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10 Must-See Documentaries On Netflix

Get informed, shocked and have a laugh with these 10 great films.

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10 Must-See Documentaries On Netflix
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When it comes to film, no other genre is as fit for Netflix than the documentary. With a massive library of works on anything from the animal kingdom to the ins and outs of the pharmaceutical industry, Netflix’s Documentary category is filled with interesting and provocative works that give you something to chew on and change the way you think about the world around you. Here my 10 favorite documentaries you can watch on Netflix right now:

1. "Welcome to Leith"


What would you do if you found out your new neighbor was one of the most infamous White Supremacists in the country, and that he wanted your town for himself? 'Welcome to Leith,' a recent add to Netflix, tells the story of Leith, North Dakota: A town of approximately 25 that comes under attack by white supremacist leader Craig Cobb, who wishes to establish a “sovereign” base for his new, ethnically pure revolution. The film follows both the town and Cobb and his associates as the two groups battle it out over property laws and ideology, and also explores the revitalization of white supremacy in the United States through extended interviews with the Southern Poverty Law Center. This film is extremely hard to watch, but it’s hard to look away once it starts.

2. "Into the Abyss"


If you were to ask the average film critic the first name they think of when you say the word “documentarian,” most would probably answer “Werner Herzog.” In “Into the Abyss,” the master filmmaker and narrator explores the psychological motivations behind two young men’s brutal murder of a Texas family, and then turns the camera on the United States government, exploring the moral implications behind the death penalty. Featuring interviews with both men, one of which is sitting on death row in the film, Herzog offers a unique approach to the State of Texas’s use of lethal injection, featuring his trademark narration. Herzog shines in this Nihilistic tour de force, and his other documentaries on Netflix are worth a watch as well.

3. "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about His Father"


This movie. Oh my god, this movie. Never has a film reduced me to such rage-filled sadness as “Dear Zachary.” The film begins with filmmaker Kurt Kuenne traveling around the country and England to make a memorial film about his best friend, Andrew Bagby, after his murder. However, the film takes on an entirely different meaning once it is discovered that Bagby’s murderer, Shirley Turner, is pregnant with Andrew’s child. Kuenne sets out to create a film for Bagby’s son to remember him by, through the memories of friends, family, and the details of the murder trial. However, as the film unfolds (not spoiling it), you will be left devastated, and will most likely feel the need to punch something really hard as the credits roll. “Dear Zachary” is a masterpiece of filmmaking.

4. "Making a Murderer"


Speaking of documentaries that will make you mad: 'Making a Murder' is the story of Steven Avery, a man who served 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The first episode of the 10-episode series details the framing of Avery by the local sheriff’s department, but it doesn’t stop there. While preparing a lawsuit against the sheriff’s department, Avery is arrested again, this time for a murderer that occurred on his property. The rest of “Making a Murderer” follows Avery’s trial, presenting evidence for yet another frame job. In the end, it is left for the viewer to decide, and most likely get really mad. I really enjoyed watching this series with my mother, as we both enjoy yelling at the television when something goes wrong. This is a series that grips you by the seat of your pants, and takes you along for one wild ride.

5. "The Seventies"


In seven 40-minute episodes, CNN presents the cultural and political landscape of 1970’s America, taking on issues like Watergate, the end of the Vietnam War, and the rise of global terrorism. At the same time, episodes like “Battle of the Sexes” and “What’s Goin’ On” highlight the music and social changes that developed during a liminal state of American society. Featuring interviews with Gloria Steinem and Dan Rather, this documentary series will strike a chord with any of its viewers, and the entire CNN series, starting with “The Sixties,” is great for watching with parents who have grown up in the times.

6. "Restrepo"


In my opinion, this is the definitive documentary of America’s war in Afghanistan. Sebastian Junger (known better for directing “The Perfect Storm”) and Tim Hetherington follow the men of Battle Company 2nd of the 503rd Infantry Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team as they try to set up an operating base in the Korengal Valley, the deadliest campaign during the war. Featuring intense close ups of combat and stories and interviews with each of the men in the company, “Restrepo” is a film that truly encapsulates the chaos and moral grey of war, and highlights the bond of brothers that forms while under constant enemy fire. Its sequel, "Korengal," is also highly recommended.

7. "Shenandoah"


The brutal murder of a Latino immigrant in small town Pennsylvania by members of the high school football teams ignites class and racial division in this intimate documentary about hometown pride and the working class. The filmmaker tries his best to present the case with as little bias as possible, interviewing the boys charged with the crime and their families as well as the family of the victim, going so far as visiting the small Mexican village he is from to attend the funeral. As the case makes national news and racism emerges through protests and victim blaming, the film gives us an outsider gaze, and asks you to think about the underlying causes of this tragedy.

8. "Cropsey"


Boogeymen stealing children in the middle of the night are just urban legends, or are they? Two filmmakers travel to Staten Island to explore the local legend of Cropsey, an evil being that ate children and lived near a decrepit home for the mentally disabled. But Cropsey may actually be real, as the film follows the true story of the disappearance of 5 children and a convicted criminal. The filmmakers present Cropsey as an example of the expansive and important place urban legends hold in communities, as well as the real impact these legends had on Staten Island. Not the kind of thing I’d recommend watching at 2 a.m.

9. "I Know That Voice"


John DiMaggio, the voice of Finn the Dog from “Adventure Time” and Bender from “Futurama” narrates this fun and informative documentary about the famous voices of Hollywood that makes up our favorite cartoons and animated films. Featuring Mark Hamill, Tara Strong, Tom Kenney and many others, “I Know That Voice” gives you the ins and outs of the business, how our favorite characters were created in their actors’ minds, and how you yourself can become a voice actor. This film is funny, colorful, and a trip down memory lane, as Spongebob, to Pinky and the Brain are discussed and impersonated. The perfect documentary for a rainy day.

10. "Best of Enemies"


Most people remember the presidential conventions of 1968 as formative moments for the modern Republican and Democratic parties, as well as for the Chicago riots outside the Democratic National Convention. In the background however, was a fascinating story of the birth of modern 24/7 news and political debate, as two political philosophers, William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal, took to the air waves for a series of heated debates over the course of both conventions. “Best of Enemies” tells the story of ultraconservative Buckley and ultraliberal Vidal, as the two duked it out both on and off screen. The film offers insight into the true division between conservatives and liberals, takes the temperature of the 60s socially, and makes for great film, as the two fight on even in the afterlife. Like “House of Cards?” You’ll love this.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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