The 40 best documentaries you have to watch on Netflix

The most popular Netflix content is usually fiction series or movies, but the platform is It is increasingly interested in including in its catalog very interesting documentaries that serve as a tool for the knowledge.

Among its titles stand out, on the one hand, those that disclose the reality of the animal and plant world. On the other hand, those that reveal ways of life of different cultures in exotic spaces. Also, those who delve into crimes that had a great impact or those who delve into relevant figures in music, literature, art, cinema or sports.

If you like documentaries or want to discover other audiovisual forms far from fiction, here We propose a list of the best documentaries available on Netflix, arranged in a falling. It includes both titles produced and distributed by the platform and documentaries by other production companies that Netflix includes in its catalog.

1. Night on Earth (2020)

Direction: Peter Fison
Category: Science and nature.
Format: Miniseries.

What happens when the sun goes down on Earth? This documentary series about the nightlife of different species around the world will not leave you indifferent.

It is an essential audiovisual piece if you are a lover of nature and animals, since it will allow you to discover what is difficult to see while we sleep. With maximum image quality and very good sound, this documentary will immediately immerse you in every place it shows.

2. The Dawn Wall (2017)

Direction: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer
Category: Sports.
Format: Documentary film.

The dawn wall follow the trail of famous rock climber Tommy Caldwell, who tried to overcome life's adversities by climbing after being kidnapped. Together with Kevin Jorgeson, Tommy tries to reach the top of the Dawn Wall, through one of the most complex walls to climb in the world. The climbers spent 19 days on the Yosemite National Park wall, free-climbing.

If you like inspiring and self-improvement stories, this documentary will show you a journey of obstacles that, with effort and enthusiasm, the protagonists of this documentary managed to overcome until achieve your dream.

3. The light of stories (2015-)

Direction: Abraham Joffe
Category: Travel and adventures. Science and nature.
Format: Serie.

What's behind a stunning photograph? This documentary series reveals what is behind the lens of renowned photographers, each chapter is intended for one of them.

In different parts of the planet the different scenarios that give rise to images are presented extraordinary, while presenting the nature and culture of the place that surrounds the Photographs.

The series is produced in 4K technology and allows you to enjoy great places in nature and explore different cultures, you will love it especially if you love photography.

4. The Last Dance (2020)

Direction: Jason hehir
Category: Sociocultural. Sport.
Format: Miniseries.

This documentary miniseries of just 10 episodes shows the story of Michael Jordan, a legend in the world of basketball and one of the greatest icons of world sport of the 80s and 90s.

The episodes focus on the 1997-1998 season of the Chicago Bulls. As another timeline discovers the player's high school and college beginnings, as well as the beginning of his sports career.

This documentary is essential if you like sports, since it not only serves to know the lights and the shadows of one of the great basketball legends, also the inner workings of the NBA.

5. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)

Direction: Alastair Fothergill, Jonathan Hughes, Keith Scholey
Category: Science and nature.
Format: Documentary film.

David Attenborough, a nonagenarian British scientist, is one of the most renowned naturalist popularizers on television. In this documentary he reflects on his experiences as a naturalist since he has traveled many parts of the planet throughout his life.

This production is very interesting since it warns, with a vision of the future, about the time that planet earth has left. All this through impressive images.

6. Cuba and the cameraman (2017)

Direction: Jon alpert
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary film.

Over the course of more than 40 years, this documentary follows the experience of several Cuban families at different political moments in the country through the eyes of Jon Alpert.

It is a very ambitious project that takes place over a period of 45 years, in which Jon Alpert traveled to the island to follow the course of a few inhabitants. The work of so many years can be seen in a documentary of less than two hours.

7. World War II in Color (2009)

Direction: Jonathan Martin
Category: Story. Warlike. Politics.
Format: Miniseries.

If World War II remained for history in "black and white", the great restoration work allows us to see the great events lived in color. A new look at one of the great war conflicts of the twentieth century that uses old materials in color and high definition, providing a modern touch.

8. The three deaths of Marisela Escobedo (2020)

Direction: Carlos Pérez Osorio
Category: Crime.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary uncovers the errors of the Mexican judicial system through the case of Marisela Escobedo, a woman who lost her daughter when her ex-partner murdered her at age 16. Sergio Rafael Barraza was acquitted for lack of evidence. It is the story of a mother who fought tirelessly for the death of her daughter to be done justice, but in 2010 she was killed by a shot in the head.

It is a very interesting audiovisual piece that makes us reflect on impunity in Mexico. It also shows the impotence and courage of a mother who fights, without obtaining results, for the love of her daughter.

