With the times changing, and Netflix coming along in the scene documentaries are gaining popularity as much as fiction, crime, action, and superhero movies and series.
Documentaries are not “boring” or just “educational” anymore, there’s more. Documentaries are being talked about with the same enthusiasm as the latest banger movies filled with crime, action, drama, and fantasy worlds.
Netflix, one of the best OTT platforms, is a gold mine for some amazing, informative, and uplifting documentaries that will boost your mood and change your mindset. Be it the sports sensation Micheal Jordan’s “The Last Dance”, or having a peek at “Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates”, or talking with Elon Musk about “Returning To Space”, or watching the popstar “Miss Americana” Taylor Swift, Netflix has some of the best and most interesting documentaries out there.
We understand your urge to watch something informational and one-of-a-kind, and documentaries on Netflix are an amazing pick. To make it easy for you, we have handpicked a list of some of the best Netflix documentaries that will change your mindset.
12 Netflix Documentaries that will Change Your Mindset
The Last Dance
The story of none other than the famous basketball player Michael Jordan, The Last Dance is a mind-blowing sports documentary miniseries on Netflix co-produced by ESPN sports.
The story revolves around the sensational basketball player Michael Jordan and the rise of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, the team led by him in the 1997-98 Bulls season, his final season using some unseen original clips that were never aired before.
The documentary is one of the best documentaries on Netflix based on the story of the best basketball player of all time and will boost your mood and change your mind. A must-watch documentary on Netflix for anyone who loves sports, especially Basketball.
IMDB Rating: 9.1 / 10
Cast: Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, David Aldridge, Steve Kerr
Our Planet
By far one of the best nature documentaries on Netflix, Our Planet gave mind-blowing results and had a profound impact on the mindsets of many. A British documentary series narrated by David Attenborough is one of the best choices of documentaries on Netflix that can change your mindset and the way you perceive nature on “Our Planet”.
As humans, we have all always been curious about the planet we live on and Our Planet is a documentary answering most of the questions that arise in a curious mind about nature and its ways.
This documentary series beautifully shows the diverse habitat across the deep blue oceans, to the wilderness of the global jungles, and tells what should be preserved and kept safe for humans and nature to thrive for a longer time.
One of the most informative documentary series on Netflix that will change your mindset and make you fall in love with nature and the planet. A must-watch documentary for any age group on Netflix.
IMDB Rating: 9.3 / 10
Cast: David Attenborough
Return to Space
Outer space is a fantasy world for all of us. Dreaming of the stars, and the galaxies, and wondering just how they exist is what all of us think about when we look at the sky and Return to Space is your ticket to the outer world to explore the limitless.
Return to Space, providing inside access to NASA and SpaceX, is the story of Elon Musk’s and SpaceX’s journey of nearly two decades of sending two American NASA astronauts back to space and all the challenges they face in the process.
IMDB Rating: 7.3 / 10
Cast: Elon Musk, Bob Behnken, Douglas Hurley
The Social Dilemma
In a world where social media is integral to everyone’s daily life, The Social Dilemma is an eye-opening must-watch documentary on Netflix that will question your beliefs and make you rethink your pattern of relying on social media.
A perfect fit in the list of documentaries on Netflix that can change your mindset, The Social Dilemma talks about the underlying effects of the design behind social media platforms, how they can be addictive, and how they impact our lives mentally, emotionally, and physically.
This is a must-watch documentary on Netflix to become aware and mindful of the use of social media and not let it hamper your health.
IMDB Rating: 7.6 / 10
Cast: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson, Joe Toscano
Minimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things
In a world where everyone is rushing towards that “something more”, what does it look like to live a minimal life? Minimalism is a must-watch Netflix documentary for everyone to know of a simple yet better way to live.
Minimalism details the benefits of living a minimal, non-materialistic lifestyle by taking up stories of several people and talking about their life journeys to start living a more minimalistic and rooted lifestyle for the betterment of their own.
IMDB Rating: 6.6 / 10
Cast: Dan Harris, Ryan Nicodemus, Rick Hanson
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
We have all dreamt of climbing the highest peaks in the world atleast once in our lives. As easy as it may seem, mountaineering comes with a lot of challenges both physical and mental.
If mountaineering stories excite you, 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible is the best documentary on Netflix to watch to experience first-hand stories and view real-life footage of the expeditions of Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Pujra and his team as they set out on a journey of climbing all the 14 peaks of eight thousand meters in a record time of 7 months.
IMDB Rating: 7.7 / 10
Cast: Nirmal Purja, Suchi Purja, Klára Kolouchová
Dogs
This four-legged species called a dog has won the hearts of an uncountable number of people. Yes, they are cute, adorable, loving, caring, and of course, man’s best friend indeed.
If you are a dog lover or even if you are not, then “Dogs” is a must-watch documentary on Netflix for anyone out there. The series depicts the stories of interconnection developed between humans and dogs around the globe. The documentary is all about the love that these animals who cannot speak human language give out to us in their own ways.
IMDB Rating: 8 / 10
Cast: Beth, Carly, Corinne
Abstract: The Art of Design
There is an artist inside everyone and there is art all around us. From small paintings to large buildings, from our clothes to shows to the technology we use, art and design are all around us.
Abstract: The art of design is a Netflix original documentary series that interviews artists and designers from around the globe and takes you on a journey inside their creative minds.
You will find famous personalities like illustrator Christoph Niemann, Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, architect Bjarke Ingels, automotive designer Ralph Gilles, graphic designer Paula Scher, photographer Platon, and interior designer Ilse Crawford, you will find many artists sharing their stories with the world. A must-watch Netflix documentary for some inspiration.
IMDB Rating: 8.3 / 10
Cast: Platon, Cas Holman, Ian Spalter
Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates
If you are looking for an inspirational documentary series to watch on Netflix, then Inside Bill’s Brain is the best documentary on Netflix to watch.
Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates is a 3 episode series based on the former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates, who takes on various challenges and also shares the stories of his upper-middle-class childhood, the creation of Microsoft, and his current status and worth.
IMDB Rating: 7.8 / 10
Cast: Bill Gates, Davin Orness, Alex Bueerman
Miss Americana
Everyone likes a little spice of the glam world, but what about all the things that happen behind the scenes and all the challenges these sensational figures have to face?
An informative documentary of the iconic pop singer Taylor Swift, Miss Americana is a must-watch documentary on Netflix for all the Taylor fans out there. The story is all about Taylor and her journey of massive transformation of accepting her singer/songwriter title and embracing her voice’s power to the best of levels.
IMDB Rating: 7.4 / 10
Cast: Taylor Swift, Andrea Swift, Scott Swift, Jack Antonoff
Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet
There’s never enough information when it comes to gaining knowledge about the planet we live on. Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet is a documentary that shows how humans are exploiting the earth beyond its boundaries and how the process can still be averted.
A must-watch documentary on Netflix that will change your mindset and allow you to view things differently.
IMDB Rating: 7.8 / 10
Cast: David Attenborough, Elena Bennett, Jason Box
Pelé: Birth of a Legend
An American biographical film, Pelé: Birth of a Legend is one of the best documentaries to watch on Netflix. The movie will motivate you to always strive for the best and never give up.
It is the story of the very famous Brazillian footballer Pelé and his journey with Brazil to win the 1958 FIFA World Cup. The film beautifully depicts the relationship between Pelé and his father, and how Pelé under the right guidance and consistent hard work went from being a street footballer to a World Cup champion.
IMDB Rating: 7.1 / 10
Cast: Kevin de Paula, Kevin de Paula, Seu Jorge, Mariana Nunes, Vincent D'Onofrio