Sometimes we all need a dose of reality. By reality, we don’t QUITE mean Jersey Shore-style shows (although we love those too!), we mean documentaries. Some documentaries hardly feel true and feel stranger than fiction, with insane storylines with plot twists and incredible visuals aplenty. With this in mind, we have put together our top 5 picks for documentaries on streaming platforms! Happy Watching!
1. Blackfish (Netflix)
Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s critically acclaimed documentary lifts the veil of secrecy SeaWorld has worked so hard to maintain and keep the public out of. SeaWorld is a place that has drawn intense criticism in recent years over allegations of animal abuse and inhumane conditions. Blackfish tells the story of an orca named Tilikum who was taken away from his family and ocean home when he was 2 years old and sent into captivity. In his 20 years of confinement, due to a combination of stress, loneliness, frustration, and lack of emotional and intellectual stimulation, he has killed 3 human beings. In the wild, orcas swim over 100 miles each day, but at SeaWorld they are kept in small tanks, swimming in endless circles, and spend most of their days motionless in concrete tanks that are the human equivalent of a bathtub. While it does not make for a light-hearted watching experience, it gives a no-holds-barred view into the realities of what long-term confinement can do to majestic creatures.
2. The Last Dance (Netflix)
A must watch for sports fans, The Last Dance tells the story of Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time and an American sports icon with particular focus on MJ’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. Using never before-aired footage from the 1997-1998 season and interviews with celebrities and icons of the game such as Kobe Bryant, Bill Clinton, Justin Timberlake, Dennis Rodman, and Scottie Pippen, ESPN paints a vivid picture of one of the greatest athletes in history and shows off the impact he had on American culture.
3. Chasing Happiness (Amazon Prime)
Ask any millennial or member of Generation Z if they know who the Jonas Brothers are and they will tell you “yes” without hesitation. The impact that they had on young people everywhere was huge. It seemed like everywhere you looked, the Jonas Brothers were there. Until they weren’t. The band’s sudden breakup caused heartbreak and confusion amongst their fans. This documentary follows the brother’s beginnings to their rise to stardom, their subsequent breakup, the brother’s respective solo careers, and then their joyous reunion.
4. Apollo 11 (Amazon Prime)
Todd Douglas Miller desired to make a documentary film about Apollo 11 for the mission’s 50th anniversary that had a direct cinema approach. This documentary features no voice-overs other than what was already available. This way the viewer is as close to the mission as possible without them physically being there. This unique and inspiring documentary shows the immense difficulty of putting a man on the moon and the incredible people that made this unbelievable feat possible.
5. The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All (Hulu)
In 1989, the shocking murder of LIFE Entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife Marry was front-page news. News stories ran about their sons, Lyle and Erik, who came home from a simple night out at the movie theaters to the horrifying scene of their father and mother died from gunshot wounds. However, in the months after the murders, the brothers were acting far from heartbroken, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on everything from clothes, to cars, to entire restaurants. When Erik confessed to his therapist that he and his brother had murdered his parents, it was overheard by the therapist’s mistress who took it to the police. This kicked off one of the craziest court battles in US History, with the brothers claiming sexual and physical abuse had led them down the path to murder. This documentary is told right through the eyes of Erik Menendez himself in his own words. It is riveting and wild with twists and turns.
6. This is Paris (YouTube)
You can find this documentary on YouTube for free and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this movie. If you ever watched The Simple Life growing up this movie is for you! It actually is an eye-opening story sharing how Paris is actually playing a character and what people see is not actually the real her. That infamous voice where she says “that’s hot” is not actually the real her. I won’t go into too much detail so I don’t spoil anything but she actually shares how she went through some trauma growing up and how it affected her adult life. Even if you're not a Paris Hilton fan you still can appreciate this movie. I know personally, I love learning about how celebrities live their lives! Check it out!
7. Game Changers (Netflix)
This is going to be the one health documentary that you’ll want to see. You have a vegan on the team so it’s honestly inevitable that it’s a movie centered around plant-based eating. However, this is not the normal vegan propaganda movie out there where you’ll see animals in cages. On the contrary, it’s a movie that is filmed from the athletes' perspective. Famous bodybuilders, football players, runners, and Olympians are interviewed, sharing their stories of how a life of eating plant-based has affected the way they perform on the field and in the game. The documentary also goes into detail about how some athletes have made the transition from a meat-eating diet to a plant-based, how their performance has changed and shows a comparison between a meat-eating diet and a plant-based diet. This is a must-watch for all the athletes out there, the gym-goers, or the health-conscious. Give it a try, you won’t regret it!
8. Miss Americana (Netflix)
Hello! How could this not make the list! This was the documentary that saved 2020! What a movie! Taylor Swift (an icon) has created a movie that has truly showcased how she lived her teenage years in the spotlight and how she really tried to please everyone. Well, she is taking back her narrative of being the good girl and showing the media and all those haters that she doesn’t care what you think anymore and is living her best life!! All the Taylor fans out there that haven’t seen this documentary yet need to stop what they are doing and head to the nearest screen! Furthermore, the movie highlights some important issues on politics and feminism that is really inspiring to watch. Not let me ask you one thing… are you ready for it??? 😉
9. Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (Netflix)
If you love technology, this documentary is for you! This film takes you inside the brain of one of the smartest people. The documentary is in three parts and you see interviews of Bill Gates, some of the people who worked closely with him, and people who are trying to “examine” his thought process. This documentary is a must-see if you enjoy technology and a peek into someone’s life. This documentary was released in 2019.
10. Chasing Coral (Netflix)
In this documentary, you follow a team of divers, photographers, and scientists that come together to document the effects of the environment on coral reefs. They are very passionate about what they do and the passion and love shine through the screen. The effects of climate change have a huge impact on marine life and to see the full extent of what is happening over a short time is eye-opening and sad. Watching this documentary will make you think about the environment differently. This documentary was released in 2017.
Let us know your thoughts and if there is one that you think we missed!
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