The Best Documentaries on Netflix Right Now in 2023

Let’s be honest.

Documentaries bind us all together. The aspect of documentaries that draws in the majority of viewers is the essence of actual life that can be gleaned from the compilations of archival material, images, talking heads, pre-recorded audio, and sequences of physical excursion or straightforward mundane duties. Even when you’re seeing something that is obviously prejudiced, there is an irrefutable sense of genuineness. There is a definite sense of intimacy, as if the audience has been allowed a brief glimpse inside the filmmaker’s head, even when the broad emphasis of the movie is constricted to match a preconceived storyline.Great documentaries convey something really personal, perhaps even intimate, by employing many real-world examples to show universal, everyday reality. Additionally, we now have more opportunity than ever before to go deeper into a story because to the recent explosion of “docuseries” format.

There are several excellent documentaries on Netflix that cover a wide range of topics, including true crime, sports, and even filmmaking. We’ve put together a list of the top documentaries currently available on Netflix below.

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The Tinder Swindler (2023)

1 hr 54 min | Felicity Morris

On Tinder, we’ve all seen men who appear to be a little too good to be true. Images of a life spent travelling, wearing fancy watches and outfits, and living immaculately. While some may choose to swipe left, others may enthusiastically swipe right to give it a shot since for them, it’s about the possibility of finding their ideal mate.This is how Simon Leviev’s con started. The charismatic Simon quickly wins the hearts of women by luring them in and love-bombing them with presents, lavish trips, and protestations of love. Before long, a woman is transferring money to the charming Simon when he is suddenly hurt by an attack by his “enemies.” The Tinder Swindler succeeds in demonstrating how simple it is for males to manipulate and scam women into sending him hundreds of thousands of dollars under false pretences. Simon is a dangerous predator who still exists today, to to the dismay of this critic, using his victims as fuel for his lavish existence.The Tinder Swindler serves as a continual reminder that con artists will stop at nothing to succeed in their deception and that trust should not be taken for granted in the realm of online dating. Therese Lacson

Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl

Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Directed by: Josh Crowley

Shania Twain is one of the most prominent country singers of all time, and her influence on music cannot be disputed. Many of Shania Twain’s songs are well-known, like “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “From This Moment On,” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” However, you might not be aware of the numerous challenges she overcame to achieve her level of success.Things haven’t always been simple, from the sexism she experienced as a woman in the field to her parents’ terrible deaths, a messy divorce, and a case of Lyme illness. Twain, however, has never given up, making the documentary an engrossing and motivational story that both looks back on her difficult, trailblazing history and forward to her promising future. (Taylor Gates)

Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story (2023)

1 hr 12 min | Nicola Marsh, Giovanni Reda

Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story is a surprising trip into a little-known sport that follows Leo Baker as he rises to the pinnacle of professional skateboarding. The competitive character of skate culture, which developed from the local skate park to the international stage and swiftly turned into an elite inner circle, is explored by directors Nicola Marsh and Giovanni Reda. Leo Baker is able to explain how his abilities propelled him to the top, creating a path for others to follow and creating a welcoming environment for the LGBTQ+ community through the documentary produced by Marsh and Reda. Yael Tygiel

White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch (2023)

1 hr 28 min | Alison Klayman

With White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, a well-known documentary exploring the store’s rollercoaster ride within American society, you can plunge into the drama of a peak trend from the late 1990s and early 2000s. White Hot, which was directed by Alison Klayman (Jagged), explores the all-American brand that gained influence by excluding race, class, and just about anything else it could. Taking a close look at each choice the brand took that helped it rise before everything fell apart, White Hot analyses the pop cultural phenomena. Whether or not they wore the brand, any mall rat in the millennial generation will enjoy watching the detailed, fast-paced documentary White Hot. Yael Tygiel.

