Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated May 30, 2023
Blackfish
2013 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsThis fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum -- who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity -- and questions the safety and humaneness of confining these intelligent creatures.
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Art of Flight
2011 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsFilmmaker Curt Morgan captures iconic snowboarder Travis Rice and friends as they travel to far-flung locales and battle extreme conditions in search of the perfect environment to try out outrageous new tricks.
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The Whale
2011 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsNarrated by Ryan Reynolds, this documentary introduces Luna, a killer whale who befriends a community living off Vancouver Island. Conflicted emotions rise to the surface as officials try to determine what's best for the extraordinary animal.
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Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
2012 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsThis documentary follows six teenagers who formed a skateboarding team in the 1980s, revitalizing the sport and becoming its top athletes: Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain and Rodney Mullen.
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Elon Musk: Bloomberg Risk Takers
2011 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsBorn and raised in South Africa, entrepreneur Elon Musk is the driving force behind SpaceX, a private company exploring commercial space travel. Musk also co-founded PayPal and Tesla Motors -- all before the age of 40.
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American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsAs host of "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, Johnny Carson was seen by more people on more occasions than anyone else in American history. Explore Carson's life and career, as well as the history of his beloved television program.
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Bridegroom
2013 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsHelmed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this illuminating documentary chronicles the story of Shane Bitney Crone, who finds himself shut out and deprived of the legal protections of marriage after his same-sex partner dies in a tragic accident.
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30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsA close look at two-sport athlete Bo Jackson and the creation of a legend. Even without winning a Super Bowl or World Series, Bo will forever be known as a cultural icon and one of the most famous athletes of all time.
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Miss Representation
2011 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsExplore how the media's often disparaging portrayals of women contribute to the under-representation of females in positions of power, creating another generation of women defined by beauty and sexuality, and not by their capacity as leaders.
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The Fab Five
2011 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsProfiling the University of Michigan's infamous "Fab Five," who made headlines -- and stirred controversy -- when they changed the climate of college basketball, this ESPN documentary gives four of the five players the chance to speak for themselves.
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A Band Called Death
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsBlending a larger-than-life family story and a rock documentary, this film follows David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney, three teenage brothers from Detroit who founded the band Death, commonly regarded as the first black punk group, in the early 1970s.
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Marley
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsFeaturing dozens of interviews, electrifying concert performances and rare footage, this documentary explores the music, life and legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley, from his birth in 1945 to his death from cancer at age 36.
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Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsIn a television interview filmed in 1995 and believed to be lost, the charismatic Steve Jobs talks frankly about his early life, battles with Apple CEO John Sculley, competition with Microsoft and his vision for the future.
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Benji
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis gripping documentary tells the story of Ben Wilson, a good-natured and beloved teenage basketball phenom from Chicago's South Side whose life was tragically cut short by violence in November 1984.
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Burzynski
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis true story follows a biochemist who challenged the Food and Drug Administration for his right to begin clinical trials on a new cancer treatment. In addition to recounting Burzynski's astonishing legal victories in the face of skepticism, this documentary also examines several of his patients and their success in fighting terminal cancer.
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Senna
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis fast-paced documentary profiles Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One racing, and a hero in his native Brazil. Using archival footage, director Asif Kapadia examines the idealistic Senna's inspiring legend.
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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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Somewhere Between
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsQuestions of race, identity and heritage are explored through the lives of young American women growing up as adoptees from China. These four distinct individuals reflect on their experiences as members of transracial families.
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Ken Burns: The War
2007 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsA seven-part series brings World War II to life through the harrowing personal accounts of a handful of soldiers and others from "typical" American towns, recreating visceral scenes of the battles at Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and more.
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Ken Burns: The Civil War
1990 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary masterpiece from Ken Burns depicts the strategies and action of famous Civil War battles, and relates the stories of generals, field soldiers, politicians, heroes and a beleaguered president. The Emmy-winning miniseries begins by looking at the factors that led to the firing on Fort Sumter, and covers specific notable battles, climaxing with Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender and Pres. Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
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30 for 30: Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary explores how NBA legend Reggie Miller became an enemy to New York Knicks fans, especially after scoring eight points in 8.9 seconds at the end of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals to claim the victory for his Indiana Pacers.
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Serving Life
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFilmed in a notorious Louisiana prison, this moving documentary chronicles the work of some inmates who find a sense of redemption for their past crimes by volunteering in the jail's hospice, offering compassion to other prisoners as they die.
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Forks Over Knives
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFocusing on research by two food scientists, this documentary reveals that despite broad advances in medical technology, the popularity of animal-based and modern processed foods have led to epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
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Nature: My Life as a Turkey
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsWhen naturalist Joe Hutto became "mother" to a clutch of 16 wild turkey eggs, he had no idea of the heartache and joy that were to become part of his daily existence for the next 18 months, as he raised the chicks and helped them leave the nest.
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Ken Burns: The War
2007 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsDocumentarians Ken Burns and Lynn Novick bring the harrowing history of World War II to life through the personal accounts of a handful of participants from four "typical" American towns -- proving nothing was typical during this terrible time. Historical footage and photographs combine with realistic sound effects to create visceral scenes of the battles at Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and more in this seven-part PBS presentation.
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