From Terrifying, To Heartwarming – 15 Documentaries For When You Want To Be Scared Or Need To Be Uplifted

Laugh, cry, hide behind a cushion, and learn something.

A good documentary can be a great way to spend an evening. They can be fascinating, terrifying, or incredibly fun.

Netflix

Sometimes we may want to be gripped by a harrowing event, and other times we're looking for a cathartic, uplifting experience. So, with that in mind, here are seven disturbing documentaries and eight others that are lovely, emotional, and uplifting:

Warning: The first eight points discuss documentaries with disturbing content including sexual crimes and other horrific acts. If you want to skip to the lighter ones, they begin at point eight. 

1. The Act of Killing

Dogwoof Pictures

This brave yet devastating documentary focuses on the individuals involved in the genocidal killings of the '60s in Indonesia. It looks back on the harrowing events in conversation with one of the primary perpetrators, Anwar Congo, who is said to have personally killed over a thousand people. 

Where to watch: Peacock

Have a look at the trailer here:

youtube.com

2. The Betrayed Girls

BBC One

This harrowing documentary covers the child abuse ring in Rochdale and the surrounding towns from the mid-2000s to mid-2010s. It features the testimonies of the victims, and reveals shocking truths about the crimes and who was involved. 

Where to watch: Youtube

Have a look here:

youtube.com

3. Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil

Netflix

This documentary looks into the wife of one of France's most notorious and disturbing criminals. It reveals her roles in Michel Fourniret's predatorial and murderous crimes from the 1980s to 2000s, and examines how she actively assisted him in his evil acts. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Have a look here:

youtube.com

4. The Cannibal That Walked Free

Channel Five

As you may have guessed, this doc focuses on Issei Sagawa, who walked free after killing and eating a 25-year-old woman. To add to the disturbing crimes, the documentary explores the minor fame he received after being released from an asylum in Japan. 

Where to watch: Youtube, Mubi

5. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

HBO

This film, and the subsequent two follow-ups, cover the trials of the West Memphis Three – three men, who were accused of murdering and mutilating three boys in West Memphis in 1993. The film includes interviews with people close to the case, including the victim's families, the accused's families, and members of the police department. 

Where to watch: DirectTV

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

6. The Cove

Lionsgate

This film documents the capture and slaughter of dolphins in Japan as it exposes, with gruesome footage, the brutal 400-year-old practice that has been condemned by activists. There was some backlash concerning the depiction of Japanese people, but the director refuted these criticisms. 

Where to watch: Peacock, Hulu

Here's the trailer

youtube.com

7. Cropsey

Cinema Purgatorio

The documentary begins with a look into the urban legend of 'Cropsey' – a sort of boogeyman figure from New York. It then goes into examining the child kidnapper, sex offender, and suspected murderer, Andre Rand and his crimes from the '70s and '80s. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

For a more uplifting viewing experience, here are nine other documentaries:

8. Won't You Be My Neighbour?

Focus Features

This film takes you through the life and philosophy of Fred Rodgers, the beloved host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It tells the story of what Fred was like as a person and his guiding legacy as a role model. The film is a touching and powerful insight into the life of someone who had such an impact on America. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Have a look here:

youtube.com

9. My Octopus Teacher

Netflix

It's a well-known one, but if you haven't seen it and are in the mood to laugh and cry, it's a good one to watch. We follow the incredible story of a filmmaker as he is taught about loyalty and friendship by an octopus he finds while diving in a kelp forest. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Check it out here:

youtube.com

10. The Pez Outlaw

Gravitas Ventures

This incredibly well-made documentary follows the unique story of Steve Glew. During a time when Pez dispensers were extremely expensive, Steve took it upon himself to smuggle them in from Eastern Europe and sell them. He even made a small fortune, until the disgruntled powers that be got involved.

Where to watch: Netflix 

Look at the trailer:

youtube.com

11. Chef's Table

Netflix

For all food lovers, Chef's Table is a go-to series for an in-depth look into the lives and processes of some of the world's most celebrated chefs. It spans different cuisines and techniques – from the traditional to the extravagant – while also focusing on the chef's personal lives and the communities which bind them to their location. It's always an easy watch, but maybe not one to do on an empty stomach. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

Watch the trailer:

youtube.com

12. Love, Gilda

Magnolia Pictures

This film documents the life of comedian, actor, and writer, Gilda Radner using her diaries, home movies, and recordings to show how she lived her life. We hear from friends of the SNL star including Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Mellissa McCarthy, while capturing her spirit in a truly elegant way.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video 

Take a look here:

youtube.com

13. Faces, Places

Le Pacte

This documentary follows the late French director, Agnès Varda, and artist JR as they travel around rural France becoming an unlikely, but lovable duo. On their travels, they create portraits of the people they meet, and each share their experiences. It's a moving and uplifting documentary. 

Where to watch: AMC+

Take a look:

youtube.com

14. The Endless Summer

Cinema V

This fun, laid-back documentary follows Mike Hynson and Robert August on a surf trip around the world. On their trip, they discover surf spots and introduce the sport to locals they meet along the way. It's a happy, fun, and pleasant one to put on for surfers and non-surfers alike. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Have a look:

youtube.com

15. Searching For Sugarman

StudioCanal

While certain aspects of this documentary about the singer Rodriguez have been called into question, particularly some specific omissions about the singer's career – it's still worth a watch. It follows two avid fans on a quest to find out what happened to the singer once touted as the new Dylan. It's fun, emotional, political, and certainly interesting.

Where to watch: Max

Here's the trailer:

youtube.com

16. Dancing With Birds

Netflix

This nature documentary revolves around the courting and mating rituals of exotic birds – how they dance, display, or build bowers in order to secure a mate. It's narrated by Stephen Fry and is an easy, fun watch that'll keep you interested and entertained. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

Have a look here:

youtube.com

If you've got any more disturbing OR uplifting docs to recommend, leave a comment below!