2022 has been big forNetflix, especially in the realm ofdocumentaries. It can be difficult to find all of the best stuff on Netflix, so we've made this list to help you out. These are our picks for the best documentaries on the streamer.
We're starting with the the best new documentaries released in 2022. After that we've divided the remainder of our picks by genre.
There's a lot to get through. Good luck and happy watching!
The Best 2022 Documentaries on Netflix
Netflix
Untold (2022)
Untold is the latest from the folks behind Wild Wild Country.
It's a sports documentary series, with each episode going in-depth on controversial sports topics. The first episode focuses on Malice at the Palace, the notorious basketball match where Ron Artest waded into the crowd and wailed on fans back in 2004.
Untold is now in its second season and it is absolute must watch stuff. The new episodes are arguably better than the stellar first season. Maybe the best sports documentary series on Netflix
Netflix
Our Father (2022)
As good as Netflix documentaries are, there's been a tendency to drag out true crime into these bloated multiepisode series. Thankfully Our Father is the opposite of that. It's a lean, perfectly executed documentary focused on Donald Cline, an Indiana fertility doctor who used his own sperm to inseminate a ridiculous number of women against their will.
This is an incredible piece, one of those stories that just escalates and escalates to the point where your jaw drops in disbelief.
Netflix
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
There are a lot of Netflix documentaries about cults gone mad, but Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey might be the most disturbing of the lot. Unlike Murder Among the Mormons, which almost treated its topic like a screwball comedy, Keep Sweet is a very grim story about a grim human being in Warren Jeffs. It's a fantastic documentary, and among the best Netflix has produced, but it comes with a very hefty content warning.
Netflix
Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story (2022)
Skateboarding as a sport makes for a great documentary topic. Dogtown and Z Boys, All That Mayhem -- absolutely legendary. Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story is another in a long line of classics.
It focuses on Leo Baker, the skater who came out as trans and had to quit competing at the Olympics in the process. Amazing, must watch stuff.
Michael Putland/Getty Images
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
It's almost impossible to overstate how famous Jimmy Savile was in the UK -- particularly in the 1980s. He was beyond a household name, in many ways he felt like an eccentric uncle to the nation.
Which made revelations that he had sexually assaulted hundreds of underage girls and boys all the more horrific. This was a person the whole of Britain had invited into their homes.
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story does a great job of going through the archives, combining footage that is utterly bizarre in hindsight, and adding fantastic interviews with some of the major players in British TV during Savile's heyday. A fascinating, albeit disturbing documentary. Be warned: This is a difficult watch.
Netflix
Our Great National Parks (2022)
Barack Obama is making a beeline for David Attenborough's job. And we don't hate the idea!
Our Great National Parks is a world-class nature documentary in the style of great BBC shows like Planet Earth. They've nailed it here. If you're a fan of that type of show, this is completely unmissable.
Netflix
The Most Hated Man on the Internet (2022)
Netflix has been on fire with its documentaries lately, and The Most Hated Man on the Internet is the latest. From the producers of Tinder Swindler and Dont F**k with Cats, it's a three-part documentary that tells the story of Hunter Moore, one of the most notorious purveyors of "revenge porn." Definitely worth watching this one.
Netflix
The Girl in the Picture (2022)
The Girl in the Picture is the latest true crime documentary from Netflix. It's up there with the service's absolute best work.
It feels like, after a period of needlessly bloated multiepisode documentaries, Netflix has started trimming the fat, releasing lean, incredibly compelling documentaries again. First Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey and Our Father, now this.
The Girl in the Picture tells the story of a young girl, murdered at age 20. To say too much would spoil the impact, but this is a layered, brutal documentary with endless twists. It needs to be seen to be believed.
Netflix
The Tinder Swindler (2022)
A documentary focused on Shimon Hayut, aka the "Tinder Swindler," a conman who used dating apps to defraud multiple women across Europe to fund a lavish lifestyle.
