Why Documentary Series Are Having a Moment
Streaming platforms have transformed documentary filmmaking. What was once a cinema or festival-only experience is now one of the most compelling formats on TV — and the quality has surged. The best documentary series combine the depth of long-form journalism with the narrative pull of scripted drama. Here are ten that represent the format at its best.
Nature & Science
Our Planet (Netflix)
Narrated by David Attenborough, Our Planet is visually stunning — but what sets it apart from earlier nature series is its unflinching focus on how climate change is affecting the ecosystems being documented. It's beautiful and genuinely sobering in equal measure. The cinematography alone makes it essential viewing.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson guides viewers through the history and science of the universe in a series that manages to make astrophysics feel genuinely accessible and awe-inspiring. A worthy successor to Carl Sagan's original, and a reminder of how extraordinary science communication can be.
Food & Culture
Chef's Table (Netflix)
Each episode profiles a single world-class chef, exploring their philosophy, background, and approach to food. What makes Chef's Table exceptional isn't the food — it's the humanity. These are portraits of obsession, creativity, and culture told through the lens of cooking.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Technically a film rather than a series, but so influential it belongs on any list. Following 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, it's a meditation on craft, dedication, and what it means to spend a lifetime pursuing excellence. Unmissable.
True Crime & Investigation
Making a Murderer (Netflix)
The series that redefined true crime documentary. Following the case of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, Making a Murderer raised serious questions about the US justice system and sparked a global conversation. Whatever your view on the case, the filmmaking is first-rate.
The Jinx (HBO/Max)
The story of Robert Durst, heir to a New York real estate dynasty, and the multiple suspicious deaths linked to him over decades. Andrew Jarecki's six-part series builds to one of the most extraordinary finales in documentary history.
Social & Political History
13th (Netflix)
Ava DuVernay's documentary on race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States is essential viewing — rigorous, powerful, and constructed with genuine filmmaking craft. It contextualises current events within a longer historical arc in ways that feel genuinely illuminating.
The Last Dance (Netflix)
Ostensibly about the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls season and Michael Jordan's final championship run, The Last Dance is really a study in competitive obsession, team dynamics, and sporting greatness. Gripping even for people who don't follow basketball.
Arts & Creativity
Abstract: The Art of Design (Netflix)
Each episode focuses on a different designer — from shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to graphic artist Paula Scher — exploring how design shapes the world around us. Visually inventive, intellectually stimulating, and consistently surprising.
High Score (Netflix)
A six-part history of video games that goes well beyond nostalgia. High Score covers the origins of the industry, the culture wars it sparked, and the people who shaped it — from Japanese game developers to underground hackers. Fascinating whether or not you're a gamer.
How to Choose What to Watch
The best way into documentary series is to follow your curiosity. Pick a subject you're already interested in — nature, justice, food, sport — and let the format introduce you to angles and characters you'd never have encountered otherwise. The beauty of the documentary series is that it takes its time. Give it yours.