Best Netflix documentaries to watch right now

In 1975, Steven Spielberg terrorised cinema audiences with his summer blockbuster Jaw and demonised one of the oldest living species of fish on our planet. James Reed, Academy Award-winning director of My Octopus Teacher, JP Stiles and Harrison Macks co-direct a feature-length documentary that hopes to challenge the negative perception of sharks. The film's central figure is headline grabbing marine conservationist Ocean Ramsey, who has become a social media phenomenon by posting viral videos of her swimming freely with the majestic creatures. Breathtaking underwater photography captures encounters between Ramsey and the sharks, which provoke fierce debate about the blurred lines between fearless activism and forceful self-promotion

Eyewitness accounts and previously unreleased footage reveal the 2005 London transport bombings and subsequent events.

Featuring exclusive interviews with survivors, paramedics and festival staff, this documentary examines the 2021 Astroworld tragedy and its aftermath.

On June 14, 2017, fire spread through Grenfell Tower in North Kensington and eventually 72 people lost their lives, 18 of whom were children. In the days and months that followed, uncomfortable questions revealed how decisions taken by government and businesses impacted events that fateful day and how the tragedy might have been prevented. Ahead of work beginning to take down the 23-storey building, a feature-length documentary directed by Olaide Sadiq allows survivors, bereaved families and firefighters to share their stories about one of modern London's most heartbreaking disasters

Documentary series following the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from auditions to training camp and then the NFL season

French documentary series goes behind the headlines of a 2013 drug bust of four Frenchmen in Punta Cana carrying 700 kg of cocaine, none of whom fit the trafficker profile

A sobering three-part documentary speaks to family members of Fred and Rose West's victims, some of whom speak for the first time. Accessing previously unseen police video and unheard audio recordings, the series explains how Gloucestershire police built a case against the Wests and unearthed the remains of 12 victims, bringing closure to the families

Fifteen young women in the F1 Academy compete against each other to prove they deserve to be lining up on the Formula 1 grid and solidify the future of women in motorsport

True-crime series about unsolved killings related to Tylenol laced with cyanide and the alarming theories that might point to a prime suspect

Fly-on-the-wall docuseries follows the 20-year-old Spanish tennis player during the 2024 season as he strives for success on and off the court

Restored archive footage and firsthand accounts bring to life the spirit of resilience in Britain during the Second World War

Documentary. Actor Will Ferrell and his friend and colleague, the former <em>Saturday Night Live</em> writer Harper Steele, take a road trip across the USA in order to reconnect following Harper's coming out as transgender.

Witness the rapid ascent, fall from grace and journey forward for controversial fashion designer, John Galliano. Documentary.

Documentary. In 2023, the Spanish women's football team won the World Cup - a triumph that was overshadowed by Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales forcefully kissing team captain Jenni Hermoso on the lips. New interviews with the players tell the story of the issues faced by the team over a period of years, and the solidarity they achieved in order to force a lasting, positive change.

Documentary series about the devastating consequences of the Vietnam War, from the Gulf of Tonkin incident to the fall of Saigon

A devoted human guardian shepherds an endangered baby pangolin back into the wild after the animal is rescued from poachers

Revisit the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history - the shocking 1995 bombing of an Oklahoma City federal building. Documentary starring Max Bennett, directed by Greg Tillman

A daring heist at the dawning of a new century doesn't go to plan in a three-part documentary series directed by Jessie Vile, which boasts Guy Ritchie as an executive producer. In summer 2000, a gang of south-east London criminals plot to steal the second biggest flawless diamond in the world from the Millennium Dome. The thieves intend to orchestrate the robbery in broad daylight using a bulldozer to ram-raid the venue. If successful, the gang will pilfer gems worth around £350 million. Unfortunately, the Flying Squad are watching and are wise to the gang's plan to escape by speedboat down the Thames. The film features contributions from figures on different sides of the law including Lee Wenham, Beth Wenham, John Swinfield, Martin Heslop KC and Neil Wallis

A revealing documentary series goes behind the headlines about the relationship between popular internet celebrity Piper Rockelle, her cast of young friends known as The Squad and her mother and manager Tiffany Smith. Starting at the age of eight, Rockelle rose to fame through her YouTube channel and other social media platforms. She amassed millions of followers and at the height of her fame, reportedly earned upwards of half a million dollars per month through various income streams and brand deals. However, former members of The Squad shared stories of exploitation and manipulation masterminded by Smith. Three episodes directed by Jenna Rosher and Kief Davidson expose the dark reality of life through a social media lens and the potential dangers for the next generation of fame-hungry content creators

Victims of the Long Island serial killer, their loved ones and the police relive the headline-grabbing hunt for the perpetrator

A chef's life is upended when a jet-setting, champagne-sipping, hotel-hopping woman claims to be his mother. This documentary reveals the untold story.

In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. With pulse-pounding firsthand footage, this documentary goes inside a deadly twister.

In August 1969, Charles Manson's followers killed seven people on his orders. Why? Explore a conspiracy of mind control, CIA experiments and murder.

Behind-the-scenes documentary series about the controversial talk show hosted by Springer, which made headlines with on- and off-camera scandals