Over the past couple of years, Netflix has been plagued by a hit-and-miss trend when it comes to its original fictional shows, but the streaming giant has consistently managed to offer captivating docuseries to its subscribers. Whether it's true-crime tales, educational projects, or behind-the-scenes coverage of sports, the supply has been truly impressive.
Netflix hasn't shied away from courting controversy either, with the recently released Cleopatra being a good example of that. However, there are a couple of Netflix docuseries that are not only less divisive but also tell wild tales that are complemented by great narration, camera work, and all the relevant interviews.
10 Tiger King (2020–2021)
Tiger King is perfect proof that milking a story too much is always a bad idea. From an intensive rivalry between the eccentric Joe Exotic and the abrasive Carole Baskin to an unsolved murder mystery, the docuseries' first chapter has all the necessary ingredients needed to make it a timeless classic. Sadly, it now deserves a spot among the shows that went downhill after Season 1, all because of a weak follow-up.
Still, Tiger King remains a better series than what’s on offer on many other streaming platforms. The animals are all great to look at, but the human interactions make up the most memorable moments. Additionally, almost every person that’s introduced to has a scandal or too, hence providing viewers plenty of mindblowing sub-stories to follow.
9 The Last Czars (2019)
The Last Czars examines bad leadership and its effects through the rise and fall of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia. Even though Nicholas' story is intriguing, the docuseries thrives to be more entertaining by mostly focusing on his controversial advisor, Grigori Rasputin, who also happens to be more popular among history buffs.
A true definition of hypocrisy, Rasputin engages in all forms of sexual debauchery while still presenting himself as a clergyman. Overall, there is plenty of backstabbing and manipulation in the story about Nicholas and his influential consigliere, all of which help make the show a perfect binge.
8 Drug Lords (2019)
Drug Lords is an obvious attempt by Netflix to capitalize on the popularity of one of its best foreign language shows, Narcos, but it isn't a dud. Each episode covers a different narcotrafficker and includes exclusive details from insiders as well as new footage that hadn't appeared anyway else.
By offering fresh insight, Drug Lords easily distinguishes itself from many others of its kind. The producers also create the perfect balance by blending stories about big names such as El Chapo and Frank Lucas with those of lesser-known drug lords like Klass Bruinsuma and Jemeker Thompson, aka, The Crack Queen of L.A.
7 Making A Murderer (2015–2018)
In Making A Murderer, there's plenty for viewers to digest because of how complicated the story keeps getting. At first, the docuseries serves as a condemnation of the flawed American justice system by narrating how the Manitowoc County resident, Steven Avery, served an 18-year sentence for a murder he didn't commit.
After his release, Avery files a lawsuit only to be arrested for yet another murder. Questions, therefore, linger on whether he is clean or he is simply being set up. For the remaining episodes, the show covers topics that are often seen in many of the popular TV legal dramas. These include attorney ineptitude, evidence tampering, and coercion.
6 Roman Empire (2016–2019)
There's a wealth of storylines about Romans and their conquests, but Roman Empire easily captures the viewer's interest by only focusing on three of the most popular emperors. Commodus, Julius Ceasar, and Caligula all get a chance to shine in the series that incorporates convincing analysis from key historians.
As is the case with most docuseries about ancient times (given the lack of footage), most of Roman Empire's events are dramatized. All this is neatly done, and as such, the cinematography is quite impressive while the actors do such a great job that viewers are left wishing a longer historical scripted series would be made instead.
5 How To Become A Tyrant (2021)
How To Become A Tyrant leans more towards malevolent dictators than benevolent ones but the arguments given for how they rose to power and kept it are all very convincing. Even better is that the docuseries is narrated by Peter Dinklage, best known for playing one of the fan-favorite Game of Thrones characters, Tyrion Lannister.
The clickbait-y title isn't to be taken literally since the information is handled from a humorous and educational angle. There is some sense of precision too, with the series mostly focusing on the methodology of the dictators rather than complete life stories. The subjects covered include Joseph Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Adolf Hitler, and Muammar Gaddafi.
4 Heist (2021)
From shots of a woman lying in a pool of money to interviews featuring robbers laughing about their own crimes, Heist is quite a wild offering. The series covers three different heists, each of them being granted two episodes. The first episode serves as the buildup while the second shows the consequences.
The desperation, excitement, and occasional regret of the parties involved help make the tales all the more entertaining. Viewers will find the second story particularly more exciting as it involves a couple that chooses to rob an airport hanger in order to raise enough money to adopt a baby. Interestingly, part of the preparation process involved watching popular crime procedurals.
3 History 101 (2020)
Most history documentaries are normally biased towards politics but History 101 touches on everything that's relevant in modern times. From the consumption of fast food to the use of dating apps, the Netflix show details how it all started and what the future effects are likely to be.
History 101 is also an easy and quick binge because it doesn't go into unnecessary details. Everything is in summary format and so viewers end up knowing a little bit of everything. Regrettably, there are only two seasons, but with no announcement regarding an ending, there is still hope for more.
2 Formula 1: Drive To Survive (2019–Present)
Formula 1: Drive To Survive has been credited with popularizing the sport in recent times. The series places the camera on the drivers as they prepare for the grueling world championships while also providing an inside look into the conflicts that emerge between members of each team.
Each season of Drive To Survive is dedicated to a single season of the sport, hence there is never the feeling that events are all over the place. Some of the drivers are shown to be jealous of others' success while others keep clashing with superiors because they believe they deserve more because of their success. The races aren't ignored either.
1 The Last Dance (2020)
Like Drive To Survive, The Last Dance is an ideal companion for anyone that seeks to start following the specific sport or know more about it. The series dwells on Michael Jordan's career with the Chicago Bulls while occasionally shifting attention to equally famous teammates such as Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.
Despite only consisting of ten episodes, The Last Dance features interviews with 90 different people, and for that reason, it feels very authentic. In addition to that, staunch NBA fans will enjoy the locker room footage as well as the drama involving players that were initially thought of as disciplined.