Best documentary & western series streaming, ranked.
Your next watch, decided. Every show ranked by quality — not popularity. No more arguing about what to watch tonight — share a WatchList with your partner.
Sign in to triage shows — WatchList, SkipList, or rank what you've seen. Triaged shows are hidden.
- #1100#1100
MAXPlanet Earth
2006– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Family
4 EmmysBest Documentary SeriesA documentary series on the wildlife found on Earth. Each episode covers a different habitat: deserts, mountains, deep oceans, shallow seas, forests, caves, polar regions, fresh water, plains and jungles. Narrated by David Attenbo...
MAX - #399#399Paramount+
1883
2021–2022 · Series · 1 seasonWestern · Drama
The post-Civil war generation of the Dutton family travels to Texas, and joins a wagon train undertaking the arduous journey west to Oregon, before settling in Montana to establish what would eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch.
Paramount+ - #797#797
NetflixGodless
2017– · Series · 1 seasonWestern · Action · Drama
3 EmmysIn the 1880s American West, murderous outlaw gang leader Frank Griffin hunts for ex-protege Roy Goode. Frank's chase leads him to La Belle, New Mexico--a town inhabited, after a mining disaster, almost entirely by women.
Netflix - #2891#2891MAX
What's My Name | Muhammad Ali
2019– · SeriesDocumentary · Biography · Sport
One of the most iconic figures in athletic history, Muhammad Ali's incredible story from world champion boxer to inspiring social activist is explored through his own voice and never-before-seen archival material.
MAX - #3391#3391
Apple TV+Long Way Round
2004–2010 · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Action
In 2004 Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on an epic challenge to bike 20,000-miles across 12 countries and 19 time zones in just 115 days. Watch as two friends ride around the world together and, against all the odds, realize their dream.
Apple TV+ - #4090#4090
NetflixChef's Table
2015–2024 · Series · 7 seasonsDocumentary · Biography
Chef's Table goes inside the lives and kitchens of six of the world's most renowned international chefs. Each episode focuses on a single chef and their unique look at their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary ...
Netflix - #4688#4688Prime Video
The Universe
2007–2015 · Series · 9 seasonsDocumentary · History
This educational show explores many scientific questions and topics about the universe (Big Bang, the Sun, the planets, black holes, other galaxies, astrobiology etc.) through latest CGI, data and interviews with scientists.
Prime Video - #4988#4988
Disney+MAXHuluMythBusters
2003–2018 · Series · 15 seasonsDocumentary · Mystery · Reality
The Mythbusters use science (and explosions) to answer every shower thought ever. From testing the myth that coke and pop rocks can explode your stomach, to recreating historical weapons to see how they worked.
Disney+MAXHulu - #5188#5188Disney+
LIGHT & MAGIC
2022–2025 · Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary · History
Showcasing the people of Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects division of Lucasfilm, this series takes us back in time as they create the effects for some of the biggest and most successful films of the last 45 years.
Disney+ - #5488#5488
MAXHuluHomicide Hunter: Lt Joe Kenda
2011–2023 · Series · 9 seasonsDocumentary · Crime
Through re-enactments, discussions with investigation teams, and interviews with victims' families and other involved persons, the show highlights Lt. Joe Kenda's successes with his 387 homicide case history and 92% solution rate.
MAXHulu - #5788#5788
HuluMcCartney 3, 2, 1
2021– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography
2021 Six Episode Series on Hulu: Producer Rick Rubin interviews Paul McCartney on his work with the Beatles, Wings, and as a solo artist, including stories about his personal relationships that inspired his songwriting.
Hulu - #6487#6487
HuluPrime VideoThe Men Who Built America
2012– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · History
2 EmmysRockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan. Their names are part of history and synonymous with the American dream. These men transformed every industry they touched: oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobiles, and fin...
HuluPrime Video - #6687#6687Netflix
Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
The series chronicles the creation of the atomic bomb and the spread of nuclear arms over the following decades. It continues past the dissolution of the Soviet Union to Vladimir Putin's ascent and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Netflix - #6786#6786Disney+
The End of an Era
2025– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
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 headlines and thrilled fans around the world. The series also spotlights performers, family members, and friends — including Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Florence Welch — offering never-before-seen insight into what it took to create a phenomenon.
Disney+ - #7486#7486Netflix
Lenox Hill
2020– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography
An intimate look at the lives of four doctors - two brain surgeons, an emergency room physician, and a Chief Resident OBGYN - as they navigate the highs and lows of working at the renowned Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Netflix - #8086#8086Prime Video
James May: Our Man in…
2020–2024 · Series · 3 seasonsDocumentary · Action · Comedy
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.
Prime Video - #9185#9185Netflix
Sunderland 'Til I Die
2018–2024 · Series · 3 seasonsDocumentary · Sport
Highlights the unfailing passion Sunderland residents have for their beloved football club, taking viewers through the highs and lows of SAFC's 2017-18 season in the Championship following its relegation the previous year.
Netflix - #9485#9485Disney+Hulu
The Incredible Dr. Pol
2011–2024 · Series · 24 seasonsDocumentary · Reality
With more than 20,000 patients, Dr. Pol has seen it all. Specializing in large farm animals, this senior is anything but retiring as he takes an old school, no-nonsense approach to veterinary medicine.
Disney+Hulu - #9885#9885
HuluPrime VideoBuzzfeed Unsolved: True Crime
2016–2021 · Series · 8 seasonsDocumentary · Comedy · Crime
Conspiracy theory enthusiast Ryan deep-dives into mysteries surrounding notorious unsolved crimes, in order to convince his dubious friend Shane that, sometimes, the evidence isn't always as it seems.
