Since it first launched, Netflix has gained a reputation for the documentaries it puts out, from true crime cases to those which dive into more unique aspects of society.
Now, acclaimed documentarian Louis Theroux has put out his first full length feature on the streaming platform titled Inside the Manosphere, which sees him meet with influencers and content creators reshaping the way young men think about masculinity, from “red-pilling” to their interpretation of “traditional” gender roles.
But this is just the latest documentary to land on Netflix, with other recent releases such as the Oscar-nominated The Perfect Neighbour or even Frankenstein: The Anatomy Lesson which takes audiences behind the scenes of Guillermo del Toro’s Scotland-shot Mary Shelley adaptation.
Here are 18 of the best documentaries to watch on Netflix in March 2026.
9. The Perfect Neighbour
Up for an best documentary at the 2026 Oscars, The Perfect Neighbour takes bodycam footage from dozens of police visits to showcase how a tight-knit American community navigates the relentless harassment of Susan Lorincz, a white woman who called the police on her neighbours countless times before she ultimately shot and killed Ajike Owens, a black mother. | Netflix
10. Cover-Up
Another critically acclaimed documentary released in 2025, is Cover-Up. Streaming on Netflix, this film traces the career of Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, who helped uncover a number of systemic abuses over the years, including My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War, Watergate and exposing Watergate . Cover-Up received 4-stars from The Scotsman upon its release, with our reviewer calling it "weirdly compelling". | The New York Times / Netflix
11. Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart
In 2002, 14 year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah, igniting one of the most intense missing-person cases in American history. Now, more than 20 years on, in her own words Smart shares the truth of what happened to her in Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart. | Netflix
12. Daughters
Covering an eight-year period, Daughters is a critically acclaimed documentary following Aubrey, Santana, Raziah, and Ja’Ana as they prepare for a momentous Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. Discussing their hopes and dreams, as well as speaking openly about their fathers' absence the film sheds light on the complexity of family bonds - especially those within the unforgiving barriers of the criminal justice system. | Courtesy of Netflix