:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-documentaries-on-netflix-121223-72487c068bff4237b557fab22f831714.jpg "The 30 best documentaries on Netflix")
From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest. The 30 best documentaries on Netflix From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest. By Kevin Jacobsen, Ilana Gordon, James Mercadante, and Diedre Johnson on November 6, 2025 5:35 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/bestdocumentariesonnetflix12122372487c068bff4237b557fab22f831714.
From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest.
The 30 best documentaries on Netflix
From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or interest.
By Kevin Jacobsen, Ilana Gordon, James Mercadante, and Diedre Johnson
on November 6, 2025 5:35 a.m. ET
Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman in 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond'; Craig Foster in 'My Octopus Teacher'; Taylor Swift in 'Miss Americana'. Credit:
Francois Duhamel/Netflix; Netflix (2)
Winter approaches, but these educational films aren't season-specific. If you're looking for something to keep those brain cells stimulated as it gets dark outside earlier and earlier, nothing hits the spot like a Netflix documentary. From critical darlings like *13th*, *American Factory*, and *Crip Camp, *to stories so juicy, you couldn't make them up,* *Netflix is here to educate, entertain, and ensure you have a solid fun fact at your next social event.
Ready to learn something new? Here are EW's picks for the 30 best documentaries on Netflix.
13th (2016)
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A woman sitting in a chair in '13th'. Netflix
The 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but this searing documentary argues that both have only taken on different forms in the years since its adoption. The Emmy-winning work, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay, traces the systematic oppression of Black Americans following the official end of slavery in 1865, from segregation to the disproportionate targeting of minorities during the war on drugs to the prison-industrial complex, of which private contractors have benefited financially.
DuVernay tackles varied and complicated forms of corruption here, but *13th* is carefully plotted to show how each act of disenfranchisement leads to another, serving as a riveting rallying cry. —*Kevin Jacobsen*
Where to watch *13th*: Netflix
**Director:** Ava DuVernay
American Factory (2019)
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Workers in a windshield factory in Dayton, Ohio, in 'American Factory'. Netflix
This first film from Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground — and winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature — is an even-handed look at the trials and tribulations of a Chinese-owned windshield factory in Dayton, Ohio. As its domestic workers are tasked with more intensive labor for lower pay, their Chinese employers experience culture shock while adjusting to the American way of life.
Told with matter-of-fact honesty, *American Factory* drew rave reviews that included EW's critic, who notes, "The heart and soul of *American Factory*, like all American factories, is never really politics of course; it's people." —*K.J.*
Where to watch *American Factory*: Netflix
**EW grade:** B+
**Directors:** Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022)
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Sarma Melngailis in 'Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.'.
The New York food scene has never seen a story like Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur who was responsible for successful upscale vegan eateries like Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck. Bolstered by critical acclaim and celebrity patrons, Melngailis' stock was rising in the raw food world — until her restaurant empire was brought down by a marriage to a con man.
A scandalous story told over four episodes, *Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. *is the only documentary to include true crime intrigue, vegans on the run, and a Dominos order gone terribly wrong. If you've ever wanted to see a story in which canine immortality and meat suits feature prominently, run — don't walk — to your TV and fill up on the insanity that is the story of *Bad Vegan. —Ilana Gordon *
Where to watch *Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.*: Netflix
**Director: **Chris Smith** **
Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)
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Jimmy Page in 'Becoming Led Zeppelin'.
Sony Pictures Classics/Courtesy Everett Collection
The summer of '69 wouldn't have been the same without the formation of Led Zeppelin. The rock band missed the British Invasion, but took America by storm at the end of the '60s, becoming the number one music group by 1970, and one of the best-selling acts of all time.
*Becoming Led Zeppelin* is the band's first authorized documentary and follows the group's creation and early years together. Featuring three of the four bandmates — John Bonham died in 1980 at 32 years old, his story is presented through archival interviews — *Becoming Led Zeppelin *is music history told right. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Becoming Led Zeppelin*: Netflix
**Director: **Bernard MacMahon
**Cast:** Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
Crip Camp (2020)
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Activist Judith Heumann in 'Crip Camp'. Netflix
Following the success of *American Factory*, Higher Ground released this Oscar-nominated documentary about a New York summer camp called Camp Jened, which served as a haven for people with disabilities. Featuring footage of co-director James LeBrecht's experiences there in the early 1970s, the film demonstrates how the campers went on to fight in the disability rights movement of the late-20th century.
