

Netflix is a treasure trove for documentaries, both TV series and films.
Not only did it kick-start the world's obsession with true crime, Netflix is responsible for multiple Oscar-winning documentaries. Check out the wonderful My Octopus Teacher for the most recent example.
There's so much good stuff on there that our list of the best Netflix documentaries is really quite long at this point. You'll find 60 of the top picks below, and we still had to leave out plenty of docs we've enjoyed.
We know that TV trash often seems the most appealing after a busy day of meetings and commuting. But the best documentaries offer the perfect mix of popcorn factor entertainment, and brain food, which makes watching them feel both fun and intellectually wholesome.
Netflix has a vast selection of these great documentaries to choose from. Here are some of our favourites to get stuck into.
Upvote your top documentary, and let us know at the bottom if there's an essential watch we've missed out on.
All of these best Netflix documentaries are available in the UK. While we have done our best to make the list as global as possible, please check your region for availability.
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Best documentaries on Netflix
Want more Netflix? Head to the following guides:
- Best horror movies on Netflix
- Best cult movies on Netflix
- Best movies on Netflix
- Best crime dramas on Netflix
- Best Netflix UK Shows
- Best Netflix Originals
- Best Netflix stand-up shows
SOMETHING MISSING FROM OUR SHORTLIST?
Tell us about it, and if enough people agree we'll add it in.
All image Credits: Netflix

As Content Director of Shortlist, Marc likes nothing more than to compile endless lists of an evening by candlelight. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.