These Netflix Documentaries Are Must-Sees In My Humble Opinion, So I've Rounded Them Up Just For You

From an emotional bond with an octopus to addictively terrifying true crime stories, Netflix's documentary catalog has got you covered.

1. My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Netflix

Ever wondered what it'd be like to befriend an octopus? Um...yeah...us neither, BUT whether you have or haven’t, Netflix's My Octopus Teacher will show you anyway. 

South African documentary filmmaker Craig Foster, burned out from his grueling career, makes a pact with himself to free-drive every day in a remote kelp forest to explore all of the life hiding under the surface. Foster’s chance encounter with an octopus slowly unravels into something at once startlingly refreshing and painfully human. 

For lovers of nature, the naturally curious, and the average Netflix binger, My Octopus Teacher will either leave you with a profound sense of connectedness to nature or simply bawling your eyes out on the couch. Roll the dice!

2. Jeen-Yuhs (2022)

Netflix

For those who were never interested in canceling Kanye in the first place, and even for those who were, Jeen-Yuhs presents itself as an eye-opening exploration into the making of just that: a genius. 

From his humble beginnings as a mama's boy making beats in a cramped Chicago bedroom to a clean-cut producer trying to convince Jay-Z, New York, and the world of a talent powerful enough to transform hip-hop. 

Watching Ye in all his infectious confidence churn out hit after glorious hit is nothing short of inspiring. Yet, we too get a look into the genius’ downfall with the loss of his mother and, as a result, the rollercoaster of emotions of a great mind.

3. Don't F**ck With Cats (2019)

Netflix

Calling all aspiring internet sleuths! Netflix has just the doc to finally convince you to take the leap. Don't F*ck With Cats is a three-part documentary following an internet-obsessed casino worker as she bands together with an outraged online community hell-bent on tracking down a disturbed individual accused of torturing kittens. 

While a hypnotic, addictive, edge-of-your-seat thriller, the depths that this online community venture to in order to bring a murderer to justice is nothing short of breathtaking.

4. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

Netflix

For those with the true-crime itch, we've got just the documentary to scratch it! American Murder: The Family Next Door details the sudden disappearance of a mother, Shannan Watts, and her two young daughters from their quaint town of Frederick, Colorado. 

As the mystery begins revealing itself, this hair-raising doc will leave you desperate to erase your mind so that you can watch it back anew in all its terrifying deliciousness.

5. And Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)

Netflix

It turns out that Netflix is full of bingeable true-crime headscratchers, and Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is definitely no exception. 

Los Angeles' infamous Cecil Hotel suddenly becomes the center of an investigation into the disappearance of a young girl, Elisa Lam. Packed with actual surveillance footage depicting Elisa's last moments, you'll all at once find yourself horrified, enthralled, and deeply unsettled by an unceasing chill in your spine. If you enjoy having nightmares, I highly recommend!

What are some holy grail Netflix documentaries that you think everyone should see? Let me know in the comments below!