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.

What to watch

The best documentaries on Prime Video right now

Right now the best documentaries and docuseries on Prime Video in the United States are Mayday (2003), Baraka (1992) and Blackfish (2013). 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 12, 2026 · streaming in the United States

Pick three for meAll Films Series

1. 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 onPrime VideofuboTVPeacockPhilo+5
2. 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 onPrime VideoRoku Channel (free)Fandango at Home Free (free)Plex (free)+2
3. Blackfish2013
Film · 1h 23mDocumentary★ 7.9
Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.
Stream onPrime VideofuboTVDoxMagnolia Selects+6
4. The Universe2007
Series · 9 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.0
From the planets to the stars and out to the edge of the unknown, history and science collide in a wondrous yet deadly adventure through space and time.
Stream onPrime VideoPhiloHISTORY VaultHistory+1
5. De viaje con los Derbez2019
Series · 5 seasonsDocumentary★ 7.5
The series follows the fun and endearing Derbez family as they discover new cultures in foreign lands and for the first time – all together and unfiltered.
Stream onPrime VideoVIXViX Premium
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6. 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,…
Stream onNetflixPrime VideoDisney+Hulu+9
7. 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 onPrime VideoYouTube TVPBSPBS America+2
8. The Men Who Built America2012
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.0
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever seen.
Stream onPrime VideoDisney+HuluHISTORY Vault+6
9. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father2008
Film · 1h 34mDocumentary, Crime★ 8.1
In 2001, Andrew Bagby, a medical resident, is murdered not long after breaking up with his girlfriend. Soon after, when she announces she's pregnant, one of Andrew's many close friends, Kurt Kuenne, begins this film, a gift to the child.
Stream onPrime VideoJustWatch TV PlusJustWatch TV Free (free)Kanopy (free)+2
10. The First 482004
Series · 30 seasonsDocumentary, Drama, Crime★ 7.9
The First 48 follows detectives from around the country during these first critical hours as they race against time to find the suspect.
Stream onNetflixPrime VideoDisney+Hulu+10
11. Forensic Files1996
Series · 14 seasonsCrime, Documentary★ 7.9
Real crimes, disease outbreaks and accidents around the world are solved by experts using scientific laboratory analysis which helps them find previously undetectable evidence.
Stream onPrime VideoHulufuboTVPeacock+12
12. Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011
Film · 1h 22mDocumentary★ 7.7
Revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father's legacy.
Stream onPrime VideofuboTVDoxMagnolia Selects+7
13. World War II in Colour2009
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary, War & Politics★ 7.6
World War II In Colour is a 13-episode television documentary miniseries recounting the events of World War II narrated by Robert Powell. The show covers the Western Front, Eastern Front, and the Pacific War.
Stream onPrime VideoWonder ProjectTubi (free)
14. The Joy of Painting1983
Series · 31 seasonsFamily, Documentary★ 8.4
The Joy of Painting was an American television show hosted by painter Bob Ross that taught its viewers techniques for landscape oil painting.
Stream onPrime VideoHulufuboTVMidnight Pulp+6
15. Modern Marvels1993
Series · 23 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.1
HISTORY’s longest-running series moves to H2. Modern Marvels celebrates the ingenuity, invention and imagination found in the world around us.
Stream onPrime VideoPhiloHISTORY VaultHistory+4
16. Rite Here Rite Now2024
Film · 2h 24mMusic, Documentary★ 9.0
Whether you’re a devoted disciple looking to relive treasured memories of the GHOST live spectacle or among the curious uninitiated, RITE HERE RITE NOW will put you right there: putting your phones down and living in the moment—as a shadow…
Stream onPrime VideoKanopy (free)YouTube Free (free)Tubi (free)
17. John Candy: I Like Me2025
Film · 1h 53mDocumentary★ 7.9
Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews.
Stream onPrime Video
18. Man on Wire2008
Film · 1h 34mDocumentary★ 7.4
On August 7th 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit stepped out on a high wire, illegally rigged between New York's World Trade Center twin towers, then the world's tallest buildings.
Stream onNetflixPrime VideoDoxMagnolia Selects+6
19. Ennio2022
Film · 2h 36mDocumentary, Music, History★ 8.3
