10 Best New Netflix Documentaries of 2026 (So Far)

As we head into the first quarter of 2026, Netflix has already released a ton of excellent and acclaimed documentaries. It includes David Attenborough’s decades-in-the-making nature documentaries, chilling true crime investigations and inspiring sports stories. There is something for everyone. In this post, we will tell you about the 10 best so far.

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Dynasty: Murdoch

At its core, Dynasty: Murdoch Asks a simple question: Which billionaire child of global media empire owner Rupert Murdoch will seize control of even more billions? It’s a story that sounds a lot like HBO’s Succession – In fact, inheritance Author Jesse Armstrong was inspired by the Murdoch dynasty.

From the creative team behind harry and meghanIncluding director Liz Garbus, this four-part series is based on thousands of never-before-seen private documents, emails and text messages, chronicling Rupert Murdoch’s final efforts to secure his legacy while navigating the cutthroat internal politics of a family torn from power. It’s a tough succession battle, depicted in an intense, thoroughly entertaining series.

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plastic detox

of netflix plastic detox Explores the deep and inherently dangerous effects of plastic-related chemicals on human health and ultimately fertility. The 90-minute documentary film serves as a perfect conversation starter, making a real call to action regarding environmental issues.

Produced by an Academy Award-winning team, the film follows six couples who reduce their use of plastic for three months to see if it improves their ability to conceive. Ultimately the experiment was successful, it showed A 3-month reduction in plastic use was directly linked to real health benefits, such as reduced eczema, better sleep and High rate of successful pregnancies.

plastic detox Would you rather evaluate your lifestyle and understand how much microplastics you encounter on a daily basis?

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be gordon ramsay

World renowned chef and media personality Gordon Ramsay needs no introduction. between Kitchen Nightmare, Hotel Hell, And hell’s KitchenHe is possibly the most famous celebrity chef on the planet. Known for his strong, determined personality, he is always happy to ignore criticism and put budding chefs in their place. But now, he’s on a business venture of his own inauguration of five Culinary experience in one of London’s tallest buildings, and expectations are through the roof. “22 Bishopsgate is the most ambitious project I have ever undertaken in my life,” says Ramsay.

This 6-part documentary puts Ramsay in an unusual position; He has got 6 months to get his restaurant empire in shape. Fans are used to seeing him at the top. Now, he is the one bearing all the pressure. Everything is changed. Can he deliver?

The answer is yes, clearly, judging by the series. Reportedly Renewed for Season 2.

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chess queen

The game of chess already has a rich history on Netflix thanks to the 2020 miniseries queen’s stake. But that was pure imagination. documentary chess queen It chronicles the journey of Judit Polgar, a Hungarian girl and chess prodigy who went head-to-head with some of the most famous chess players of all time, including Garry Kasparov. Her legacy in the game is immense, she is considered the greatest female chess player of all time. How did she reach such heights? This documentary not only traces her successes but also how she had to cope with her controlling father.

if you see chess queen And still can’t get enough, there’s another new chess-related documentary Untood: Chess PartnersWhich dives into the scandal between elite chess players Magnus Carlsen, who was world champion at the time, and Hans Niemann. The film revisits the 2022 Sinquefield Cup and the myriad controversies surrounding it, notably allegations of cheating following Carlsen’s withdrawal from the tournament and the subsequent overwhelming reaction on social media.

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Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere

Louis Theroux has made over 50 documentaries in his extensive career, notably through a long-standing collaboration with the BBC. However, he dropped his latest feature-length doc, inside the manosphereFirst as a Netflix Original (although they have produced several titles). He tackles the manosphere, a cult-like online culture that is synonymous with racism, misogyny and adult content.

Directed by Adrian Choa (Vice Life Hacks with Obah Butler), the film sees Theroux move from Miami to Marseille, where he immerses himself in the world of extreme online influencers and content creators who are redefining ‘modern masculinity’. In true Theroux style, he examines the ideologies behind it, and interviews women who support these ideas.

Ratings for the film were mixed, but nonetheless, it remains another must-see film in Theroux’s ever-growing list. We hope he chooses Netflix for his next endeavor.

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a friend, a killer

One of the most powerful Netflix documentaries of the year so far, a friend, a killer This haunting story tells how the close-knit community of a Danish town turns into a center of distrust and fear after attacks, kidnappings and murders. Each case occurred between 2016 and 2023. When the culprit is finally caught, friendship group Amanda, Niklas and Kiri learn that they were close to them. How did they not notice?

