Top 10 Best Netflix Original Documentaries
#10: “Amanda Knox” (2016)
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This Netflix Original does a deep dive into the incredible story of Amanda Knox, an American exchange student who was twice convicted but later acquitted of murdering her roommate while living in Italy in 2007. The documentary examines the facts surrounding the case and is filled with candid interviews from Knox, her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito – who was also convicted of the crime - as well as the prosecutor who put them behind bars. Nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, “Amanda Knox” invites viewers to see what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a tragic miscarriage of justice.
#9: “What Happened, Miss Simone?” (2015)
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Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars in 2016, this Netflix Original tells the story of singer and activist Nina Simone. The film celebrates her legacy, both musically and culturally, as she was both an incredibly talented musician and a key player in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The doc is filled with previously unseen footage and in-depth interviews that shed light on Simone’s turbulent upbringing and her fight to become one of the defining artists of her generation. Vanity Fair claims the film “perfectly captures the eccentric, unique artist” and we’re inclined to agree with them.
#8: “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press” (2017)
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What are the implications when big money begins to influence the mechanisms of the fourth estate? That is the central question at the core of this documentary, which uses two different but equally frightening stories to make its point. The first revolves around former wrestling star Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker Media, which was financed by a billionaire with a score to settle. The second involves the secret purchasing of a Las Vegas newspaper by a wealthy casino magnet, who subsequently forced several of the paper’s reporters to step down when they uncovered the purchase. Anyone who cares about free speech needs to watch this documentary.
#7: “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” (2019)
A mere month after its January 18th, 2019 release, this Netflix documentary about the doomed 2017 Fyre Festival was able to rack up 20 million household views. With a 90% fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, the behind-the-scenes look at the Fyre Fest is captivating, horrifying and impressive all at the same time. Organized by rapper Ja Rule and Fyre Media Inc. CEO Billy McFarland, promoted by trendy socialites, celebs and models and promising A-list artists, the luxury music event ended up being anything but. Concert-goers that had dished out thousands of dollars for tickets, gourmet food and extravagant accommodations were sorely disappointed. This doc didn’t only capture it all, but it also delved into the excesses of wealth, all through interviews with attendees and the organizers of the event.
#6: “Strong Island” (2017)
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Hailed by critics as one of the best documentaries of 2017 and boasting a 100% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Strong Island” is worth your time, believe us. The film is about the death of William Ford Jr., a black man who was shot and killed by a white mechanic in 1992. The latter was never indicted and director Yance Ford (who also happens to be Ford Jr’s brother) turned his search for answers into a gut-wrenching documentary. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Academy Awards, “Strong Island” is far and away one of the best true crime docs on Netflix.
#5: “Casting JonBenet” (2017)
In 1996, child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsay was found murdered in her Colorado home under mysterious circumstances. Since then, no one has ever been charged with her death. In 2017, director Kitty Green returned to the scene of the crime to stage a fictional film about Ramsay’s death and kept the cameras rolling at all times to capture the emotions and beliefs of the actors vying for a role in her made-up movie. One of the most inventive documentaries in recent memory, “Casting JonBenet” is a peek into what the people of Colorado think happened on that fateful night; and their theories will send shivers down your spine.
#4: “The White Helmets” (2016)
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“The White Helmets” might be a little shorter than what you’re used to – it clocks in at around 40 minutes – but what it lacks in length it makes up for with its captivating narrative and inspirational subjects. The film, which took home an Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject), follows three Syrian Defence Force volunteers – aka White Helmets - as they put their lives on the line to save civilians caught up in the war. With terror reigning all around them and bombs dropping at an alarming rate, these men provide a glimmer of hope to an embattled population mostly made up of women and children. This is one film everyone needs to see.
#3: “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond” (2017)
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In the late ‘90s, Jim Carrey signed on to play the infamous comedian Andy Kaufman in the film “Man on the Moon.” What happened next forms the basis for a documentary that is as bananas as any of Carrey’s most famous characters. Carrey remained in character throughout the movie’s production according to the doc, much to the chagrin of the cast, crew, and director Miloš Forman. Carrey’s unique brand of method acting ultimately earned him a Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, but as you watch “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond,” you’ll wonder how “Man on the Moon” ever made it to the post production stage. This is Jim Carrey like you’ve never seen him before!
#2: “Icarus” (2017)
As is often the case in cinema, the vision for what a film will be and what it actually becomes are often completely different. Never was this more apparent than with Bryan Fogel’s Academy Award winning documentary “Icarus.” Fogel set out to explore the world of illegal doping in sports and wound up uncovering an international scandal the likes of which sport had never seen. It’s the kind of film that you need to see to believe, as the way in which Fogel stumbles upon the state-sponsored doping scheme perpetrated for years by the Russian government is truly astonishing. Prepare to have your mind blown. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Tig” (2015) “Virunga” (2014) “Knock Down the House” (2019) “Shirkers” (2018) “Get Me Roger Stone”
#1: “13th” (2016)
In this Netflix Original, director Ava DuVernay tackles one of the biggest problems facing America today: mass incarceration. The film takes its title from the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited slavery but failed to abolish the government from using it as a form of punishment. “13th” postulates that this omission has been exploited in order to lock up a disproportionate number of black men since its inception. The film is both an examination of a cruel distortion of the law and a passionate call to end its negative effect on black America and the country as a whole. “13th” was nominated for countless awards and remains one of the 21st century’s must-see docs.
