directorQuentin Tarantino(Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood), from the multi-facetedHenry Winkler(Happy Days) to the unforgettableTalia Shire(Rocky) and more.Slyalso contains interviews with Stallone’s family, as well as archival footage from projects and moments past. The film is a treat for any movie buff who is a fan of Stallone’s classic films likeRocky,Rambo, orGet Carter, as well as his more recent projects likeCreed,Tulsa King, andThe Suicide Squad.
‘The Deepest Breath’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | IMDb: 7.7/10
The Deepest Breath
A champion and expert safety diver seemed destined for one another. Despite different paths taken, they meet at the pinnacle of the free-diving world, experiencing the thrilling rewards and inescapable risks of chasing dreams through the depths of the ocean.
The Deepest Breathis a documentary film that captures the dangers and glory of one of the deadliest extreme sports in the water: freediving. FilmmakerLaura McGann(The 8th)explores the necessary training and undeniable strength needed to compete in the water sport, focusing on an Italian competitor namedAlessia Zecchini. The documentary features archive footage of the woman intent on earning the title of woman to free dive deepest, as well as interviews with expert safety diverStephen Keenan.
The Deepest Breathhas received critical acclaim for its treatment of the subject and its spectacular footage of the ocean depths, which is coupled with the story of a real-life tragedy. As any good sports documentary should,The Deepest Breathshowcases the passion and skill required to win in such a demanding arena.
‘Saint of Second Chances’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Saint of Second Chances
Directed byJeff Malmberg(Marwencol) andAcademy Award-winnerMorgan Neville(20 Feet From Stardom),The Saint of Second Chancesis a sports documentary that features one of the most famous families in professional baseball: the Veeck family. PatriarchBill Veeckis a familiar face for fans of the sport, having been the owner (at various times) of the Cleveland Indians, the St. Louis Browns, and the Chicago White Sox. Bill Veeck spent years building a legacy in the sport, butThe Saint of Second Chancesis the story of his son,Mike Veeck, who was forced into exile from the sport he loved after causing the downfall of his father’s career.
A documentary keen on examining the wild relationship between the father and son at the center of its story,The Saint of Second Chancesis a redemption tale akin to sports movies in the fiction world. The film features a playful narrative that adds to its appeal, and it has received widespread critical acclaim. A no-holds-barred look into the rifts between family members and the part that the media can play in such cases,The Saint of Second Chancesholds an almost universal relevance to the lives of viewers and can impact how we all view our loved ones.
‘Take Care of Maya’ (2023)
Take Care of Maya
As a medical team tries to understand 10-year-old Maya Kowalski’s rare illness, they begin to question her parents. Suddenly, Maya is in state custody - despite a family desperate to bring their daughter home.
Directed byHenry Roosevelt,Take Care of Mayafollows the harrowing true story ofMaya Kowalski, who was diagnosed with a rare illness and prescribed Ketamine for her pain. The treatment works for a time, but when her symptoms resurface, her new doctors at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital force her into state custody, suspecting her parents of abuse. This kicks off a deeper investigation into the medical system that quickly snowballs to expose much bigger cracks in the American child welfare organization.
The film documents the agonizing experiences of the Kowalski family from their perspective as they recount the moment that would change their lives forever. It’s an exploration of a bureaucratic and medical nightmare, showcasing the toll it takes on the Kowalskis — ultimately leading to one of Maya’s parents committing suicide.Take Care of Mayais not for the faint of heart, but the painful real-life story it explores is one that needs to be heard.
‘Wham!’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.5/10
From directorChris Smith(Fyre,Tiger King),Wham!explores the early lives of the titular pop duoGeorge MichaelandAndrew Ridgeley, the childhood friends who would change the music scene of the 80s before playing their last concert at Wembley Stadium. The band was short-lived, but their legacy remains to this day, from their iconic style and unique sound to George Michael’s eventual outing that reframed his whole career.
WHAM!is a nostalgic deep dive that will jitterbug all of the pop duo’s biggest hits into your brain while gripping your heart with the story of their historic rise to fame. Upon release, the documentary garnered positive reviews from both critics andWHAM!fans. So take a walk down memory lane with the help of never-before-seen archival footage and interviews and see the true origins of some of pop’s greatest legends.
‘Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me’ (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 38% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me
Directed byUrsula Macfarlane(Untouchable),Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Meis a deep dive into the tragic story of the bombshell model whose life was constantly dissected and publicized by the media despite them never truly understanding who she was. The documentary seeks to reframe the way people seeAnna Nicole Smith’s story with never-before-seen footage and a detailed retelling of her meteoric rise and fall, exploring her humble upbringing, her controversial marriage, and the celebrity culture that ultimately led to her death.
Despite receiving largely negative reviews,Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Mepresents a sad tale that sheds an unflattering light on the way that women are treated by tabloids and the Hollywood machine. The film is a condemnation of sensationalism and voyeurism in the media, and while many critics found the documentary’s execution in that regard somewhat lacking, it’s still worth watching the movie if only to witness an unseen side of a misunderstood figure.
