Streaming on Netflix

Best Documentary Movies on Netflix

Top 20 documentary movies available to stream on Netflix right now, ranked by ratings.

1

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet(2020)

8.9 IMDb96% RT72 Meta

The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild place

2

Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom(2015)

8.3 IMDb89% RT79 Meta

Over 93 days in Ukraine, what started as peaceful student demonstrations became a violent revolution and full-fledged civil rights movement.

3

13th(2016)

8.2 IMDb97% RT81 Meta

An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality.

4

Apollo 11(2019)

8.1 IMDb99% RT88 Meta

A look at the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilot Buzz Aldrin.

5

My Octopus Teacher(2020)

8.1 IMDb93% RT82 Meta

After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking h

6

Seaspiracy(2021)

8.1 IMDb75% RT

Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species — and uncovers an alarming global conspiracy.

7

Virunga(2014)

8.1 IMDb100% RT95 Meta

Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s oldest national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a contested ground among insurgencies seeking to topple the government that see unto

8

The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo(2020)

8.1 IMDb

After the death of her daughter at the hand of her boyfriend, Marisela Escobedo began to fight for justice not only against the murderer but also against the corrupt Mexican judicial system.

9

Free Solo(2018)

8.1 IMDb97% RT83 Meta

Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat

10

Icarus(2017)

7.9 IMDb92% RT68 Meta

While investigating the furtive world of illegal doping in sports, director Bryan Fogel connects with renegade Russian scientist Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov—a pillar of his country’s “anti-doping” program.

11

The Greatest Night in Pop(2024)

7.9 IMDb98% RT

On a January night in 1985, music's biggest stars gathered to record "We Are the World." This documentary goes behind the scenes of the historic event.

12

Stutz(2022)

7.8 IMDb96% RT76 Meta

In candid conversations with actor Jonah Hill, leading psychiatrist Phil Stutz explores his early life experiences and unique, visual model of therapy.

13

The Social Dilemma(2020)

7.6 IMDb84% RT78 Meta

This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

14

HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé(2019)

7.6 IMDb98% RT

This intimate, in-depth look at Beyoncé's celebrated 2018 Coachella performance reveals the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement.

15

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond(2017)

7.6 IMDb92% RT77 Meta

Offbeat documentarian Chris Smith provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon.

16

Money Heist: The Phenomenon(2020)

7.5 IMDb

A documentary on why 'Money Heist' sparked a wave of enthusiasm around the world for a lovable group of thieves and their professor.

17

Miss Americana(2020)

7.4 IMDb65 Meta

A raw and emotionally revealing look at one of the most iconic artists of our time during a transformational period in her life as she learns to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer

18

BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky(2020)

7.3 IMDb94% RT66 Meta

Record-shattering Korean girl band BLACKPINK tell their story — and detail the hard fought journey of the dreams and trials behind their meteoric rise.

19

The Edge of Democracy(2019)

7.3 IMDb97% RT81 Meta

A cautionary tale for these times of democracy in crisis—the personal and political fuse to explore one of the most dramatic periods in Brazilian history. With unprecedented access to Presidents Dilma

20

ariana grande: excuse me, i love you(2020)

6.4 IMDb50% RT

Ariana Grande takes the stage in London for her Sweetener World Tour and shares a behind-the-scenes look at her life in rehearsal and on the road.

Looking for something specific?

Search on WhatToStream.ai