With most of 2020 passing under lockdown and restrictions on social gatherings, it became difficult for studios around the world to shoot new movies. Only a handful of movies released this year and only a few of them met the expectations of the viewers. OTT platforms once again came to the rescue of content lovers across the world and the global watch time increased significantly. TV series and documentaries proved good alternatives to cinema and people were attracted towards more informative and creative content. Netflix is one such platform that has loads of good TV series and documentaries.
One good thing about documentaries is that they are generally of shorter duration in comparison to movies and are always informative. Despite being shot and produced on a limited budget, they add great value to the viewer’s knowledge. Documentaries are generally based on social issues across the world and cover different topics. Unlike movies, money-making is not the prime motive behind the production of documentaries. From crime to politics, social issues, religious issues and wartime stories, Netflix has an abundance of documentaries that will keep you engaged. We are here to suggest 8 such Netflix documentaries that are worth watching.
Casting JonBenet
Casting JonBenet is one of the most engaging and thrilling documentaries on Netflix. It throws light on the death of American child beauty starlet JonBenet Ramsey, who was found strangled in her home at age six. The documentary is not just about storytelling. It has got a movie-ish touch to itself. The documentary succeeds in establishing a connection with the minds of the viewers. The art of movie-making has been used uniquely in giving the documentary a final touch.
Strong Island
The documentary covers racial injustices in the United States. The victim in the story is no one else but the filmmaker’s brother who was killed in 1992 by a white mechanic. The mechanic manages to walk free as an all white-jury accepts his claim of self-defence. The documentary sheds light on the flawed justice system and judiciary in the country. It is an emotional piece of art that will educate you about the racial discrimination faced by the Black people in the United States. It is a highly recommended documentary to watch.
The Social Dilemma
No matter how busy you are, find some time and watch this eye-opening documentary for your benefit. The documentary remained a talking point and grabbed a lot of headlines after its release in 2020. The documentary shows how social media firms use data to manipulate the minds of the users. It features many ex-executives and workers of Facebook, Instagram, Google and Pinterest exposing the work culture and marketing model of the top social media firms. This is far more than our addiction to social media.
Also Read, Best Historical dramas on Netflix
They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead covers the making of legendary filmmaker Orson Welles’ last film- The Other Side of The Wind. The movies by Welles narrates the story of a respected filmmaker who is having a tough time with Hollywood trying to get back into the limelight with the new film. Jon Huston is in the lead role. The documentary walks the viewers through the production process and features several interviews with the people associated with the movie production.
13th
13th is one of the most remarkable documentaries of our times. The documentary is based on the historic 13th amendment in the American Constitution that leads to the landmark freedom of slaves from slavery and prohibition of the practice in the future. However, like any other law, this too had some loopholes that were exploited by some evil minds. This is an eye-opening account of the loopholes in the law that throws light on the exploitation of African American by the power holders to keep them devoid of power. This is a moving documentary that tells hard-hitting truths.
Making A Murderer
It is one of the first popular documentaries from Netflix. If you are a fan of crime thrillers and suspense dramas, this documentary will not only educate you but also keep you engaged. The documentary consists of two seasons and tells the story of a frequent and easy target of local police authorities and law bodies in a rural country in Wisconsin. The target- Steven Avery faces a gripping future as the authorities try to convict him for murder even as there is a lack of strong evidence that suggest Avery committed the crime. This will bring mixed emotions out of your mind.
The Unknown Known
If war stories and espionage tales excite you, you will not regret watching this one. Filmmaker Errol Morris goes to interview former U.S. Secretary of Defense and congressman Donald Rumsfeld to get an unfiltered and unchanged account of the Iraq War. Morris does full justice with the work for the legend he is. Morris throws some tough questions at Rumsfeld who is unapologetic about his approach and narrates a series of spine chilling war tales. This is one of the best political documentaries.
The Great Hack
The Great Hack is another explosive documentary that has some serious amount of revelations. It covers the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal that grabbed headlines in 2018 and revealed the ill data collection practices and user data breach at a global scale. The scandal had an everlasting impact on the 2016 Presidential elections and Brexit campaign. The digital age dominated by Facebook, Google, Twitter and Instagram pose some serious threats to our privacy and The Great Hack shows all of them without shying away on any occasion.
