When you think of documentaries, you may think of National Geographic specials. Many documentaries strive to teach the viewer about a specific area of the world or perhaps a type of animal or a specific person. Above all, a documentary should make you think or feel.
If you’re looking for an entertaining documentary, you may be surprised to find them on Netflix. Netflix isn’t just about movies; you can find a lot of unknown gems on there. Which documentaries are Netflix users talking about and watching again and again? If you’re looking for a good dose of non-fiction, read on to find out which documentaries you should watch tonight.
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Dear Zachary
Source: documentary-movie.com
A Letter to a Son About His Father. The filmmaker created this documentary after his close friend, resident physician Andrew Bagby, was killed shortly after breaking up with his girlfriend. The girlfriend finds out she is pregnant and moves to Canada. Andrew’s parents move there to hopefully develop a relationship with their grandchild, Zachary, their only link to their deceased son. As they await a trial of the murderer, they attempt to obtain custody of their grandson. This documentary has a lot of twists and turns, and you’ll never believe what will happen next. This one’s a real tearjerker, so grab your box of Kleenex and have it handy.
Indie Game The Movie
Source: indiegame.vhx.tv
If you love video games – or even if you don’t – you’ll enjoy the story of four video game developers who work hard to pursue their dreams of producing independent video games and being their own bosses. You’ll get a glimpse of their anxieties and struggles as they near the launch dates for their new games. This is not a story about video games – it’s a story about what you can accomplish with a lot of hard work.
Girl Rising
Source: girlrising.vhx.tv
Narrated by actresses such as Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett, this documentary gives you a peek at what girls in developing nations have to go through as they grow up and face many injustices simply because of their gender. The documentary tracks the lives of nine girls from Asia, Africa and South America. You’ll feel the sense of hope and determination despite the many challenges the girls face, including forced marriage, rape and slavery.
My Beautiful Broken Brain
Source: hello-sunshine.co
This documentary follows the life of a woman named Lotje Sodderland. Sodderland suffered a severe stroke and is trying to navigate a world that is now unfamiliar to her. The 34-year-old’s reality has changed beyond recognition. This documentary offers hope as she attempts to discover scientific research that can help her brain recover.
Twinsters
Source: youtube.com
This touching film documents the lives of two Asian women – Asian-American Samantha Futerman and French-Asian Anaïs Bordier - who contact each other over the Internet. They realize that they both look alike. Their resemblances are so uncanny that they plan to meet each other, even though they are countries apart. Through DNA testing, they confirm that they are in fact twin sisters who were given up for adoption in South Korea.
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The Hunting Ground
Source: athenacinema.com
If you or a loved one is in college, you’ll want to see this film. This documentary exposes rape crimes on college campuses across the country and how the colleges cover them up to avoid any backlash. The film follows the lives of several of the victims as they attempt to continue their education while pursuing justice in the system.
Hot Girls Wanted
Source: thekaleidoscopicworld.com
This documentary explains the allure of the sex trade and the women who are drawn to a career in porn. The film also discusses how millennials are web-savvy and able to easily create their own sex videos.
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Fed Up
Source: huffingtonpost.com
This film explores the fast food industry and how it’s creating obese Americans. Many of us get sick from the food we eat, and the film uncovers this secret. Even though we are - as a whole - more concerned with our appearances than ever before, the obesity rate is skyrocketing and the children of today will likely not live as long as their parents thanks to our eating habits.
Pink Ribbons, Inc.
Source: rwd5minmovieguide.blogspot.com
Unfortunately, many companies and individuals try to take advantage of a bad situation. You likely have seen the pink ribbons associated with breast cancer awareness. As people buy items and raise money toward this worthwhile cause, you can’t help but wonder where the millions of dollars are going. Breast cancer is a devastating diagnosis, yet it’s turned into a marketing scheme, as this documentary shows.
Blackfish
Source: blackfishmovie.com
This film explores the dangers of placing wild animals in captivity. It follows the incident in which a killer whale killed three people, including a trainer. This documentary will truly make you think about animal rights and whether or not parks such as Sea World should continue using killer whales for entertainment.
These documentaries will take you through a range of emotions. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the comedies or action flicks that you’re accustomed to, these documentaries are a must-watch. Chances are, you’ll end up laughing or crying or thinking differently about how you live your life. You’ll be grateful that you didn’t have to live the lives of many of the people you saw in these documentaries.