Balancing warmth with the urgency of its message, *Crip Camp* gives a more three-dimensional view of this marginalized community than most films, emphasizing the power of advocating for one's rights. As EW's critic writes, "Like most good storytelling, it takes care to make the political personal." —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Crip Camp*: Netflix
**EW grade:** A–
**Directors:** Nicole Newnham and James Lebrecht
Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)
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Dick Johnson (left) in 'Dick Johnson Is Dead'. Netflix
Life and death are inexorably linked in this unique film by celebrated documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson (*Cameraperson*). As her father lives with dementia, Johnson stages various fictional scenarios in which he accidentally dies — from tripping down the stairs to getting hit by a falling air conditioner — which he charmingly acts out for the camera.
What may sound morbid in writing is actually a bittersweet meditation on the stigma surrounding death and a daughter's special way of bonding with her dad before it's too late. Come for the absurdly planned schemes, stay for, as EW's critic observes, "the immeasurable love between [the film's] maker and its muse." —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Dick Johnson Is Dead*: Netflix
**EW grade:** A–
**Director:** Kirsten Johnson
Disclosure (2020)
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Lilly Wachowski in 'Disclosure'. Ava Benjamin Shorr/Netflix
Similar to the 1995 landmark film *The Celluloid Closet* — which discusses LGBTQ+ representation on screen — this documentary narrows in on depictions of trans characters in Hollywood. From problematic movies such as *The Crying Game* and *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* to groundbreaking shows like *Orange Is the New Black* and *Pose*, *Disclosure* deftly tracks the evolution of trans acceptance and how far we still have to go.
While the footage often speaks for itself, the value of this documentary comes from real-life actors and artists discussing how those cultural depictions shaped not only the societal perception of trans people but also how they view themselves. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Disclosure*: Netflix
**Director:** Sam Feder
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (2022)
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People holding up photos of those who died in a Boeing plane crash in 'Downfall: The Cast Against Boeing'.
Boeing used to be the pride of American manufacturing, but now the company's name is synonymous with safety failures. *Downfall: The Case Against Boeing* goes deep into how pressure from Wall Street corrupted the company's safety culture, ultimately leading to two crashes of Boeing MAX 737 planes in October of 2018 and March of 2019.
Boeing refused to be involved in the making of the film, but the project does an excellent job of breaking down how desire to keep the company's stock price high led Boeing to knowingly fail pilots and passengers. *—I.G. *
Where to watch *Downfall: The Case Against Boeing*: Netflix
**Director: **Rory Kennedy** **
Found (2021)
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Lily, Chloe, and Sadie in 'Found'. Everett Collection
The effects of China's one-child policy are explored through the stories of three adopted American teenage girls in this rousing documentary. Each is adopted from China and come to discover they're cousins, leading them to explore their ancestry.
What makes *Found* fascinating is in how it allows for multiple perspectives from the cousins — one feels perfectly at home in America, while another is hoping that reconnecting with her roots will provide some resolution. It also makes room to honor the caretakers who house orphaned children and the sensitive nature of the adoption process. Have tissues nearby when watching. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Found*: Netflix
**Director: **Amanda Lipitz
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)
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Ja Rule and Billy McFarland in 'Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened'.
The extravagant 2017 deserted island musical festival never took place, but it did manage to land organizer/scammer Billy McFarland a prison sentence and inspire two documentaries. At least as far as Emmy nominations are concerned, Netflix's *Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened *is the superior option, providing a comprehensive look at the events that led to the festival's formation and subsequent downfall.
A film that put event organizer Andy King on the map as the poster boy for hard-working employees, *Fyre *is fascinating, exasperating, and one of the ultimate tales of scamming gone wrong. Directed by Chris Smith (also of *Bad Vegan* fame), *Fyre *is an entertaining romp through early influencer culture. *—I.G. *
Where to watch *Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened*: Netflix
**EW grade: **B+
**Director: **Chris Smith** **
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The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)
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The dozens of recording artists who participated in singing 'We Are the World,' as documented in 'The Greatest Night in Pop'.