Our Father (2023)

1 hr 37 min | Lucie Jordan

Our Father is a documentary that demonstrates that sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. It is shocking, unsettling, and – at times – just plain bizarre. The movie exposes Donald Cline, a former fertility specialist in Indianapolis, who used his sperm to conceive scores of his patients without their knowledge. As we watch a woman’s at-home DNA test turn into something greater and more evil than anyone could have ever anticipated, there are numerous moments that will leave you in awe. (Taylor Gates)

The Sparks Brothers (2021)

2 hr 15 min | Edgar Wright

Despite being the favourite band of your favourite band, Sparks, who have released 25 albums throughout the course of their 50-year career, have mostly gone unnoticed. With the excellent The Sparks Brothers, director Edgar Wright attempts to correct that by examining the full career of pop-rock duo Ron and Russell Mael. Given the band’s extensive discography and the fact that Wright’s film is only two and a half hours long, there isn’t much room for anything else. As a result, by the end of the movie, you’ll feel the same way about Sparks that he does. This is in contrast to other music documentaries that attempt to examine the personal lives of their subjects. It’s a gift of musical understanding.Matt Goldberg

Sad Hill Unearthed (2017)

1 hr 26 min | Guillermo de Oliveira

For anyone who considers themselves a fan of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, this is a must-see, but it’s also a good reflection on what it means to be a fan and how we show homage to the works of art that have influenced our lives. The Sad Hill Cemetery is the site of Sergio Leone’s groundbreaking western’s conclusion, but over time, the cemetery grew overgrown and lost any resemblance to the scene. A group of admirers decided to take it upon themselves to renovate the cemetery and so produced what can only be referred to as a labour of love.While there are other documentaries that concentrate on fandoms, this one demonstrates the power of even a small amount of art by focusing only on one moment from a single film rather than the full Man with No Name trilogy. Matt Goldberg

Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)

2 hr 22 min | Martin Scorsese

Bob Dylan Martin Scorsese’s film Rolling Thunder Revue, which details Dylan’s 1975 concert tour, examines the border that Dylan has always walked between fiction and non-fiction with his image. Scorsese weaves fact with fiction in Rolling Thunder Revue, leaving it up to the spectator to figure out what is real and what is made up.On this tour, which at times seems more like a circus than a performance, there is wonderful concert video of Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and many other artists performing. With his past music documentaries, Scorsese has demonstrated his ability to delve deeply into what makes an artist so alluring and to play it up into fantastic movies. Ross Bonaime

Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art (2020)

1 hr 29 min | Barry Avrich

Imagine having a sizable art collection. You are familiar with the well-known names, but can you identify a fake? Most likely not immediately, which is why you leave it to dealers and galleries to confirm the legitimacy of artworks. What transpires, though, if the gallery knowingly aids the fraud? This was the case in Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art, in which the renowned and well-respected Knoedler & Company was used to commit the greatest art fraud in history.How much did those working for Knoedler know? Were they conned like their clients or did they voluntarily turn a blind eye because they had joined a successful scheme? Since we aren’t affluent art dealers or collectors, the stakes are minimal for us as viewers but extremely high for individuals engaged in this compelling documentary about fraudulent artists. Matt Goldberg

The Bleeding Edge (2018)

1 hr 40 min | Kirby Dick

When purchasing a new cell phone or video game system, you might want to choose for the newest technology, but you need exercise greater caution when choosing the foods you put into your body. In their 2018 documentary, producers Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy, along with writer-director Kirby Dick, look at the medical device sector and shockingly find that capitalism has infiltrated the FDA, the regulatory body tasked with monitoring the devices that physicians are implanting into patients.The Bleeding Edge will alter the way you interact with your doctor the next time you require an invasive surgery with its potent blend of personal experiences and steps back to examine the bigger issues. While it is unfair that people have been forced to bear this weight, at least this documentary gives you the information you need to prevent some terrible results. Matt Goldberg

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed (2021)

