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Best Horror Movie Streaming Services: Where to Watch the Ultimate Screams

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Best Horror Movie Streaming Services: Where to Watch the Ultimate Screams

True horror fans know that scary movies are for life, not just for Halloween. Why wait until October to indulge in a slasher movie binge session or monster mashup? If you prefer to get your scary kicks in every month of the year, there are streaming services that can meet your demand. You can take in all the John Carpenter, Wes Craven or Stanley Kubrick films that you want.

Instead of heading to the movie theater for every new release, you can watch horror movies right from the comfort of your couch -- plus, you can keep the lights on. Here are some of the best places to stream everything from zombie thrillers to supernatural encounters to monster attacks to iconic classics.

Shudder

If it's an all-you-can-eat horror buffet you're seeking, then Shudder is a great place to have your fill -- and all of it is ad-free. Owned by AMC Networks, the niche streaming platform has more than 350 horror flicks in its library as well as TV series. Shudder offers a quality lineup of originals, classics, international gems and modern frights, including V/H/S/94, The Seed, Phantasm, Halloween, Children of the Corn and Train to Busan. Choose from aliens, slashers, vampires, hauntings, horror comedies and more.

You can sign up for Shudder as a stand-alone subscription for $6 per month, and it comes with a free seven-day trial. It is also included as part of the AMC Plus five-channel package, which runs $7, and Shudder is a Prime Video add-on channel that costs $6 monthly. A handful of titles are available on the Roku Channel for free, but you'll need to pay to access the majority of Shudder's library. We recommend downloading the Shudder app directly on your phone, tablet, FireTV device or smart TV.

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

A free streaming service, Tubi offers way more than B-movie horror selections. With a dedicated category that houses 450-plus titles, including originals, famous franchises and retro favorites, you can scare yourself all day and night. You can find 1980s and '90s cult hits like Puppet Master and Bride of Chucky alongside Annabelle: Creation, Insidious, Slender Man, 2022's The Jack in the Box: Awakening and every Resident Evil movie.

Though Tubi is an ad-supported service, you can watch it on virtually any device. Register an account to access its entire catalog.

James Martin/CNET

WarnerMedia's streaming service grants you access to the Warner Bros. catalog and content from DC and HBO. On top of that, the app is sleek and easy to use on any device. If you love scary movies, there's plenty to watch on HBO Max.

HBO Max's selection ranges from older classics to newer horror releases, including Cat's Eye, Poltergeist, American Psycho, The Shining, Malignant, every It movie, M. Night Shyamalan's Old, the Conjuring universe and the whole Final Destination collection. Slasher superstars Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers are all represented. There's also more light-hearted fare like Gremlins and the original Godzilla movies, plus horror mysteries like Last Night in Soho. HBO Max also has an easy-to-find horror collection where you can access groups of franchise films with one click, such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, Underworld and Mimic.

Just open the app and navigate to the horror section to start your binge-watching session. HBO Max costs $10 monthly (with ads) or $15 for the ad-free experience.

Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

Admittedly, Crackle is sort of a B-movie paradise where you can stack your watchlist with films like Killer Mermaid, Malevolence 2, Return of the Scarecrow and Lake Placid: The Final Chapter. But the streaming service is free and also carries more mainstream titles like Resident Evil and An American Werewolf in Paris. And if you're a fan of mutant monsters who wreak havoc, you'll find multiple Sharktopus movies, giant spiders and piranhas. Crackle has films from the 1950s (like The Blob) up to 2021, and you can click through horror subgenres like comedy, action, mysteries or monsters for easier navigation.

David Katzmaier/CNET

Whether you own a Roku device or have the Roku Channel as a stand-alone app on another device, it's easy to mine for thrills and chills. There's a dedicated horror category where you can stream Roku Originals like The Stranger as well as titles such as Leviathan, The Colony, Horns and Flowers in the Attic. Within the Roku Channel, there are several "live" channels where you can watch scary movies around the clock, including Bloody Disgusting TV, FilmRise Horror and Horrorfy.

James Martin/CNET

Prime Video has an abundance of movie titles, and its horror offerings include exclusive, original releases from Blumhouse, the production company known for projects like Get Out, Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Happy Death Day and Ma. In addition to streaming Amazon Originals like Evil Eye and Suspiria, you can watch free movies on Freevee or other flicks like Mother! or The Hills Have Eyes that are included with your Prime membership. You also have the option to buy or rent the latest titles available on Prime Video. Catch 2022 films such as The Black Phone, Firestarter and The Cursed or rent media from years past like It: Chapter Two or Village of the Damned. Browse Prime Video's rotating selection by clicking on the horror category, or check out our recommendations for the best scary flicks on the platform.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Paramount Plus may not be the first streamer to come to mind for horror, but it's home to several popular franchises, including Scream, A Quiet Place and Paranormal Activity. You can stream every movie from each series. 