A slightly different topic compared to most true crime documentaries on Netflix. Definitely worth a gander.
True crime
Netflix
The Keepers (2017)
I've watched plenty of true crime documentaries on Netflix, but nothing has come close to The Keepers. A staggering story, told across generations, that's respectful of the victims, yet compelling throughout.
It's a story about the unsolved murder of Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught at a Catholic school in Baltimore, but The Keepers goes further than you might expect and exposes a potential coverup of sex abuse allegations.
Netflix
The Staircase (2018)
The true crime documentary genre is utterly saturated at this point, but The Staircase stands out.
Focusing on Michael Peterson and the death of his wife Kathleen, The Staircase is more than just a murder mystery. It's a drawn-out epic that takes place over literal decades, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his every move, but somehow still remains objective.
It's a good time to watch or revisit this one, since HBO Max has just launched a drama miniseries based on it.
Netflix
House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths (2021)
One of the more recent true crime documentaries from Netflix, this is a good one.
Focusing on the bizarre deaths of 11 family members in one house in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018, House of Secrets delves into the theories behind of the strangest suicide/murder cases in recent memory. Unmissable stuff.
Netflix
This Is a Robbery (2021)
This Is a Robbery is about Netflix as it gets. A four-part series focusing on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, this is essentially a documentary about an art heist. Remember Evil Genius? (Which is also on this list.) This Is a Robbery is very much in that style. The first episode takes a while to get going, but be patient -- this one has a payoff.
Netflix
Murder Among the Mormons (2021)
Some of Netflix's more recent true crime documentaries have been a bit bloated and... sorta bad?
Thankfully Murder Among the Mormons is a return to form. Definitely watch this one.
Netflix
Who Killed Little Gregory (2019)
Who Killed Little Gregory is a documentary focused on the horrific murder of Grégory Villemin. It's arguably the best true crime documentary on Netflix. It's about a murder, and attempts to solve that murder, but it's also a lesson in media representation and the horrific sexism Grégory's mother had to face in the wake of her son's murder.
Netflix
American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
There are a lot of true crime documentaries out there (and on this list) but American Murder: The Family Next Door sticks out.
It tells the story of Chris Watts, a seemingly regular guy who murdered his wife and children. The access to footage is staggering and it's edited and produced in a unique way, using text messages and social media posts to tell the story. It's a horrific reminder of the banal, incredibly common existence of domestic violence.
Netflix
Making a Murderer (2015-2018)
With the swath of true crime documentaries and podcasts that came in its wake, it's easy to forget that the world once lost its collective mind over Making a Murderer. In a lot of ways it created the template that many Netflix documentaries now follow. A real original.
Sports
Netflix
The Last Dance (2020)
In 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, Netflix dropped this piece of sports doc perfection.
The Last Dance focuses on the Chicago Bulls during their '97-'98 NBA title-winning season, but really it's a jumping off point for a documentary that tells the life story of its central star, Michael Jordan.
As a result, many criticized it for being a little too Jordan-focused, but The Last Dance was an event documentary that lived up to the hype.
Netflix
Icarus (2017)
This Oscar-winning documentary is an absolute belter.
Icarus starts out as an expose on the impact performance-enhancing drugs have on sports performance, but a sequence of events drags director Bryan Fogel into a web of geopolitics and conspiracies. To say more would spoil it, but Fogel ultimately has created a documentary that had a very real impact on our perception of sports as a whole. In that respect, Icarus is a literal game changer.
Netflix
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
The absolute gold standard for long-running sports documentaries. Drive to Survive is so good, and so popular, that it's inspired a whole new level of interest in Formula 1, especially in the US. This show is great at elevating the characters that occupy the sport. More shows like this, please.
Netflix
Athlete A (2020)
Athlete A is a great feature length expose on Larry Nassar, the team doctor of USA Gymnastics, who had been sexually abusing female athletes for decades.
Be warned: This one is harrowing.