Courtesy of Netflix
Remember that cringeworthy moment when Gal Gadot and a gaggle of celebs sat in their respective lavish homes and recorded a sing-a-long to John Lennon's "Imagine" during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? Well, let's rewind to 1985, when 46 music legends responded to a crisis and produced a hit that made a *real* impact.
Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, artists including Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross united Avengers-style in A&M studio to record "We Are the World" — a chart-topping anthem that raised more than $80 million to combat famine in Africa, clinched four Grammys (including Record of the Year and Song of the Year), and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. If you ever wished to be fly on the wall during that historic night of music-making, turn to this Netflix documentary that spoon-feeds you archival footage, revelatory firsthand accounts, and plenty of nostalgia.* —James Mercadante*
Where to watch *The Greatest Night in Pop*: Netflix
**Director:** Bao Nguyen
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
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Beyoncé (center) in 'Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé'. Netflix
This Grammy-winning documentary — written, directed, produced by, and starring Beyoncé — is more than just a concert film: It's an experience unto itself. Following the superstar's journey conceiving of and performing her headlining concert at Coachella in 2018, *Homecoming* is as much a tribute to Black artistry as it is a celebration of Queen B and her loyal BeyHive.
Edited with razor-sharp precision to deliver the best possible experience, the film also devotes time to the Black artists and leaders who inspire the singer between showcasing her own personal challenges with motherhood, all while trying to get physically and emotionally prepared for the performance. But it's the main event, now affectionately referred to as "Beychella," that'll have you revisiting this doc again and again in all its resplendent glory. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé*: Netflix
**Director: **Beyoncé
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)
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Jim Carrey dressed as Andy Kaufman for his role in 'Man on the Moon' in 'Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond'. Netflix
There's method acting, and then there's what Jim Carrey did to play Andy Kaufman in 1999's *Man on the Moon*. Having stayed in character as the avant-garde comedian throughout the entirety of the shoot, Universal Pictures effectively buried the behind the scenes B-roll for the actor's own benefit. This documentary unearths the footage, with present-day Carrey commenting on the effect of trying to mirror his comedy idol so intensely.
EW's critic calls the film "an enthralling look at the artistic process," especially in its depiction of an A-lister at the height of his box-office powers who's able to get away with anything and everything. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond*: Netflix
**EW grade:** B
**Director:** Chris Smith
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
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A woman from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints being interviewed in 'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'.
Courtesy of Netflix
When did serving as a religious leader turn into a quest to have sex with as many underage girls as possible? That's the question *Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey* attempts to answer in its four-episode docu-series centered on Warren Jeffs, former head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This documentary draws you in as it explores the philosophies and teachings of the FLDS, Jeffs' rise to power, the many girls forced to become wives and mothers before their time, and the families torn apart by his misdeeds. —*Diedre Johnson*
Where to watch *Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey*: Netflix
**EW grade: **A–
**Directors: **Rachel Dretzin, Grace McNally** **
Miss Americana (2020)
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Taylor Swift in 'Miss Americana'.
Courtesy of Netflix
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour inspired one of the biggest pop culture conversations of 2023, but even as Swift proved over and over why she's one of the best in the business, it's worth traveling back in time a few years to a period when her reputation was on the line and much less respect was afforded to her work. *Miss Americana *allows Swift the chance to get truly vulnerable, scrubbing away her strategically crafted image to reveal the human being behind the lyrics.
Swift opens up about her struggles with feuds and fame, her issues with disordered eating, her political frustrations, and ultimately, the responsibility she feels towards her fans, her music, and her legacy. A film for Swifties, music lovers, and anyone interested in learning more about one of the most successful artists working today, *Miss Americana *will, as EW's reviewer writes, make "you wish you'd seen more of this Taylor a long time ago." *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Miss Americana*: Netflix
**EW grade:** A–
**Director: **Lana Wilson** **
**Cast: **Taylor Swift ** **
My Octopus Teacher (2021)
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Craig Foster and an octopus in 'My Octopus Teacher'.
