13 Best Docu-series Movies to Watch

Overseeing drug rings, cult machinations, and human sacrifice under the guise of practicing the religion known as Santeria defined the crimes of Adolfo de Jesús Constanzo in Mexico during the late 1980s. And instead of following one straight recollection, the documentary tells two sides of the case: one from Sara Aldrete and the police and media as everything unfolds. What starts as a disjointed journey to proving Sara's involvement and guilt becomes blurred as the documentary asks the audience to contemplate a different outcome. Does Sara's young age afford her more sympathy? Was the case rushed and mishandled? Did the police (and other powerful people) force the outcome of the case? Watching only the first episode would be a disservice to the broader context and overlooked participants the producers shine a light on. 

Genre: Documentary

The Golden Boy is much more than the story of Oscar De La Hoya's legacy as a boxer; it is a revival of his glory days and the dark, toxic, and violent experiences that upheld his rise to fame. Early in the series, Oscar reveals that the infamous promise he made to his dying mother (of him winning the Olympic gold medal) was actually a lie. And as he recalls the abuse he received from his mother and the pain of meeting the ideal of Mexican masculinity, the somber tone of the documentary successfully cements itself. While expounding on his discipline and drive to win, he also reveals his tumultuous love for boxing and the slow descent into promiscuity and drinking that came with his explosive fame. The two-part series gives De La Hoya and his loved ones the chance to confront how severe his cycle of repression was on the quality of life he could've had. Leaving no stone (or controversy) unturned, The Golden Boy uncovers the darkest secrets hidden by the glamour.

"No one lives just one article or one headline of a life. There's more."

Last Call may be a true-crime docuseries, but it doesn't pigeonhole itself as such; the advocacy for humanizing LGBTQ+ people is undoubtedly at its helm. The series expands past the context of each crime, giving testimonials and evidence of the lives, struggles, solidarity, and fears of the community. It acknowledges the efforts of the New Jersey State Police whilst shedding light on the inherent biases of society, law enforcement, and media when responding to crimes against gay people. Interviews with family members, detectives, and activists round out the narrative, ensuring that the lives lost are not forgotten due to shame, hatred, or sensationalism.

Genre: Documentary

There's no room for glamour in this heartwrenching yet inspiring documentary of first-hand accounts from mothers who went above and beyond for their children. These days it is hard to escape fancy editing, theatrical reenactments, and law enforcement's clinical recounts in true crime productions, but these four stories inject much-needed empathy for victims. In each episode, the mothers' fight for justice and their children's safety illuminates the strength of a community, the goodwill of strangers, and the perseverance of all (with or without the help of the law). Straightforward and respectful, these first-hand accounts will appeal to viewers wanting humane narratives and a few happy endings. 

Genre: Documentary

Rating: TV-14

From poaching elephants and smuggling sandalwood to killing people in the most ruthless manner possible, Koose Munisamy Veerappan's crimes are manifold, and they engulfed all of Southern India. The first half of this four-part series chronicles his early life and the escalation of his criminal affairs through talking heads and archival footage. The documentary balances the perspective of the authorities with that of Veerappan's gang in interesting ways; where officials saw him as cunning, people close to him, like his wife Muthulakshmi, praised his desire to create wealth for his people, regardless of caste. By the end of the pilot, you’re sure to be at the edge of your seat as the series raises the stakes and promises to be as challenging and compelling as the first episode.

Genre: Crime, Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Mazher Mahmood’s true story is so rich, improbable, and dramatic, that it almost seems like a movie. It’s certainly edited like one. The Fake Sheikh is filled with quotable one-liners and thrilling reenactments, and at the center of it all is the compelling anti-hero, Mahmood. Director Ceri Isfryn does a commendable job of balancing the facts about her controversial subject, interviewing both Mahmood’s champions and critics, colleagues and victims, while also interweaving narratives of race and class into his story. After all, this is a man who was initially denied the chance to cover anything other than race and immigration, and so he carved his own (warped) path as a celebrity journalist. There are times when it seems like Isfryn tips the scales a bit to favor Mahmood, but it all falls in line with her movie narrative. The Fake Sheikh is just as enthralling as any good fictional thriller out there.