Netflix
14 Peaks (2021)
14 Peaks tells the story of the Nepalese mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his goal of climbing all 14 mountains above the height of 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) in one year. It's incredible. Must-watch stuff.
Netflix
Bad Sport (2021)
Netflix might have burned the true crime documentary into the ground, but it's on fire when it comes to sports. Bad Sport is the latest entry into this burgeoning subcategory, and it's awesome. Focusing on strange controversies in sports history, Bad Sport is less about major players doing major things, it's about what happens when sport goes bad, gets down in the dirt. All of these episodes are great. Hoping for a season 2.
Netflix
The River Runner (2021)
The River Runner is sorta like Free Solo for kayaking. Consider that a compliment.
Focusing on Scott Lindgren, a kayaking legend who was a pioneer of the sport, this is a traditional story of an extreme sports star overcoming odds, but it runs a little deeper than that. Fighting against a brain tumor and his own personal demons, Lindgren is a compelling case study. Must watch stuff.
Netflix
Naomi Osaka (2021)
Naomi Osaka has become one of the most famous and talked-about athletes on the planet. This fascinating documentary explores different phases of her career and offers incredible access into the life of a young woman struggling with the pressures of sport and fame. A must-watch.
Netflix
The Speed Cubers (2020)
If you're looking for a slightly more uplifting documentary, you could do far worse than The Speed Cubers, a look at the world of competitive... Rubik's Cubers? It's short, but packs an incredible emotional punch. Prepare yourself, this one might break you.
Nature/science
Netflix
Seaspiracy (2021)
Seaspiracy follows in the footsteps of multiple documentaries focused on the impact of meat eating on the environment. This time the global fishing industry is in the crosshairs. As expected this one has stirred up a bit of controversy from all stakeholders -- PETA, Greenpeace and conservation groups can't seem to agree if Seaspiracy is accurate or fair. Watch it and make up your own mind.
Netflix
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
My Octopus Teacher follows Craig Foster, a filmmaker who spent a year snorkeling and interacting with an octopus off the coast of South Africa. It's a nature film, sure, but it's simultaneously a documentary designed to inspire awe in the viewer. In short, octopuses are incredible. Little aliens on Earth, essentially. This is the story of a relationship between humans and nature, but it's also an inspiring call to action: Don't ignore the wonder that exists all around you.
Netflix
Our Planet (2019)
David Attenborough nature documentaries are so pervasive, they're vulnerable to self parody, but Our Planet is -- I believe -- the high watermark. Only Planet Earth, another Attenborough doc, comes close. But I prefer this one.
Netflix
Tiger King (2020-21)
Time may dull its impact, but when Tiger King was first released on Netflix, the entire world couldn't stop talking about it.
Tiger King explores the strange underbelly of big cat breeding, focusing on a cast of unforgettable (and ultimately dangerous) characters. It drags its audience to weird places. Season 2 is now available and while the show has lost a lot of its bite, it's intriguing to catch up with this cast of wild human beings doing wild, completely outlandish things.
Politics/history
Netflix
13th (2016)
13th by Ava Duvernay is a staggering documentary that tells the story of American slavery and its long-lasting impacts, many of which still resonate today.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, this should be mandatory viewing.
Netflix
The Great Hack (2019)
In the wake of the Capitol siege, the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy almost feels like ancient history, but that doesn't make this documentary any less important. If you haven't seen it, then watch it.
Netflix
Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (2021)
Recently released, Operations Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal has a name as long as some of Netflix's recent documentaries. Thankfully, this isn't as bloated as, say, the recent Cecil Hotel doc, but it could still use some trimming.
Operation Varsity Blues focused on the FBI investigation into college admissions that put actress Felicity Huffman into jail. Its director, Chris Smith, previously worked on the Fyre Festival documentary. This isn't quite as compelling, but is still well worth watching.
Sundance
Knock Down the House (2019)
Regardless of your views on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Knock Down the House is an incredible underdog story that cannot be missed. Focusing on progressive female candidates during the 2018 congressional primary campaigns, it's an insightful look at the democratic process. It's an inspiring reminder that we need to fight in order to make the voices of ordinary people count.
Netflix
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
Not gonna say much here. Nina Simone is a legend and this is maybe one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.
Netflix
Wild Wild Country (2018)
Overlong and bloated, Wild Wild Country is nevertheless one of the most fascinating documentaries I've ever watched on Netflix.
It tells the story of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who attempted to build a gigantic sprawling commune, for what was essentially a sex cult, in the United States. It's a strange story that somehow becomes stranger with age. Much like Tiger King, the story plumbs depths you won't believe. At times it's a slog, but Wild Wild Country is absolutely worthwhile.
Netflix
Five Came Back (2017)
I absolutely adore this documentary. Five current acclaimed directors (including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola) help tell the story of five famous movie directors from the '30s and '40s who did frontline work during the Second World War. It wraps their legacies alongside the impact of the war itself into a truly compelling story of Hollywood's golden age.
Netflix
American Factory (2019)
An Oscar winner for Netflix, this documentary is the first produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions team.
American Factory tells the story of Fuyao, a Chinese company that built a factory in Ohio that inhabits a now-closed General Motors plant. You have to watch this movie.
Netflix
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
By this point we all have some sort of understanding of Jeffrey Epstein's story but Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich does itself a great service by focusing on the stories of the survivors of his abuse.
The Cinemart/Hulu
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)
Hulu also has a great Fyre festival documentary, but I prefer this Netflix one. Unlike many Netflix documentaries, which are stretched and bloated into multipart episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and solid gold the entire way through.
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FAQs
What is considered the best documentary of all time? âș
- Shoah (1985) ...
- Sans Soleil (1983) ...
- The Thin Blue Line (1988) ...
- Night and Fog (1955) ...
- Harlan County U.S.A. (1976) ...
- Dont Look Back (1967) ...
- The War Game (1965) ...
- Nanook of the North (1922)
- The Bad Guys (2022) Image via Dreamworks.
- The Good Nurse (2022) Image via Netflix. ...
- All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Image via Netflix. ...
- The Takeover (2022) Image via Netflix. ...
- Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) Image via Sony Pictures Animation. ...
- Oblivion (2013) ...
- The School for Good and Evil (2022) ...
- Sing 2 (2021) ...
- Squid Game (season 1), a Korean survival thriller -- 1.65 billion hours.
- Stranger Things (season 4), a retro sci-fi series -- 1.35 billion hours.
- Dahmer, a true-crime serial killer series -- 856.2 million hours.
| # | Films (English) | Hours viewed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Good Nurse | 68,310,000 |
| 2 | The School for Good and Evil | 41,950,000 |
| 3 | The Stranger | 9,170,000 |
| 4 | Wild Is the Wind | 8,890,000 |
It's a fun way to keep your brain active â Documentaries keep your brain active by giving your mind new information to absorb and think about. Without active learning and engaging yourself, our minds often stagnate and become stuck in the same patterns of thinking.
What do you call a person who loves documentaries? âșThe term is a portmanteau of the words cinema and philia, one of the four ancient Greek words for love. A person with a passionate interest in cinema is called a cinephile (/ËsÉȘnÉȘfaÉȘl/), cinemaphile, filmophile, or, informally, a film buff (also movie buff).
What is the most famous film score of all time? âș1. Star Wars (1977)
What are 5 most watched Netflix? âș- Squid Game season 1: 1.65 billion hours.
- Stranger Things season 4: 1.35 billion hours.
- Money Heist part 5: 792.2 million hours.
- Bridgerton season 2: 656.2 million hours.
- Bridgerton season 1: 625.5 million hours.
- Money Heist part 4: 619 million hours.
- Stranger Things season 3: 582.1 million hours.
