10 Best Educational Documentaries on Netflix

10 Best Educational Netflix Original (documentaries) Movies: Documentaries are a pivotal representational medium. Skepticism might exist about the medium’s faithful presentation of reality and truth. Yet this documented representation of reality—which can be poetic, observational, and expository— contains some educational value. When we think of documentaries made for informative and educational purposes, we might consider them a visual supplement to stuff that’s otherwise (dryly) verbalized in books or lectures. However, the ever-broadening documentary medium integrates innovative audio-visual techniques to profoundly engage with its viewers and to enable meaningful conversations. 

The rise of streaming platforms has only seen the emergence of documentaries that equally educate and captivate its viewers. Netflix, in particular, boasts a vast library of original documentaries that acquaints us with uplifting and informative stories across the world. From documentaries that instill wonderment about our natural world to inspirational journeys of steadfast individuals, these works offer a wide variety of everyday and extraordinary tales. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best educational Netflix documentary movies. From award-winning titles to hidden gems, these Netflix original documentaries will strike a chord with older kids and curious adults.

10. Sisters on Track (2021)

Netflix Original, sports-centric documentary Sisters on Track, directed by Corine van der Borch & Tone Grottjord-Glenne, focuses on the three New York sisters and track stars. The Sheppard siblings – Tai, Rainn, and Brooke – participated in the Junior Olympic Games and were pronounced Sports Illustrated’s 2016 SportsKids of the Year. The recognition helped the young athletes and their single mother, Tonia, to move from the homeless shelter to a rented apartment. But this was only the beginning of their journey, as the Netflix documentary chronicles the family’s hardships and challenges to rise above the social and economic constraints. 

Supporting the Sheppard sisters in their endeavor is Jean Bell, who has been running the Brooklyn-based Jeuness Track Club for more than three decades. She not only builds the confidence of underprivileged girls but also assists them with track scholarships. In a way, Sisters on Track is an inspiring story of Jean Bell, too – an individual who truly understands the uplifting nature of sports and education. While the documentary starts as a perfectly packaged success story, the directors gradually explore the internal and external aspects that impact the girls’ victory on the track field. Sisters on Track doesn’t quite offer a comprehensive portrait of the central subjects, and its approach is a bit uneven. Yet, it instills hope and inspiration in the communities that need it the most.

Related to Best Educational Movies on Netflix – Lift (2022) Review – Inspiring Journeys from the Homeless Shelter to the Ballet Stage

9. Puff: Wonders of the Reef (2021)

There are plenty of educational and eye-opening documentaries on coral reefs and their endangerment due to climate change. As its title suggests, Nick Robinson’s Puff: Wonders of the Reef dives into the astonishing micro-world of the reefs. Our window into this world is a baby pufferfish, who navigates the treacherous waters and defies predators to grow and survive. Rather than go for a relatively straightforward message about coral reef preservation, Wonders of the Reef makes us deeply feel the importance and beauty of the reefs through its stunning visuals. 

Filmed on the Great Barrier Reef and lightheartedly narrated by the Australian actor Rose Byrne, the Netflix Original documentary was made with specially developed equipment to capture things that are too small or slow for our human eyes to perceive. Robinson and his cinematographer, Pete West’s journey into the intricate reef universe is absolutely breathtaking to behold.

From Puff blowing himself up to a spiky ball to evade a predator to the incredible close-ups of a porcelain crab and a cone snail, it’s easy to get immersed in this fantastical and colorful micro-world. Byrne’s narration and the pitch-perfect editing evoke some humor that might appeal to the younger audience. At just 59 minutes, Wonders of the Reef is an enjoyable and informative documentary on a biologically diverse ecosystem.

8. Spelling the Dream (2020)

Sam Rega’s Netflix Original documentary, Spelling the Dream, focuses on the remarkable success of Indian Americans in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition. It opens with the incredible 2019 contest, where eight contestants became co-champions after an exhausting and record-breaking night of spelling. Rega’s documentary explores the dominance of Indian-American kids in spelling bee through four subjects: Shourav (14), Tejas (14), Ashrita (10), and Akash (7). Shourav’s confidence and Akash’s quirky spontaneity are so captivating to behold. 