1 hr 32 min | Joshua Rofé

The Bob Ross documentary on Netflix does not demonstrate that this well-liked figure was a nasty man, which is the first thing to be aware of. But it does expose the unsettling reality of Bob Ross Inc.’s operations, particularly what transpired after Ross’ tragic passing. Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed, which includes interviews with Ross’ son and best friend as well as other people who knew him, shows how he came to be a pop culture star by chance and discusses his artistic philosophies. It also delves a little into his private life, allowing us to see the person behind the paintbrush.The main focus of the film, however, is on Ross’s exploitative business practises and the consequences of his passing. Considering that it lasts barely 90 minutes, the movie is engaging. Adam Chitwood

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)

1 hr 23 min | Keith Scholey, Jonathan Hughes, Alastair Fothergill

David Attenborough is undoubtedly one of the most well-known individuals in the conservation industry. Due to his considerable work on natural history films, presented in his recognisable narrating manner, the English natural historian and novelist is nearly a household name. Over 20 species have been named after him since he is so well-respected by the public and the scientific community. Additionally, he discusses his lengthy career in David Attenborough: A Life on Our Earth, commenting on how much the planet has changed in the ninety or so years of his life. Attenborough refers to the documentary as his “witness statement,” mixing up material from his earlier works.

He also outlines what, in his opinion, might happen if humans continue to exploit nature in the same way they do today. Without getting into too much detail, it entails the extinction of whole ecosystems and drastically altered climatic conditions, which all come together to cause a global extinction catastrophe. But Attenborough also makes the case that this scenario is avoidable and outlines the procedures that must be taken to undo the harm we have caused to the natural world. It’s a thought-provoking documentary that presents both critique and hope. Regardless of your level of interest in environmental issues, seeing this documentary is educational for everyone. Remus Noronha

Misha and the Wolves (2021)

1 hr 30 min | Sam Hobkinson

Even if someone’s Holocaust survival account was entirely improbable, would you still doubt them? The compelling documentary Misha and the Wolves by Sam Hobkinson revolves around that subject. In the movie, Misha Defonseca plays a lady who claims that when she was seven years old, the Nazis kidnapped her parents. As a result, she fled to Germany in search of her parents, joining a pack of wolves along the way.This memoir became a best-seller all over the world, but a legal dispute between Misha and her publisher, Jane Daniel, revolved around its veracity. Here, the focus isn’t just on a fantastical story but also on why we seek out happy stories at the price of sombre facts that might not be consoling. Matt Goldberg

Road to Roma (2020)

1 hr 12 min | Andres Clariond and Grabriel Nuncio

Even though Road to Roma may only have a small audience, it makes for excellent additional viewing if you’ve previously seen the Oscar-winning Netflix film Roma by Alfonso Cuaron. This in-depth feature-length documentary follows Cuaron as he makes his most intimate movie to date, drawing on his own recollections to produce an incredibly intimate drama set in Mexico City. The cinephiles will love this one. Adam Chitwood

Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017)

1 hr 40 min | Chris Moukarbel

Gaga: Five Foot Two is a good movie if you’re looking for a celebrity documentary that delves a little bit deeper than the obvious. The movie, which was released in 2017, centres on Lady Gaga’s life during the recording and release of her album Joanne. This period also marks the end of her engagement to Taylor Kinney and Bradley Cooper’s casting as her co-star in the movie A Star Is Born. As Gaga also struggles with fibromyalgia, you get a glimpse into her life as she juggles a lot of things at once, culminating in her Super Bowl halftime performance. This makes the movie feel fairly personal.