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, *My Octopus Teacher *is a story of relationships, as told by a filmmaker who bonds with an octopus. Craig Foster spent a year free-diving and following an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, and the bond he develops with the animal as she invites him into her underwater life helps to inform and transform his relationships with his fellow humans — especially his son.
It takes a talented production team to make a movie about sea creatures feel like an important story about humanity, but this crew pulls it off, creating a piece of art that is affecting, educational, and inspiring. *—I.G.* * *
Where to watch *My Octopus Teacher*: Netflix
**Directors: **Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed** **
**Cast: **Craig Foster, Tom Foster** **
The Only Girl in the Orchestra (2023)
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Orin O'Brien in 'The Only Girl in the Orchestra'.
Courtesy of Netflix
In 1966, there were 104 members of the New York Philharmonic: 103 men and one woman. The woman's name is Orin O'Brien, and she was hired by Leonard Bernstein to play double bass. As the first woman invited to perform in the orchestra, O'Brien's incredible story as a pioneer within classical music was captured by her niece, filmmaker Molly O'Brien, and won the Best Documentary Short at the most recent Oscars. The film is only 35 minutes long, but it packs a punch, allowing O'Brien to reflect on her love of craft and 55-year career with the Philharmonic, which ended when she retired in 2021. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *The Only Girl in the Orchestra*: Netflix
**Director: **Molly O'Brien
**Cast: **Orin O'Brien
The Perfect Neighbor (2025)
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Ajike Owens' family in 'The Perfect Neighbor'.
Courtesy of Netflix
Florida is known for employing a stand-your-ground law, a legal policy that provides residents the option of employing lethal force rather than retreating as a means of self-defense. The law has proven controversial in the past, but in 2023, it was tested when 35-year-old Ajike Owens was shot through a locked door while waiting to speak with her neighbor.
*The Perfect Neighbor* gives an unvarnished accounting of the events leading up to and following Owens' murder using body cam footage collected during the police's prior visits to the killer's house. What emerges is a documentary free from editorializing — the story is told by Ajike, her neighbors, the police investigating the conflicts, and the killer herself. The events in the film are hard to stomach, but the systemic issues the documentary highlights make *The Perfect Neighbor* a must-watch. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *The Perfect Neighbor*: Netflix
**Director:** Geeta Gandbhir
Race to the Summit (2023)
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An alpinist on the face of a mountain in 'Race to the Summit'.
Fans of *Free Solo *will find new heights to explore in *Race to the Summit*. This sports and climbing documentary chronicles the rivalry between alpinists Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold as both climbers race to secure the fastest times on their ascents up the Swiss Alps' great north faces.
As with all climbing documentaries, non-climbers will struggle to understand what drives a person to risk their life like this, but the film's stunning vistas and the athletes' dedication to their sport needs no explanation. Viewers with fears of heights may want to steer clear, however: These shots are guaranteed to raise your heart rate and take your breath away. *—I.G.* * *
Where to watch *Race to the Summit*: Netflix
**Directors: **Nicholas de Taranto, Götz Werner** **
**Cast: **Dani Arnold, Alex Honnold, Ueli Steck
Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)
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Joan Baez and Bob Dylan in 'Rolling Thunder Revue'. Netflix
Martin Scorsese blurs the line between fiction and reality in this glimpse into Bob Dylan's eponymous 1975 tour. The director blends archival footage with modern interviews from those who were in the singer's circle, including Joan Baez and Sam Shepard, as well as from fictional characters, played by the likes of Sharon Stone and Michael Murphy. This fluid style pays tribute to Dylan's 1978 film *Renaldo and Clara*, which also combines documentary footage and fictional vignettes.
While your enjoyment may vary depending on your tolerance for experimentation, EW's critic writes, "The Rolling Thunder Revue was Dylan's personal magical mystery tour — and in Scorsese's hands, there's no shortage of magic or mystery." —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Rolling Thunder Revue*: Netflix
**EW grade:** A–
**Director:** Martin Scorsese
Shirkers (2018)
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Sophia Siddique Harvey and Sandi Tan in 'Shirkers'. Netflix
Anyone who's ever had their artistic dreams dashed will resonate with the plight of Sandi Tan, who directs this underrated gem. In 1992, Tan and her friends made an independent film in Singapore called *Shirkers*, but their mentor, Georges Cardona, made off with the footage and disappeared. Decades later, the movie finally resurfaced thanks to Cardona's ex-wife, who mailed it to Tan following his death. This documentary follows the filmmaker's decision to repurpose her once-lost project as she processes her adviser's devastating betrayal.
Deeply personal and inventive, *Shirkers* is a testament to creativity, with Tan telling EW that, "After every screening, people are vibrating with wanting to [create something of their own]. If we can carry that energy throughout the world when people are watching the film, then I've succeeded beyond my wildest dreams." —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Shirkers*: Netflix
**Director:** Sandi Tan
The Social Dilemma (2020)
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Tristan Harris, Sandy Parakilas, and Roger McNamee in 'The Social Dilemma'. Everett Collection
"I always felt like, fundamentally, it was a force for good," says Alex Roetter, former head of engineering for Twitter in this incisive documentary. "I don't know if I feel that way anymore." *The Social Dilemma* dives deep into the manipulation tactics of sites like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Instagram to keep users hooked and the negative consequences that result — from the spread of misinformation to depression and suicide.
The doc features various talking heads from former employees of these social media sites, who explain their companies' insidious practices. Additionally, the film presents a dramatization of an average family of five to demonstrate social media addiction in various forms. After watching *The Social Dilemma*, which presents its thesis in sobering fashion, it will be hard not to think twice before mindlessly scrolling Facebook or Instagram again. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *The Social Dilemma*: Netflix
**Director:** Jeff Orlowski
"Sr." (2022)
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Robert Downey Sr. in ''Sr.''. Everett Collection
Before Robert Downey Jr. became one of the faces of mainstream cinema, there was his counterculture filmmaker father. Robert Downey Sr. made a name for himself in the independent cinema scene in the '60s and '70s, directing a series of anti-establishment films. His life is profiled in this moving documentary, delving into his unconventinal career and his relationship with his son.
Downey Jr. — one of the producers on *"Sr."* — unpacks family traumas and shares his remembrances of his father throughout the doc. The film serves as a deeply personal tribute from a son to a father, and a loving eulogy, as Downey Sr. died in 2021 from complications of Parkinson's disease. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *"Sr."*: Netflix
**Director:** Chris Smith
Take Care of Maya (2023)
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Maya Kowalski in 'Take Care of Maya'.
In early 2015, Jack and Beata Kowalski scoured the Internet and consulted countless doctors to solve the mystery behind their 9-year-old daughter Maya's debilitating chronic pain, among other symptoms. Relief finally came with a diagnosis of advanced complex regional pain syndrome, which could be treated with ketamine. However, the trajectory of their lives took a tragic turn when a visit to the ER at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital led to accusations of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, triggering a false imprisonment of Maya for three months without proper care.
Exposing the shortcomings within the American healthcare and child welfare systems, *Take Care of Maya* renders a brutal cautionary tale where the Kowalskis — including now-17-year-old Maya — share their raw, gut-wrenching testimonies as they seek justice against the institution that tore their family apart. *—J.M.*
Where to watch *Take Care of Maya*: Netflix
**Director:*** *Henry Roosevelt****
To Kill a Tiger (2023)
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A young woman sits with her back to the camera in 'To Kill a Tiger'.
One of the best documentaries to premiere in 2022, *To Kill a Tiger *is a Canadian film that tells the story of one family's fight for justice for their 13-year-old after news of her rape becomes public in their small village in India. Emotional, educational, and deeply personal, the film was nominated for a Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 2024, and cleaned up on the film festival circuit in 2023. Executive produced by Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and the poet Rupi Kaur, among others, *To Kill a Tiger *is a necessary film with an important message, told and packaged with bravery and compassion by director Nisha Pahuja.** ***—I.G*
Where to watch *To Kill a Tiger*: Netflix
**Director: **Nisha Pahuja** **
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (2025)
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Lauryn Licari in 'Unknown Number: The High School Catfish'.
Courtesy of Netflix
In 2021, a scandal divided a small town in Michigan. A high school girl and her boyfriend started receiving threatening texts from an unknown number — and no one could figure out who was sending them. The harassment continued for a year, during which time the school, law enforcement, and FBI got involved. They eventually figured out where the texts were coming from, and the culprit shocked *everyone*.
*Unknown Number: The High School Catfish* is one of those documentaries that is so outrageous, it gets people talking. And if you've somehow managed to avoid spoilers, log off right now and watch the film before that changes. But even if you've had the twist spoiled by the online discourse, the film is still worth watching: It's one of those stories that's so wild, you have to see it to believe it. *—I.G*
Where to watch *Unknown Number: The High School Catfish*: Netflix
**Director: **Skye Borgman
Virunga (2014)
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A gorilla and one of the workers fighting to protect the endangered primates in 'Virunga'. Netflix
The Oscar-nominated documentary *Virunga* is one of the prime examples of a documentarian shifting perspectives dramatically to follow the more interesting story. Filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel set out to document the preservation efforts of workers at the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park to protect endangered gorillas. Shortly into filming, a rebellion by the military group M23 took place in the region, adding further dimension to Einsiedel's original plan.
The doc explores the impact of the rebellion on the park, in addition to the exploits of a British oil company hoping to drill in the area. Unfolding with earned dramatic tension, *Virunga* is urgent and powerful in its message of mankind's destruction on natural environments, while giving us heroes worth rooting for. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Virunga*: Netflix
**Director:** Orlando von Einsiedel
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
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Nina Simone in 'What Happened, Miss Simone?'. Netflix
Netflix is home to numerous documentaries about celebrities and artists, but few have led a life as fascinating as Nina Simone's. The iconic jazz blues singer — responsible for definitive versions of such classics as "Feeling Good," "I Put a Spell on You," and "Sinnerman," as well as originals like "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" — was an outspoken activist during the civil rights movement, infusing progressive messages into her music and risking her own career to stand up for what she believed in. *What Happened, Miss Simone?* will have you searching for her virtuosic performances on YouTube for hours on end. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *What Happened, Miss Simone?*: Netflix
**Director:** Liz Garbus
Will & Harper (2024)
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Will Ferrell and Harper Steele in 'Will & Harper'.
*Saturday Night Live* launched Will Ferrell's comedy career and turned castmates and co-writers into lifelong pals. Ferrell's nearly 30-year friendship with one of the show's former head writers changed one day when he received an email stating that said writer was transitioning to live as a woman.
*Will & Harper* follows Ferrell and comedy writer Harper Steele as the two embark on a road trip across America to better understand their new dynamic and explore this next phase in their friendship. A buddy comedy unlike any you've seen before, *Will & Harper* is an ongoing conversation about show business, platonic relationships, and living one's authentic life in modern America. Since leaving *SNL*, Ferrell has taken on dramatic roles, but never has he been more human and honest than in this prescient and funny documentary. *—I.G*
Where to watch *Will & Harper*: Netflix
**Director: ** Josh Greenbaum
**Cast: **Will Ferrell, Harper Steele
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015)
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Someone waving Ukraine's flag in 'Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom'. Everett Collection
Released seven years before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, *Winter on Fire* follows a Ukrainian fight of a different kind. The visceral documentary centers on the Maidan Uprising of 2013 and 2014, which began after a free-trade deal with the European Union fell through at the last minute, with then-Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych making a deal with Russia instead.
Through immersive on-the-ground footage, *Winter on Fire* tracks protestors from peaceful demonstrations to violent confrontations with police as people from all walks of life fight against a government preventing them from moving forward as a nation. The galvanizing documentary earned an Oscar nomination, and director Evgeny Afineevsky released a companion film in 2022, *Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom*, which chronicles the Russian invasion. —*K.J.*
Where to watch *Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom*: Netflix
**Director:** Evgeny Afineevsky
Original Article on Source
Source: "EW Movies"
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Source: Movies
Published: November 11, 2025 at 07:39PM on Source: MORNING MAG
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle
From provocative history lessons to fascinating celebrity profiles, there's something on the streamer for any mood or inte...
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