10 Best Documentaries to change your Life (2023)

Documentaries on Netflix & Amazon Prime are a joy to behold for non-fiction fans who don’t mind investing in an intense weekend watch. Aspiring Filmmakers’ documentaries have the potential to introduce audiences to some of life’s most fascinating facets, covering anything from the lives of great people to some of the greatest historical incidents to lifestyle-related topics. 

Here is a list of the 10 Best Documentaries one shouldn’t miss watching on Netflix, which have the potential to change one’s life completely-

1. Chasing Coral – Netflix

          Released in 2017, coral reefs serve an important part in maritime ecosystems all around the world, but enormous swaths of coral are withering off due to the negative effects of rising carbon emissions. Chasing Coral is an activist film that urges viewers to reconsider humanity’s influence on the environment. While it’s easy to feel helpless in the face of climate change, individuals must do everything they can to assist on a microeconomic scale while also supporting responsible politicians, and thinking of a better cause. 

2. Forks Over Knives – Netflix & Prime

          Forks Over Knives released in 2011, according to famous critic Roger Ebert, is a picture that might change your life. In this informative documentary, filmmaker Lee Fulkerson explores the benefits of a plant-based diet, arguing that constraints like heart disease can be reversed simply by changing the type of food we put on our trays, and will make you think twice before purchasing a trolley’s worth of processed foods on your next trip to the grocery store.

3. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret – Netflix

           Cowspiracy, directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn and published in 2014, focuses on the environmental effect of animal agriculture, contending that the world’s top environmental groups are failing to safeguard the earth. Cowspiracy is a fascinating documentary that makes you reconsider your connection with food. Not only should you scrutinize what you ingest in your body, but you should also be conscious of how certain agricultural techniques might harm the environment.

4. Our Planet – Netflix

          The iconic series, released in 2019 introduces us to the wonders of our beautiful blue world. Nature inspires us in its way, whether it’s an inspiration to maintain our planet clean or simply an encouragement to get out and see as much of it as you can.

5. The Elephant Whisperers – Netflix

          This short documentary film released in 2022, highlights an indigenous couple who are taking care of Raghu, an orphaned elephant. Following Raghu’s healing and survival, the narrative spins a lovely tale of the couple’s and Raghu’s unwavering love and relationship.

6. Particle Fever – Netflix

          If you’ve ever doubted humanity’s brilliance, this 2013 documentary will demonstrate to you how bright we truly are as CERN researchers seek to unearth the building components of our cosmos. It will astound you with the technological and scientific advances that have gone into comprehending our cosmos.

7. Minimalism – Netflix & Prime

          Released in 2015, this documentary will energize your life and transform the way you perceive the world as people from various walks of life and businesses journalists to scientists- make their point as to why less truly is more. One must watch it to find out how genuine happiness could be found in even the smallest of things.

8. Human Flow – Prime

          This documentary highlighting the world’s refugee problem from artist Ai Weiwei’s point of view will leave you stunned. The film honors people fighting in the trenches, including volunteers, doctors, and relief workers, who are striving to treat refugees fleeing horrific conditions with the respect and decency they deserve. Human Flow looks into the boundaries we maintain and when it makes sense to cross them, urging the audience to think about the sacrifices they would be ready to make to safeguard vulnerable individuals. It is a compassionate, and occasionally tragic film to watch out for.

9. Sidney – Netflix

          ‘Sidney’, a film directed by Academy Award nominee Reginald Hudlin and produced by Oprah Winfrey, chronicles the life of activist, filmmaker, and actor Sidney Poitier. From his childhood on Cat Island, Bahamas, until he arrived in America in the 1940s, he discusses how the backdrop of the place changed his identity and for the first time brought racism into his life. This beautiful tribute poignantly captures the weird and tragic tension between Poitier’s rising fame and the American Civil Rights Movement, allowing for in-depth reflection on the societal constructs we sustain and what we accept to be true.

10. Brave Blue World – Netflix 

          Published in 2020, this film about the water issue, the UN predicts that 1.8 billion people would reside in water-stressed areas by 2025. The film explores a variety of international innovations, from energy production to reuse, that aid in building a sustainable water future. ‘Brave Blue World’ aims to motivate and encourage viewers by showing how each one of them can make a difference in the world and guarantee that everyone has access to clean water.