But the service also has a few nostalgic classics in the vault like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Carnival of Souls, Rosemary's Baby, Pet Sematary, Night of the Living Dead and 1980's Friday the 13th. Viewers will find roughly 200 scary movies on Paramount Plus, with many of them being recent releases. While Orphan and World War Z are among the familiar titles, there's an assortment of lesser known films too. Paramount Plus is $5 for the ad-supported version.

Other services we tested

Of course Netflix has its share of engaging horror movies too, but we wanted to focus on services that are either free or have deep investments in the genre -- like Shudder. We also looked at Peacock and it's appealing because of its Universal Pictures and SyFy catalog, but its library is smaller than most with roughly 160 movies. However, if you're a Comcast Xfinity Flex or X1 customer you can get Peacock Premium for free, so take advantage of its offerings.

We also checked out Showtime and Starz. Though both services provide a solid roster of new and old frights, the price isn't necessarily worth it when you can stream many of their titles on other services. However, HBO Max and Paramount Plus made the cut due to owning their own heavy franchise collections. HBO Max is also notable for its inclusion of animated and family-friendly scary movies.

Horror movie streaming service FAQs

Do suspense thrillers count in this horror streaming lineup?

No. Though horror includes subgenres like comedy (Shaun of the Dead), the paranormal, psychopathic killers and alien invasions, we didn't count thrillers such as Black Swan and Joker for this category. Instead, this listing focuses on platforms with a variety of straightforward horror titles.

Which service has the most classic horror movies?

If you want to watch some films from past eras for free, your best bet is Tubi, but if you don't mind paying for old-school creepiness, you should roll with Shudder.

Which service is best for blockbuster horror titles?

You're bound to run into some big-name movies on virtually any streaming service, but when it comes to the most up-to-date blockbusters, expect to pay a premium. Services like Prime Video, HBO Max and Paramount Plus will typically offer the films after their theatrical runs for rent or with your paid subscription plan.

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The best Halloween movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and more

The best Halloween movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and more

Halloween movies are a thrilling watch year-round, but there's no better time to enjoy them than when chillier temperatures settle in. Especially this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way we partake in classic Halloween activities like trick-or-treating, you might need something to transport you to fictional places where the horrifying stuff isn't actually real. (We all cope differently, right?)

Here are our top picks for the scariest, creepiest and sometimes silliest films to stream or watch on demand on platforms including Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, HBO Max and others. We've noted which of these films require higher-tier streaming subscriptions like Hulu Plus Live TV, or a Showtime or Cinemax add-on.

Read more:  15 of the best movies to see on Amazon Prime Video

Disney

Hulu started life as a joint venture between ABC, NBC and Fox. Since Disney (ABC's parent) absorbed most of the Fox Entertainment properties, however, it's been buying out its remaining partners and converting Hulu to more of a Disney Plus for adults. As such, you can watch the movies below with their full, R-rated gore intact. The baseline subscription includes commercials, and you can also bundle this with Disney's other online properties, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV. Also available on Peacock.) We always appreciate a well-done horror comedy! You can catch the sequel, Zombieland Double Tap, on Starz.

(Also available on Tubi.) Something about murderous children in a cornfield just feels autumnal. 

It's a Swedish film about a little girl vampire. Are we selling it? It's fantastic, trust us. 

(Also available on Tubi.) We don't particularly get this franchise, but Hellraiser viewing parties are a pretty common Halloween activity. You do you.

Quite frankly, this adaptation isn't the greatest, but then again neither was the first one. Still it definitely has some chilling moments.

(Available with Showtime add-on.) The first Paranormal Activity was pretty unnerving. It might be worth a revisit this Halloween. 

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV starting Oct. 7.) We refuse to fact-check this, but Get Out is possibly the only Oscar winner on this list. That's inaccurate. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for Rosemary's Baby. And The Silence of the Lambs won like 5 Academy Awards too. Are you happy? Get Out is fantastic though.

Get Out 

Universal Pictures

Our 8-year-old selves still believe deep down this is the greatest Halloween movie ever made. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, please, please return to making films.

This Korean creature feature is easily one of the best films on this list.  

As far as haunted house movies go, this one is better than The Amityville Horror, but not quite as good as The Conjuring.

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV starting Oct. 8.) Once again we learn abstinence is the only way to prevent slow-moving nightmare monsters from trying to kill you. What a helpful PSA!

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) This is the part where you stop reading the article and immediately go put on Ghostbusters. Don't worry, this article isn't going anywhere. We'll wait. 

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) Rebecca's mom really loves the Madea movies. And who are we to deny you options?

(Available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) On the one hand, it's a pretty good remake. On the other hand, Zack Snyder directed it. Your call.

(Available with Cinemax add-on.) Don't you want to finally understand what a "Jacob's Ladder scenario" actually is?

Ever since Dead Snow came out, we are always 100% down for any movie with Nazi zombies. 