Athlete A (2020)

1 hr 43 min | Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk

Athlete A is a must-see if you’re interested in learning more about the United States Gymnastics programme. In addition to the journalists who investigated team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual assault of the young girls he was supposed to be assisting, the documentary also features interviews with survivors of Nassar’s abuse.That would be enough to make Athlete A worthwhile on its own, but the movie also explores the history of the US Gymnastics programme and the power structure that has protected abusers while also fostering an environment in which repeated verbal and physical abuse – both verbal and physical – is part of these young girls’ training. It’s an enlightening film that will change the way you view US gymnastics, especially with the Olympics just around the corner. Adam Chitwood

Murder Among the Mormons (2021)

2 hr 40 min | Jared Hess, Tyler Measom

One of the top Netflix original documentaries currently streaming is the three-part series Murder Among the Mormons. The movie follows a succession of historical document finds that pose a threat to the Lattter Day Saints church over the length of just under three hours, but crucial players keep turning up dead as a result of explosions. I won’t say any more because it’s a journey full of twists, but the movie uses contemporary interviews and historical material to tell its tale in a captivating way that doesn’t feel exploitative. If the idea of historical documents and the Mormon church intrigue you, go into it with as little background knowledge as possible. If so, you’ll find this book to be thoroughly engaging. Adam Chitwood

13th (2016)

1 hr 40 min | Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay She follows up her critically successful film Selma with a wrenching documentary that explores the widespread incarceration of minorities after the 13th amendment was passed. The documentary makes clear that widespread incarceration of African-Americans and other minorities is caused by more than just established cultural racism. Additionally, there is a financial motivation because incarcerating people is profitable. In 13th, a new type of slavery was created by the media, the government, and companies targeting black people in the decades that followed the ratification of the 13th amendment. It is a film that will enrage you, make you feel hopeless, and hopefully motivate you to take action against a system that has seriously injured our fellow citizens.– Matt Goldberg

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

1 hr 30 min | Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed

Check out Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed’s charming documentary My Octopus Teacher if you’re searching for something calming, inspiring, and curiously beautiful. In the film, director Craig Foster discovers an octopus while snorkelling off the coast of South Africa. He makes a commitment to talk to the octopus every day and discover as much as he can about the animal. We are able to witness a majestic and startlingly clever animal battling for survival in a perilous kelp forest thanks to their breathtaking underwater photos.While never losing sight of the majesty it offers, the movie never anthropomorphizes or diminishes the complexity of this aquatic world. Even if you’re not a big fan of nature documentaries, you’ll probably find My Octopus Teacher to be charming. – Matt Goldberg

American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

1 hr 22 min | Jenny Popplewell

The 2018 Watts family killings are the subject of the tragic and upsetting Netflix original documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door, which examines the incidents through social media posts, police recordings, text messages, and home video footage. It looks at Shanann Watts and her two children going missing, as well as the terrible things that happened when her husband was questioned by the police about his possible participation in her disappearance.The movie stands out among other real crime documentaries because it mostly keeps the victims in the spotlight. It exposes the fabrications that can appear on our social media profiles and the poison that festers at the core of far too many relationships in America. Adam Chitwood

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High Score (2020)

4 hr 12 min | France Costrel

One of the best documentaries Netflix has produced to date is the six-episode docuseries High Score. This is a thorough examination of the history of how video games came to be what we know and love, as described by those who created them. It starts with a thorough examination of the transition from arcade games to home consoles and details everything from the NES’s revolutionary launch to how Sega developed a strategy to take on Nintendo. You’re not going to believe how in-depth and real this is, and when you’re done you’ll be pleading for a second season that covers the N64 and beyond. Adam Chitwood

High Score (2020)

Run Time: 4 hr 12 min | Directed by: France Costrel

One of Netflix’s best documentaries to date is the six-episode High Score series. This in-depth examination of the history of how video games came to be what we know and love is provided by the creators of those games. The book examines everything from the NES’s game-changing arrival to how Sega developed a strategy to take on Nintendo, starting with a detailed look at the transition from arcade games to in-home systems. When you’re done, you’ll be pleading for a second season that covers the N64 and beyond because this is far more in-depth and candid than you probably expected. Adam Chitwood

The Last Dance (2020)

Run Time: 8 hr 10 min | Directed by: Jason Hehir

The 10-episode docuseries The Last Dance will completely captivate and astound you even if you don’t enjoy basketball. For ten hours, the narrative of Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls is contrasted with the narrative of his early life and career, as well as the narratives of former Bulls colleagues like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.By filling in the gaps of what came before, this back-and-forth flashing always keeps things interesting and contextualises the 1997–98 Bulls season. You’ll be in awe of Jordan’s talent and perseverance, but the documentary also features some surprise candid and eye-opening moments from one of the greatest athletes in history. The Last Dance is a fascinating biography of a man who dedicated his life to achieving excellence at any costs. Even if you don’t particularly watch basketball, you’ll find a lot to relate to if you were a fan of basketball in the 1990s. Adam Chitwood

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Directed by: Kristen Johnson

In Dick Johnson Is Dead, filmmaker and cinematographer Kristen Johnson continued to investigate her father’s dementia from her excellent 2016 film Cameraperson. In addition to examining the daily progression of her father’s illness, Kristen also deals with his dementia by recording potential methods for him to pass away, some of which her father helps replicate. This not only provides father and daughter time to connect before things grow worse, but also helps Kristen deal with the potential future. A dark sense of humour is used in Dick Johnson Is Dead to make light of a terrible illness and the sorrow of losing loved ones. Ross Bonaime

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020)

Run Time: 5 hr 54 min | Directed by: Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin

The seven-part docuseries Tiger King is wilder than the prior episode, so much so that you could find yourself saying, “Well surely things can’t possible get any weirder than this,” several times. You are wholly mistaken. Tiger King chronicles the adventures of Joe Exotic, a flamboyant and extraordinarily self-assured owner of a personal big cat sanctuary in Oklahoma. Joe Exotic’s tale is weirder than fiction; it involves deceit, violence, a conspiracy to commit murder for money, and a run for the US presidency. You simply have to see this to believe it. Adam Chitwood

Crip Camp (2020)

Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Directed by: Nicole Newnham and Jim Lebrecht

The Oscar-winning Netflix documentary American Factory was the first production from executive producers Michelle and Barack Obama; their follow-up, Crip Camp, is just as good, if not better. The movie sheds light on the people who devoted the majority of their adult life to fighting for rudimentary human rights, many of whom attended Camp Jened, a camp for challenged youth, in the 1970s.The movie begins with amazing historical footage from this camp, but after that, we follow the different characters we’ve met as they spend the following decades engaged in advocacy to enact laws that would make the world more accessible for those with disabilities. It’s both encouraging and maddening to witness how tenaciously these people had to push to make even the slightest difference in a battle that shouldn’t have needed to be waged in the first place. Adam Chitwood

Miss Americana (2020)

Run Time: 1 hr 25 min | Directed by: Lana Wilson

Miss Americana, a Taylor Swift Netflix documentary, is not your usual music film. It is actually more concerned with Swift as a person than it is with her music. More specifically, the movie follows Swift as she undergoes a protracted process of learning to care less about what others think of her. We witness this process in real time as Swift experiences a feminist awakening and decides to publicly express her political viewpoint. Some people will criticise the movie for being overly polished, but it’s tough to know how heavily Swift influenced how the documentary was tailored with regard to her self-image.The movie’s actual epiphanies, though, are difficult to miss, and it’s amazing to see Swift come to terms with her humanity while still being one of the most well-known individuals on the globe. Adam Chitwood

American Factory (2019)

Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Directed by: Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert

Do you want to feel good about how the American economy is doing and how its skilled labour force is being treated? Then pass on this movie. An abandoned General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio is given new life when a Chinese billionaire invests in it to use as a new American glass-making facility for his firm, Fuyao, in the award-winning film American Factory. You know how this story ends if you’ve ever worked on a factory floor or been on either side of a picket line.

