As the year comes to a close, Netflix remains devoted to its steady release of documentaries this December. It has something educational and informative for everyone, no matter if you're interested in a true-crime case [1] or a science feature. If you couldn't stop following Elisa Lam's story after Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel [2], there's another companion installation coming out this month about the Times Square Killer. Want to add something to your queue that the entire family can enjoy over the holidays? You've got options: check out the cute journey of a baby pufferfish in Puff, or follow heartwarming life accounts of seniors across the world in Stories of a Generation With Pope Francis.
After binging through all of Netflix's holiday originals [3], pop on a documentary! Ahead, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the streaming service's documentary offerings this December.
Coming Out Colton
Netflix's Coming Out Colton follows former professional football player and The Bachelor [5] star Colton Underwood as he reveals to his friends and family that he's gay. The reality TV project focuses on Underwood finding his place within the LGBTQ+ community, but it also promises to address matters from his past. Despite initial support from organisations such as GLAAD [6], Underwood's coming-out story also came with vocal backlash on social media as former stalking allegations from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Randolph resurfaced.
When it's available: Dec. 3 [7]
Money Heist: From Tokyo to Berlin: Volume 2
In this project, the showrunners and actors from Money Heist chat about wrapping up filming for the popular Netflix series in exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. This brief feature will complement Money Heist Part 5: Volume 2 [8], which continues the misadventures of the Professor as he gets gold (and his team) out of the bank. As this documentary is a companion piece to the series, you can stream it right after binging the fifth installation of the original series. And if you haven't seen it yet, there's another 50-minute first volume of the documentary that you can check out as well!
When it's available: Dec. 3 [9]
Voir
If you love shows such as The Movies That Made Us, Voir will be right up your alley. In this six-part documentary series, film-lovers analyse iconic cinematic moments through a collection of visual essays. Voir marks David Fincher's return to the streaming service after projects such as Mank and Mindhunter [10] — the seasoned director will be serving as an executive producer in this project. (And he's perfect for this documentary, given that Mank is essentially a love letter to filmmaking [11]!) Featuring interviews with critics, such as Sasha Stone and Tony Zhou, Netflix's Voir is sure to be a treat for film buffs.
When it's available: Dec. 6 [12]
The Family That Sings Together: The Camargos
This heartwarming original Netflix series follows the lives of Zezé Di Camargo and his daughter Wanessa. Di Camargo is a renowned Brazilian sertanejo folk music artist who's best known for being part of the duo Zezé Di Camargo & Luciano with his brother. Over the last few decades, his daughter Wanessa has also established a career as a singer-songwriter, creating music under the country, pop, and rock genres with Brazilian influences. The father and daughter pair, alongside their family and friends, collaborate creatively to make a new album in this exclusive musical reality TV series [13].
When it's available: Dec. 9 [14]
Puff: Wonders of the Reef
Haven't had enough of David Attenborough-like content? After binging Netflix's Our Planet and Life in Colour, take a look at Puff: Wonders of the Reef. Its premise is definitely endearing among Netflix's documentary vault filled with sordid true-crime installations. The project essentially follows a baby sharpnose pufferfish travelling along the Great Barrier Reef. The pufferfish's wondrous journey is narrated by an Aussie actress you might know: Rose Byrne. The best part about this science documentary is that it looks at the ocean from Puff's perspective, taking note of all the tiny creatures that might go unnoticed by bigger beings (like humans).
When it's available: Dec. 16 [15]
Stories of a Generation With Pope Francis
In this four-part Netflix documentary, Pope Francis, along with people all over the world age 70 and older, shares invaluable life lessons with young filmmakers. You might know the other interviewees as well — Martin Scorsese [16] and Jane Goodall also make appearances to impart their wisdom about life. The heartfelt project is based on Pope Francis's 2019 nonfiction book, Sharing the Wisdom of Time [17], in which older people from over 30 different countries share what they learned about love and faith over their lifetimes. Fittingly, Stories of a Generation With Pope Francis comes out right on a day that's all about celebrating joy: Christmas.
When it's available: Dec. 25 [18]
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer
This title might be familiar to Netflix true-crime enthusiasts. In February, Netflix released Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, unraveling the mysterious death of a young Canadian student named Elisa Lam [19]. The docuseries essentially breaks into how systemic forces make certain locations more prone to crimes, the first season focusing on the issues surrounding Skid Row. In three episodes, this second installation of Crime Scene breaks down the case of the Times Square Killer, who targeted victims in New York's Time Square in the late '70s and '80s. How did the killer get away with murder for so long? Watch the docuseries to find out.
When it's available: Dec. 29 [20]