9. Five Came Back (2017)

Direction:Laurent Bouzereau
Category: Warlike. Historical.
Format: Miniseries.

Hollywood movie landmarks Jonh Ford, William Wyler, Frank Capra, George Stevens and John Huston enlisted in the military during World War II to document the conflict.

Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola or Guillermo del Toro are some of the directors who participate in this production. All of them detail how this event changed the history of Hollywood cinema and how it affected the careers of the directors mentioned above.

Undoubtedly, Five came back is a highly recommended series for those who consider themselves moviegoers, also for those who wish to enter the history of these legendary Hollywood film directors.

10. The extraordinary story of the Paralympic games (2020)

Direction: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
Category: Sports.
Format: Documentary film.

How did the Paralympic games come about? What is behind the athletes who participate?

This documentary film discovers elite athletes and collects the testimony of the organizers of one of the largest sporting events in the world. With this he intends to reflect on how disability and diversity are seen in the world.

11. The Witness: Cain and Abel (2017)

Direction: Kate horne
Category: Biographical. Photography.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary delves, through the work of the Colombian photojournalist Jesús Abad Colorado, in the armed conflict in Colombia. Her photographs serve as a collective memory.

In this audiovisual piece, the stories of the protagonists of some of his best-known photographs taken during the conflict are discovered. It is a very emotional project that raises the possibility of looking back and being able to forgive the horrors.

12. Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019)

Direction: Martin Scorsese
Category: Music and concerts.
Format: Documentary film.

In 1975 one of the most influential figures in 20th century music, Bob Dylan began one of his most peculiar tours. In it, the singer had the opportunity to travel around various parts of the country and collaborate with more than a hundred artists.

This documentary is very interesting since it not only shows unpublished images of that event, unmissable for his most unconditional followers, but contains interviews with Dylan himself and testimonies from his companions and relatives.

13. Rest in Peace, Dick Johnson (2020)

Direction: Kirsten johnson
Category: Biographical.
Format: Documentary film.

American documentarian and cinematographer Kirsten Johnson reflects on death in this audiovisual production.

The protagonist is his father Dick Johnson, a sick man whom he soon has to fire, and he does so by recreating different ways the possible death of him, some are sadder and others more fun, but humor is always present black. In some way, this helps the author to prepare for her future duel.

14. The Silence of Others (2019)

Direction: Almudena Carracedo and Roberto Bahar
Category: Sociocultural. Spanish postwar.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary follows victims of the Franco regime, implicated in the so-called "Argentine Querella", who are trying to do justice to the atrocities committed during the dictatorship.

The film shows that the wounds in Spain are not yet closed, although this is how it is seen in the institutional sphere, transferring authentic atrocities towards the most absolute oblivion.

The silence of others It is an emotional work that forces us to look for a moment to the past, to the memories that are still present today for many who try to fight against forgetfulness.

15. Human Nature (2019)

Direction: Adam bolt
Category: Science and nature.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary is part of one of the great scientific revolutions of the 21st century: the development of the CRISPR technique. This method allows researchers to cut and take DNA sequences, shedding light on cures for diseases.

Human nature It is a highly recommended project for those with an interest in genetic engineering, as it not only explores evolution in this field but also addresses ethical limits.

16. In a nutshell (2018)

Direction: Joe Posner, Ezra Klein
Category: Science and nature. Sociocultural.
Format: Miniseries.

This series contains a wide range of topics. In each of its chapters it tries to answer questions of a different nature: the crisis water world, why women's wages are lower, why diets don't work, among others.

This is a very interesting production as it addresses some complex issues in a simple and concise way, making it an affordable series for all audiences.

17. The Toys That Made Us (2017)

Direction: Tom stern
Category: Lifestyle.
Format: Serie.
Have you ever wondered what is behind the legendary toy franchises that were part of your childhood?

This documentary series invites you to meet the minds behind these creations that were part of different generations. Star Wars, Barbie, He-Man, Transformers, LEGO, Hello Kitty, The Power Rangers or My Little Pony are some of the names that appear in this production.

18. To the teeth (2018)

Direction: Alberto Arnaut
Category: Crime.
Format: Documentary films.

When in 2010 two young university students were found dead, the Mexican army altered the crime scene and the boys were accused of being hitmen. Years later, the Mexican government had to apologize and admit that Jorge Mercado and Javier Arredondo had been mistaken for drug traffickers. Relatives and other witnesses relate the case in this documentary.