On the one hand, we witness the educational and inspiring journey of these super-spellers to compete at the National Spelling Bee. On the other hand, through diverse Indian-American interviewees (including comedian Hari & Dr. Sanjay Gupta), Rega examines the assumptions surrounding the alleged wizardry of these kids. There are no unique genetic dispositions or demanding, pushy parents. It’s all about hard work, determination, and resilience.

Spelling the Dream also wades into the murky waters of racial bias as these kids’ American identity is often up for debate in social media. At times, the documentary’s approach to the subject becomes run-of-the-mill and not as exciting or thrilling as Jeffrey Blitz’s masterful documentary Spellbound (2002). Yet, Spelling the Dream is definitely worth a watch for putting a spotlight on this quintessential American success story.

Related to Best Educational Movies on Netflix – 10 Fascinating Child/Teen Prodigy Movies

7. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)

The legendary British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough has had a prolific career presenting and producing natural history documentaries for several decades. This benevolent figure with a soothing voice has taken us on myriad journeys through the ever-changing habitats of our world. From dense rainforests to vast deserts and deep oceans, David Attenborough’s passion and enthusiasm for examining wildlife from various habitats are positively infectious. The Netflix Original documentary A Life on Our Planet showcases the 93-year-old Attenborough’s erudite testimony on how our planet has changed drastically within his lifetime. 

Interspersed with clips from the veteran naturalist’s wildlife explorations, A Life On Our Planet illustrates the large-scale crisis affecting our planet’s biodiversity. Like most climate change awareness documentaries, the warnings and steps to take are pretty familiar. Yet, hearing from this master narrator, who has always used film as a primary tool to educate people about ecosystems and the environment, the urgency of the message hits us deeply. The pensive sadness with which Mr. Attenborough speaks about the human recklessness and decimation of the natural world evokes a flurry of emotions within us. 

At the same time, David Attenborough offers optimistic predictions for the future. He provides an intriguing glimpse of what we can achieve through our collective responsibility and by making crucial lifestyle changes. If you aren’t already horrified by what’s happening to our environment, A Life on our Planet can be the final wake-up call.

6. Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale (2022)

Renee Godfrey and Matt Meech’s Netflix Original documentary, Surviving Paradise, chronicles the different animal families’ quest for survival in the alternately hostile and generous landscape of the Okavango Delta in the Kalahari Desert. Our window into this complex and expansive habitat is the families of an elephant, a painted wolf, and a lion. These families endure the changing seasons and ensure their offspring are protected from multiple threats. We also get a glimpse of the ecological catastrophes these animals cope with – from drought to wildfires. Bolstered by gorgeous cinematography, Surviving Paradise is one of the most entertaining and educational Netflix movies for the family. 

The Netflix doc mostly avoids detailing the gory reality of the kill or a hunt and focuses more on how a strong family unit evades the ever-present perils. Moreover, actor Rege-Jean Page’s narration (best known for playing Simon Basset in Bridgerton) is saturated with both sweetness and poignance. Apart from the three animal families, we also get a look at various other animal populations, such as hippos, pelicans, crocodiles, impalas, water buffaloes, and zebras. Renee Godfrey has previously worked as an assistant producer in the groundbreaking docu-series Human Planet (2011), whereas his co-director Matt Meech has served as the editor of extraordinary nature series like Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II.

Related to Best Educational Movies on Netflix – 10 Best Movies Dealing with Climate Change

5. Chasing Coral (2017)

Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski-Yang (director of Chasing Ice and The Social Dilemma) is an effective coral reef and climate change documentary delineating the power of image to inspire change. Former ad executive Richard Vevers actuates an environmental advocacy project on the rapid global extinction of coral reefs. But despite his passion for the ocean, Vevers’ understanding of coral colonies is limited. Yet, like many of us concerned about global warming, Vevers understands how losing this intricate and precious ecosystem would impact our planet. His journey to make a layperson comprehend coral reef extinction without any heavy scientific explanation forms the crux of Netflix’s original documentary, Chasing Coral. 