The first film released by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s production firm, Higher Ground, which is distributed by Netflix, is a documentary. However, the documentary was first a Participant Media creation, which presented it at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it was recognised as the Best Documentary and caught the attention of Netflix and the Obamas.And just in case their involvement sways you in any direction, try to leave your prejudice at the door. American Factory describes the situation of the skilled labour class as easy prey for the wealthy and powerful, whether they are Chinese or Americans. It is also the tale of the American Dream, whether it is a myth or not.

There’s a stinger at the end that laments the eventual demise of the human workforce due to automation, but it’s important to remember that the machines themselves are merely tools that enhance the production pipeline; at the end of the day, it’s still a human, and frequently a bean-counting, bottom-liner who stands to make a few more points on their stock portfolio, who decides to replace actual, physical workers. Dave Trumbore

The Great Hack (2019)

Run Time: 2 hr 19 min | Directed by: Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim

The Great Hack, a 2019 Netflix documentary, delves deeply into the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica issue and demonstrates how, despite Facebook’s denials, the social media giant utilised user-collected personal data. The film offers a startling deep-dive into how data has become the most valuable resource on the planet and how data is used to target users with ads and fake “viral videos” and news stories to swing major elections through interviews with investigative journalists and Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser. Without a doubt, one of the most unsettling documentaries of 2019. Adam Chitwood

Knock Down the House (2019)

Run Time: 1 hr 26 min | Directed by: Rachel Lears

Despite the fact that the documentary’s main character is the liberal politician Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Rachel Lears’ production isn’t primarily focused on the left-right division. Instead, it involves rebellious, local politicians taking on the firmly established establishment power. While Ocasio-tale Cortez’s dominates the whole movie, Lears also spends time observing other female lawmakers who are vying for victory in their primary contests. The movie is at its best when it depicts the tedious, underappreciated effort of organising a campaign and movement.Knock Down the House offers a stirring call to action if you’re sick of politicians who only care about their personal interests and have forgotten about their voters. Matt Goldberg

Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)

Run Time: 1 hr 30 min | Directed by: Skye Borgman

While watching the true crime documentary, the phrases “bonkers,” “crazy,” and “wild” may spring to mind. The horrible tale that takes place in Skye Borgman’s film Abducted in Plain Sight would nullify them all. The story centres on the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was repeatedly kidnapped by Robert “B” Berchtold, a neighbour. The specifics of those kidnappings are undoubtedly out of this world, but Berchtold’s tactics are those of a true monster and predator who tore the Broberg family apart just to get to Jan. Yes, the story’s details are astounding, but the entire plot is much more spooky. Matt Goldberg

Five Came Back (2017)

Run Time: 3 hr 15 min | Directed by: Laurent Bouzereau

The three-episode docuseries Five Came Back is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by author Mark Harris, which examines World War II through the views of five filmmakers: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens.During the war, these well-known Hollywood filmmakers were hired to produce a number of documentaries to garner support, instruct troops, and capture gruesome events. The Meryl Streep-narrated documentary series examines the careers of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro before the war, the types of movies they produced for the government during the war, and how their work was profoundly affected by their experiences. It’s a must-see for WWII enthusiasts, and in addition to its brilliant structuring, Netflix has made 13 of the documentaries covered in the movie available to stream once it’s over. Adam Chitwood

Ugly Delicious (2018)

Run Time: 50 min per episode | Directed by: David Chang

Culture is expressed via food. The Netflix documentary series Ugly Delicious, which combines elements of a travelogue, food show, and documentary, has such as its basic idea. The first season of the eight-episode programme explores a variety of cuisines, including tacos, pizza, and barbecue as host, executive producer, and well-known chef David Chang looks at what defines a taco or what makes a pizza a pizza. However, the programme immediately came up with the concept of tracing culture through food: how did a classic pizza prepared in Naples turn into a Domino’s pizza? What does pizza represent to Italians versus Americans?those who place delivery orders? This provided a way to investigate not just how regional cuisine differs but also the characteristics of the inhabitants of each location and their motivations for consuming particular foods. The second season of the show takes that concept a step further by delving into topics like parenthood, how displacement influences food culture, and how people’s definitions of a “steak dinner” change over time. It’s entertaining to watch, but watch out—you’ll get hungry. Adam Chitwood