Without a doubt, it is a very impressive production that serves to give voice to the great injustices and that calls into question the Mexican judicial system.

19. The Network Dilemma (2020)

Direction: Jeff Orlowski
Category: Science and nature. Internet. Social media.

It is a documentary that has been commented on since its premiere, since it addresses a topic that is part of our day to day.

This audiovisual piece reveals what is behind the most popular social networks. Through different experts The network dilemma invites the viewer to reflect, who probably wants to disconnect for a moment from all his profiles after viewing.

20. Born in Syria (2016)

Direction:Hernán Hernán Zin
Category: Refugees.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary narrates the reality that many governments try to ignore. The Syrian civil war has caused more than four million people to leave the conflict-ravaged country. The peculiarity of this audiovisual production is that the events are presented from the eyes of the children who have to face this martyrdom every day.

21. Magical Andes (2019)

Direction: Luis Ara, Sergio Albertoni, Alexandra Hardorf, Manfred Uhlig
Category: Sociocultural. Science and nature.
Format: Serie.

This series begins in the mountain range of Argentina and ends in Colombia. Five people connected to nature, to their place of origin, in the mountains, explore the history and culture of the natural habitat in which they live.

Magical Andes It is a very interesting production to discover some of the most beautiful places on our planet through images recorded with drone and beautiful panoramic views.

22. An ocean of plastic (2016)

Direction: Craig leeson
Category: Science and nature.
Format: Documentary film.

How much debris is under the oceans? How is this affecting marine fauna and ecosystems? What can we do as consumers to avoid the destruction of our planet?

This documentary reveals the serious situation of the oceans. To do this, it shows different parts of the world where pollution abounds and there are large amounts of plastic waste.

23. Women in War (2015-2016)

Direction: Hungues Nancy and Fabien Beziat
Category: Warlike.
Format: Documentary film.

These are two independent documentary films collect different stories of women who fought for freedom during the First and Second World Wars. Women in War (1914-1918), released in 2015, brings together the stories of women who fought on the front lines during the First World War.

The documentary Women in War (1939-1945), released in 2016, tells the story of nurses, soldiers and athletes who fought in the second fight.

24. Chavela (2017)

Direction: Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi
Category: Music and concerts.
Format: Documentary film.

This biographical documentary explores the life of Mexican artist Chavela Vargas, showing her life through unpublished material by the artist herself and through interviews with some of her contemporaries of her. It is an essential production to meet one of the most relevant figures in music.

25. Icarus (2017)

Direction:Bryan bryan fogel
Category: Crime.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary exposes the doping case that was one of the biggest international scandals in the world sports and that is related to the participation of doped Russian athletes during the Olympic games of 2012.

The success of this audiovisual piece earned it an Oscar for best documentary and became the first Netfllix production to win this award. If you are a fan of sport and the Olympic games, this production will take you into the darkest side of elite sport.

26. Tell me who I am (2019)

Direction: Ed perkins
Category: Family.
Format: Documentary film.

Tell me who I am It delves into the lives of two twin brothers Alex and Marcus Lewis. Alex lost his memory at the age of 18, since then, he has the help of his brother, who tries to make him remember who he is and helps him to learn many things in life again. The twins went through unpleasant events during their childhood, which they must face years later.

This documentary is unmissable because it manages to leave its mark on the viewer because of how hard and emotional the story it tells is.

27. The Movies That Made Us (2019)

Direction: Brian Volk-Weiss
Category: About cinema.
Format: Serie.

We all have a movie that especially marked us in childhood and that continues to awaken in us a certain nostalgia today. This documentary series takes us back to the great box office hits that marked different generations. But, this time, we know how they were made and different secrets of their production from the actors, directors and experts who participated in these productions.

28. Audrie and Daisy (2016)

Direction: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
Category: Sociocultural. Bullying.
Format: Documentary film.

This film shows the experience of two teenagers, Audrie and Daisy, who were harassed by two boys who were part of their circle of friends. Both girls ended their lives, Audrie in 2012 and Daisy, years later, in 2020.

It is a production about a tragic event that guesses a harsh and not isolated reality that needs to be made visible: cyber bullying.

29. Gabo, the creation of Gabriel García Márquez (2015)

Direction: Justin Webster
Category: Biographical.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary film seeks to respond to how a child from a remote town on the Colombian coast, raised between violence and poverty, became a man moved by love and sensitivity.

In terms of research, this production is a journey through the life of the Nobel Prize in Literature through friends, acquaintances and colleagues. Essential for those who want to discover the life and work of the Colombian author, one of the great references of universal literature.