A portrait of Ennio Morricone, the most popular and prolific film composer of the 20th century, the one most loved by the international public, a two-time Oscar winner and the author of over five hundred unforgettable scores.
Stream onPrime VideoBrewMUBIOVID+9
20. The Food That Built America2019
Series · 7 seasonsDocumentary★ 8.0
The fascinating stories of the families behind the food that built America, those who used brains, muscle, blood, sweat and tears to get to America's heart through its stomach, those who invented new technologies and helped win wars.
Stream onPrime VideoDisney+HuluPhilo+6
21. History's Greatest Mysteries2020
Series · 7 seasonsDocumentary, Mystery★ 7.7
Investigates a wide range of historically compelling topics and the mysteries surrounding each including the Titanic, D.B. Cooper, Roswell, John Wilkes Booth, and more.
Stream onPrime VideoDisney+HuluPhilo+5
22. I Am: Celine Dion2024
Film · 1h 43mDocumentary, Music★ 7.6
A raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar's struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also…
Stream onPrime Video
23. Piece by Piece2024
Film · 1h 34mAnimation, Music, Documentary★ 7.2
A unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams.
Stream onPrime Video
24. James May: Our Man in…2020
Series · 3 seasonsDocumentary, Comedy, Action & Adventure★ 7.6
James May embarks on a remarkable journey across Japan, from its icy north to its balmy south. He’ll see the sights, meet the locals, and eat the noodles in a bid to truly understand the Land of the Rising Sun.
Stream onPrime Video
25. A Haunting2005
Series · 12 seasonsDocumentary, Mystery, Drama★ 7.5
These are the true stories of the innocent and the unimaginable. Based on true events, A Haunting dramatises some of the scariest stories, revealing a world in which tragedy, suicide and murder have left psychic impressions so powerful…
Stream onPrime VideoHBO MaxPeacockPhilo+13
26. Deadly Women2005
Series · 14 seasonsDocumentary★ 7.9
This compelling series investigates the motives and m.o. of female murderers. While males are often driven by anger, impulse and destruction, women usually have more complex, long-term reasons to kill.
Stream onPrime VideoDisney+HuluHBO Max+9
27. Cold Case Files2017
Series · 4 seasonsCrime, Mystery, Documentary★ 7.9
There are over 100,000 cold cases in America, and only about 1% are ever solved. With recent advancements in technology and the methods used to solve these cases, as well as the unwavering dedication of victims’ families, law enforcement…
Stream onPrime VideoDisney+HuluPhilo+6
28. How Do They Do It?2006
Series · 17 seasonsDocumentary★ 7.5
An insider's look at the engineering and scientific miracles behind the things that form the modern world.
Stream onPrime VideoHBO MaxPhiloDiscovery++7
29. All or Nothing: Arsenal2022
Series · 1 seasonDocumentary★ 8.1
Follow the iconic football club during an unforgettable season. As fans return to stadiums, the 2021-22 football season puts pressure on Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta and his young team to get back to their former glories and back into…
Stream onPrime Video
30. The Last Waltz1978
Film · 1h 57mDocumentary, Music★ 7.7
Martin Scorsese's documentary intertwines footage from The Band's incredible farewell tour with probing backstage interviews and featured performances by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and other rock legends.
Stream onPrime VideoKanopy (free)Hoopla (free)Roku Channel (free)+2

Questions

What are the best documentaries and docuseries on Prime Video right now?: In the United States, as of November 12, 2026: Mayday (2003), rated 8.2 out of 10 on TMDB, then Baraka and Blackfish.
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.

The best documentaries on Prime Video right now

1. Mayday2003

2. Baraka1992

3. Blackfish2013

4. The Universe2007

5. De viaje con los Derbez2019

6. Ancient Aliens2010

7. NOVA1974

8. The Men Who Built America2012

9. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father2008

10. The First 482004

11. Forensic Files1996

12. Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011

13. World War II in Colour2009

14. The Joy of Painting1983

15. Modern Marvels1993

16. Rite Here Rite Now2024

17. John Candy: I Like Me2025

18. Man on Wire2008

19. Ennio2022

20. The Food That Built America2019

21. History's Greatest Mysteries2020

22. I Am: Celine Dion2024

23. Piece by Piece2024

24. James May: Our Man in…2020

25. A Haunting2005

26. Deadly Women2005

27. Cold Case Files2017

28. How Do They Do It?2006

29. All or Nothing: Arsenal2022

30. The Last Waltz1978

Questions

More to choose from