The series is told in three episodes, with each installment incorporating the perspective of one of the killer’s friends. It includes interviews with a local priest, a volunteer search coordinator, a journalist, and the founder of a Danish Facebook group – each of whom brings specific accounts to build a picture around the culprit. Despite being a short docu-series, it’s the kind of story that will make you subconsciously evaluate your friends.

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Ronaldinho: The One and Only

Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho is one of the most iconic players of all time. He started his career with Brazilian club Grêmio before making his big move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. He later moved to Barcelona, ​​playing alongside Lionel Messi, where he became a football legend and one of the faces of football at that time. He won the Champions League, La Liga and took home the Ballon d’Or. His international career was equally respected. He won with Brazil FIFA World Cup (2002), Copa America (1999), and FIFA Confederations Cup (2005). Overall, not many players come close to his level of respect.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Netflix has released a 3-episode limited series based on the life and career of Ronaldinho. It is the first time the man himself has spoken about his career, including exclusive access to Ronaldinho’s personal life and never-before-seen archival footage. It also features interviews and testimonials from former teammates and friends Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Roberto Carlos, Carles Puyol and Galvão Bueno.

The next World Cup is around the corner, Ronaldinho: The One and Only The perfect documentary to get you in the mood.

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Lucy Letby’s investigation

Newborn nurse Lucy Letby is the most dangerous child serial killer in British history. His story easily stacks up with some of the most horrifying, disturbing, and downright unimaginable cases in serial killer history. Letby was a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Between 2015 and 2016, he murdered seven infants – for which he was convicted and sentenced to 15 life terms. He was also convicted of attempting to murder several other children.

The story of Letby’s crimes has been documented several times before in various documentaries, including an episode of the BBC panorama. Netflix’s feature-length doc-film, Lucy Letby’s investigationThis is the latest investigation into the case. It includes previously unseen police body-cam footage. It also includes police interviews and extensive social media reaction to the case and more. The film is directed by Dominic Sivier (masked scammer) and produced by Caroline Short, Carla Wright and Ian Ramsey.

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A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

Nearly 50 years ago, in 1978, Sir David Attenborough encountered an infant mountain gorilla named Pablo. life on earth. Pablo grows up to become a top silverback. What happened to Pablo and his family? Now, involving generations of Pablo Group, Netflix takes viewers back to Rwanda to catch the pack, where it all began.

a gorilla story It is a remarkable and extraordinary achievement. It is a celebration of conservation and hope, combining both archival and modern footage to tell an intergenerational saga.

The 76-minute film is directed by Oscar winner James Reed, known for his work my octopus teacherWho works with co-director Callum Webster. Alastair Fothergill (life on our planet) is also a producer.

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dinosaur

From executive producer Steven Spielberg and the team behind our earth4 documentary series dinosaur Set a new gold standard for nature documentaries. Narrated by Hollywood veteran Morgan Freeman, the series traces the 165 million year evolution of dinosaurs using incredible next-generation CGI. Technology has already come a long way Prehistoric Park, that’s for sure.

Overall, tthat dinosaur Presents a simplified history of the Mesozoic era. If you want something deeper, this isn’t it. However, The Dinosaur is probably the most fascinating depiction of a dinosaur ever put to screen. It’s worth a visit just for the breathtaking views.

Since its launch in March 2026, dinosaur Still holds a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer.

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honorable mentions

• TeaThe Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel – An in-depth look at the history of legendary rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, detailing their formative years and the influence of the late, great original guitarist Hillel Slovak.

• Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart – In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bed, and fought to survive as her family searched for her. He has shared his story in this documentary film.

• tiktok killer – Set in Spain, this documentary explores the case of Esther Estepa, a 42-year-old woman who disappeared after meeting a social media content creator.

• Believe Me: False Prophet— Cult expert Christine Marie and her husband, videographer Tolga Katas, infiltrate a polygamist sect and uncover the crimes of Warren Jeffs’ self-proclaimed heir.

• noah kahn: out of body – Singer Noah Kahn, best known for his international hit Stick Season, opens up about his life struggles, especially about his eating disorder which caused him to struggle extensively with his body image.

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Which Netflix documentaries are coming soon?

Looking ahead, Netflix has a very exciting list of new documentaries on the horizon. Titles include more Silent The sports series covers stories from the world of football in the UK, such as Jamie Vardy’s zero-to-hero career and Liverpool’s famous Champions League comeback in 2005.

May 2026 is also coming AccidentA documentary by director Gareth Johnson (The Body Next Door)which describes the events in which a car carrying three young adults crashed into a brick building at 100 mph, killing two and leaving one alive.

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What is your favorite new documentary on Netflix in 2026? Let us know in the comments below!