The spectacular popularity and growth of Netflix has been boosted by many of the fantastic documentaries it has to offer.
The American media provider has poured millions of dollars into original content to keep us gripped and subscribed and 2020 has arguably been its best year to date.
Here are our five favourite Netflix hits from the year so far:
The Last Dance
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest sporting icons of all-time. Six NBA Championships and Finals MVP awards in the 1990s as well as Olympic Golds at the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games, The Last Dance follows Jordan’s rise from rookie to superstar, and then his retirement amid backroom clashes, disgruntled teammates and a head coach on his way out of the Chicago Bulls.
This 10-part documentary tells how the Bulls built their dominance at the end of the last millennium whilst also delving into the mind of highly-driven individuals and motivation of Michael Jordan himself.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Somewhat of a surprising hit in 2020 came out earlier in the year, when Tiger King rode the world of America’s big cat sanctuaries. This documentary focusses on Oklahoma zoo owner Joe Exotic, who owns a dozen tigers, is an internet TV show host, and has a string of felony convictions to his name.
But does Joe deserve to be in prison? How did he get there? These are just some of the questions this explosive documentary asks. It was later revealed that the villain of the series, Carole Baskin, would end up getting Joe Exotic’s Zoo at the end of a legal battle.
Tell Me Who I Am
This feature-length documentary tells the story of a pair of identical twins, now in their 50s – one of whom has lost the entirety of their memory in a terrible motorcycle crash.
It keeps the audience gripped with a tale of trauma, memory and brotherhood. Tell Me Who I Am follows Alex, trying to solve the mystery of his past whilst trying to figure out who he is after his accident. His twin brother, Marcus, helps him along the way.
Dark stories are revealed as the documentary goes on.
Oasis: Supersonic
Arguably the biggest success from the 1990s Brit-Pop, Oasis still have a huge following today even after their split. This documentary focusses on the rise and fall of the band, more than 25 years on since their breakthrough.
From Liam and Noel Gallagher’s egos and not getting along, you don’t need to be a fan of the group to enjoy this fantastic addition to the Netflix collection. Includes present-day interviews and archive footage.
The Ted Bundy Tapes
More than 30 years on from the execution of serial killer and kidnapper Ted Bundy, these four 60-minute episodes include endless interviews and archive footage, as well as interviews with his family and surviving victims.
The Ted Bundy Tapes series his life, crimes, arrests, escapes and ultimately, his death in 1989. Stephen Michaud’s 1980 death row interviews are also included among the archive footage, which include him confessing to the murders of 30 women.