They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead (2018)

Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Directed by: Morgan Neville

In November 2018, when Orson Welles’ long-lost film The Other Side of the Wind was finally uploaded on Netflix, a documentary on the making of the infamous movie was also made available. The finished product, They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead, is absolutely fascinating since it not only details the lengthy process of creating, shooting, editing, re-editing, etc. for The Other Side of the Wind, but it also sheds light on Welles’ career while it was being overshadowed by Citizen Kane.The Other Side of the Wind is a must-watch if you’re not too familiar with Welles’ other works outside of that masterwork since it explains why and how he kind of faded in his latter years. Beyond that, though, The Other Side of the Wind’s production was completely wild. Adam Chitwood

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)

Run Time: 3 hr 55 min | Directed by: Joe Berlinger

Ted Bundy, a notorious serial murderer, was exceptional in that he ultimately waited until days before his execution to confess to his crimes, which include the murder of at least 30 people. In order to analyse the type of person who would have perpetrated the murders linked to Ted Bundy, the four-part documentary Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes draws from a series of interviews in which Bundy volunteered to talk in the third person. Truthfully, the tapes themselves don’t offer much insight, but Berlinger’s film does.Only individuals who directly interacted with Bundy are interviewed by him as he details the murderer’s life and misdeeds and contrasts them with the frequent lies Bundy stated about his background and upbringing. It’s an interesting film that explains how Bundy was able to escape law enforcement for so long while also giving Bundy’s victims enough opportunity to speak up. Adam Chitwood

Audrie & Daisy (2016)

Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Directed by: Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk

Audrie & Daisy is a challenging watch, but one that is also necessary—especially in 2018. The tales of two high school students who experienced sexual assault are chronicled in the documentary. After the incident, 15-year-old Audrie suffered from such severe cyberbullying that she killed herself. When Daisy, who was 14 at the time of the assault, learns of Audrie’s tale and reaches out, she finds that she has already left.The movie chronicles both tragic occurrences as well as how the institutions set up to defend the public failed each of these victims. Although this is a very upsetting movie, the strength of Daisy’s narrative gives viewers hope, and Cohen and Shenk end the movie by emphasising the efforts being done to prevent assault before it happens. ​​​​​​​

Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)

Run Time: 40 min per episode | Directed by: Formula 1

Expect your opinions on Formula 1 racing to alter if you don’t currently consider yourself a fan. The fantastic docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive condenses an entire Formula 1 racing season into its most memorable incidents and plotlines, with each episode focusing on an intriguing aspect unrelated to who is the greatest team or who is leading in the standings.Instead, every episode has a different aspect that the filmmakers explore, such as a team’s two drivers who don’t get along, a driver who is having trouble because of a string of accidents, a manager who is unsure of how to get the most performance out of his squad, and more. This is followed by some truly amazing video that highlights the speed and dexterity of these great vehicles. Drive to Survive demonstrates that there is much more going on underneath the hood of Formula 1 than may have previously been apparent. Matt Goldberg

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)

Run Time: 1 hr 34 min | Directed by: Chris Smith

Jim Carrey took the decision to fully inhabit the role of Andy Kaufman while filming the 1999 movie Man on the Moon. In order to capture the tough shoot, he enlisted the aid of a few of Kaufman’s real-life pals, who filmed Carrey both on and off the set. The tape was never released, however, due to Universal Pictures’ concern that viewers would perceive Carrey as “an asshole.” Therefore, Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond discovers this film for the first time and juxtaposes it with a very open interview with Carrey that was captured in 2017.The outcome is an engrossing, unvarnished account of Carrey’s method acting, which at times was grating and irritating. In addition, the movie offers a reflective look into Carrey’s life, career, and personal quirks. It is obvious that the Man in the Moon experience had a significant impact on Carrey’s life and permanently altered his perspective on the world. This peculiar documentary film is a must-watch for Carrey fans. Adam Chitwood

