Entertainment

14 Best Documentaries on Netflix India That Will Leave You Awestruck

By Nishtha Gandhi

Updated - Oct. 25, 2019 10 min read

Documentaries are a source of looking into real-life events, crimes, political problems and everything that's happening around the world through a live screen. It is a first-hand experience of everything you cannot witness on your own and the best part that documentaries make everything you watch seem so real because they provide information about anything you have been interested in knowing. Let's provide you with a listicle of the best documentaries on Netflix India that are not worth missing and have left us in amazement at how well they are made. 

 

*Disclaimer: The movies listed in the blog are available on Netflix on a temporary basis.

 

1. GAGA : Five Foot Two

Director: Chris Moukarbel

Star Casts: Sandra Amador, Michael Bearden, Tony Bennett

A documentary following the American Pop Singer and song-writer Lady Gaga as she launches, releases and produces her 5th studio album Joanne and also prepares for her Superbowl Halftime show. She talks about her change in perspecttive towards relationships, how secure she feels at 30 and how slighted she feels with Madonna because she inspires her and has always been compared to her. How her fans make her forget the pain she's been battling for five years due to a hip-injury. She also talks about sexism in the industry and the power of the producer who use it against the female artists. The documentary shows that we know Gaga is a rockstar of rockstars and always shocking people with her unpredictable stunts but even she has gone through debilitating pain and insecurities only to recognize her exceptional talents in the end. 

IMDb Ranking: 7.1/10

 

 

2. Citizenfour

Director:  Laura Poitras

Star Casts:  Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, William Binney 

A Documentary that was released in 2014, has won the Best Documentary Award on multiple levels including the Academy Awards. The film is a real-life thriller which shows filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald’s encounters with Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, as he hands over classified documents providing evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA). CITIZENFOUR not only shows you the dangers of governmental surveillance—it makes you feel them. After seeing the film, you will never think the same way about your phone, email, credit card, web browser, or profile, ever again.

IMDb Ranking: 8.1/10

 

3. Banking on Bitcoin

Director: Christopher Cannucciari

Star Casts:  Wences Casares, Nathanial Popper, Gavin Andresen

Cyrptocurrency is the most disruptive invention since the intenet came in and the trust in it people have held is insane. Bitcoin is a form of cryptocurrency which is covered in this documentary. From its roots to the future, to the underlying technology behind it, Banking on Bitcoin is an independent film. For anyone who has no idea about the craze that Bitcoin brings with it, this documentary on Netflix is a good introduction in understanding it. The history, its adoption journey, its relationship with the banks and regulatory bodies and the setbacks it faced with Silk Road and Mt goex, this doumentary awaits a sequel for all the rage Bitcoin has become in the current scenario. 

IMDb Ranking: 6.6/10

 

4. Sour Grapes

Director: Larry David

Star Casts: Steven Weber, Craig Bierko, Jack Burns

 

A crime documentary based on a wine-con man Rudy Kurniawan. It is based on a fascinating case of wine fraud and a fraudster who stole investors of milions. Rudy Kurniawan created a bull market for wine by paying huge sums for rare bottles that turned out to be fake. The biggest wine fraud fraud in history is the subject of this new documentary. He sold millions of dollars worth of wine to an elite clientele in New York and Los Angeles — until suspicions arose that something was "off." Because he used to buy vintage wines from France and mix it with Calfornia wines so that they taste very similar. 

IMDb Ranking: 5.7/10

 

5. Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer

Director: Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill

Star Casts: Aileen Wuornos, Nick Broomfield, Terry Humphreys-Slay

 

It is a gripping story of filmmaker Nick Broomfield and his fearless pursuit for The Truth. A deeper look into the life of Aileen and the traumas she has suffered in her early childhood as she is reputed as America's "first female serial killer'. The first part of this documentary - "Selling of a Serial Killer" is a look into film producers and moviemakers fighting for the rights to the story of the ex-prostitute on the death row. The combined effect of all different sources of information, her interviews and all the evidence suggests a convincing case that she was abused throughout her youth, she committed her first killing in self-defense and that she was suffering from a severe mental disorder when she was executed. For a psychological fanatic, this movie is a lesson that the judicial system of the country has no regard for a person going through psychological trauma and has definite reasons to commit a crime.

IMDb Ranking:  7.1/10

 

6. Minimalism

Director: Matt D'Avella

Star Casts:  Dan Harris, Joshua Becker, Shannon Whitehead

 

Minimalism isn't about any of those things, but it can help you accomplish them. If you desire to live with fewer material possessions, or not own a car or a television, or travel all over the world, the minimalism can lend a hand. But that's not the point. Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. How might your life be better with less? Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things - examines the many flavors of minimalism by taking the audience inside the lives of minimalists from all walks of life—families, entrepreneurs, architects, artists, journalists, scientists, and even a former Wall Street broker—all of whom are striving to live a meaningful life with less. After its successful theatrical run, Minimalism is the #1 indie documentary of 2016.

IMDb Ranking: 6.7/10

 

Suggested Read: Indian Comedians On Youtube Who Will Leave You Literally Rolling On The Floor Laughing

 

7. Liberated: The new sexual revolution 

Director:  Benjamin Nolot

Star Casts: Kimberleigh Andrews, Kim Biddle, Adam Brown

 

Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution is a documentary about coming of age in today’s young adult hookup culture. Following the journey of college students on Spring Break, the film provides a shocking insight into attitudes and behaviors regarding sex, the normalization of sexual violation, and the struggle against conceptions of gender and sexuality shaped by the media. Rampant sex among swaths of young people is not new. Casual sex has become a behavior because it's not about free love anymore, it's about free sex now. The goal of this documentary was to show many aspects of sexual conduct today amongst the millennials and they did successfully do that through this documentary. 