Genre: Documentary

Director: Ceri Isfryn

Self-proclaimed scumbag Sam Lipman-Stern opens the series by explaining how long he's wanted to make a documentary on the telemarketing company Civil Development Group (CDG). What follows is a massive deep dive into how the CDG used lies and a happy-go-lucky/free-for-all work environment to scam everyday people out of money for a non-existent charity. The first episode covers much of CDG's background with footage of the dysfunctional office and its rowdy (mostly high and drunk) workers who manage to get their work done. The tone is somewhat jovial as you watch these people reminisce on having fun despite the lawsuits, changing scripts, and constant calls. But as it draws to a close, with Lipman-Stern and Pespas determined to bring down the telemarketer industry, we're left with a warning that CDG isn't their biggest villain. 

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Pat Pespas, Sam Lipman-Stern

Rating: TV-MA

Released just a few weeks after Amazon Prime’s three-parter on the same subject, Netflix’s Escaping Twin Flames focuses on the victims of the cult, their recovery, and how some of them are making amends for the harmful things they’ve done while part of the cult. Director Cecilia Peck is a careful storyteller, balancing cold hard facts with heavy emotion so that the overall tone is respectful and never overly sentimental or sensational. Notably, Peck doesn’t shine too much light on the perpetrators themselves, Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, but this leaves plenty of room for the victims to share their manifold stories. The three hours pass by swiftly, and the build-up to its heartbreaking end feels very much earned. 

Genre: Documentary

Director: Cecilia Peck

Rating: TV-MA

The animation can sometimes be distracting, but for the most part, The Billionaire is a well-edited docuseries about a deeply intriguing affair. The use of real-life tape recordings (secretly made by the Bettencourts’ butler) lends it an authentic air, while the re-enactments remain tastefully shot throughout. They’re accurate but anonymous, and never cheesy in the way others like it normally are. The framing is somewhat sensationalized, but that’s to be expected in covering scandals of this scale. What is surprising is how the filmmakers manage to bring everything back to Liliane and her daughter Françoise Bettencourt Meyers. By centering on their fractured, complicated relationship, this documentary about France’s corrupt elite somehow feels relatable and universal in its own way. 

Genre: Crime, Documentary

Often overlooked, overshadowed, and overwritten, the contributions of Black women in the 50-year history of hip-hop are seldom celebrated. In the four-part series, the hip-hop legends (Sha Rock, Roxanne Shanté, Queen Latifa, MC Lyte) all the way to the current stars of the genre (Tierra Whack, Saweetie, Chika, Latto) break down the history and hardships of being a woman in hip-hop. From misogynistic treatment and predatory contracts to the reclamation of sexuality and autonomy, the docu-series covers a broad enough spectrum to be an introduction to the women at the forefront and cornerstones of the beloved genre. The tone is positive and uplifting, building an overall bright sisterhood vibe that never breaches the more tumultuous in-fighting/policing and equally influential controversies. This isn't necessarily bad but is, instead, limiting for viewers that won't dig deeper. But in the spirit of celebrating, this series gives these women their flowers, pays homage to the pioneers, and shine a light on the future of hip-hop that fights for inclusivity, representation, and equality. 

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Latto, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Rah Digga, Saweetie

Rating: TV-MA

Today's comic book industry and cinematic universes are inextricable from popular culture, but the road to global recognition was long and arduous. Superpowered: The DC Story chronicles a fraction of that journey including the quiet beginnings of the publishing house as Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's response to being bullied, all the way to the risky investments in film and TV adaptations and championing diverse voices. The three-part series delves into the  "holy trinity" (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) and how the cultural phenomenon of comics evolved over the years. Every era summarizes how DC creators had to overcome rigid executives, competing publishers like Marvel, and the highs and lows of relevancy in the ever-changing consumer market. With contributions from creators, innovators, directors, and actors, the attention to the politics of media and the call for diversity round out the somewhat-insightful and fan-sustained life of the DC universe. 

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Rosario Dawson

Rating: TV-14

In the style of a handbook, How to Be A Cult Leader chronicles the manipulative tactics of infamous cult leaders, from their upbringing and early interests to the failures that honed their charismatic pull. Each episode profiles a leader (Charles Manson and Jim Jones for the first two episodes) with ex-followers and specialists that break down how the cults were sustained and eventually toppled tremendously. The overall tone is unsettling at first, and as the lies and crimes of these leaders are exposed, the lessons of the handbook mostly manage to be warnings. News (and stock) footage, meme-esque inserts, and animated renditions of events round out Peter Dinklage's narration and keep this unorthodox docuseries dynamic — but to what end? 

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Peter Dinklage

Rating: TV-MA