Long Shot (2017)

Run Time: 40 min | Directed by: Jacob LaMendola

Long Shot is a 40-minute documentary by Jacob LaMendola, and the less you know about it the better because it has some extremely stunning twists and turns, even though its main message ought to be ingrained in viewers’ memories by this point. The documentary primarily centres on Juan Catalan, who was wrongfully charged with a murder and the lengths he had to take to establish his innocence.While the motto of our legal system is “innocent until proven guilty,” Long Shot demonstrates in its little running time that the reality is quite the reverse. Catalan had to be really lucky to prove his innocence despite the scant evidence against him, and our legal system encourages investigators and prosecutors to wrap up cases rather than pursue justice. Long Shot’s genius lies in the fact that it never has to explicitly state its point. The case itself speaks for itself. Matt Goldberg

The Keepers (2017)

Run Time: 7 hr | Directed by: Ryan White

With shows like HBO’s The Jinx and Netflix’s Making a Murderer stretching the whodunit aspect of a Dateline segment into a six-, seven-, or eight-hour in-depth look at a cold case or any crime with a hook, the “docuseries” concept has recently become rather popular. The Keepers on Netflix initially appeared to be in the same vein as these other watercooler shows.The programme promises to explore the puzzling circumstances surrounding Sister Cathy Cesnik’s death and disappearance in 1969, as well as the many potential suspects and other pertinent details. It soon becomes clear that Cesnik might have found evidence of horrific sexual assault at the all-girls Archbishop Keough High School. Women specifically accused two priests at the institution, most notably Father Joseph Maskell, of coercing female students into engaging in sex activities on him and other people. So, the belief went, Sister Cathy was killed to quiet her because she was committed to expose and end the abuse.

The Keepers brings abuse’s catastrophic, long-lasting impacts on the victim to light in a powerful, disturbing, but necessary way. If we adopt this attitude and disregard it as “not our concern” or something that is best handled subtly, how can we expect to stop this kind of abuse in the future? As fascinating as Sister Cathy’s murder mystery may be, it is merely the starting point of an emotional and poignant tale that ultimately portrays Sister Cathy as a hero who died trying to do the right thing. These victims are no longer denigrated as liars or threatened into silence because The Keepers gives them the opportunity to tell their story. Adam Chitwood

Icarus (2017)

Run Time: 2 hr | Directed by: Bryan Fogel

This movie drives me crazy. Icarus started as a documentary film project by Bryan Fogel, who wanted to try a doping regimen for the Haute Route to see whether he could avoid the race’s stringent drug testing. But as soon as Fogel contacts a Russian doping expert, who turns out to be the head of Russia’s doping during the Sochi Olympics, he finds himself at the centre of the largest sporting scandal in history. Icarus is a thrilling, captivating, and truly stranger-than-fiction watch that is equal parts dark comedy and thriller. Adam Chitwood

Amanda Knox (2016)

Run Time: 1 hr 32 min | Directed by: Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn

The Netflix original documentary Amanda Knox is a profoundly intriguing movie, regardless of your prior knowledge of the Amanda Knox case or your memory of the name. The book Amanda Knox details the murder of the titular subject’s roommate and the subsequent investigation, trials, and appeals about her alleged involvement. It is framed by private interviews with the subject herself as well as individuals directly connected to the case. Beyond simply detailing the case, the movie is also a scathing criticism of the inherent misogyny in the media and how drastically public opinion of women and sex can be distorted. Adam Chitwood

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