While it starts as a passion project with an intent to educate, the documentary gradually brings an emotional aspect to the events and makes us root for the collective mission. Central to Chasing Coral’s visceral and emotional impact is Zackery Rago, a self-avowed coral nerd. Rago’s journey, alongside Vevers, Orlowski, and other conservationists, tirelessly brings to light the many challenges Earth’s oceans face. The sheer visceral impact of witnessing the devastating results of their project makes it much more than a polemical climate change documentary. Sadly, despite the hope and awareness instilled by the documentary, the global decline in coral reefs is persisting. It’s been seven years since the making of Chasing Coral, and coral scientists are expecting “unprecedented mass coral bleaching” in 2024.

4. Into the Inferno (2016)

Veteran filmmaker Werner Herzog has been an intrepid explorer, capturing the farthest corners of the world and the strangest aspects of the human condition. The Netflix original documentary Into the Inferno chronicles Herzog’s global voyage to document active volcanoes. Teaming up with the British volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, whom Herzog met in Antarctica while shooting the 2007 documentary Encounters at the End of the World, the duo not only focuses on the raging mountains of fire but also zeroes-in on humankind’s relationship and interpretations of these terrifying wonders. 

The documentary opens at a village situated near the active volcano Mt. Yasur, in the South Pacific island nation Vanuatu. The village chief speaks of their ancestor’s spirits living inside the volcano and how his brother can communicate with the ever-rumbling mountain. As Herzog and Oppenheimer travel to Indonesia, Ethiopia, North Korea, and Iceland, we learn how humankind has concocted myths and legends about the volcanoes. Interestingly, Oppenheimer or Herzog doesn’t exhibit condescending attitudes towards the local cultural beliefs. With his evenhanded narration that expresses bemusement, Werner Herzog reflects on the insignificance of the human race in the face of the majestic and deadly force of nature. 

At times, Into the Inferno seems to digress, examining the idiosyncrasies of people more than the science behind volcanoes. However, most of the enigmatic and eccentric individuals Herzog comes across showcase humankind’s intriguing relationship with nature. Moreover, the North Korea episode, shot from the perspective of an earnest, neutral observer, offers an insightful glimpse into life behind the Iron Curtain.

Related to Best Educational Movies on Netflix – The 10 Best Documentaries Of 2022

3. Chimp Empire (2023) 

James Reed, the BAFTA and Academy-Award-winning co-director of My Octopus Teacher, has directed the riveting and immersive Netflix limited series documentary Chimp Empire. The four-part docu-series, set in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, explores the intricate dynamics between two communities of Ngogo chimpanzees. Mr. Reed has previously directed a documentary observing the Ngogo chimpanzee clan, titled Rise of the Warrior Apes (2017). But unlike Rise of the Warrior Apes, Chimp Empire doesn’t feature researchers’ interviews and instead opts for an incredible scripted narration (written by Matt Houghton and narrated by actor Mahershala Ali). 

At times, the battle for supremacy between Jackson’s Central Group and Hutcherson’s Westerners evokes tension, like an action thriller. At the same time, the educational documentary doesn’t forsake science for the thrills. Chimp Empire offers a wealth of information about the chimpanzee community – from the politics and economics of its relationships to the source of sustenance and the brutal territorial conflicts. The grooming, meat sharing, border patrolling, and dominance displays provide us with a fascinating glimpse into a world we know little about. Moreover, the story of how James Reed and his team captured these dramatic situations looks as captivating as the scenarios in the docu-series. 

The chimps’ hunting strategies can be scary to watch for little kids. But mostly, the documentary doesn’t focus much on the acts of violence. There are occasions when we might question the scientific accuracy of the documentary’s narration or wonder how much of the insights are strongly anthropomorphized. Yet, Chimp Empire bestows a revelatory look at an animal community that isn’t so different from us.

