Netflix has a broad offering of exceptional documentary films and docuseries, with several continuing to stand out as something truly special.

Though the streaming service tends to put its dramas and comedies at the forefront, every year, there are a few documentaries that manage to make their way to Netflix’s Top 10. There’s something about these real-world stories and explorations that continues to resonate with viewers, and Netflix has no shortage of awards and perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores for its very best documentaries.

Our picks for the best documentaries Netflix has to offer contain a wide variety, from true crime to sports docs, and everything in between. For more great selections to watch on Netflix, be sure to check out our picks for the best movies and best TV shows the platform has to offer.

Tiger King (2020 – 2021)

Tiger King may not be the highest-rated documentary on Netflix, but it can’t be left out, given its massive cultural impact. The true-crime docuseries tells the story of Joe Exotic, who owned a zoo full of exotic animals, and his feud with conservationist Carole Baskin. The lengths to which these individuals went to bring one another down are all part of the thrill of Tiger King.

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders (2025)

Netflix’s 2025 docuseries, Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, explores the tragic Chicago deaths in the 1980s from cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, the unknown killers responsible, and the regulations that went into effect to keep such a tragedy from being repeated. The series, which is made up of three episodes, holds a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the storytelling and in-depth interviews.

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

The 2021 documentary film Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed centers on the inspiring career of artist Bob Ross, host of The Joy of Painting, who famously believed there were no mistakes in art. The film takes the perspective of those who knew and loved Ross best, while also placing a critical eye on the brand that was constructed around him even after his death.

Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025)

Becoming Led Zeppelin is a film added to Netflix in 2025, which explores the origins of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. It’s an officially sanctioned documentary, full of fantastic music and interviews, each of which helps to build the picture of how these musicians got their start. Becoming Led Zeppelin holds an impressive 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes and is a nostalgic, feel-good watch.

Taylor Swift: Miss Americana (2020)

Though Taylor Swift: Miss Americana doesn’t quite compare to the pop artist’s 2023 The Eras Tour concert film, it’s still a powerful, exciting, and informative look behind the scenes. Miss Americana takes Swift’s perspective as she opens up to fans about her struggles and triumphs. With a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this Netflix documentary has proven itself impactful for both fans and casual watchers.

Last Chance U (2020)

Last Chance U is a documentary series that explores the climb of young football players with troubled backgrounds as they work to perform at the junior college level. It’s their last shot at turning things around for themselves, but it is hard-won. Last Chance U has five seasons, each consisting of eight episodes. Overall, this docuseries has managed an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes​​​​.

The Tinder Swindler (2022)

The provocative documentary film, The Tinder Swindler, follows the victims of a Tinder conman who tricked women out of millions while pretending to be a jet-setting billionaire businessman. It’s believed that this con earned him upward of $10 million, and The Tinder Swindler paints a picture of how his victims continue to struggle with crippling debt as a result. It’s all delicious shocks and jarring outrage.

American Factory (2019)

American Factory is a thoughtful business and cultural documentary film that follows the reopening of a Chinese-owned factory in Ohio. The General Motors plant hires thousands of US employees, but the film explores the challenging cultural clash between working-class Americans and high-tech China. Viewers have found American Factory to be illuminating and evenhanded, granting the film a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Disclosure (2020)

Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen is a documentary that dissects how Hollywood has depicted transgender people over recent decades, contrasting entirely with how trans people see themselves. Disclosure won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary in 2021 and holds a wildly impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s one of Netflix’s most engrossing, illuminating, and valuable documentary films.

Wild Wild Country (2018)

Wild Wild Country is a heavily researched and thorough documentary about the Oregon cult led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The Rajneeshpuraml, as they came to be called, took over an entire town before digging themselves deep into crimes like murder, fraud, and even terrorism. Wild Wild Country earned five Emmy nominations and a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes.