Historical Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated April 24, 2024
One Bright Shining Moment
2005 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsRetracing presidential candidate George McGovern's unsuccessful run for office in 1972, this political documentary features interviews with McGovern himself, as well as supporters and activists such as Gore Vidal, Gloria Steinem and Warren Beatty.
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Steal a Pencil for Me
2007 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsDirector Michèle Ohayon's moving documentary chronicles the unshakeable romance between Jack Polak and Ina Soep of Amsterdam, who met and fell in love despite their deportation to Nazi concentration camps during the war. As they corresponded with love letters composed on any scrap of paper they could find, the couple's blossoming relationship coincided with the horrors of the Holocaust and their internment in Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen.
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National Geographic: The Great Inca Rebellion
2007 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThis thought-provoking National Geographic program sheds new light on the long-held assumption that 16th-century Spanish conquistadors swiftly overtook the Incan empire with little resistance. Based on physical evidence recovered from the remains of those who died in battle and stunning reenactments produced with CGI animation, the program suggests that the Spanish assault on the ancient civilization may have lasted as long as 20 years.
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Speaking Freely: Vol. 2: Susan George
2007 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsJoin award-winning scholar Susan George for an enlightening hour as she reveals the forces at work behind the problems that plague our global community today, such as poverty and unfair international trade practices. Far from a dry lecture, her talk traces the intriguing history behind the politics of empire building with a freedom, depth and élan you won't find on the 6 o'clock news. Beware: This presentation is dangerous to complacency!
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Panama Deception
1992 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsFilmmakers Barbara Trent and David Kasper explain the untold truths behind the United States' 1989 invasion of Panama in this hard-hitting documentary that illuminates the complex relationship between Gen. Manuel Noriega and the U.S. government. Juxtaposing interviews with experts and eyewitnesses with historical media reports, the film shows how the press helped win the American public's approval despite widespread condemnation abroad.
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National Geographic: Stonehenge Decoded
2008 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsFeaturing intriguing interviews, reconstructions and narration by Donald Sutherland, this National Geographic documentary presents new evidence and a groundbreaking theory about the origin and purpose of the enigmatic Stonehenge. The finding of a lost city near the prehistoric structure has led an archaeological team headed by Prof. Mike Parker Pearson to posit that Stonehenge was the nucleus of one of the world's biggest religious centers.
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Virtual JFK
2008 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsFilmmaker Koji Masutani's documentary poses a provocative question: What would John F. Kennedy have done in Vietnam had his presidency continued through a second term? Using newly available behind-closed-doors audiotapes and other sources, the program suggests answers to this question by candidly examining Kennedy's approach to other crises of the day, such as the Communist uprising in Laos in 1961 and the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
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Kimjongilia
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsMarked by a long history of repression and information control, North Korea continues to scrupulously monitor the activities of its citizens. This exposé reveals daily life under a totalitarian regime as well as the stories of prison camp survivors. Filmmaker N.C. Heikin draws on her artistic sensibility as a dancer and performer to craft a stylish documentary that bears a surprising message of hope and inspiration.
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Egyptian Secrets of the Afterlife
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThis fascinating Nat Geo documentary explores Egypt's tombs and reveals the ancient beliefs of the afterlife and the perilous passage to resurrection, as renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass excavates a mysterious tunnel deep below the earth. Discover the artifacts, drawings and other clues that tell the story of an underworld journey filled with terrifying monsters and fiery lakes as the dead navigate to the other side.
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Dark Legacy
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThe death of John F. Kennedy is viewed from yet another angle in this documentary that introduces George H.W. Bush as a key player in the assassination plot and cover-up. This is a recut and reissued version of 2003's JFK II: The Bush Connection.
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Who Was Jesus?
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsExperts from a variety of disciplines join forces in this Discovery Channel documentary that aims to demystify the life of Jesus, looking to science, archaeology and history to craft a more detailed and accurate portrait of Christ's world. An archaeological dig in the Holy Land unearths new evidence about Jesus's early years, and historical analysis of the economic and social climate sheds light on his role as both a prophet and a political leader.