2. My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Great documentaries, while informing us on a specific subject, can also craft a grippingly coherent narrative that mixes wonders, thrills, and a heartwrenching drama. That’s precisely what the Academy-Award-winning Netflix Original documentary, My Octopus Teacher, gloriously brings to the screen. Directed by James Reed & Pippa Ehrlich, the documentary follows naturalist and filmmaker Craig Foster exploring underwater kelp forest at a remote location near Capetown, South Africa. There, he begins to forge a bond with an octopus. When the human intrusion is not perceived as a threat, the octopus, driven by curiosity, observes the individual. Over a year, Craig meticulously documents his various encounters with the octopus. 

Anyone familiar with octopuses might know they are solitary animals with a very short life span. However, what the documentary highlights – from Craig’s routine observations – is the octopus’ complex problem-solving qualities and abilities to manipulate her environment. At the same, beyond science, the octopus, through her human observer, becomes a genuine flesh-and-blood character. Foster’s soothing narration can be accused of anthropomorphizing the octopus’s behavior. However, the documentary handles this strong emotional attachment in a level-handed manner, making us think about universal human emotions like longing, empathy, and healing. 

The magic of the underwater world is also captured in a mesmerizing manner. Rather than reciting facts and making experts explain things, My Octopus Teacher simply evokes our curiosity about kelp forest ecosystems through the deeds of its one smart inhabitant. This is one of the truly engaging and educational movies on Netflix that people need to watch again and again.

Related to Best Educational Movies on Netflix – Against the Tide (2023): ‘Sundance’ Review

1. Daughters of Destiny (2017)

Vanessa Roth’s four-part docuseries, Daughters of Destiny, can be an eye-opening glimpse into the inequalities and discrimination deeply entrenched in Indian society. Roth explores this subject through the struggles of five girls who are socially discriminated against and financially underprivileged. But pivotal to their stories is the boarding school they study: Shanti Bhavan, situated in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Each year, the school takes twenty-four students (12 boys and 12 girls) from the marginalized Dalit communities, educating them (apart from housing and feeding them) from the age of four until they finish college. The school’s founder, Mr. Abraham George, sold his software business in America to a Fortune 500 company to start Shanti Bhavan in 1997. He and his son, Ajit George, perceive education as a means to uplift the kids and their families from poverty and discrimination. 

When Daughters of Destiny began, I was open to learning about this fascinating school and, at the same time, a bit skeptical, wondering if it would turn out to be an overly idealized portrayal of Shanti Bhavan’s inspiring journey through the five girls’ perspectives. But gradually, Vanessa Roth shapes Daughters of Destiny as a nuanced exploration of the girls’ – Thenmozhi, Manjula, Karthika, Preetha, and Shilpa – individual growth, identity crisis, and their shifting relationships with their families. Shot over seven years, as we witness these girls navigating their emotions and personal challenges, plenty of profound questions about gender, class, and caste are raised. In fact, it’s astounding how a documentary about the importance of education and a unique school covers multiple issues plaguing Indian society. 

Read More: 10 Delightful Indian Documentaries of the Decade (2010s)

Vaness Roth’s keenly observational approach brings out a few contradictions and problematic aspects within the school’s lofty ideals. The documentary follows the girls beyond the school premises to showcase the developmental and psychological obstacles they must overcome to bear the tremendous responsibilities. This ability to keep in touch with the girls’ reality makes it much more than an inspirational or educational documentary. Eventually, film critic Roger Ebert’s words on the groundbreaking documentary Hoop Dreams (1994) can be quoted in relation to the impact of Daughters of Destiny: “ It takes us, shakes us, and makes us think in new ways about the world around us. It gives us the impression of having touched life itself.”

Follow Essayhub.com, as their essay writers are skilled at creating custom essays, write college essays for money, addressing complex topics, and completing homework within tight deadlines.

An online essay writing company like Smart Writing Service can be life saver when it comes to getting custom-written papers done fast and well. A professional essay, like a good movie, can inspire you to achieve more and show you approaches to your essays that you never thought possible. A great custom essay is never more than a click away.