The best documentaries can move us, inspire us, challenge us, ignite us, and take us into every corner of the world. Though we often seek these unbelievable stories in fiction, documentaries remind us that truth can be even more compelling than make-believe. Seeing these stories brought to light through documentary filmmaking can create some of the most incredible viewing experiences we have. These are just a few of the top documentaries on Netflix.
What are the best documentaries streaming on Netflix in June 2026?
From profiles of remarkable individuals, to unbelievable stories of resilience under unimaginable circumstances, to gritty crime stories, and even heartwarming tales of blossoming love that remind us of the good in the world — it’s impossible not to find something here that leaves you in shock, awe, or wonder. Some of these documentaries are feature-length films, some are shorts, and others are docuseries, but all are unforgettable.
Chef’s Table (2015)
Odds are you’ve probably heard of this series or watched it at some point. But in the chance you haven’t or skipped an episode here or there, here’s your sign to go back and add it to the queue. Each episode of this seven-season series profiles a different world-class chef, exploring not just their food but the journey behind the auteur. It’s beautifully shot and is often surprisingly emotional. Without any bit of embarrassment about it, we’ll loudly share that we’ve watched more than a few episodes that had us in tears. Running a restaurant is hard, and don’t believe anyone who’s suggested otherwise. While each episode is an ode to culinary achievement, it’s also about the creativity, passion, and discipline required to reach the top. Even if you’re not a self-acclaimed foodie, Chef’s Table has a way of bringing everyone in for a seat at the table.
13th (2016)
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, 13th is directed by Ava DuVernay and takes a searing, unflinching look at the American prison-industrial complex. The film traces the roots of mass incarceration back to the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery while leaving behind a loophole: forced labor as punishment for a crime. In doing so, 13th argues that slavery in America was never truly eradicated, only reinvented. The documentary exposes how this gap became the foundation for a system that continues to disproportionately criminalize, exploit, and imprison Black Americans on a staggering scale.
The White Helmets (2016)
If you’re looking for a documentary that makes every minute count, The White Helmets is one of the most moving short documentaries out there. This Academy Award–winning documentary with a 41-minute runtime focuses on the volunteer rescue workers known as the White Helmets, who risk their lives daily to save civilians in war-torn Syria. Amid constant danger and devastation, the film beautifully showcases small moments of humanity and hope. It’s a brief but powerful watch.
American Factory (2019)
At first glance, American Factory feels like a straightforward story about jobs returning to a struggling town. It’s a lot more than what it seems, though, as this Oscar-winning documentary takes us into the dynamics between American workers and their high-tech employers in the 21st century. Following the opening of a Chinese-owned factory in post-industrial Ohio, the initial hope sparked by new jobs slowly erodes as tensions rise between labor and management. The feature-length documentary film resists the urge to vilify anyone, instead presenting a deeply humanist picture of globalization and the people caught in its middle.
Our Planet (2019)
Narrated by David Attenborough, Our Planet is as breathtaking a docuseries as they come. With two seasons, Our Planet takes us across jungles, oceans, deserts, and polar ice caps to show the beauty of this remarkable world we live in. Of course, in addition to showcasing the natural world’s incredible beauty, it confronts the devastating impact of climate change. It’s awe-inspiring and sobering in equal measure.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
This truly beautiful documentary takes us to a summer camp in the Catskills, where a group of teens with disabilities forms bonds that would last a lifetime. At Camp Jened, these teens are given freedom and independence, something many of them had never seen before, especially considering the time. But most importantly, they found a sense of belonging. What none of them could have known at the time was that these friendships would eventually help spark a disability rights movement that would change the world. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and was executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
The Last Dance (2020)
There are sports icons, and then there’s Michael Jordan, who exists on a level entirely his own. Though The Last Dance primarily takes us through Jordan’s early life and meteoric rise to fame during his time with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, it also offers a look at the other players of the most celebrated teams in sports history. In one fantastic miniseries, The Last Dance features archival footage and candid interviews, making it every bit as entertaining as you might expect. But The Last Dance isn’t just about basketball and the love of the game. It’s also about obsession and the cost of greatness.
To Kill a Tiger (2022)
For full transparency, To Kill a Tiger is a difficult watch. It’s also an essential one. This critically acclaimed documentary feature follows a humble father in rural India who refuses to stay silent after his 13-year-old daughter is brutally assaulted in a gang rape. In a society that pressures victims and their families into silence, his decision to pursue justice is an act of resistance and defiance to the systems that be.
Love on the Spectrum (2022)
Now on its fourth season, Love on the Spectrum is an unscripted romantic documentary series that fills us with every ounce of fuzzy warmth we desperately need. This series follows people on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating and the search for connection. It’s quietly touching, occasionally awkward (though dating always is, even for neurotypical folks), and is genuinely heartwarming without ever feeling exploitative. While Love on the Spectrum has often been tossed into the reality television category, it’s so much deeper than that. Our favorite thing about this docu-series is that it treats its subjects with real care and reminds us of the goodness in the world.
A Perfect Neighbor (2025)
From documentary filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, A Perfect Neighbor chronicles a long-running dispute between neighbors that ultimately ended in the fatal shooting of Ajike Owens by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, in Ocala, Florida. Through bodycam footage and interviews, the film closely examines the events leading up to and following the shooting. Winner of the Best Director award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, A Perfect Neighbor places conversations around prejudice, fear, and Stand Your Ground laws squarely at the center.
Cover-Up (2025)
One of Netflix’s more recent additions, Cover-Up focuses on a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who brought some of the most shocking government cover-ups in U.S. history into the light. The film revisits investigations into events like the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam and the torture committed by U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib during the Iraq War. This feature is meticulous and unsettling, and a great look into the power (and importance) of investigative journalism.
How we picked the top documentaries on Netflix
There are many great ones currently available for streaming, so we narrowed our choices to documentaries that have received critical acclaim and positive audience response. We also tried to offer a mix across genres. Still, this is just our shortlist. The platform has no shortage of even more outstanding documentaries.