(Available on Hulu plus Live TV. Also available on Spectrum.) It's possible Rebecca has seen this film more than any other film on this list. Don't judge!

Saw (2004)

(Available on Hulu with Cinemax add-on.) If you plan on watching Saw, we also recommend checking out our interview with screenwriter Leigh Whannell. He tells us about his 5-year-old's bedtime story demands and let's just say, twisted storytelling definitely runs in the family.

Netflix hardly needs an introduction, but the biggest streaming service out there remains a mixture of TV shows and movies, including content licensed from other studios and a growing stable of originals. 

We probably didn't need a family-friendly version of The Omen, but we enjoyed it nevertheless.

If you've come to this list looking for the scariest horror films, watch this one. Maybe with the lights on. 

Anjelica Huston is majestic in this Roald Dahl adaptation.

Even if you're not into super dark films, the storyline in this Guillermo del Toro masterpiece will be enough to win you over.

One of our favorites and Zelda Rubinstein's performance is really just the cherry on top.

This is probably the most under-the-radar film on this list, but it's absolutely worth your time.

Certain horror fans find themselves disappointed when the "big bad" turns out to be metaphorical. Don't worry, this one has a satisfying "actual monster" payoff.

This movie is carried by Mark Duplass and his amazingly sinister face. A delightfully creepy watch.

(Also available on Spectrum.) Ghost movies are great for Halloween, right?

Universal Pictures

Already subscribe to HBO? You can probably get HBO Max at no extra charge. Think of it as (wait for it) "HBO Plus" -- everything on HBO, plus a bunch of additional back catalog and exclusives from Warner's catalog, as well as some nice licensed exclusives like Doctor Who and the Studio Ghibli library. 

Shark movie!!! Sorry, didn't mean to get that excited. But we did see The Meg on opening weekend. Are you a "shark movie" person? No better time to find out!   

Possibly the last time we found the ending to a horror film surprising. 

I (Rebecca) thought this movie was really scary when I was 13. It might still be scary. There's really no way of knowing these things. 

We all know the saying, "In space, no one can hear you scream," but your neighbors will definitely be able to hear you scream while watching this on your couch.

It's pretty rare with a horror masterpiece to stumble upon a masterpiece of a sequel, especially with a different director. Thanks, James Cameron!

John Landis doesn't get enough credit for being able to blend horror and comedy.

While The Shining is probably the favorite horror film of many and may not have needed a sequel, it's one of the better Stephen King adaptations in recent years.

A very enjoyable example of a dark comedy and horror mashup.

Disney

You know ... for kids! It's probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of "horror," as nothing here eclipses PG-13 scares. But it also has the full libraries for everything from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and The Simpsons, to name just a few of the big content silos you'll find here. As with Hulu, you can subscribe to this solo, or as a Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle.

A cult classic you can finally stream. 

(Also available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) It's really a Christmas movie, but also you should be watching it year-round.

This vibrant, touching film brings Day of the Dead to life in the most beautiful way.

Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but this is simply a Disney classic.

Feel-good and Halloween don't always go hand in hand, but this nostalgic Halloween classic always warms our witchy little hearts.

As if trusting her new beau wasn't hard enough already.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Peacock is NBCUniversal's recently launched streaming app that includes several free movies and TV shows. Paying customers can unlock the platform's full library of content, and can also pay a little more to go ad-free. 

You should really watch/rewatch them all, but the third film does have the most Halloween-y vibe. 

You can't get more classic than Frankenstein!

We love a good dystopian film.

Another for the classics fans.

Screenshot by Abrar Al-Heeti/CNET

This ad-supported network offers a range of free TV shows and movies. It's available on devices including Roku and Amazon Fire TV, as well as on Android and iOS. You won't need an account to watch content, but creating one enables you to save favorites and resume playback when switching between devices.

Is it really Halloween if you haven't watched a creepy Tim Burton film?

A cannibal villain is as horrifying as it gets.

Not exactly sure if a flick about a viral outbreak is something you want to watch right now, but if it is, you're in luck.

MGM

Existing Showtime cable subscribers can access all of its content on the Showtime Anytime app on most major app platforms. But you can also get it as a straight streaming app for a monthly fee. (Disclosure: Showtime and CNET are owned by the same parent company, ViacomCBS.)

(Also available on Netflix.) This is one of our favorite films to watch on Halloween. Hannibal Lecter is a magnificent villain.

If you don't barf while watching the shaking cameras, it's a pretty good creature feature. 

This would pair well with The Omen for a Halloween double feature. 

We're going to throw this out there: More films should be set in the 1600s. Provided they're as good as The Witch.

Focus Features

Like Showtime, this premium cable movie service is also available "over the top" as a direct streaming option on most app store platforms.

This is the quite possibly the most perfect Halloween movie on this list. Demon spawn! (If you're interested, you can also find the 2006 version on Hulu.)

Not big on horror? No worries, you can check out one of the greatest comedies ever made instead.    

