This list of the 10 best documentaries to watch on Netflix in 2020 will have you laughing, crying, or doing both at the same time. Interested? Check it out!
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Chasing Coral
- 2017 Movie
- 4.6/5
Did you know that more than 80% of the world’s ocean is unobserved and unexplored? Most of the underwater world is still such a mystery to the human race. Wouldn’t it be incredible if you were able to discover it? That’s why Chasing Coral is a great documentary worth your time! Together with the team of divers, scientists, and photographers, you will be able to explore and discover new ocean treasures. In case you’re wondering why precisely “Chasing Coral” - coral reefs around the world are vanishing, really quickly, and this documentary elaborates and explains why this is happening. It took more than three years to shoot this movie, which doesn’t come as a surprise, considering how it offers a close insight into the dreamy, sometimes creeping ocean buzzing with waves and the palpitating pulse of marine life.
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13th
- 2016 Movie
- 4.6/5
The United States holds the world record of incarcerations. The myth of crimes committed by African Americans is what surely boosts up those numbers. This documentary starts off with an overwhelming statistic, which we found very devastating - one out of four African-American people will serve prison time at some point in their life. 13th is an eye-opening documentary by Ava DuVernay, named after the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Throughout this movie, there will be a lot of frightening videos of the seemingly infinite list of African Americans falsely accused, punished, or those who allegedly stood their ground. While it evokes your emotions, at the same time, it does not fail to overlook the political issues and even pass over the fact that many colored people were dragged into the philosophy of “law and order”.
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Blackfish
- 2013 Movie
- 4.7/5
Blackfish offers a different, alternative perspective of orcas. Not the one that tells the story of the “killer whale”. But the one that tells about the brutal way in which they are treated, punished, tortured, left without food if they don’t perform a certain circus act in their prison - the packed swimming pool. The protagonist is an orca, Tilikum, that was involved in the death of three people. But is it portrayed as a villain? To obtain an answer, you must indulge in the movie. There will be some intense moments, unexpected accidents, and you will feel as if you’re riding a rollercoaster. But it is well worth it. The credibility of the documentary leaves no space for guesswork, starting from the narrative of a man who used to be a mammal hunter, to stories of the people whose job was training orcas on a daily basis.
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Springsteen On Broadway
- 2018 Movie
Springsteen On Broadway is a documentary about Bruce Springsteen, the famous singer and songwriter. He shares his personal stories and plays the acoustic versions of his most famous songs, which gives an overall nostalgic tone to the movie. During this intimate one-man show, he opens his heart and shares with the public some crucial events that changed his life path and had an enormous impact on his music. Which topics can you expect him to tackle? Any that you can think of - from his father, his friends, to war and politics and their consequences. To soften some tough topics, Springsteen uses well-balanced jokes and irony that make a whole experience more interesting and gripping. It simply draws you in; nobody who has seen this movie can deny that. Above all, it is an inspiring story that shows a personal way of success. With gentle tones of Dancing in the Dark, Streets of Philadelphia, and many others, it also makes you feel so alive.
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La 92
- 2017 Movie
- 5/5
On the 3rd of March 1991, an African American citizen who goes by the name of Rodney King was stopped by the police of LA for speeding under the influence of alcohol. Sounds like a regular, routine police intervention? Not really. Rodney was beaten until he lost his conscience. For this shameless crime, the four policemen were taken to court, but none of them was condemned because their behavior was seen within the law. The lack of a punishment for this act awoke anger in people and sparked up rebellion. LA 92 is an engaging documentary that retraced social and historical circumstances which brought to the famous rebellion in LA in 1992, paralleled with another revolt that happened in LA, very similar to the case of Rodney King. The real-life evidence coming from different sources - from the news and actual footage to the ordinary citizens armed with a camera - leaves you with everything you need to know about the event.
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Inequality For All
- 2013 Movie
- 3.2/5
Inequality for all deals with the kind of discrepancy that is often overlooked and neglected. It explains the growth of economic inequality in a world full of crisis, a world somewhat blinded and distracted from this issue. Robert Reich discusses the problem of widening income disparities and elaborates on the effects that this growing gap has on the economy and democracy. After you watch this documentary, you will be aware of some challenges that we, as a society, are facing every day. But what would be the purpose if the movie merely pointed to such challenges? Thus, it also offers some alternative points of view and encourages people to take action. It might be just that one little push and spark that can inspire you to make a change.
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Bobby Robson: More Than A Manager
- 2018 Movie
- 5/5
More than a Manager is a piece of the soccer history available on Netflix. This documentary focuses on the figure of Bobby Robson, one of the legends of England soccer, and one of the best managers in the country’s history. It exploits Robson’s career, step by step. After dedicating 20 years to his professional career as a football player for Fulham, Bobby decided to continue his soccer journey as a coach, being appointed as the head coach of a total of 7 European teams and the National Football Team of England. The movie offers a warm tribute to a man who was loved and admired in the world of soccer, characterized by an infinite optimism regardless of the terrible disease that took his life.
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Cuba And The Cameraman
- 2017 Movie
- 5/5
In the sea of generic documentaries about Fidel Castro, Cuba and the Cameraman manages to stand out with its reliable dialogue and incredible scenes. It is an intimate and somewhat surprising portrait of Fidel Castro and three Cuban families filmed from 1972 to 2017. Such a long period of collecting the material for the documentary really paid off, as it provides a unique look at the Cuban Revolution. But the best part is that it doesn’t make judgments on the political-economic situation of the country. What it does, instead, is leaving for the Cubans to be the ones to speak about their experience and their history. Jon Alpert was the one that collected various testimonies. He even interviewed Fidel Castro a couple of times, wherein he addressed some recurring issues in Cuba. The result? An authentic movie that enables the spectator to get to the core and soul of the Cuban society.
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The Dawn Wall
- 2017 Movie
- 3.8/5
You will find it hard to believe that the story of Tommy Caldwell, a protagonist climber in the documentary The Dawn Wall, is based on actual events. Yet, there isn’t anything made up in those 100 minutes that were directed by Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer! And did you know that a whole new filming process had to be invented since, inside Yosemite, camera drones weren't allowed? The effect that combines Tommy’s climbing footage with the reconstruction of his life, troubles he faced as a child, and the beginnings in the sport manages to evoke a sort of admiration and motivation. Ultimately, The Dawn Wall is a true and inspirational story that will leave even non-enthusiasts breathless about this extreme sport.
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Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids
- 2016 Movie
- 5/5
This film documents the two-year tour of the American pop star Justin Timberlake and his backup vocalists and instrumentalists. “The Tennessee Kids” part of the title is ambiguous - Justin himself explains that it refers to his band, along with all of his fans around the world. The protagonist is - yes, you guessed it - Justin Timberlake, who tackles his story from many personal viewpoints. He doesn’t fail to address his dance moves and talent, although the paramount focus is, of course, on singing. Deme put a lot of effort into editing, without cutting anything off so that the spectators can feel as if they were in the audience and not in front of the screen. The camerawork was brilliant, as well. After watching this documentary, feel free to call yourself a Tennessee Kid!
