The Best Netflix History Documentaries Streaming Now

Curious about the rise and fall of corrupt financier Bernie Madoff? This thrilling docuseries will take you along the journey, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

This British series landing on Netflix in 2023 is technically more of a mockumentary than a documentary. Still, it employs real experts to answer the inane questions of reporter Philomena Cunk, played hilariously by Diane Morgan. In this six-part series, Cunk explores the origins of human civilization, from prehistoric times to the present day.

This animated documentary short offers a bite-sized glimpse at a little-known aspect of World War II: the secret American military camp where Jewish soldiers interrogated Nazi POWs.

This French documentary offers a new perspective on conflict during the 20th century, especially World War I and II, through its focus on the tank as a cause of major change. Now generally considered a waste of money and a liability on the warfront, tanks were once a key part of any battle strategy.

World War II was a whole country effort: Nobody, not even famous Hollywood stars, were exempt. In Five Came Back, Meryl Streep narrates as five current directors explore the impact of the war on five early 20th century directors. Each of the directors profiled volunteered to go to war. They were asked to help by making movies about the war from the front lines. Discover how Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, William Wyler, and George Stevens impacted the war–and how the war impacted them.

Related: 21 Essential World War II Books That Examine Every Angle of the Conflict 

Something about black and white makes pictured events look impossibly far away. Luckily, this documentary brings World War II to life in full color, allowing viewers a new way to look at history's most famous conflict. This hour will be one you're eternally glad to have spent with Netflix.

This documentary about Nazi Germany was over a decade in the making. Beginning in 2008, director and producer Nick Holland conducted interviews with over 300 Germans, the last living survivors of the Third Reich. Their complicity in war crimes ranges from former SS officers to citizens who turned a blind eye. As they approach the final days of their lives, we get to see how they’ve reckoned with their memories of the past. This documentary is both fascinating and deeply chilling, and it has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

As a young Jewish child in war-torn Europe, Misha Defonseca was placed in the care of a Catholic family who could keep her safe from the Nazis. But Misha, renamed Monique, was determined to preserve her heritage and reunite with her family. She secretly left her adopted parents and managed to survive in the wilderness by integrating with a pack of wolves as she wandered Europe. At least, this is the story Misha has told. But how much of it is true? Misha and the Wolves deconstructs a literary hoax and arrives at a truth stranger and more complicated than fiction, and fascinating in its own right.

Helen Mirren narrates this moving documentary which explores the history of five women who survived the Holocaust. Although Anne Frank is undeniably the person most people who pictured when asked to picture a specific victim of the Holocaust, there were untold others whose lives were lost—or drastically changed—by their experiences during WWII. Although these women survived, their stories have echoes of Anne's tale.

Related: A New Investigation May Have Solved the Mystery of Who Betrayed Anne Frank

In 2009, John Demjanjuk, seemingly an average Cleveland grandfather, was deported to Germany to face a war crimes trial, accused of being “Ivan the Terrible”, a Nazi prison guard at Sobibor extermination camp. This documentary focuses on his trial, the testimony of survivors of Sobibor and Treblinka, and the final resolution of a case that continues to be a bit of an unsolved mystery.

Martha Mitchell was married to the US Attorney General serving under Richard Nixon, and had a habit of making indiscreet remarks to reporters. When she became suspicious in the wake of the Watergate break-in, she was held in a hotel room against her will, beaten, and drugged. The “Martha Mitchell Effect” has come to refer to someone who is considered paranoid or delusional by mental health professionals, but is actually telling the truth. This fascinating documentary traces Mitchell’s kidnapping and the aftermath.

Related: Blind Ambition: 9 Books About the Watergate Scandal

The Civil Rights Movement resulted in the successful passage of federal protections for people of color. But, as the last several years of racial reckoning have shown, it’d be a mistake to assume that discrimination is a thing of the past. Former ACLU director Jeffery Robinson breaks down the history of anti-Black racism, from slavery to the contemporary myth of a post-racial America.

There’s no question that 9/11 was a turning point in American history, and even modern history at large. Featuring interviews with former CIA agents, administration officials, Afghan warlords, soldiers, and civilians, this five-part docuseries does a deep dive into how the nation was irrevocably changed that day. It’s especially timely as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan, forcing us to question how effective the War on Terror really was and reflect on what’s been lost and gained in the last 20 years.

Related: 7 Essential Books About Afghanistan

This "visual essay" combines James Baldwin's unfinished work, Remember This House, with the author's life to paint a compelling portrait of both Baldwin and America itself.

In a less triumphant view, this brand-new docuseries reveals new details about the tragic Challenger incident of 1986. Although the grooves of this story have been well-trodden in the decades since the United States watched in horror as the rocket broke apart after its launch, killing all seven crew members aboard, the empathetically made series shows how failure after failure led to the final disaster.

Related: This Female Coder Wrote the Apollo Project by Hand

In Sicily, journalist and TV host Pino Maniaci and judge Silvana Saguto teamed up to create an anti-Mafia coalition and bring down the region’s biggest crime bosses. But what happens when those who set out to catch the criminals turn out to be just as corrupt as the people they’re putting behind bars?

Related: 13 Eye-Opening Books About the Mafia

Looking for the true story behind The Crown? Beginning with the abdication of Edward VIII, this docuseries explores the history of the Windsor family. Neatly following much of the narrative of the Netflix drama, this series will fill in the gaps—and tell you what’s real and what’s less than accurate.

In 1917, the Romanovs were deposed from their royal perches, then executed six months later. 100 years later, this documentary takes a bird’s-eye view of the Revolution, starting in 1881 and continuing through the Stalinist regime. This short but informative documentary is a great introduction for those who have interest in but little exposure to Russian history at the turn of the century.

Related: The Russians Had Women's 'Battalions of Death' In World War I 

This docuseries may sound twee, but historian and host Dan Jones takes his investigative work seriously, unveiling fascinating stories about Britain’s most famous castles. Covering everything from the Tower of London during the Tudor period to Edinburgh Castle in the modern day, Secrets of Great British Castles shows how a tight focus can engender broad lessons.

Related: 11 Medieval Castles You Can Actually Visit

This enchanting docuseries takes viewers on a journey through the Andes. From Argentina to Colombia, learn about the rich culture and unique ways of life of various people living in the vast South American mountain range.

American author Toni Morrison died in 2019. A recipient of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature, her novels illuminated the harsh effects of racism and the experiences of Black Americans. Filmed before her death, this documentary follows Morrison as she examines her life, work, and the impact she’s made.

Shimon Peres was the ninth president of Israel. At the time of his 2014 retirement, he was the world's oldest head of state. He was also considered the last link to Israel's founding generation. Peres won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for his peace talks with Palestinian leadership. This documentary traces his remarkable life and leadership.

John McAfee founded the first anti-virus software company, kickstarting a multi-billion dollar industry. But that’s not the only interesting facet of his life. After relocating to Belize, he fled the country when he was wanted for questioning in connection to his neighbor’s murder. This chaotic and fascinating documentary chronicles his years on the run.

The mere mention of Mr. Rogers invokes positive childhood memories for millions of Americans. This documentary about the soft-spoken television host reflects on his legacy, featuring archival footage and interviews with his loved ones.

60 years after her passing, the circumstances around the death of Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe continue to baffle and intrigue. This new documentary is based on the research Anthony Summers did for his book Goddess. It taps into previously unheard interviews with Monroe’s inner circle in an attempt to get to the bottom of her mysterious death.

Related: Behind the Bombshell: 7 Best Marilyn Monroe Books

After famed pop artist Andy Warhol was shot in 1968, he began documenting his life in a series of diary entries and conversations with longtime friend Pat Hackett. Based on those recollections, this documentary chronicles Warhol’s life and personal feelings. Interestingly, it uses AI tech to recreate Warhol’s voice so that the artist himself appears to narrate the Ryan Murphy-produced limited series.

Related: 10 Illuminating Andy Warhol Books

Reach dizzying new heights with this documentary about Marc-André Leclerc, a prodigious mountaineer who scaled some of the world’s most terrifying peaks. The filmmakers, who explore both the physical and psychological aspects of rock climbing, reveal the perspective of Leclerc, who one reviewer notes is “paradoxically...at his most grounded mid-ascent”.

We know Bob Ross as a mild-mannered artist who graced American television screens in the 80s and 90s, and has seen a resurgence in pop culture relevance after his 1995 death. But what few know is that Ross was engaged in a fierce battle over his business empire. This documentary reveals a facet of Ross’s life and career that has remained shrouded in mystery, until now.

Actress Audrey Hepburn is remembered today for her beauty and sense of fashion, but—as this documentary reveals—there's so much more to the silver screen icon than first meets the eye. From her childhood in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands to her work as a UNICEF ambassador and humanitarian, Audrey explores the entertainer’s fascinating life through interviews with her family and those who knew her best.

Related: Explore the Dazzling History of Film With 9 Illuminating Books

If you think the title of this documentary is a question easily answered, think again. This six-part docuseries explores activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad's quest to uncover exactly what happened to Malcolm X—and why two innocent men took the fall for his assassination. 

This documentary investigates the strange death of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black gay rights activist and drag queen. Johnson was one of the prominent figures during the riots at Stonewall in 1969. Supposedly, when she threw a shot glass into a mirror at the Stonewall Inn and shouted “I got my civil rights,” the riot ignited.  After dedicating years of her life in service of the LGBTQ community, Johnson’s body was mysteriously discovered floating in the Hudson River in 1992. While the police ruled it as a suicide, new interviews with Johnson’s family and friends hint that foul play may have been involved. Although this documentary centers questions around Johnson’s death, her striking life is what makes her memorable.

Related: 11 Fascinating LGBT History Books to Read for Pride Month

This original Netflix documentary investigates the impact of Bobby Kennedy’s life—and what may have happened had he not been assassinated in 1968. The filmmakers assemble a narrative that shows how Bobby, younger and more awkward brother of JFK, could have grown into an iconic figure.

Woodstock ‘99 was held at the original location to emulate the famous 1969 event, but the resulting music festival couldn’t be further from its predecessor. Numerous safety issues plagued the festival due to high heat and inadequate water, and there were also frightening outbreaks of violence, including sexual assault and riots. This documentary takes a closer look at the disastrous event.

Related: 10 Cultural History Books That Explore Our Changing World

The Boeing 737 MAX passenger airliner was grounded worldwide after two crashes just months apart, in October 2018 and March 2019, killed 346 people. This documentary asks how and why these tragedies occurred, drawing some unsettling conclusions about the company’s culture and its incentives to cut corners in order to maximize profits.

Midnight Asia is a dazzling docuseries that takes viewers into the heart of six Asian cities. When the sun goes down, each metropolis has a vibrant, bustling nightlife, as well as its own take on cuisine, music, art, and clubs. If you love traveling or learning about different cultures, you’ll enjoy this deep dive into destinations most tourists never see.

David Fincher serves as executive producer for this ode to film. Told in six parts, a series of visual essays explore and analyze some of the most iconic moments seen on the big screen.

Director Sanjay Rawal follows four different Native American tribes as they attempt to combat food insecurity and reclaim sovereignty over their ancestral food systems. It’s an eye-opening look at how trauma resulting from the genocide of Native Americans has reverberated throughout their communities for years, impacting the indigenous way of life to this day.

In this searing documentary, survivors and ex-leaders of “conversion therapy”—a controversial method that attempts to change the sexuality of LGBTQ youth—speak out about their experiences. Above all, they denounce conversion therapy and the psychological harm that it caused them, as well as the continued dangers that it poses to the LGBTQ community.

Want to watch Nicolas Cage curse wildly? We’ve got the documentary for you. This new docuseries features six episodes exploring some of the words that may make you clap your hands over your ears. But this isn’t just an excuse to swear—each episode explores the origin and etymology of its given blasphemy thoroughly. With comedians, historians, linguists, and authors contributing, this series is sure to be a hoot of a good time.

Narrated by Barack Obama, this five-part nature documentary takes a look at the most breathtaking national parks spanning five continents. The amazing sights our planet has to offer will have you glued to the screen (and emotionally invested in some baby sea turtles, if the reviews are anything to go by).

Related: Feast Your Eyes on 8 Travel Coffee Table Books

How will we survive climate change? This documentary suggests we look to the animals in the Kalahari Desert for answers. Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page explains how animals are already adapting to the prolonged famine and drought in their rapidly changing environment in this often overlooked region.

Australian actress Rose Byrne narrates this vibrant documentary about a baby pufferfish, following its journey around the Great Barrier Reef and its interactions with other tiny sea creatures.

Black holes seem like the stuff of science fiction. Forming where stars collapse in on themselves, they defy the laws of physics as we know them. They’re also invisible, since they don’t reflect or emit light. How, then, can we conceptualize that which is unseen and about which so little is actually known? Black Holes: The Edge of All We Know explores these enigmas in space, which test the limits of science and even philosophy. Featuring the late Stephen Hawking, this documentary also gives us a glimpse at what collaboration between great minds looks like.

Related: 4 Interesting Facts About Space That Will Blow Your Mind

You’re likely already aware of the privacy risks associated with facial recognition technology, but there’s another insidious cause for concern: the rampant bias present in these apps, which often have difficulty detecting and analyzing the faces of women and people of color. M.I.T. Media Lab computer scientist Joy Buolamwini consults data analysts and watchdog groups in an effort to understand why this bias exists, its potential repercussions, and possible solutions.

BBC broadcaster, natural historian, and British national treasure David Attenborough hosts this refreshing nature docuseries. Using UV and polarised light to reveal sights that are invisible to the naked human eye, Attenborough explores the many ways in which animals use color to guide their behaviors and survive in the wild.

This even-handed documentary of the pandemic shaking our world at this very moment is perfect for those of us who want a better understanding of what we’re facing. Although obviously mired in COVID-19 news, Coronavirus, Explained is anything but alarmist. Its calm and clear explanations of the spread of the disease are reassuring—and they’re releasing new episodes as our understanding changes. It's rarely been clearer that we are watching history be made every day.