Social & Cultural Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated December 11, 2023
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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How to Die in Oregon
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsPeter Richardson's award-winning documentary takes you into the lives of terminally ill men and women as they consider availing themselves of physician-assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon under the state's 1994 Death with Dignity Act.
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Jiro Dreams of Sushi
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis delectable documentary profiles sushi chef Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old master whose 10-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant is legendary among Tokyo foodies. Ono is also a father, whose sons struggle to live up to his legacy and make their own marks.
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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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Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis TV miniseries chronicles the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history, when a frenzied wheat boom on the southern Plains -- followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s -- nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation.
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I Am
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsIn this contemplative documentary, filmmaker Tom Shadyac conducts in-depth interviews with prominent philosophers and spiritual leaders -- including Archbishop Desmond Tutu -- about what ails the world and how to improve it.
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Bill Cunningham New York
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsLiving simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city -- both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy.
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Indie Game: The Movie
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis captivating documentary follows several independent game designers as they painstakingly develop their games and hope for breakthrough success. It also explores the quirky sensibility these personalities bring to their art form.
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Beauty Is Embarrassing
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsGet to know Wayne White, one of America's most unusual and arresting artists, with this snappy documentary that traces the ups and downs of his career. The jovial White discusses his art, strums the banjo, plays with puppets and simply enjoys life.
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First Position
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFollow dancers training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions. The stakes are high: their performances will determine the success or failure of their dreams.
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Forks Over Knives - The Extended Interviews
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis companion to the acclaimed documentary about veganism includes never-before-seen footage of expert interviews, covering several themes in greater depth and addressing important issues that weren't touched on in the film.
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Beyond the Myth
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsUnfairly known as violent killers, pit bulls have suffered from the stigma of negative media coverage that has lead to citywide bans across the country. This documentary strips away the preconceptions to show the loving companions these dogs can be.
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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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Zeitgeist: Addendum
2008 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsContinuing the discussion from Zeitgeist: The Movie about the controversial links between religion and the financial markets, this documentary explores the causes of social corruption and puts forth a solution based on human alignment with nature.
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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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Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis TV miniseries chronicles the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history, when a frenzied wheat boom on the southern Plains -- followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s -- nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation.
Details about Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl
Burn
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsMeet the firefighters of Detroit, who battle the nation's highest arson rate in a bid to save their once-thriving city from virtual collapse. At the helm is commissioner Donald Austin, whose firebrand attitude has galvanized the city and its leaders.
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Hungry For Change
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary exposes secrets the diet, weight loss and food industries don't want consumers to know about: deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more. Find out what's keeping people from having the body and health they want.
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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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