30. Amanda Knox (2016)

Direction: Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn
Category: Crime.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary focuses on the judicial process of one of the most notorious cases in recent times, that of Amada Knox. During her stay at an Italian university, this young American was accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher.

You will love the production if you like the genre true crime. One of the most interesting points of this documentary is that we know the facts from the point of view of the accused, Amanda Knox, who becomes the main source of information.

31. This is it (2009)

Direction: Kenny Ortega
Category: Concerts.
Format: Documentary film.

This is it follows the rehearsals of what would be the last tour of Michael Jackson, the artist who has been known worldwide with the label of “king of pop”. His sudden death prevented the 50 concerts that he was going to perform. This documentary, lasting more than an hour, is conceived as a farewell and was released a few months after the death of the artist.

32. I am Maris (2018)

Direction: Laura Vanzee Taylor
Category: Lifestyle.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary of just 54 minutes follows the experience of Maris Degener, a yoga teacher and writer who overcame the disease through the practice of yoga.

It is a fundamental audiovisual piece since it is inspiring, this woman teaches us her own path towards self-acceptance, and it can be extrapolated to all areas of daily life. It is a complex journey through a testimony that will certainly not leave you indifferent.

33. The Anaconda Trail (2019)

Direction: Alessandro Angulo
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary film.

Resisting change is difficult, but this documentary shows that it is possible.

The writer Wade Davis enters the Amazon with the anthropologist Martin von Hildebrand to discover the struggle of the Colombian indigenous people to protect the place. Together they explore impressive landscapes of the Colombian Amazon rainforest that could be in danger in the future.

34. A 3-minute hug (2019)

Direction: Eduardo Gonzalez
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary film.

This moving documentary narrates an unprecedented event that occurred on the border between El Paso (United States) and Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) in 2018. During a period of three minutes, the members of families separated by the borders between countries were able to meet again after being affected by anti-immigration policies.

35. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)

Direction: Matt D'Avella
Category: Sociocultural. Lifestyle.
Format: Documentary film.

"Less is more", have you ever heard this quote attributed to the architect Mies Van der Rohe, referring to architecture and also to design. But to what extent are we able to live with less and how could this improve our lives?

This documentary delves into the benefits of "less is more" in a society in which almost everything is consumer-oriented and where the consequences of consumerism can even lead to the deterioration of our lives.

36. Birdcatchers (2019)

Direction: Otilia Portillo Padua
Category: Science and nature.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary is a visual delight for great bird and bird lovers. Birdwatching guide Diego Calderón Franco and photographer Keith Ladzinkin take us on a very special journey that Follow native birds on the US-Mexico border, where you can find some of the most beautiful species in the world. world.

37. A Stairway to Heaven: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang (2016)

Direction: Kevin Macdonald
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary films.

If you love fireworks, this documentary will not leave you indifferent as it will take you into art contemporary of Cai Guo-Qiang, recognized for using a technique that involves igniting gunpowder to create his work. You will also meet one of his most famous creations: Sky Ladder, an impressive ladder that goes from earth to heaven.

38. A full-blown revolution (2018)

Direction: Rayka Zehtabchi
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary film.

A full-blown revolution She enters a village in India, and she realizes how something as natural as menstruation is still a taboo subject today, it is also perceived as a punishment. Through different witnesses, this audiovisual piece shows us the myths and misinformation that exist on the subject also in the most advanced societies. The documentary was an Oscar winner.

39. Notes for a heist movie (2018)

Direction: Leon Siminiani
Category: Robberies
Format: Documentary film.

A film director, Elías, was looking for a story that would inspire him to make a heist movie. In 2013 in Madrid a gang of robbers was arrested for robbing a bank branch. Flako, was the leader of the band of robbers, nicknamed as "the Robin Hood of Vallecas." Suddenly, the robber becomes the best advisor during the pre-production of the film in order for Elías to fulfill his dream.

40. Lorena, the light-footed one (2019)

Direction: Juan Carlos Rulfo
Category: Sociocultural.
Format: Documentary film.

This documentary focuses on Lorena Ramírez, a long-distance runner related to the Mexican community of the Tarahamaras or Rrámuris. The young woman came in first place in the Ultra Trail Cerro Rojo competition, in which 500 athletes participated. Lorena appeared without the appropriate sports equipment, which she replaced with a skirt and sandals, traditional Rrámuri clothing. Soon, the image of her was known throughout the world.

This audiovisual piece is an example of how with perseverance and overcoming any limit can be surpassed, even without the appropriate means.

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