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Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
2003 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThis powerful documentary chronicles the life of openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who, among many contributions to the cause, is best known for organizing the 1963 March on Washington, D.C., involving hundreds of thousands of people.
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Monarchy: Series 2 (U.K. Version)
2006 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThe long, intriguing history of the English monarchy continues in the second installment of this documentary series developed by historian David Starkey, which picks up with Charles II's return from exile in 1660 and the restoration of kingly rule. The five-part program also covers the reigns of James II; William, Mary, and their daughter, Anne; George I, II and III; and the venerable Victoria.
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Monarchy: Series 1 (U.K. Version)
2006 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsTudor expert and BBC personality David Starkey turns his sharp eye to England's royals in this documentary series that maps the development, from 400 A.D. onward, of Europe's oldest surviving political institution. Beginning with the rise of Alfred the Great's nation-state, Series 1 chronicles the Norman Conquest and Henry II's dominance before delving into the made-for-Shakespeare reigns of three Edwards, Richard II and Henrys IV to VI.
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Who Was Jesus?
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsIn this three-part documentary that aims to demystify Jesus Christ's life, experts from various fields join forces and look to science, archaeology and history to paint a detailed, accurate portrait -- from his early years to his role as a prophet.
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Monarchy (U.K.)
2006 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsHistorian David Starkey offers an in-depth analysis of the British monarchy -- from its beginnings with Alfred the Great through the reign of Queen Victoria -- and chronicles the often bloody, always intense relationship between citizens and rulers.
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Legends of Flight: IMAX
2010 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsIn the history of aviation, truly radical new aircraft designs come along only once in a generation. Learn about, and ride along with, two "game changing" designs: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380.
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Until They Are Home
2012 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsFilmmaker Steven C. Barber profiles the activities of JPAC, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, as they search for the still-missing remains of U.S. Marines killed on the island of Tarawa, the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
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Alexandria
2010 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsHistorian Bettany Hughes delves into the history of Alexandria, Egypt, revealing the story of a city founded out of the desert by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. to become the world's first global center of culture.
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The Mexican Suitcase
2011 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThis film tells the story of the recovery of 4,500 negatives taken by photographers Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David Seymour during the Spanish Civil War. The film follows the journey of these negatives to Mexico and their recovery 70 years later.
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Chariots of the Gods
1970 | NR | 3.6 out of 5 StarsThis documentary explores the possibility of extraterrestrial influence on Egypt's pyramids, ancient cave drawings, crop designs and the Easter Island monuments, among other notable landmarks.
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National Geographic: Inside the Vatican
2001 | NR | 3.6 out of 5 StarsMartin Sheen narrates National Geographic's behind-the-scenes peek into the inner workings of the Vatican, one of the most famous, yet mysterious, locales on Earth. With access into the private chapels and papal quarters, no stone is left unturned. For nearly 2,000 years, the Vatican has managed to remain mostly unchanged spiritually and physically as the world has endured repeated wars, famines and political upheavals.
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National Geographic: Vietnam's Unseen War: Pictures from the Other Side
2002 | NR | 3.6 out of 5 StarsYou haven't seen everything there is to see about the Vietnam War if you haven't viewed this sobering documentary from the highly regarded National Geographic team of filmmakers. Complementing the recently released book &NFi;Another Vietnam&NFi_;, this film captures the war as seen through the eyes (and lenses) of Vietnamese photographers.
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National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: Alexander the Great
2004 | NR | 3.6 out of 5 StarsThe most extraordinary warrior of all time, Alexander the Great achieved military conquests that remain unsurpassed to this day. Indeed, the conqueror brought east and west together in the mightiest clash of cultures the world has ever known. But much of his legend remains shrouded in mystery. Join National Geographic on a quest to find the real Alexander and examine what molded and pushed him ever onward toward new horizons.
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National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: The New World: Nightmare in Jamestown
2005 | NR | 3.6 out of 5 StarsThis fascinating educational program produced by National Geographic examines forensic and archeological evidence to chronicle the story of America's first colony in Jamestown, Va., which faced famine, cannibalism and pestilence. And thanks to historically accurate re-creations, it seems as if 1607 was only yesterday. Bonus material includes interactive maps detailing John Smith's real-life journeys in the New World.
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