Biographical Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated December 21, 2024
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
2012 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsThis documentary follows six teenagers who formed a skateboarding team in the 1980s, revitalizing the sport and becoming its top athletes: Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain and Rodney Mullen.
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Bridegroom
2013 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsHelmed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this illuminating documentary chronicles the story of Shane Bitney Crone, who finds himself shut out and deprived of the legal protections of marriage after his same-sex partner dies in a tragic accident.
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Senna
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis fast-paced documentary profiles Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One racing, and a hero in his native Brazil. Using archival footage, director Asif Kapadia examines the idealistic Senna's inspiring legend.
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American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsAs host of "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, Johnny Carson was seen by more people on more occasions than anyone else in American history. Explore Carson's life and career, as well as the history of his beloved television program.
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We Were Children
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis emotional film reflects the stories of two people who endured a Canadian program that forced First Nations children to negate their aboriginal identity. Separated from their families at a very young age, they faced brutality and mental abuse.
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Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary presents the musical saga of Arnel Pineda, who goes from singing in Manila nightclubs to fronting the legendary rock band Journey. Brought into the group just before a world tour, Arnel must sell himself to Journey's many fans.
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The Short Game (Trailer)
2013 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThey may only be grade schoolers, but these young golfers are already competing in a world championship on a prestigious North Carolina course that could secure one of them a future as a professional.
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Chasing Ice
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsEnvironmental photographer James Balog deploys time-lapse cameras to capture a record of the world's changing glaciers, compressing years into seconds to illustrate how these ice mountains are disappearing at a breathtaking rate.
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Indie Game: The Movie
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis captivating documentary follows several independent game designers as they painstakingly develop their games and hope for breakthrough success. It also explores the quirky sensibility these personalities bring to their art form.
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Beauty Is Embarrassing
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsGet to know Wayne White, one of America's most unusual and arresting artists, with this snappy documentary that traces the ups and downs of his career. The jovial White discusses his art, strums the banjo, plays with puppets and simply enjoys life.
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Bill Cunningham New York
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsLiving simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city -- both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy.
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Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis compelling documentary explores three years in the life of celebrated Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, who uses social media and his art to inspire protests against the state, and suffers government persecution for his actions.
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Serving Life
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFilmed in a notorious Louisiana prison, this moving documentary chronicles the work of some inmates who find a sense of redemption for their past crimes by volunteering in the jail's hospice, offering compassion to other prisoners as they die.
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Searching for Sugar Man
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThe incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon who never was. Decades after Detroit singer-songwriter Rodriguez disappeared following the failure of his two critically praised records in the 1970s, two fans from South Africa, where Rodriguez was a huge hit, try to track down their idol.
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First Position
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFollow dancers training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions. The stakes are high: their performances will determine the success or failure of their dreams.
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Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsFocusing on two men whose bodies have been trashed by steroids, obesity and illness, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path -- including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables -- that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health.
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Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsBeloved by millions of children, Elmo is a global icon. However, few people know the soft-spoken man behind the furry red monster: Kevin Clash. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary follows Clash's remarkable career as a puppeteer.
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Crime After Crime
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsConvicted of killing her brutally abusive boyfriend in 1983, Deborah Peagler languished in prison for 20 years. When California legislation allowing incarcerated domestic-violence survivors to reopen their cases becomes law, a pair of novice attorneys agree to take on her case. Armed with evidence of their client's innocence, the two encounter a bewildering maze of bureaucratic procedures and political corruption as they seek justice.
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Mitt (Trailer)
2013 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsWith unprecedented access, this documentary captures Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, revealing a side of the candidate the public never saw.
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Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsGet an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Usain St. Leo Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter who's widely regarded as the fastest man in the world and became a legend at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Waiting for Lightning
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsDanny Way's passion for skateboarding would one day bring him and his creation, a ramp of dangerous proportions, to the height of fame. This documentary captures pro skater Way as he attempts to jump the Great Wall of China.
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Buck
2011 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsBuck Brannaman, inspiration for "The Horse Whisperer," is revealed as a complex figure in this Sundance Audience Award winner for Best Documentary by Cindy Meehl. The master horseman reveals details of his troubled childhood and his dawning awareness of new ways that humans and horses might work with one another. As Buck learns more about horses, he finds that the ways we communicate with our animal companions offer lessons on how we relate to fellow human beings.
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The Other F Word
2011 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThis insightful documentary examines the mid-life evolution of a generation of punk rockers, including Jim Lindberg, Art Alexakis and Flea, who must reconcile fatherhood and responsible family life with their status as legendary anti-authoritarians.
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Moto 4: The Movie
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsMoto 4 dig deeps to find what pushes the top riders -- including seasoned champs Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey and rising stars Eli Tomac or Ken Roczen -- to keep elevating the sport of motocross.
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Katy Perry: Part of Me
2012 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsPop star Katy Perry is captured on and offstage in this revealing diary of her California Dreams Tour, featuring her Los Angeles performances. The film shares the air of glamour and fun that radiates from this talented and unique artist.
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