There are thousands of films on Netflix and hundreds of documentaries to choose from. And we know how hard it can be to commit to watching one. To help you, we’ve taken all the guesswork out of it and put together a list of the five most exciting documentaries that have dropped on the streaming service within the past month.
Starting today, all of these titles are available to watch globally. And all of them offer something different depending on what you’re in the mood for.
1. We Are The Champions
This quirky and colorful reality documentary series goes in-depth to explore some of the world’s strangest competitions. For instance, cheese rolling, dog dancing, frog jumping, fantasy hairstyling, and more. From slightly out there to downright bizarre, these competitions can get wild. And the participants and communities backing them are nothing like you’ve ever seen before. We Are The Champions will make you laugh, cringe, gasp and might even introduce you to your next favorite hobby. Extreme yo-yoing, anyone?
2. Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
This highly anticipated musical documentary follows Grammy-nominated superstar Shawn Mendes on his most recent world tour. It’s an absolute must-watch. Follow along as he navigates stardom, his future in the music business, as well as love and relationships (yes, there’s a cameo from Camilla Cabello!) In Wonder is a heartfelt and inspiring account of how the singer-songwriter has evolved over the past few years as an artist and found success through humility, gratitude, and an unwavering passion for music.
3. Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker
While many people know her as the beloved Catherine Avery on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Debbie Allen has been dancing longer than she’s been acting. In this new Shondaland documentary, the Emmy-award winning dancer and choreographer teaches and prepares a ballet group at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy for their annual “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” performance and fundraising event. The documentary shows glimpses of Allen’s career over the years. And you’ll be amazed at the talent and drive of both her and her students. You don’t have to be a dancer to enjoy this documentary because it resonates with anyone who loves a story about hard work, creativity, and glamour. And the costumes — yeah, we’re swooning.
4. The Holiday Movies That Made Us
From the creators of The Movies That Made Us and The Toys That Made Us, Netflix has dropped a brand new two-part extension all about the holiday movies that we’ve come to know and love so much. Learn how Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas came to life in this fascinating, retrospective documentary that reveals never-before-seen footage about the movie-making process that will leave you speechless. Some of the best moments include a story about how Will Ferrell almost didn’t get the role of Buddy and that Santa’s North Pole was filmed inside a New York city ice hockey rink. Talk about movie magic!
5. André & his olive tree
Follow the ups and downs of Taiwanese culinary philosopher and Michelin-starred chef-restaurateur André Chiang in this revealing cooking documentary. Upon closing his world-famous restaurants in Asia, Chef André goes on a two-year journey to explore new cuisines, create fascinating foods, and ponder what the true meaning of perfection means to him. Watch the struggles and triumphs within himself and his family in this beautifully intimate look at his pursuit of excellence
Once you watch these exciting documentaries, you will be a huge fan of them, I guarantee. Documentaries don’t have to be boring, and these five titles are far from that. Which of these are you most excited to check out? Let us know!
Photo by Mollie Sivaram on Unsplash
