What to watch
The best documentaries to stream right now
Right now the best documentaries and docuseries in the United States are Planet Earth (2006), Planet Earth II (2016) and The Last Dance (2020). This is the top 30 streaming there today, ranked by how well rated each one is, how many people have rated it, and what people are watching now.
Updated November 11, 2026 · streaming in the United States
1. Planet Earth2006
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.6
David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.
Stream on
HBO Max
Philo
Discovery+
YouTube TV+22. Planet Earth II2016
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary, Family★ 8.6
David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
Stream on
HBO MaxPhiloDiscovery+YouTube TV+13. The Last Dance2020
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.3
A 10-part documentary chronicling the untold story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty with rare, never-before-seen footage and sound from the 1997-98 championship season – plus over 100 interviews with famous figures and…
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Netflix4. Formula 1: Drive to Survive2019
Series · 8 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.2
Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane — both on and off the track — during each cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing.
Stream on
Netflix
Apple TV5. Our Planet2019
Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary, Family★ 8.5
Experience our planet's natural beauty and examine how climate change impacts all living creatures in this ambitious documentary of spectacular scope.
Stream on
Netflix- Continue with Google
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6. Prehistoric Planet2022
Series · 3 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.3
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic series from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth.
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Apple TV7. Blue Planet II2017
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary, Family★ 8.6
There is nowhere more powerful and unforgiving yet more beautiful and compelling than the ocean. Join us and explore the greatest yet least known parts of our planet.
Stream on
HBO MaxDiscovery+
Planet Earth8. MythBusters2003
Series · 16 seasonsDocumentary★ 7.8
MythBusters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel.
Stream on
Disney+
HuluHBO MaxPhilo+79. Mayday2003
Series · 26 seasonsDocumentary, Drama, Crime★ 8.2
Major real-life air disasters are depicted in this series. Each episode features a detailed dramatized reconstruction of the incident based on cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, as well as eyewitnesses recounts…
Stream on
fuboTV
PeacockPhiloYouTube TV+510. The Beatles: Get Back2021
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.4
The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music's most iconic foursome.
Stream on
Disney+11. The Blue Planet2001
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.4
Sir David Attenborough narrates this critically acclaimed series that dives deep into the marine environment of Planet Earth.
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Discovery+Planet Earth
Tencent Video12. Life2009
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.4
David Attenborough looks at the extraordinary ends to which animals and plants go in order to survive. Featuring epic spectacles, amazing TV firsts and examples of new wildlife behaviour.
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HBO MaxPhiloDiscovery+Planet Earth13. Free Solo2018
Film · 1h 40mDocumentary, Adventure★ 7.9
Follow Alex Honnold as he attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, this would arguably be the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
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Disney+HulufuboTVYouTube TV+114. Frozen Planet2011
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.4
David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet.
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HBO MaxDiscovery+Planet Earth15. One Direction: This Is Us2013
Film · 1h 32mDocumentary, Music★ 8.2
"One Direction: This Is Us" is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon.
Stream on
Roku Channel (free)
Plex (free)
Tubi (free)16. Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me2022
Film · 1h 35mDocumentary, Music★ 8.4
After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez achieves unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness.
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Apple TV17. Friends: The Reunion2021
Film · 1h 44mDocumentary, Comedy★ 7.8
The cast of Friends reunites for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the hit series, an unforgettable evening filled with iconic memories, uncontrollable laughter, happy tears, and special guests.
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HBO Max18. Marvel Studios Legends2021
Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy★ 7.4
Revisit the epic heroes, villains and moments from across the MCU in preparation for the stories still to come. Each dynamic segment feeds directly into the upcoming series — setting the stage for future events.
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Disney+19. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts2022
Film · 1h 43mDocumentary★ 7.3
An enchanting making-of story told through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.
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HBO Max20. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet2020
Film · 1h 23mDocumentary, Drama★ 8.4
The story of life on our planet by the man who has seen more of the natural world than any other. In more than 90 years, Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the…
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Netflix21. World War II with Tom Hanks2026
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.3
Explores WWII from Germany's invasion of Poland through the atomic age, examining pivotal battles, wartime leaders like Churchill and Roosevelt, and the human cost of total war.
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Philo
HISTORY Vault
History
Hoopla (free)+122. Baraka1992
Film · 1h 37mDocumentary★ 8.2
A paralysingly beautiful documentary with a global vision—an odyssey through landscape and time—that attempts to capture the essence of life.
Stream on
Prime VideoRoku Channel (free)
Fandango at Home Free (free)Plex (free)+223. Jackass: Best and Last2026
Film · 1h 32mAction, Comedy, Documentary★ 7.3
The fifth and final installment to Jackass franchise where the crew go on one last insane crusade.
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Paramount+24. The End of an Era2025
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.6
A behind-the-scenes docuseries event chronicling the development, impact, and inner workings that created the phenomenon that was Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, as well as providing an intimate look at Taylor's life as her tour made…
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Disney+25. The Social Dilemma2020
Film · 1h 35mDocumentary, Drama★ 7.5
This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.
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Netflix26. Samsara2011
Film · 1h 42mDocumentary★ 8.1
Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.
Stream on
Kanopy (free)
Pluto TV (free)Plex (free)
Xumo Play (free)+127. Rafa2026
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.4
RAFA retraces Nadal's remarkable journey with cinematic scope, combining testimonies from those who know him best—on and off the court—with unseen moments that reveal what lies behind the legend.
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Netflix28. How the Universe Works2010
Series · 11 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.3
A users' guide to the cosmos, from the Big Bang to galaxies, stars, planets and moons: where did it all come from and how does it all fit together? A primer for anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wondered.
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HBO MaxPhiloDiscovery+
Science Channel+129. Ancient Aliens2010
Series · 22 seasonsDocumentary, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy★ 7.1
Did intelligent beings from outer space visit Earth thousands of years ago? From the age of the dinosaurs to ancient Egypt, from early cave drawings to continued mass sightings in the US, each episode gives historic depth to the questions,…
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NetflixPrime VideoDisney+Hulu+930. NOVA1974
Series · 53 seasonsDocumentary★ 7.1
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and technology, and highlights the people involved in scientific pursuits.
Stream on
Prime VideoYouTube TV
PBS
PBS America+2
Questions
- What are the best documentaries and docuseries right now?
- In the United States, as of November 11, 2026: Planet Earth (2006), rated 8.6 out of 10 on TMDB, then Planet Earth II and The Last Dance.
- How is this list made?
- Watchwalla asks TMDB for everything of this kind that streams in your country today, ranks it by rating (pulled toward the middle until enough people have rated a title), with a nudge for what's new and what people are watching now, and refreshes the list every day. Streaming availability comes from JustWatch, through TMDB.
- Can it pick something for me?
- Yes. The picker at watchwalla.com/tonight asks who's watching, how much time you have and what you're in the mood for, and gives three picks streaming where you are. Sign in and every title also gets a match score for your own taste.