IMDb Ranking: 6.0/10

 

8. Dark Net

Director: Mati Kochavi

Star Casts: Lauren Terp, Kristie, Drew 

 

This documentary film chronicles events around the Silk Road case, bitcoins and the politics behind it.  Dark Web has also changed the way the world has bought drugs or any other illegal product that they need. The first crypto market that took off was the Silk Road. A documentary series that explores the furthest reaches of the internet and the people who frequent it, Dark Net provides a revealing and cautionary look inside a vast cyber netherworld rarely witnessed by most of us. Provocative, thought-provoking and frequently profound, each episode illuminate an exciting, ever-expanding frontier where people can do anything and see anything, whether they should or not.

IMDb Ranking: 7.1/10

RunTime: 27 minutes per episode, 8 episodes

 

9. The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms

Director: David Briggs

Star Casts:  Marcus du Sautoy

 

It's scary how dependent we are on Algorithms- deceptively simple yet mind-bogglingly sophisticated computer formulae. These complicated yet simple algorithms rule everything from search engines, social media websites and even dating apps and even air traffic control. They literally control our psychology decoding everything we do on the internet through the data we provide and use it against and for us. The documentary is focused on how our modern lives are literally rules by these formulae. 

IMDb Ranking: 7.5/10

 

10. What The Health

Director: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn

Star Casts: Kip Andersen, Larry Baldwin, Neal Barnard

 

An eye-opening documentary on Netflix which focuses on the impact of meat and dairy products and their consumption, and also questions the practice of the leading health and pharmaceutical companies. Being of the best documentary movies on Netflix it will force you to think about your diet and the complications that come along with having meat and dairy products. The facts that they have shared are an eye-opener to many. It's a thought-provoking documentary movie with some shocking revelations. The film raises serious doubts over the credibility of government regulators, independent organizations, and policymakers.

IMDb Ranking: 7.8/10

 

11.  Unacknowledged

Director: Michael Mazzola

Star Casts:  Richard Doty, Giancarlo Esposito, Steven M. Greer 

 

Unacknowledged throws light on the darkest part of the man. Eye-opening, logical, and the testimonials given by the highly credible men and women are sure to captivate and compel you. This documentary is basically the disclosure project  Dr. Steven M. Greer who shares his research about the top-secret testimonials, extraterrestrial contact and a few UFO videos in Unacknowledged. No doubt it is the most recommended documentary movie on Netflix right now. 

IMBd Ranking: 7.1/10

 

12. Auschwitz: The Nazis And The 'Final Solution' 

Star Casts:  Samuel West, Linda Ellerbee, Gert Heidenreich

 

Auschwitz: The Nazis And The 'Final Solution' is definitely counted among the best documentary movies on Netflix, India. It shows the story about how the survivors and SS soldiers during the Nazi time and how Auschwitz morphed into a mass murder camp. Get ready to be on your toes and get goosebumps after watching this documentary which answers questions related to the Nazis' overall campaign of extermination.

IMDb Ranking: 8.6/10

 

13.  Amanda Knox

Director: Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn

Star Casts:  Amanda Knox, Meredith Kercher, Raffaele Sollecito 

 

Everyone loves a good murder story, but what if that story is a true one? Well, that's what it is with the documentary movie on the famous Amanda Knox murder story. An American girl was charged with the murder of her roommate in Italy and she and her boyfriend were charged for it where Amanda Knox was sentenced for 4 years. This documentary movie on Netflix shows the apartment where the murder took place covered all with blood and how the dead body was recovered covered in a blanket. You'll surely be thrilled about this documentary movie.

IMBd Ranking: 7.0/10

 

14. Conspiracy

Star Casts:  Mark Bazeley, Aidan Creegan, Raj Persaud

The documentary Conspiracy is a very enticing one. This best documentary movie on Netflix in which the wild conspiracy theories of past if being shown and the audience is left to think whether they are just conspiracy theories or the real stories of the past events. Keeping you on the toes it shows the past events that have a dissenting voice. Indeed it is one of the best things to watch on Netflix right now.

IMBd Ranking: 6.2/10

 

 

Read: The Groundbreaking Shows Nobody Ever Told You To Watch on Netflix India

 


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FAQs

 

Q. How much does Netflix cost in India?
A. 
You can get a one-month free subscription but to continue, Netflix India rates start at Rs.500 (roughly $8.00) per month. It costs Rs. 650 a month (HD plan) which can be shared on 2 screens. So, you can share the password with a friend and effectively pay Rs. 325 a month. The video library of Netflix is Ad Free which makes it a delightful experience.

 

Q: What are some good Indian movies on Netflix?

A: There are many movies on Netflix which are good cinema like Masaan, Manorama Six feet under, Pink, Shahid, Special 26 and so on. To know more read Best Bollywood Movies on Netflix You Can't Afford To Miss Out.

 

Q: Which are the best Rom-Coms on Netflix?

A: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Sleeping With Other People, To All the Boys I've Loved Before & 17 Again.

 

Q: What is Netflix and how does it work?

A: Netflix is an online platform/website which screens the top-notch series of movies, documentaries and tv shows based on monthly subscription packs. 

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