Top 100 Netflix Documentaries to Watch Right Now (#50 to #46)

We’ve hit the 96% tier on Rotten Tomatoes. Every doc in this batch is near-universally acclaimed. Cheer, The Last Dance, Girl in the Picture — these aren’t just good documentaries, they’re cultural events. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I’d be a huge fan of Cheer, but it was wild. But my favorite doc in today’s list? The Girl in the Photo. Just mind blowingly crazy. Check them all out… because they are all that good.

Netflix Documentary #50 — Cheer

2020 | Series | Directed by Greg Whiteley

96% on Rotten Tomatoes. You think competitive cheerleading is silly? Watch Cheer and get back to me. This series following Navarro College’s cheer team is one of the most compelling sports documentaries Netflix has ever produced. The athleticism is jaw-dropping, the personal stories are heartbreaking, and coach Monica Aldama is one of the most fascinating figures on the platform.

Netflix Documentary #49 — Disclosure

2020 | Film | Directed by Sam Feder

96% from critics and 88% from audiences. A deep examination of how transgender people have been depicted in film and television throughout Hollywood’s history. Featuring insights from Laverne Cox, Lilly Wachowski, and many others. Even if you think you’re well-informed on trans representation, this documentary will show you patterns and tropes you never noticed. Eye-opening in the best way.

Netflix Documentary #48 — Girl in the Picture

2022 | Film | Directed by Skye Borgman

96% on RT. Skye Borgman again — this woman finds the most insane stories. A young woman dies under suspicious circumstances, and the investigation that follows peels back layer after layer of identity theft, kidnapping, and unspeakable abuse. Every time you think you’ve reached the bottom, there’s another trapdoor. One of the most disturbing true crime docs I’ve ever seen.

Netflix Documentary #47 — Misha and the Wolves

2021 | Film | Directed by Sam Hobkinson

96% from critics but only 64% from audiences — and that split tells you everything. This doc starts as a heartwarming story about a Jewish girl who survived the Holocaust by living with wolves, and then… well, I can’t say more without spoiling the best twist in documentary history. Just watch it. Go in blind. Trust me.

Netflix Documentary #46 — The Last Dance

2020 | Series | Directed by Jason Hehir

96% from critics and 92% from audiences. Michael Jordan’s final season with the Bulls, told through unprecedented behind-the-scenes access. Even if you don’t care about basketball — and I mean ZERO interest — the story of obsessive greatness, toxic leadership, and what it costs to be the best is universally compelling. Jordan is both inspiring and terrifying. This is peak sports documentary.

The Complete Top 100 Netflix Documentary Countdown

These are the documentaries people reference in conversations for years afterward. If you’ve seen all five, we should probably be friends. Actually, just email me now and I’ll send you the official paperwork to fill out. We should have met a long time ago.

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