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Truth is stranger than fiction in these captivating shows.
20 Binge-Worthy Docuseries You Won’t Be Able to Switch Off
Truth is stranger than fiction in these captivating shows.
There are a plethora of shows out there, and while it can sometimes be difficult to find your new television obsession for the next week, it helps to find out what kind of tv shows you like.
For those who like to stay informed while also being entertained, the docuseries genre will be right up your alley.
Below we look into 20 captivating docuseries that will have you cancelling Friday night plans for a date with your couch and TV.
1. The Puppet Master
Where can I watch it? Netflix
A tale of lies, deceit and coercion, this gripping series recounts the intricate lengths a master manipulator takes to ruin people's lives. Following the tragic story of how a husband unexpectedly lost his wife aftershe left the house one evening with her mysterious new booyfriend. The Puppet Master puts together the pieces of countless other victims who have been manipulated into leaving their loved ones and never returning home again.
2. Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist
Where can I watch it? Netflix
If you’re a fan of the addictive MTV show Catfish, prepare for one of the biggest catfishing sagas in history. Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist recounts the loss and heartbreak Hawaiian-American Notre Dame football player Manti Te'o went through after finding out his grandmother and girlfriend died on the same day. What makes this story of heartbreak and loss so much worse is that the girl Manti was calling his girlfriend was not the person he thought she was.
3. F*CK That’s Delicious
Where can I watch it? SBS
Love food and hip hop? Here’s your new favourite show. Hosted by famous rapper and former chef Action Bronson, F*CK That’s Delicious is the cooking show you didn’t know you needed. Balancing travelling around the world, visiting friends, and trying as many new foods as possible, Action Bronson hosts four unforgettable seasons full of laughs, music, and lots of eating.
4. Ugly Delicious
Where can I watch it? Netflix
What happens when you put a James Beard award-winning Chef David Chang on a trip around the world to uncover chef secrets and food history? You get the magnificent show that is Ugly Delicious. The series follows Momofuku Founder and chef David Chang as he is joined by activists, writers, artists, and other chefs who use food to break down cultural barriers and tackle misconceptions. Lovers of, food, travel, and history will be enamoured with this show's ability to tell poignant stories while remaining light and humorous.
5. Making a Murderer
Where can I watch it? Netflix
If you’re a true crime fan there’s a slim chance you haven’t seen this binge-worthy series that took the world by storm in 2015 – but on the off chance you haven’t, you’re in luck, because you have a gripping two seasons ahead of you. Recounting the story of what happened on the evening that photographer Teresa Halbach was murdered, and how the suspect Steven Avery ended up behind bars for nearly two decades over a crime he did not commit. If you have a free weekend ahead of you, tell your friends you're busy, because you’ve got two whole seasons to get through.
6. Human Playground
Where can I watch it? Netflix
No matter what your preference is for television shows, you’re bound to enjoy Human Playground. Explore the origins and evolution of play across the globe, from marathons in the desert, bullfighting, brutal bicycle races, and ice swimming. This six-part docuseries shows different activities that push people to the brink, physically and mentally. Including beautiful cinematography and captivating narration by Idris Elba, Human Playground is more than just a television show – it is a work of art.
7. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Yep, you’re reading that right: MH370. The flight that was never found. This three-part series explores an array of different theories and conspiracies from different points of view on what could have possibly happened on the flight that went missing from Malaysia to Beijing. While the whole series should be taken with a grain of salt as the storylines are based off of unproven theories, the cinematography, story telling, and overall production makes this a must-watch documentary (even if you’re not a fan of conspiracy theories).
8. Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Before you roll your eyes and say “not another car show”, give at least one season of Drive to Survive a chance. Following the highs and lows of the drivers and teams in the multi-million dollar Formula 1 industry, Formula 1: Drive to Survive goes behind the scenes to give the viewer an insight into the elusive world of one of the richest and most dangerous sports. Whether you’re a fan of the sport already, or have never cared less, this is a show that everyone can sit down and enjoy.
9. Revelation
Where can I watch it? iView
This groundbreaking documentary series exposes the criminal priests and brothers of the Catholic Church who talk for the first time about their horrific crimes. Brace yourself before viewing, there is little room for light in this three-parter, with award-winning reporter Sarah Ferguson refusing to indulge the two men responsible for some of the most prolific and notorious child abuse in Australia.
10. Dirty Money
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Created by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, Dirty Money is a tale of corporate corruption, securities fraud, and creative accounting. Each episode tells the story of a different business controversy, and the economic scandal that followed. This gripping docuseries brings untold secrets to the surface that changed these global businesses forever.