As of October 2022, the most popular English-language Netflix TV show of all time was the fourth season of American science-fiction series "Stranger Things," based on number of hours viewed in the show's first 28 days on the platform. It counted over 1.3 billion hours viewed.
What is #1 in the US today on Netflix? âș...
Top 10 By Country.
| # | Films in the United States | Weeks in Top 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Good Nurse | 1 |
| 2 | The School for Good and Evil | 2 |
| 3 | All Quiet on the Western Front | 1 |
| 4 | Blade of the 47 Ronin | 1 |
What should I watch in True Crime 2022? âș
- The Tinder Swindler. Netflix. ...
- The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes. Netflix. ...
- Aftershock. Hulu. ...
- The Most Hated Man on the Internet. Netflix. ...
- Undercurrent. HBO. ...
- Scream: The True Story. discovery plus. ...
- We Need To Talk About Cosby. SHOWTIME. ...
- Our Father. Netflix.
- Giri/Haji. This story follows the ripple effect one mystery murder has across two cities, London and Tokyo. ...
- Luther. ...
- Mindhunter. ...
- Making a Murderer. ...
- Dexter. ...
- Line of Duty. ...
- Unbelievable.
- Oblivion (2013) new. 54 % 7.0/10. ...
- Star Trek (2009) new. 82 % 7.9/10. ...
- Elysium (2013) 61 % 6.6/10. ...
- Morbius (2022) 35 % 5.2/10. ...
- A Clockwork Orange (1971) 77 % 8.3/10. ...
- Resident Evil (2002) 33 % 6.6/10. ...
- Battle: Los Angeles (2011) 37 % 5.7/10. ...
- Men in Black (1997) 71 % 7.3/10.
| 1. | Squid Game | 53 days |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | The Queen's Gambit | 46 days |
| 3. | Stranger Things | 44 days |
| 4. | Bridgerton | 39 days |
| 5. | Money Heist | 37 days |
- "Pi" (1998)
- "A Beautiful Mind" (2001) ...
- "Primer" (2004) ...
- "Good Will Hunting" (1997) ...
- "Memento" (2000) ...
- "The Imitation Game" (2014) ...
- "Limitless" (2011) ...
- "Inside Out" (2015) Yes. ...
Similar studies have found excessive TV watching to increase the risks of other chronic illnesses such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and pulmonary embolism. Of course, these studies evaluated long-term activity, collecting data over periods as long as 25 years.
What does Netflix do to your brain? âșLong hours spent in front of the screen passively consuming content can also lead to the risk of cognitive decline, leaving you feeling dazed and slowing down your ability to process information,â says Sardesai.
What are the 3 types of documentaries? âșIn this VOD we examine 3 different types of documentaries: Observational, Expository and Participatory. You will see examples of films that have used each of the 3 types of genre successfully.
Will there be a 70 up movie? âșApted's subjects will all be 70 when the next âUpâ film comes out in 2026, and so (gulp) will I. That would be the tenth film in the series, spanning from âSeven Up!â to â70 Up,â and it occurs to me that it might be the ideal place to stop the project.
What are the top 3 most watched shows on Netflix? âș- From Scratch â 72 million hours viewed.
- The Watcher: Season 1 â 67.5 million hours viewed.
- Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities: Season 1 â 49.9 million hours viewed.
- Love is Blind: Season 3 â 42 million hours viewed.
What is the most viewed series 2022? âș
In viewers, CBS' âFBIâ is the most-watched entertainment show, attracting 8.6 million on average, followed by âChicago Fire,â âNCISâ (CBS), âThe Equalizerâ (CBS), âYoung Sheldonâ (CBS), âChicago Medâ (NBC), âGhostsâ (CBS), âChicago P.D.â and âBlue Bloodsâ (CBS).
Which is No 1 Web series in World 2022? âșGame of Thrones is considered the magnum opus of web series. GOT stands irreplaceably on the list of top web series in world.
Which country has best Netflix? âșIn 2021, Japan received the best Netflix catalog score of â100,â which is the highest a streaming service can receive. Its IMDB score that year reached 86,961.
What is the most watched crime series? âș- Better Call Saul (2015â2022)
- The Boys (2019â)
- Only Murders in the Building (2021â)
- Breaking Bad (2008â2013)
- Peaky Blinders (2013â2022)
- The Sopranos (1999â2007)
- Animal Kingdom (2016â2022)
- Ozark (2017â2022)
- Abducted in Plain Sight. ...
- Amanda Knox. ...
- Atlanta Monster. ...
- Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. ...
- Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist. ...
- Exit Scam. ...
- Heaven's Gate. ...
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.
- Long Shot.
- High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule.
- The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist.
- Girl in the Picture.
- Abducted in Plain Sight.
- Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer.
- The Most Hated Man on the Internet.
- Our Father.
- 'Wanted' (2008) Photo: Everett Collection. ...
- 'Creep' (2014) Photo: The Orchard. ...
- 'Collateral' (2004) Photo: Everett Collection. ...
- 'Scarface' (1983) Everett Collection. ...
- 'I Care a Lot' (2021) ...
- 'Bird Box' (2018) ...
- 'The Platform' (2020) ...
- 'Hell or High Water' (2016)
- The Last Kingdom - Season 5. ...
- Vikings: Valhalla - Season 1. ...
- Sweet Magnolias - Season 2. ...
- Pieces of Her - Season 1.
| Rank | Released | Movie |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019 | Joker |
| 2 | 2006 | The Da Vinci Code |
| 3 | 2014 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 |
| 4 | 2010 | Inception |
Trending now means it's its popular currently, a hundred people have watched it today only.
What are the newest releases on Netflix? âș
- Purple Hearts. ...
- The Gray Man. ...
- Persuasion. ...
- The Sea Beast. ...
- Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between. Netflix Release Date: July 6, 2022. ...
- The Man From Toronto. Netflix Release Date: June 24, 2022. ...
- Blasted. Netflix Release Date: June 28, 2022. ...
- Spiderhead. Netflix Release Date: June 17, 2022.
Netflix has a bountiful of great documentaries that cover a diverse range of subjects, from true crime to sports to even filmmaking.
Does Netflix have documentary series? âș- Human: The World Within.
- Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified.
- Greatest Events of WWII in Colour.
- Chef's Table: Pizza.
- The Mind, Explained.
- Secrets of Great British Castles.
- 72 Cutest Animals.
- Life in Color with David Attenborough.
- Open Netflix, either by starting the app on your mobile device or streaming device, or by navigating to Netflix.com in a browser.
- At the top of the screen (or at the top of the sidebar on TV apps), tap or click the search icon, shaped like a magnifying glass. ...
- Type your search.
- Feel Good.
- I Care a Lot.
- Black Mirror.
- The Haunting of Bly Manor.
- Disclosure.
- Special.
- Sex Education.
- The Circle.
- Gabby's Dollhouse, Season 6.
- The Takeover.
- Young Royals, Season 2.
- The Final Score.
- Killer Sally.
- Blockbuster.
- The Dragon Prince, Season 4.
- Panayotis Pascot: Almost.
- âSlow Horsesâ Stream on Apple TV+ on April 1.
- âThe Hardy Boysâ Stream on Hulu on April 6.
- âWokeâ Stream on Hulu on April 8.
- âKilling Itâ Stream on Peacock on April 14.
- âThe Kardashiansâ Stream on Hulu on April 14.
- âAnatomy of a Scandalâ Stream on Netflix on April 15.
- âOuter Rangeâ ...
- âRussian Dollâ
Deon Cole: Charleen's Boy (2022) Netflix Original Special â Stand-up comedy. Johanna Nordström: Call the Police (2022) Netflix Original Special â Swedish stand-up special. Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure (2022) Netflix Original Special â Interactive cartoon special of the DreamWorks Television series.