Is it just us or does anyone else find Edward Scissorhands incredibly soothing to watch?

Jeff Goldblum in a creature feature is all we're really looking for in a Halloween film.

Watch this after you finish watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

Epix is another pay cable channel that's expanded its horizons to the digital realm. Get it with your cable or satellite subscription, or as a digital streaming option instead.

We're almost positive people have written dissertations on the influence of this film on the horror genre. So, we dunno, maybe check out?

Definitely worth it for Vincent Price. 

(Also available on Hulu.) Creature features often don't get enough love in the horror genre. But this one was our jam!

Warner Bros. Pictures

Prime Video is thrown in "for free" for anyone subscribing to Amazon's membership program, which otherwise guarantees delivery of a wide array of products in two days or less at no additional charge. It's got a ton of movies and TV shows from third-party studios, and a growing list of Amazon exclusives, too. Note, however, that only the first few selections are available via Prime; the rest are available as 48-hour rentals at a pay-per-view cost.

This movie will freak me out always and forever!

Chris Sarandon as a vampire? Sold!

(Available to rent.) This Michael J. Fox classic about a teen werewolf will have you howling for more! I promise that's the last pun in this article.

(Available to rent.) It's a Halloween movie list, so I'm obligated to include Pumpkinhead.

(Available to rent.) One of the few films on this list that is also a cinematic masterpiece.

(Available to rent. It's also available on Hulu Plus Live TV.) I know the found footage gimmick is tired, but do you actually remember how scary this movie was? An entire generation couldn't go camping for like a decade after it came out. 

(Available to rent.) This film was so scary that I still can't bring myself to watch any of the sequels or prequels! But if you are interested in watching The Conjuring 2, it's available on HBO Max. 

(Available to rent.) I went as the Bride for Halloween one year. This isn't relevant to my recommendation, but I'm trying to sell you on a film from 1935.

(Available to rent.) Carrie is so good! Sissy Spacek just has a special place in my heart. It isn't at all related to Halloween, but you should also check out Coal Miner's Daughter.

(Available to rent.) This is the American remake of Let the Right One In. And it's pretty well done for US market cash grab. 

It (2017)

(Available to rent. Also on Hulu plus Live TV.) This film is alway a thrill. The sequel is also available on HBO Max.

(Available to rent.) Frankly, I could use more sci-fi horror films. And more Vin Diesel.

(Available for rent.) For all the gore lovers.

(Available to rent, though the 1972 version is included with a Prime membership and is also on Hulu.) I'll say this about the remake: it's probably more suspenseful than the original. But the original left me feeling emotionally violated, and that's a special kind of horror that's hard to replicate. Still the remake is worth a watch.

(Available to rent.) Down with the yuppies! Honestly this is one of my all-time favorite films.

(Available to rent.) As a child I was only afraid of two things: Chucky and spiders. I am still terrified of both. But hey, now I'm also afraid of heights!

(Available with a Prime Video Channels subscription. Also available on Tubi.) It's Wes Craven so I'm not even going to bother trying to convince you. Just watch it.

Raw (2016) 

(Available to rent.) Watch only if you have a strong stomach!

(Available to rent.) OK, here's our pitch: Jessica Walter and Clint Eastwood. Are you sold?

(Available to rent.) Not to be confused with the Brooke Shields film The Blue Lagoon. This one is about a lagoon monster.

(Available to rent.) You'll never want to fly again. 

(Available to rent.) This is possibly one of the worst films ever made, but it stars Gerard Butler as Dracula. So you should probably watch it anyway.

(Available to rent.) Nearly half the movies in our roundup were in some way inspired by this classic slasher film. An absolute Halloween classic.

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Netflix: The 44 Absolute Best Movies to Watch

Netflix: The 44 Absolute Best Movies to Watch

Netflix  has an extensive library of movies. And as each week brings more to the service, it becomes an effort to sift through the best of the bunch.

To save you time, you'll find the highlights of the new movies below, as well as CNET's full list of best movie originals on Netflix.

What's new this week (Aug. 29 to Sept. 4)

Here are this week's highlights.

Monday

• Under Her Control (2022): Drama. An ambitious young woman enters into an unusual arrangement with her charismatic boss.

Tuesday

• Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul (2022): Documentary. Years after serving time for betting on games he officiated, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy revisits the scandal that shook up the league.

Wednesday

• I Came By (2022): British crime thriller. A graffiti artist who targets homes of the elite uncovers a twisted secret in a hidden basement -- triggering events that put his loved ones in danger.

Thursday

• A Cinderella Story (2004)
• A Clockwork Orange (1971)
• A Knight's Tale (2001)
  
• American Beauty (1999)
  
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
• Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)
• Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
• Collateral (2004)
  
• Despicable Me (2010)
• Despicable Me 2 (2013)
• Fast & Feel Love (2022): Thai rom-com. A cup-stacking champion fights to hold onto his neglected love life while defending his title as the fastest speed stacker in the world.
  

• Fenced In (2022)
• He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
• If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
  
• Love in the Villa (2022)
  
• Resident Evil (2002)
  
• Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
• Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
• Rock of Ages (2012)
  
• Sam Morril: Same Time Tomorrow (2022): Standup. Sam Morril delivers his trademark dry and dark punchlines in a standup set ranging from problematic fairy tales to biting social commentary.
• Save the Last Dance (2001)
  
• Scarface (1983)
• Snow White & The Huntsman (2012)
• The Notebook (2004)
  
• This Is 40 (2012)
  

Saturday

• The Festival of Troubadours/Asiklar Bayrami (2022): Turkish drama. An unexpected reunion between a traveling musician and his son opens old wounds as the two set out on a long journey to a troubadour festival.

Read more: The Absolute Best TV Shows on Netflix

The full list of best Netflix original movies

At time of writing, these films all score at least 70 on Metacritic.

Animation

Netflix

The Sea Beast (2022)

The Sea Beast joins Netflix's collection of stellar family-friendly animated adventures. A young girl named Maisie (Zaris-Angel Hator) stows away on the ship of sea monster hunter Captain Crow (Jared Harris), becoming wrapped up in a thrilling journey through uncharted waters. Bringing originality to the high seas and swashbuckling characters, The Sea Beast is a must-watch chapter of enchanting fantasy.

Netflix

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

One of the best family movies on Netflix. From some of the same people who made Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse comes this adventure to save the world involving Mom, Dad, the kids and their slobbery, bug-eyed dog. But amid the robot apocalypse, led by Olivia Colman's sinister Siri, really The Mitchells vs. the Machines is about a strained relationship between movie-loving daughter Katie and her technophobe father. The technology-inept parent gags are rife, the colors frenetic and the character growth moving. A near-perfect package with the timeless message that embracing your weirdness is a superpower.

Netflix

I Lost My Body (2019)

This award-winning French film begins with a severed hand escaping a refrigerator in a laboratory and embarking on a Paris-wide search for the rest of its body. What an opening! With a few flashbacks and elegant animation, this strange, satisfying story delves into loss, both physical and emotional, in the most poetic of ways.

Action/Adventure

Netflix

Okja (2017)

2017's Okja comes from Parasite director Bong Joon-ho -- which should be incentive enough to watch it. Part cheeky dark comedy, part surreal environmental thriller, Okja follows a young South Korean farmer girl whose pet pal is a genetically enhanced super-pig. But Okja is the target of a big corporation that wants her delicious flesh. With an English supporting cast including the likes of Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, Okja sucks you in with its sweetness before showing you a distressing close-up of the meat industry.

Crime/War

Netflix

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Spike Lee's fierce war drama follows a group of aging Vietnam War veterans who return to the country in search of the remains of their squad leader -- as well as buried treasure. With a frenzied energy coursing through it, Da 5 Bloods gives you a look at the Vietnam War through Black experiences, delivering an all-too-timely critique of racism and warfare.

Netflix

The Irishman (2019)

Spanning the lives of its mobsters over multiple decades, The Irishman pulls off a 3-and-a-half-hour crime saga. But don't worry -- you can break up this tour de force if you need to. Always clever and entertaining, with Martin Scorsese favorites Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci commanding the screen, The Irishman creeps up on you, offering a haunting look at aging mobsters and the havoc they wreak.

Netflix

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga gives you a sobering look at the life of a boy who becomes a child soldier in a West African country embroiled in civil war. Idris Elba stars as the ruthless Commandant along with the astonishing Abraham Attah as the young Agu. A confronting yet quietly hopeful snapshot of war from a human perspective, Beasts of No Nation needs to be on your radar if it isn't already.

Comedy

Netflix

The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020)

The title of this comedy-drama might sound familiar, but its focus is an unconventional tale. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha, a playwright and teacher who finds herself drawn to the forgotten passion of her youth: rapping. Inspired by writer, director and star Radha Blank's real life, this beautiful diary of a struggling artist will inspire and hit home, with relatable themes of failure and unfulfilled potential.

Netflix

Paddleton (2019)

Tennis-playing buddies Michael (Mark Duplass) and Andy (Ray Romano) receive devastating news: Michael has terminal stomach cancer. Struggling to let go of his dying friend, Andy joins Michael's road trip in search of medication to end things before they get too painful. Folding comedy into melancholy, Paddleton eases the touching friendship at its core into deftly-affecting places.

Netflix

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Eddie Murphy returned from his acting break with a glorious performance as Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian who played a character called Dolemite in stand-up routines and blaxploitation films from the '70s. Dolemite Is My Name follows Moore from his job at a record store to the big screen. Tracking Moore's rise to fame and its bizarre and enthralling turns, Dolemite Is My Name does justice to both Moore's and Murphy's talents.

Netflix

Private Life (2018)

Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn starring in a comedy-drama with something to say about modern marriage? Private Life is a unique and relatable slice of a New York middle-age couple's struggles with different avenues to have a child. But because Hahn and Giamatti are in it, it sparkles with wit and charm. Add Kayli Carter to the mix as Sadie, a college dropout, and you have another layer to this compelling movie about the unpredictability of heading into a new stage of life.

Netflix

Win It All (2017)

Jake Johnson co-writes this comedy from prolific indie director Joe Swanberg (he was behind the Netflix anthology TV series Easy as well). Win It All follows Eddie, a gambling addict who agrees to stash a duffel bag of cash for a local thug heading to prison. Making one of many questionable decisions, Eddie dips into the funds. If you're a fan of simple, grounded storytelling with a focus on character, Win It All is a delight that brings out Johnson's humor and charisma.

Netflix

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

The Meyerowitz Stories is a bittersweet comedy-drama told through Noah Baumbach's grounded lens. The titular stories concern dysfunctional adult siblings, played by Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, trying to live in the shadow of their father. An effervescent cast, including Dustin Hoffman, play these intelligent, albeit miserable, characters as they weave their poignant tales.

Netflix

Tramps (2016)

This indie gem might have flown under the radar, so if you're looking for a modern romcom overflowing with charm, definitely give Tramps a watch. Callum Turner and Grace Van Patten star as Danny and Ellie, a sincere good kid and a streetwise girl who attempt to carry out a shady deal for a little cash. Tightly scripted and deftly avoiding hackneyed territory, Tramps will effortlessly win your heart.

Horror

Netflix

Vampires vs. the Bronx (2020)

Vampires vs. the Bronx is a unique comedy-horror in more ways than one. Set in the New York borough of the Bronx, it follows young Miguel Martinez, a big-hearted kid helping to raise money for his struggling local bodega. But it's not just new designer clothing stores threatening to move in: Creepy pale residents with a taste for blood are eating up people and their properties. A commentary on gentrification with goofy charm, twists and thrills, Vampires vs. the Bronx is a fresh, entertaining spin on the genre.

Netflix

His House (2020)

His House is a horror flick that, yep, hits close to home. Revealing its supernatural evils through a harrowing human story, it follows Bol and Rial, a refugee couple from Sudan, who struggle to adapt to their new life in an English town. Don't expect straightforward jump scares -- His House plays into the psychological specters of the past, adding even more corridors of torment. A heartrending, powerful piece.

Netflix

Cam (2018)

This smart psychological horror is partially drawn from co-writer Isa Mazzei's experiences as a camgirl (or webcam model). Yet Cam is no documentary, following Alice Ackerman, a young camgirl who one day discovers an exact replica of herself has taken over her show. This unique thriller flashing red with the threat of technology is an excellent feature to hit play on.

Netflix

1922 (2017)

One of the more successful Stephen King adaptations, this horror drama based on the novella 1922 is a slow burn with a mesmerizing performance at its core. Thomas Jane, who you'll also know from Boogie Nights and 2004's The Punisher, gives one of his career best performances as the ever proud Wilfred James, a farmer who makes the totally wise decision to murder his wife with the help of their teenage son. The consequences are harrowing on multiple levels (if you don't like rats, you really won't like rats after this).

Netflix

Gerald's Game (2017)

If you were mesmerized by The Haunting of Hill House, then Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King novel Gerald's Game is a must-watch. A couple goes on holiday at an isolated lake house, where one thing leads to another... and Carla Gugino's Jessie ends up handcuffed to the bed with no visible escape. Gugino puts in an immense performance, packing out the enclosed bedroom setting. Expect narratively and emotionally satisfying conclusions, with melancholy-suffused horror that surges into quiet triumph for its haunted characters.

Western

Netflix

The Power of the Dog (2021)

More than a decade after her previous film, Bright Star, extraordinary filmmaker Jane Campion has unfolded the director's chair again to oversee The Power of the Dog. She ended up winning an Oscar, so it was a good move. The Western centers on Phil Burbank, a domineering rancher who uses the power of toxic masculinity to have his way, mocking his brother for falling in love. The Power of the Dog is a mesmeric exercise in the subtle shifts of emotion and power in relationships. Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst are immense, helping to bring Campion's masterful vision to life.

Netflix

News of the World (2020)

Paul Greengrass (Jason Bourne) directs Tom Hanks in this moving Western. Civil War veteran Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd discovers a young girl years after she was captured by Native Americans as a baby. While helping return her to her family, he does his usual job of traveling to towns and reading newspapers for a small fee. Don't expect high-octane action: This road movie is fueled by character development and the beautiful views. Still, you'll want to settle in for a comforting ride with pure sympathetic Hanks at the steering wheel.

Netflix

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

The Coen Brothers kick up the western dust with an anthology film that gives you six vignettes all set on the American frontier. One of them is about the titular Buster Scruggs, a chipper singing cowboy who casually sets off a shoot-up in a cantina. But there's a dark twist that keeps you on your toes. Sewing the rest of its stories together with a constant black humor, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a Coen Brothers winner.

Drama

Netflix

Passing (2021)

Rebecca Hall makes her directorial debut in magnificent fashion with her adaptation of Nella Larsen's 1929 novel Passing. It tells the story of two light-skinned Black women, one of whom chooses to "pass" as white. Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga embody the duality at the heart of this delicate story, shot in black and white. Gracefully handled, Passing is a tender portrait revealing powerful psychological depths.

Netflix

Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)

Andrew Garfield takes the spotlight for this biographical musical drama about Jonathan Larson, the late composer behind Rent and Tick, Tick... Boom! The movie, helmed by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his directorial debut, follows Larson's career and the time pressure he feels to leave a lasting impression. With joy-inducing music, a meaningful narrative about the creative process and a passionate performance from Garfield as Larson, Tick, Tick... Boom! is a graceful and feel-good tribute.

Netflix

The Dig (2021)

This fine British drama excavates a whole lot of buried treasure with a distinguished cast in Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James and Johnny Flynn. It's based on the true events around the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo, yielding a priceless trove of Anglo-Saxon artifacts hidden in a burial ship. Romantic, intellectual and moving, The Dig is a full sweep of elegance.

Netflix

The Boys in the Band (2020)

The Boys in the Band sets a new stage for an ensemble cast who all performed the classic play-by-the-same-name's 2018 Broadway revival. Among them, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto and Matt Bomer. The movie brings new perspectives to a birthday party celebrated by a group of gay men in 1968 New York City. The party takes an unexpected turn when a visitor from the host's past calls in. With a cast that knows how to play off each other and compelling themes such as self-loathing and internalized homophobia, The Boys in the Band is a thought-provoking, engaging drama.

Nikolai Loveikis/Netflix

Mank (2020)

A black-and-white David Fincher tale about the unsung screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz who helped Orson Welles write Citizen Kane. Step back into Old Hollywood, with beautiful cinematography and take in the behind-the-scenes of how studio systems functioned in a different time. Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried are among the exceptional cast of this biographical drama filled with the lightness and darkness of its hero's life.

Netflix

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

An Aaron Sorkin drama based on a true story? The Trial of the Chicago 7 lives up to its pedigree, following the real-life trial of a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors charged with conspiracy to incite riots. With a stellar ensemble cast, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is both topical and full of compelling theatrical energy.

Netflix

High Flying Bird (2019)

This sports drama from 2019 marked the second occasion director Steven Soderbergh used an iPhone to shoot a feature film (the first was 2018's Unsane). High Flying Bird tells the story of a sports agent facing the ax unless he pulls off a company-saving plan in 72 hours. Capturing the high tensions of professional sports through a unique shooting style, High Flying Bird is a fascinating piece put together with expert direction, editing and performances.

Netflix

Marriage Story (2019)

A movie about divorce might not sound like the best viewing experience, but Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story is a journey you'll want to take. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver give two of the best performances of their careers as Nicole and Charlie, a couple who embark on the emotionally and logistically complicated legal processes involved in prying a partnership apart. Painted with an emotional complexity that includes poignantly funny moments along with the painful ones, this is happy-sad at its best.

Netflix

The Two Popes (2019)

Set primarily in Vatican City, this biographical drama follows Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the aftermath of the Vatican leaks scandal. It's as fascinating as it sounds. The Two Popes carves up a slice of real-life drama with a first-class two-hander featuring Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins.

Carlos Somonte

Roma (2018)

Alfonso Cuaron's semi-autobiographical snapshot of the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City tells a small story with staggering prowess. Let Cuaron steer you through the ups and downs of a live-in housekeeper of a middle-class family. His lens captures intricately beautiful scenes in an album that quietly envelopes you with wonder and grace.

Netflix

Happy as Lazzaro (2018)

This Italian film has the seal of approval from Bong Joon-ho, so let's listen to the Oscar-winning director of Parasite and add it to this list. Written and directed by Alice Rohrwacher, Happy as Lazzaro is set in the '70s on a tobacco farm, where good-hearted young peasant Lazzaro dutifully works. When a nobleman convinces him to help him fake his own kidnapping, a story of friendship, innocence and social commentary unfolds. A gorgeously shot, cinematic fairytale.

Zeta Cinema

Sunday's Illness (2018)

This elegant Spanish film will steep you in its rich imagery and phenomenally good performances from its two leads. Susi Sánchez and Bárbara Lennie star as Anabel and Chiara respectively, an estranged mother and daughter who reunite for reasons that aren't as clear as they first seem. The precision of the filmmaking here is worthy of soaking up for those who are partial to deliberately paced meditations on pain, love and loss. Masterful.