11. Werq the World
Where can I watch it? AppleTV
Binged every season of RuPaul's Drag Race and want more? Werq the World is the docuseries for you. The series documents the biggest live drag tour in the world, which features drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race in an ensemble stage show. Touted as a backstage pass and intimate portrait into the global phenomenon of drag, it's also the perfect introduction for anyone who is unfamiliar with Drag Race and how the artform has influenced pop culture more generally for decades.
12. The Family
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Founded in 1935, The Fellowship (also known as "The Family") has been described as one of the most politically well-connected – and most secretly-funded – groups in the United States. It has been reported that senators and congressmen have worked with the group to pass legislation, blurring the line between church and state and affecting the lives of anyone at odds with the conservative Christian belief system. The Family is another docuseries that uncovers what can happen when one person or group wields too much power.
13. Last Chance U
Where can I watch it? Netflix
This Emmy-nominated Netflix original series follows the underdogs of junior college football – the teams that don't get much national attention. Season five follows the Laney Eagles, the 2018 national champions with a whole lot to prove, led by a powerhouse coach on a mission to unite the team in the face of one setback after another. Injuries, anguish and personal demons plague the players who find support in their community and rally together to make it through.
14. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
Where can I watch it? Netflix
The crushing stories from the survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein fuel this docuseries. With Epstein now deceased, having reportedly taken his own life while in prison, attention has turned to co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was finally arrested in July 2020. This series investigates what can happen when people with power exploit those without it. Even if you know the facts, hearing the stories directly from the victims sparks empathy for people who you might otherwise write off as being complicit.
15. The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty
Where can I watch it? iView
Fans of Succession will want to watch The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty. This three-part docuseries covers the incredible power amassed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who wields global influence in practically every facet of human existence. You'll learn about his influence in the British government and the rise of the extreme right in America, with a new understanding of just how much goes on behind the scenes. You'll relive the phone hacking scandal that shook Murdoch's empire ten years ago after an anonymous whistleblower reported that Fox-owned news organisations had hacked phones, bribed police and exercised improper influence in the pursuit of more power and more influence.
16. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
Where can I watch it? Binge
This six-part docuseries tells the story of Michelle McNamara, the true crime writer obsessed with the anonymous man she termed the Golden State Killer. The devastating crimes ravaged sleepy suburbs of northern California in the 1970s and '80s, and the identity of the serial rapist and killer remained unknown until 2018 – two years after McNamara died of an accidental overdose. Knowing she never lived to see justice makes I'll Be Gone in the Dark all the more devastating, but the courage and resilience of the survivors, as well as the people closest to McNamara, offers hope that good can prevail.
17. McMillions
Where can I watch it? Binge
Remember that McDonalds Monopoly promotion? How good was it knowing that not only did a large fries mean that you got to eat fries, but you also upped your chances of winning a million dollars in prizes? Turns out you never had a chance. McMillions tells the story of a former police officer who then worked as the director of security for Simon Marketing during the 1990s, and how he came to discover that none of the prize money from the game was going into the customer's pockets.
18. The Vow
Where can I watch it? Binge
NXIVM is like Scientology for the wellness-obsessed: part professional development facility, part spiritual wellbeing group. It's a sign of the times and a case study in what happens when bad people exploit those looking for meaning and purpose. Watching The Vow will make you wonder how much of what you're seeing is reenactment; there is so much footage from the inside of this pyramid scheme-turned sex cult. But the volume of footage and original material the filmmakers were able to capture comes down to the fact that they never set out to make this type of documentary at all.
19. Madoff: Monster of Wall Street
Where can I watch it? Netflix
This 2023 true crime docuseries follows the rise and fall of financier Bernie Madoff, who orchestrated one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Wall Street history. The scheme orchestrated by Madoff was exposed amid the 2008 financial crisis, where countless victims' lives were turned upside down trying to recoup their losses. The series follows investigators who look into the impossible numbers Madoff was producing, and how the agency continued to shrug off multiple red flags.
20. Bad Vegan
Where can I watch it? Netflix
After marrying an illusive man who claimed he could make her dog immortal, vegan restaurateur Sarma Melngailis finds her life veering off the rails. A tale of fame, fraud, and fugitives, this captivating docuseries recounts the insane tale of how Sarma illegally funnelled money out of her restaurant – so her new lover could pay it to a semi-divine entity offering eternal life.
