If you love documentaries, you’re in good company—we can’t get enough of them either. There’s something so powerful about real stories told with honesty, creativity, and care. Whether it’s a gripping survival tale, a musical time capsule, or an intimate portrait of a cultural icon, documentaries give us a chance to see the world in a new light.
So, if you’re looking for your next watch, here’s a list that pulls together some of the best—from reader favorites to our own top picks. Bookmark this for your next movie night, and don’t hesitate to tell us what we missed (because the best recommendations always come from you).
Must-See Documentaries on Disney+
Free Solo
If your palms sweat just thinking about heights, get ready for a wild ride. Free Solo follows climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Yosemite’s 3,200-foot El Capitan—without ropes. It’s an edge-of-your-seat story of discipline, obsession, and sheer human willpower.
Fire of Love
Equal parts breathtaking and heartbreaking, Fire of Love tells the story of Katia and Maurice Krafft, two volcanologists whose passion for both science and each other ultimately leads them to the edge—literally. This documentary is as stunning visually as it is emotionally.
The Rescue
Remember the incredible true story of the Thai boys’ soccer team trapped in a flooded cave? The Rescue dives into how a group of expert divers pulled off the impossible. It’s a harrowing yet deeply human film about courage and cooperation.
Summer of Soul
A joyous celebration of music, culture, and history, Summer of Soul resurrects the long-overlooked 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. It’s more than just a concert film—it’s a cultural time capsule.
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
For Swifties, this one is a gift. Taylor Swift invites viewers into the intimate space where Folklore was recorded, blending conversation, behind-the-scenes moments, and stripped-down live performances of each track.
Other Disney+ gems: Chimpanzee and Bears for animal lovers of all ages.
Documentaries to Stream on Hulu
MLK/FBI
Drawing from newly declassified files, this documentary uncovers the government’s relentless surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr. A sobering and essential piece of history.
Flee
Told primarily through animation, Flee shares the story of Amin, a refugee from Afghanistan who has carried a secret for two decades. Poetic and deeply moving, it redefines what a documentary can be.
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
Relive Beatlemania through rare footage and interviews in this deep dive into the band’s early touring days from 1963 to 1966. Even casual fans will find themselves swept up in the frenzy.
Leave No Trace
A tough but necessary watch, Leave No Trace examines sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America through the accounts of more than 80,000 survivors.
Minding the Gap
Set against the backdrop of skateboarding culture, Minding the Gap is really a meditation on masculinity, trauma, and friendship. It’s raw, intimate, and unforgettable.
More to explore on Hulu: Kid 90, Untouchable, Homeroom, The Secrets of Hillsong, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence, Dead Asleep, Dear Mama, Man on Wire, and O.J.: Made in America.
Netflix Favorites You Won’t Want to Miss
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
If there’s one documentary guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, it’s this portrait of Fred Rogers. Gentle, compassionate, and quietly radical, his children’s show shaped generations—and this film reminds us why kindness matters.
(And this is just scratching the surface—Netflix’s catalog is always evolving, so there are countless others waiting to be discovered.)
Why Documentaries Matter
What makes documentaries so addictive? Maybe it’s that they bring us closer to truths we might never experience firsthand—whether that’s clinging to a sheer cliff face, standing in the front row of a historic concert, or listening to untold stories that change how we see the world.
They challenge us, move us, and often stick with us long after the credits roll. And in a time when it’s easy to feel disconnected, documentaries remind us of the resilience, creativity, and humanity we all share.
So, next time you’re scrolling endlessly trying to pick a movie, start here. These stories are more than entertainment—they’re windows into lives and moments worth remembering.
