If you think documentaries are boring, then you're definitely not watching the right ones. Whether you're into science, history, nature, true crime [1], or the cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading [2], Netflix's new documentaries for 2020 have something for everyone, and the year is just getting started. From deadly diseases to deadly killers, the selection of documentaries and docuseries you'll find on Netflix [3] are anything but dull, and the best part: You'll learn something new just by watching. Before you select your next date night movie [4] or next show to binge-watch [5], do yourself a favour and check out these new Netflix documentaries for 2020.
Cheer
This six-part docuseries follows the nationally-ranked 40-member Navarro College Cheer Team from Corsicana, TX, as they prepare to compete in the National Cheerleading Championship held annually in Daytona, FL. Why does this series have a cult following [7], you ask? Because Coach Monica Aldama is tough AF, the stories of the cheerleaders [8] on the team will make you weep, and — most stressful of all — there are only 20 spots on the mat. This show is not for the faint of heart.
Watch Cheer on Netflix [9].
Night on Earth
In this six-part nature docuseries (which is narrated by The Handmaid's Tale [10] actress Samira Wiley), cameras that are extra sensitive to moonlight document the behaviour of nocturnal creatures after the sun sets. The series observes creatures in a variety of settings and locations, and thanks to its wild technology, we guarantee this show will give you a look at nature like you've never seen it before.
Watch Night on Earth on Netflix [11].
Nisman: The Prosecutor, the President, and the Spy
This six-part docuseries serves as an investigation into the suspicious death of Alberto Nisman, an Argentinian lawyer who accused the country's president of corruption after investigating a 1994 bombing in Argentina. Though Nisman was said to have committed suicide, others believe that his death (which occurred a day before he was set to appear before Congress to present evidence in support of his charge) was just a little too convenient.
Watch Nisman: The Prosecutor, the President, and the Spy on Netflix [12].
Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak
This amazingly prescient six-part docuseries introduces the scientists taking on influenza and details their efforts in stopping the next global outbreak — while also fighting underfunding in research and health care, anti-vaxxers, misinformation, and political red-tape. The series warns that another flu pandemic is inevitable, pointing to China as the place to watch (though it was a total coincidence that the series aired right after a deadly new coronavirus [13] was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan).
Watch Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak on Netflix [14].
Sex, Explained
In this limited five-part docuseries produced by Vox (which is a spinoff of the series Explained [15]), various topics around the subject of sex are explored, including sexual fantasies, attraction, birth control, fertility, and childbirth. Though this Janelle Monáe-narrated isn't meant to act as a comprehensive sex ed guide, you might be surprised by what you learn while watching.
Watch Sex, Explained on Netflix [16].
Rise of Empires: Ottoman
With a mix of scripted and documentary elements, this six-part docuseries examines the history of the Ottoman Empire, telling the story of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (whom you may know as Mehmed the Conqueror) as he attempts to take over the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. If you're looking to improve your knowledge of Turkish history, then you'll want to give this one a watch.
Watch Rise of Empires: Ottoman on Netflix [17].
Miss Americana
Offering a mix of onstage and backstage footage and intimate interviews, this documentary gives viewers an insight look at the life of pop star Taylor Swift [18]. She covers everything from struggles with disordered eating, her mom's cancer diagnosis, and her journey to finding her voice, and it's a must-watch for T-Swift fans.
Watch Miss Americana on Netflix [19].
I Am a Killer, Season 2
Appropriately titled, this British docuseries offers 10 hour-long episodes, with each instalment focusing on a different notorious prisoner who has been sentenced to death for capital murder. The second season of the series includes an army veteran with a history of abuse who strangled her boyfriend to death; a man who kidnapped, robbed, and murdered Jehovah's Witness minister at 17 years old; and a man who killed a 72-year-old woman after attempting to rob her home to pay for his sister's medical bills, among others stories.
Watch I Am a Killer on Netflix [20].
The Pharmacist
This docuseries revolves around a New Orleans-based pharmacist, Dan Schneider, whose son was shot and killed while buying drugs in the 9th Ward of New Orleans in 1999. In the series, viewers learn about Schneider's journey, which started as a murder investigation to cope with his grief and eventually evolved into him identifying the inner workings of the opioid epidemic.
Watch The Pharmacist on Netflix. [21]
Road to Roma
Remember 2018's Roma, the semibiographical take [22] on the life of Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón, which follows a year in the life of a middle-class family in 1970s Mexico City? This documentary stars Cuarón himself as he reflects on the childhood memories that helped shape his incredible film, and if you loved Roma, then this is a must-watch.
Watch Road to Roma on Netflix [23].
Babies
Filmed over the course of three years, this docuseries gives an in-depth look at the development that takes place during the first full year of a human's life. You don't have to be a baby person to find the epic journey from helpless baby to independent toddler pretty fascinating.
When it's available: Feb. 21