After a long, stressful day, it's often hard to decide what we want to watch. We might not be in the mood for a documentary, as they tended to fall low on our list of genres during the past year and a half. However, some well-made documentaries might just surprise you and provide the comforting company you need right now.
The best documentaries shine a light on the world's deepest and darkest corners, giving us a brand new perspective on what it means to be human. Our list has everything you could ever want, from informative (or even mind-bending) tales of communities we never knew existed, to geopolitical stunners that will leave you speechless. Films that have the power to shatter our notions of reality - they're all here. So, without any more stalling, here's the list.
If you're in the mood for a murder mystery, Netflix's House of Secrets is an excellent pick. The documentary takes a close look at the strange case of 11 family members who all died mysteriously in Burari, Delhi, India in 2018. You won't be disappointed.
There are many true crime documentaries, but American Murder: The Family Next Door is unique. It tells the story of Chris Watts, a man who killed his wife and children and tried to act like nothing happened. The evidence and other material that is available is stunning. It's produced and presented in a very specific way, with the tale being told through social media postings and text messages. It's a harrowing reminder of how common domestic violence actually is.
If you're a fan of the pop-rock duo known as The Sparks Brothers, then you'll love this documentary directed by Edgar Wright. It takes an in-depth look at their entire playing career. Even though they are known as one of the best bands around and have been active for over fifty years, they still remain relatively unknown. With twenty-five albums under their belt, The Sparks Brothers offers fans a chance to learn more about this iconic band. Unlike other music documentaries that mostly focus on their subjects' personal lives, Wright keeps his documentary purely about the music (with the band's vast back catalog, there wouldn't be much room for anything else). And as a result, by the end of the film, you'll love Sparks just as much as he does. That's what happens when you pay attention to your friends and their favorite things.
This documentary is not one of Adam Curtis' more famous films, and it's fairly new to the scene on Amazon Prime. In it, Curtis argues that technology was supposed to help mankind, but instead has done the opposite by "distorting and simplifying our vision of the world around us". He enlists a group of people whose views he deems are integral to understanding today's world, including both well-known figures like Alan Greenspan and Ayn Rand as well as less popular academia with more obscure publications.
This documentary film is about Jake Carpenter, the well-known skiing founder and creator of Burton snowboarding company. Woody Harrelson, a personal friend of Carpenter's, recounts tales told by other close relatives and friends of Carpenter, as well as other famous Snowboarders such as Shaun White.
Rita Moreno is a woman who appeared in seventy years' worth of tv shows and movies, receiving her EGOT on the way. Moreno's life from her earlier days in Puerto Rico to her climb to becoming a celebrity with a vast portfolio is examined in the documentary. Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It was directed by Mariem Perez Riera, while Norman Lear and Lin-Manuel Miranda were head producers.
All basketball fans will love this 10-episode documentary series about Michael Jordan's last game with the Chicago Bulls, even if they don't think he was the best player of all time. The Bulls had a historic six-title run in the 1990s, led by Jordan. In these reflective episodes, His Airness and his colleagues provide an insightful look at their challenges during their final season together and what motivated them on and off the court. Although it may seem like a lot, all ten episodes are worth watching. They go by as quickly as overtime in a close game. So now you have a list of must-watch documentaries. Truthfully, fiction often pales in comparison to reality. If you're an avid documentary film lover, then you know that an excellent documentary is the best proof of this statement.
