By Muskan
Whether you’re a seasoned documentary enthusiast or a curious newcomer, our list of ten interesting documentaries promises to uncover hidden truths, showcase extraordinary stories, and expand your understanding of the world. From breathtaking nature films to eye-opening social commentaries, these documentaries will leave you informed, inspired, and eager for more.
1. Planet Earth (2006)
Planet Earth is a nature documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit. Narrated by naturalist Sir David Attenborough, the series comprises 11 episodes which take the viewers through the different themes with each, using stunning high-definition cinematography to reveal the beauty and complexity of life on Earth. The series showcases beautiful glimpses and robust information about the diversity of the planet itself embedded in its oceans, rivers, mountains, deserts and forests, etc.
Genre: Nature Documentary
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
2. The Vietnam War (2017)
The Vietnam War is another critically acclaimed documentary series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick with the narration of Peter Coyote. This captured the comprehensive and multifaceted exploration of the Vietnam War, covering its complex history, profound human impact, and lasting legacy. Through its entwining of personal stories, historical analysis, and powerful visuals, the documentary provides an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of the Vietnam War for the viewers. It takes the viewers through the visuals and information on the origins of war, strategies for each side, diplomacy, and the aftermath of war in terms of human and international impact.
Genre: History, War
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
3. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
It is a documentary television series that aired in 2014, hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson from Cosmos Studios composed by Alan Silvestri. The show is a follow-up to the classic 1980 series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” hosted by Carl Sagan. With its stunning visuals, animations, and footage from NASA and other space agencies, as well as interviews with scientists and thinkers. It aims to inspire a sense of wonder, curiosity, and awe in its audience, while also providing a deeper understanding of the universe and our place within it. With 13 episodes, the documentary series navigates themes of cosmic evolution, evolution of life itself, historical perspectives about space studies and the scope of space exploration.
Genre: Science & Technology
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
4. The Social Dilemma (2020)
The Social Dilemma, directed by Jeff Orlowski, is a docudrama film about the impact of social media and technology on society, focusing on issues such as addiction, misinformation, privacy concerns, and the manipulation of human behaviour through algorithms. It features interviews with tech industry insiders, including former executives and employees of companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter. They share their insights and concerns about how social media platforms are designed to manipulate human behaviour, often without users’ awareness or consent. Also, the same is depicted via segments of a fictional family’s interactions influenced by social media, demonstrating how platforms can affect relationships, self-esteem, and behaviour.
Genre: Docudrama, Science & Technology
Where to Watch: Netflix
5. Making a Murderer (2015)
It is a true crime series created by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. The documentary follows the life of Steven Avery, a man from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who was wrongly convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder in 1985. Later exonerated in 2003 after serving 18 years in prison, and then arrested and convicted of another crime in 2005, alongside his nephew, Brendan Dassey. The series features interviews with Avery, his family, and his lawyers, as well as with law enforcement officials and prosecutors. It also examines allegations of planted evidence, coercive interrogations, and other potential flaws in the investigation leading to check the reliability of the criminal justice system, and potential police misconduct.
Genre: Crime
Where to Watch: Netflix
6. The Jinx (2015)
The true crime documentary, directed by Andrew Jarecki, offers a fascinating yet disturbing exploration of Robert Durst, a wealthy real estate heir who has been linked to several suspicious deaths over several decades. His involvement in three cases was Kathleen McCormack Durst (his first wife), Susan Berman (Durst’s longtime friend) and Morris Black (a neighbour, who Durst admits killing but as self defence). The most fascinating part of this documentary is an interview with Robert Durst himself, as well as with friends, family members, law enforcement officials, and journalists who have covered the cases. Many people attribute the eventual conviction of Durst for the murder of Susan Berman in 2021 to the documentary series.
Genre: Crime
Where to Watch: Netflix
7. 13th (2016)
Directed by Ava DuVernay, the documentary is about the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. This documentary explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States targeted against blacks and people of colour. It covers a wide range of themes involving the historical origins of slavery, Jim Crow Laws, mass incarceration and criminal justice reforms. The documentary combines archival footage, interviews with activists, politicians, scholars, and formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as narration by Ava DuVernay.
Genre: History, Culture and Society
Where to Watch: Netflix
8. Live to 100: The secrets of Blue Zones (2023)
The focus of this documentary is to explore the lifestyle and secrets of a long life. Created by Dan Buettner, the documentary features interviews of centenarians (people who have lived to be 100 or older) and super-centenarians (people who have lived to be 110 or older), sharing their stories, experiences, and insights on how they have managed to live such long and fulfilling lives. Jeanne Calment, Jiroemon Kimura, Misao Okawa (and others) are the people interviewed from the Blue Zones, as they are called, the communities where there is a trend of long age. Overall, it’s a heartwarming series celebrating the beauty of ageing and long life!
Genre: Health & Wellness
Where to Watch: Netflix
9. The Last Dance (2020)
edIt is a sports documentary featuring the life of Michael Jordan, focusing particularly on his final season with the Chicago Bulls during the 1997-1998 NBA season. Directed by Jason Hehir, this documentary features behind-the-scenes footage from the 1997-1998 season, interviews with Michael Jordan, his teammates (like Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr), coaches (such as Phil Jackson), and other figures involved in the Bulls’ organisation. It also includes interviews with opponents, journalists, and celebrities who followed Jordan’s career.
Genre: Sports
Where to Watch: Netflix
10. Federer: Twelve Final Days (2024)
This newly aired documentary provides an intimate look at the final days of tennis legend Roger Federer’s career. Directed by Asif Kapadia, Joe Sabia it is originally a compilation of home videos never intended for public viewing, this film captures the final chapter in Roger Federer’s legendary tennis career, featuring Roger, his family, and his three main rivals: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. The documentary captures both the emotional and personal aspects of Federer’s retirement, which all the Federer fans are going to love!
Genre: Sports
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
