Best Netflix documentaries to watch right now

In January 2022 at Chester Crown Court, Matthew Hardy was sentenced to nine years in prison for five counts of stalking, the longest custodial term in British history for stalking online. A two-part documentary tells this harrowing story in the words of the women he targeted and the police charged with bringing him to justice. Part One relives the impact of Hardy's frightening campaign of harassment while Part Two sifts through the mounting evidence, which eventually leads authorities to a small town in Cheshire

March 24, 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley, 23, is enjoying a family cruise vacation when Amy suddenly vanishes without a trace. This twist-filled 3-part documentary mystery explores the theories, and a family's desperate search for the truth.

A night of drunken chaos rocks a quiet Dutch town in this shocking documentary about a teen's birthday invite that accidentally went viral on Facebook.

Elizabeth Smart's harrowing abduction at 14 from her family's Utah home unfolds through her own words and never-before-seen material in this documentary

With firsthand accounts and access to prominent figures around the world, this comprehensive docuseries explores the Cold War and its aftermath. Starring Mary Sarotte, Garrett Graff, Robert Gates and Brian Knappenberger

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

Documentary series about the 2022 instalment of the annual road race, going behind the scenes of several cycling teams chasing the coveted yellow jersey

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

Documentary. Four incarcerated men and their young daughters prepare for an upcoming "Date with Dad" dance, part of a US charitable initiative to reconnect imprisoned fathers with their children.

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

David Attenborough narrates a natural history series shot in striking locations around the world.

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 Saturday Night Live 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

When Jennifer Pan calls 911 to report that her parents have been shot, she becomes the primary focus of a captivating criminal case.

A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens.