The Best Netflix Documentaries to Watch in 2025: True Crime, Nature, Biographies & More
If you’re at home, have some free time, and want to watch something, but are looking for more than just regular shows and films, why not watch a documentary? Netflix has an extremely comprehensive documentary category and offers a wide selection ranging from true crime to world wars. This content is extensive enough to keep you entertained for days and has something for everyone.
Of course, you could also spend your free time trying to find a roulette live dealer game on the RouletteGuru platform to try your luck, but if your goal is to watch documentaries and you’re unsure where to start, take a look below: we’ll list the most popular Netflix documentaries among viewers as of 2025.
Our Planet
Genre | Nature |
Year | 2019 |
IMDB Score | 9.2 |
Our Planet is a documentary series that aired between 2019 and 2023 and consists of two seasons. It can be considered the spiritual successor to the Planet Earth series aired on the BBC: it is narrated by David Attenborough and each episode focuses on a different biome of our planet. For example, the first episode is about African wildlife, while the third episode discusses rainforests. This documentary, which has won two Emmy Awards, allows you to witness the natural beauty of our planet up close. We recommend watching it in 4K resolution for the most immersive experience – visuals of this documentary are truly breathtaking.
Who Should Watch This Documentary?
If any of the following apply to you, we highly recommend watching the Our Planet series:
- Those who enjoy inspiring, nature-themed documentaries,
- Those curious about how climate change affects wildlife,
- Those who prefer documentaries suitable for watching with the family.
Watching both seasons will take approximately 48 hours, so this is not a documentary you can finish in one sitting. But you can devote a week to watching it: you can be sure you won’t regret it.
Beckham
Genre | Sports |
Year | 2023 |
IMDB Score | 8.1 |
Beckham is a mini-series consisting of four episodes and, as the name suggests, is about David Beckham. However, it is not just about football: it falls into the category of ‘biographical documentaries’ and focuses on the life of this football star. It covers not only Beckham’s legendary career, which began in the late 1990s, but also his upbringing, his relationship with Victoria Beckham, and his issues with Sir Alex Ferguson. So even if you’re not into football, it might still pique your interest. David Beckham fans, on the other hand, should definitely watch it.
Who Should Watch This Documentary?
If any of the following apply to you, we highly recommend watching the Beckham documentary:
- Those who want to learn about David Beckham’s football career,
- Those who are curious about this football star’s private life,
- Those who enjoy documentaries about celebrities.
You can watch all episodes in about 4 hours, making this a suitable option for binge watching.
Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street
Genre | True Crime |
Year | 2023 |
IMDB Score | 7.3 |
This four-part mini-series focuses on the life of Bernie Madoff and gives you an up-close look at one of the biggest financial scandals ever. Madoff was one of the founders of NASDAQ and was regarded as a ‘financial wizard’ for decades. When you invested your money with him, you were sure to make a profit, and Madoff never lost—until it was revealed that everything was part of a Ponzi scheme. This ‘wizard’ had set up a scheme worth approximately 65 billion dollars, and when the system collapsed, it nearly brought down Wall Street as well. Madoff received a 150-year prison sentence and experienced family tragedies – his transformation from a respected investor to a fraudster took less than 24 hours.
Who Should Watch This Documentary?
If any of the following apply to you, we highly recommend watching the Madoff documentary:
- If you have heard of Bernard Madoff and want to learn more,
- if you are curious about how Wall Street works,
- if you want to learn how a $65 billion fraud affected the financial markets.
The four episodes last a total of 240 minutes, so you can watch the entire series in one sitting.
Wild Wild Country
Genre | True Crime |
Year | 2018 |
IMDB Score | 8.1 |
The name Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh may not ring a bell, but if we mention the brand he created, you will most likely recognize it: Osho. At one time, you could find Osho books in every bookstore, and each one was about this Indian guru’s ideas on spirituality. Thousands of people believed that these ideas were the path to spiritual enlightenment, and among them, the most devoted decided to purchase a large piece of land in Oregon and establish their own commune. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his associates were involved in numerous scandals within this commune, including sexual assault, fraud, and attempted murder. The journey towards spiritual enlightenment resulted in the exploitation of dozens of followers.
Who Should Watch This Documentary?
If any of the following apply to you, we highly recommend watching the Wild Wild Country documentary:
- Those who are curious about Osho’s philosophy,
- Those who want to learn how an Indian guru abused local laws to establish his own kingdom,
- Those who are interested in true crime documentaries.
There are a total of 6 episodes to watch, each lasting approximately 1 hour. So, you can still watch it in a day, but keep in mind that you will need to devote more time than usual.