Documentaries have a way of connecting people, and, lately, I have been gravitating towards these types of films and series. Not only do I learn something from every documentary I watch, but I find myself intrigued the whole time. Here is a list of my current favorites on Netflix that I highly recommend!
- Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
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Everyone remembers that one video that came out a few years ago with the girl acting bizarre in an elevator right before she went missing. This one is at the top of the list because I simply have not been able to stop thinking about it. Unless you aren’t easily creeped out, you should definitely watch it with a friend!
- Night Stalker
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If you haven’t watched Night Stalker yet, what are you waiting for? Everyone and their mother has watched it and been equally scarred by it! Warning: you will be incredibly frustrated with how long it takes for them to catch this serial killer!
- Surviving Death
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To switch it up from the crime documentaries, Surviving Death is a docuseries about near-death experiences and what people remember from having them. If you are wondering what happens after we die, this is perfect for your next Netflix binge.
- The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
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This docuseries was recommended to me by my roommate, and I almost couldn’t finish watching it. The story of Gabriel Fernandez is incredibly heartbreaking. If you are a crier, have some tissues nearby.
- Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
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Rich people buying their kids into Ivy League colleges for hundreds of thousands of dollars sounds like a joke. However, this scandal broke nationwide news in 2019 after actress Lori Laughlin, amongst many other rich parents, bought their kids into the country’s top schools.
- Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
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If you are fascinated by the infamous story of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, get some snacks and binge watch this docuseries. It includes interviews, old footage and audio recordings, so there is plenty of juicy information.
- Abducted in Plain Sight
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This might be the creepiest story I have ever heard of. In the 70s, 12-year-old Jan Broberg was abducted by her neighbor and family friend. Even worse, he made her believe she had been kidnapped by aliens and could only save her family by having sexual relations with him and having children. It is heartbreaking and unbelievable to think that this is a true story.
- Our Planet
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To take another break from all the scary documentaries, Our Planet is great to watch if you need to relax! It’s very calming to watch and learn about Earth’s natural beauty from jungles to deserts to the frozen parts of our world. This is something I could have on in the background when I am stressed out or trying to sleep!
- The Social Dilemma
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The Social Dilemma really left me thinking about logging off all my social media. It dives deep into explaining how our phones use notifications and tracking to trick us into being more addicted. This was an incredible documentary that really opened my eyes, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
- The Pharmacist
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I actually watched this docuseries when I was writing a 15-page research paper for a class, but it truly stuck with me and now I would recommend it to my friends. The Pharmacist is about a pharmacist who lost his son to drug addiction and makes it his life goal to ensure that other members of his community don’t lose their children to the same thing. He also notices doctors operating “pill mills” where they basically prescribe opioids to anyone who wants them. As a community pharmacist, he is able to report this and get the FBI investigating into the opioid epidemic. As a pre-pharmacy student who also works in a pharmacy, I found this incredibly fascinating, but I think it’s a great series for anyone to watch!
- Down to Earth with Zac Efron
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I couldn’t resist watching this when I saw that Zac Efron was in it. Down to Earth is a chill show where Zac Efron and Darin Olein travel to different countries around the world, like Iceland and Costa Rica, and learn about sustainability. I thought it was pretty cool and educational, and I liked seeing the different things that other countries are doing to live sustainably.
- The Secret
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This is a little different from the other documentaries on this list, but it is also life-changing. I know some of my friends have watched it and feel the same way! It’s a documentary about the law of attraction and manifestation, which is the “secret” to living a happy and successful life. The law of attraction basically says that your thoughts become your reality. So, if you are always thinking about what you don’t want to happen, you will eventually be living that reality. This is a good documentary to watch if you need some positive thinking.
- Diagnosis
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Last but not least, Diagnosis is a docuseries about strange and rare chronic illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. It’s fascinating to watch as Dr. Lisa Sanders helps people on their journey to find a diagnosis.