Netflix

The Kindergarten Teacher (2018)

Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a career best performance in The Kindergarten Teacher, a drama about, yep, a kindergarten teacher. Lisa is dissatisfied with her own life, which leads her to make some questionable decisions regarding one of her young students. When Jimmy exhibits child prodigy levels of poetry writing talent, Lisa may or may not take credit for it. The Kindergarten Teacher's slightly disturbing character study might leave you feeling conflicted, but there's no question about Gyllenhaal's mesmerizing performance.

Netflix

Mudbound (2017)

Mudbound gives you a historical look at class struggle through the lens of a Black veteran and a white veteran who both still have one foot stuck in World War II. Dealing with PTSD and racism in the Mississippi Delta, with a cast that includes Garrett Hedlund and Jason Mitchell, Mudbound's tempest will rivet you to the spot.

Thriller

Netflix

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

A psychological thriller that dives deep into the surreal. I'm Thinking of Ending Things definitely won't be for everyone, but it connects you to the frustrations of the young woman (Jessie Buckley) at its heart, who grapples with breaking off her seven-week-relationship with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons). While it overstays its welcome a little, I'm Thinking of Ending Things always keeps you on your toes, with atmospheric cinematography and strong performances from Toni Collette and David Thewlis as Jake's fairly odd parents. Fans of director-writer Charlie Kaufman will be pleased.

Netflix

The Call (2020)

Two movies named The Call came out in 2020. Watch the South Korean one, a time travel thriller revolving around, yep, a phone call. Twenty-eight-year-old Seo-yeon finds a phone buried in a closet in her childhood home. It rings -- and the caller, it turns out, is living in the same house 20 years earlier. Twists right up to the final moment, plus a wild cat-and-mouse chase that alters the past and present make this a must-watch.

Netflix

Calibre (2018)

This taut thriller set in the remote Scottish Highlands is far from an idyllic getaway. Prepare for a full-on nerve-wringing nightmare that its protagonists are desperate to wake up from. Vaughn and Marcus set out on a lads' weekend hunting trip, but after a night of drinking, they find themselves facing events they never could have planned for. Calibre lives up to its name, delivering a slick package of grim, gripping drama. Let the full force of this one wallop you.

Netflix

First They Killed My Father (2017)

The fifth film on Angelina Jolie's directing CV turned out to be her best. Based on Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung's memoir, the biographical thriller recounts the horrors Ung suffered as a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge. With an empathetic lens framing a shocking story from the perspective of a child, First They Killed My Father is a unique war movie made with control and finesse.

Netflix

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

If you've had a bad day, this might be the movie for you. When the police refuse to help with a robbery, nursing assistant Ruth and her weird neighbor Tony take matters into their own hands. I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore spots the idiosyncrasies of everyday life, before escalating its story into dark places with even darker humor. With a touch of Coen Brothers' flair, its perfectly packed 96 minutes will leave you surprisingly emotional.

Sci-fi

Netflix

The Platform (2019)

From Netflix's impressive stash of international films comes Spanish sci-fi horror The Platform. Its high-concept story centers on a tower that delivers food to people on each of its many levels via a platform. Those at the top snag the best and most abundant spread, which is devoured as the platform lowers down the levels. Social commentary rings throughout this dystopian thriller, which takes shocking, occasionally gruesome turns all the way to the bottom.

Romance

Netflix

The Half of It (2020)

This YA movie tells the story of Ellie Chu, a shy Asian American discovering her sexuality in the remote town of Squahamish. A straight-A yet friendless student who has a side-hustle writing papers for her classmates, Ellie helps footballer Paul Munsky write a love letter to Aster Flores. But it turns out Aster is perfect for Ellie instead. A story of self-acceptance told with a delicate touch, The Half of It is a joy.

Netflix

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

The Incredible Jessica James introduces a delightfully self-possessed main character played by an equally delightful Jessica Williams. The confident and independent Jessica James goes on a blind date where she ends up talking about nothing but her ex. A fresh take on the breakup movie with an empowering lead, this is an easy hit for an entertaining night in.

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The Best Netflix Documentaries You Absolutely Need to Watch

The Best Netflix Documentaries You Absolutely Need to Watch

Netflix has the best documentaries in the business. Hands down. It might be the best part of the service. But the choice is almost overwhelming. That's why we've made this list: our picks for the best documentaries on Netflix.

Here's how we're breaking things down. We're starting with the latest and best up top, then the rest listed by genre. 

Good luck and happy watching!

The Best Documentaries on Netflix

Netflix

Trainwreck: Woodstock '99

Following in the very promising footsteps of Netflix documentaries being leaner, tighter and... better, Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 is a truly horrifying look at what really went on at the notorious Woodstock '99 festival. Quick content warning: Expect to see some truly grotesque discussion of human behavior including rape, looting and arson. This is a truly terrifying watch.

Netflix

Untold (2021)

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

The Most Hated Man on the Internet

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

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

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey

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

Our Father

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

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

Formula 1: Drive to Survive

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

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

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

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. 

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.

Michael Putland/Getty Images

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story

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

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.

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

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

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 Great National Parks

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

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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