The 25 Best Documentaries on Netflix, According to Critics On 1/25/21 at 7:00 PM EST Documentaries entertain, inform and educate their audience. They can call viewers to action to change the world. They can also raise awareness of issues you may not have given much thought to. They bring out the armchair detective in us, pique our curiosity, and make us hungry to learn more (anyone else keep a Google tab open when watching something captivating?). There are hundreds of documentary films and series out there to explore, focused on topics ranging from true crime, racism, the environment, and entertainment to social movements, immigration, and simply human life. For those new to the genre, or seasoned documentary fanatics, it can be hard to figure out what to watch next—or where to start. However, consulting what garnered universal appeal among critics is always a good place to start, and there's something out there for everyone (you would be surprised).