Biographical Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated April 22, 2024
30 for 30: The Two Escobars
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsDiscover the surprising parallels between star athlete Andres Escobar and international drug kingpin Pablo Escobar -- two renowned Colombians who loved the sport of soccer, achieved incredible levels of success and suffered brutally violent deaths.
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Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis compelling documentary explores three years in the life of celebrated Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, who uses social media and his art to inspire protests against the state, and suffers government persecution for his actions.
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Chasing Ice
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsEnvironmental photographer James Balog deploys time-lapse cameras to capture a record of the world's changing glaciers, compressing years into seconds to illustrate how these ice mountains are disappearing at a breathtaking rate.
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Waiting for Lightning
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsDanny Way's passion for skateboarding would one day bring him and his creation, a ramp of dangerous proportions, to the height of fame. This documentary captures pro skater Way as he attempts to jump the Great Wall of China.
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Nirvana: Nevermind
2005 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsIn this rockumentary, Nirvana band mates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl shed light on the group's brief meteoric career, the recording of Nirvana's groundbreaking 1991 album "Nevermind" and the late Kurt Cobain's legacy.
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Warren Buffett: Bloomberg Game Changers
2013 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsFor decades, Warren Buffett held an unparalleled position in finance as a legendary investor, a multibillionaire and America's most respected businessman. Interviews with his family, his associates and himself reveal the secrets of his success.
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Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsGet an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Usain St. Leo Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who's widely regarded as the fastest man in the world and became a legend at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsStop-motion animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen inspired a generation of directors and special effects experts, as this documentary illustrates. The film presents Harryhausen's collection of prop models, as well as rare experimental footage.
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Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsFocusing on two men whose bodies have been trashed by steroids, obesity and illness, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path -- including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables -- that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health.
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With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsArguably the most recognized name in comics, Stan Lee has co-created over 500 legendary pop culture characters, including Spider-Man and the X-Men. Explore the life of Stan Lee from his Depression-era upbringing through the Marvel age of comics!
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Bhutto
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis documentary is an in-depth and at times incendiary look at the life and tragic death of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the outspoken voice of reason whose 2007 assassination sent her country's political system into a tailspin.
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Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsBeloved by millions of children, Elmo is an international icon. But few people know the soft-spoken man behind the furry red monster: Kevin Clash. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary follows Clash's remarkable career as a puppeteer.
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26 Years: The Dewey Bozella Story
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsA promising young boxer from a troubled family, Dewey Bozella was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1983 and spent more than 26 years in Sing Sing prison. This inspirational film follows his quest to fight one professional fight as a free man.
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Monica & David
2009 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsDocumentarian Alexandra Codina explores the nuances of love and commitment in this cinematic portrait of a soon-to-be married couple with Down syndrome, and the proud but protective mothers who have long shielded them from life's cruel realities.
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Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsHarper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and its Oscar-winning film adaptation both had a deep influence on American culture and racial perspectives. This pensive documentary studies the author's life and the controversy her work inspired.
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Bruce Lee, The Legend
1977 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsFrom his humble Hong Kong childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom, Bruce Lee led an interesting life as a martial arts legend. Listen to intimate recollections by friends and students like Steve McQueen, James Coburn and many others.
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American: The Bill Hicks Story
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsSince his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian Bill Hicks's legend and stature have only grown, and this unique documentary tells his story, blending live footage, interviews and animation to fill in the details of a life cut short. A comic's comic and unflagging critic of hypocrisy and cultural emptiness, Hicks was one of a kind, a Lenny Bruce for the late 20th century, and few are more deserving of this in-depth biographic treatment.
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Booker's Place: A Mississippi Story
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsPrompted by a son's wish to honor his filmmaker father, this documentary uncovers the impact of a bold decision made by an African American waiter to expose the true state of race relations in Mississippi in the turbulent 1960s.
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Google: Bloomberg Game Changers
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 Stars"Game Changers" documents the birth of Google, founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page while they were graduate students at Stanford University. The pair broke new ground not only in the realm of technology, but in the way the world does business.
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Lynching Charlie Lynch
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis documentary explores the rift between state and federal laws regarding medical marijuana, following the story of a man who even called the DEA before opening his California dispensary -- but still wound up convicted on federal charges.
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A Good Day to Die
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsIn-depth interviews and archival footage profile the life of Dennis Banks, co-founder of the American Indian Movement, which staged protests, including the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee, to draw attention to the mistreatment of Native Americans.
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Crime After Crime
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsConvicted of killing her brutally abusive boyfriend in 1983, Deborah Peagler languished in prison for 20 years. When California legislation allowing incarcerated domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases becomes law, a pair of novice attorneys agree to take on her case. Armed with evidence of their client's innocence, the two encounter a bewildering maze of bureaucratic procedures and political corruption as they seek justice.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective
1994 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis documentary program focuses on the Civil Rights leader's many groundbreaking accomplishments. Footage covers Dr. King's war on poverty and his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. Also included is his stirring "I Have a Dream" speech.
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Buck
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsBuck Brannaman, inspiration for "The Horse Whisperer," is revealed as a complex figure in this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary by Cindy Meehl. The master horseman reveals details of his troubled childhood and his dawning awareness of new ways that humans and horses might work with one another. As Buck learns more about horses, he finds that the ways we communicate with our animal companions offer lessons on how we relate to fellow human beings.
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Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
2009 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsControversial, charismatic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is the subject of this insightful documentary from director Tamra Davis, who has uncovered a never-before-seen interview with the artist conducted before his untimely death at the age of 27.
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