HuluPrime Video - #10085#10085
Apple TV+Real Madrid: Until the End
2023– · Series · Spanish · 1 seasonDocumentary · Sport
On their path to one of the most remarkable endings in football history, which resulted in a record 14th Champions League triumph, they overcome the odds and doubters with the support of their ardent fans.
Apple TV+ - #10185#10185MAX
Conan O'Brien Must Go
2024– · Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary · Comedy
2 EmmysAfter years of conversations with listeners from across the world on his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (2018), Conan O'Brien sets off on an epic journey to connect with some of his dedicated followers in person.
MAX - #11184#11184
Prime VideoAll or Nothing
2016– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Sport
For the first time in history, Amazon and NFL Films present an unprecedented inside look at the lives of players, coaches and owners of a franchise over the course of an entire NFL season. Witness the real life, behind the scenes ...
Prime Video - #13283#13283MAX
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
2018– · SeriesDocumentary · Biography · Comedy
1 EmmyJudd Apatow presents an emotional two-part in-depth look at the life, career and complex internal struggles of his loving mentor, the influential stand-up comedian and actor Garry Shandling, based on Shandling's personal diaries.
MAX - #13883#13883
Paramount+Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough
2015–2016 · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
David Attenborough revisits the Great Barrier Reef after nearly 60 years. His visit takes him from the most exposed part of the reef as well as down to 300m below the surface discovering corals never seen before.
Paramount+ - #14183#14183
Prime VideoDeath Valley Days
1952–1970 · Series · 18 seasonsWestern
Western stories and legends based, and filmed, in and around Death Valley, California. One of the longest-running Western series, originating on radio in the 1930s. The continuing sponsor was "20 Mule Team" Borax, a product former...
Prime Video - #14582#14582
Apple TV+The Dynasty: New England Patriots
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Sport
A 10-part series featuring never-before-seen footage of the New England Patriots' 20-year journey from struggling franchise to football dynasty. In the process, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft reveal the cost of greatn...
Apple TV+ - #15082#15082Disney+HuluPrime Video
The Food That Built America
2019– · Series · 6 seasonsDocumentary · History
Food will tell the unknown stories of innovation and rivalries behind food industry tycoons Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, Henry Heinz, C.W. Post, the McDonald brothers and more.
Disney+HuluPrime Video - #15782#15782Netflix
Alma Matters: Inside the IIT Dream
2021– · Series · HindiDocumentary
In a "nation of middle-class" the IIT dream involves clearing the world's toughest public exam for guaranteed lifelong success. Life is not an exam though. It's a hustle, one that nobody trains them for. The result? Eternal tumult.
Netflix - #16082#16082Netflix
Headspace Guide to Meditation
2021– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Animation
Over the course of eight animated episodes, Andy Puddicombe—former Buddhist monk and co-founder of the globally beloved Headspace meditation app—takes viewers through the benefits and science behind meditation.
Netflix - #16182#16182
Disney+Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All
2023– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography
Follows Sheeran's personal life as he discusses how this trying time has affected him and his new music. It will spotlight how an unlikely child with a stutter rose to fame and how his chart-topping hits were born
Disney+ - #18381#18381
Paramount+Aerial America
2010– · Series · 8 seasonsDocumentary
Helicopter flights above the USA give breathtaking views of the nation's historic landmarks and natural wonders all presented in stunning HD aerial cinematography while narration provides background information and historical cont...
Paramount+ - #18481#18481
NetflixThe Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
The 2004 Red Sox team broke an 86-year drought, overcame a 3-0 series deficit and won the franchise's first World Series title since 1918. A historic comeback by the team that lifted one of baseball's longest curses.
Netflix - #19480#19480
Prime VideoMonty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
2009– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography
A documentary on the history on British comedy group Monty Python. Features interviews with the five surviving members plus other comedians and artists whose careers they have influenced.
Prime Video - #19880#19880Disney+Hulu
The Third Reich: The Rise & Fall
2010– · SeriesDocumentary · History · War
THIRD REICH: THE RISE & FALL tells the story of Hitler's Germany through rarely seen films of the people who were there. Immersive and evocative, it takes viewers inside the Germany of the 20s, 30s, and early 40s, through the use ...
Disney+Hulu - #20480#20480
Prime VideoTed Bundy: Falling for a Killer
2020– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · Crime
After nearly 40 years of silence, Elizabeth Kendall Ted Bundy's former girlfriend and her daughter Molly share their experiences with unsettling new details about the notorious serial killer.
Prime Video - #22480#22480Prime Video
Victorian Farm
2009– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · History
In this unique project, historian Ruth Goodman as well as archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn immerse themselves in the life of the Victorian farmer as he would have lived on the Acton Scott Estate.
Prime Video - #22779#22779Prime Video
Earnhardt
2025– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · History
The untold story of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s ascent as NASCAR's preeminent figure. His charm resonated beyond the sport, yielding fame and fortune. An intimate exploration of a working-class icon's impact on his family and the racing world.
Prime Video - #22979#22979
NetflixJack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
2017–2021 · Series · 5 seasonsDocumentary · Comedy
Follows Jack Whitehall as he embarks on the trip of a lifetime with his father, Michael. The two set off on a journey across South East Asia to partake in a series of adventures, mishaps and escapades with two very different persp...
Netflix - #23079#23079Paramount+
We Need to Talk About Cosby
2022– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · Crime
During his nearly 50 years in show business, Bill Cosby became one of America's most recognizable black celebrities: his career was a model of excellence for millions of Americans, until the painful testimonies of dozens of women uncovered the sinister grimace behind the smile of the so-called America's dad.
Paramount+ - #23379#23379Prime Video
Orelsan: Never Show This to Anyone
2021–2022 · Series · French · 2 seasonsDocumentary
In the early 2000s, Aurelien Cotentin is a young middle-class man from Caen with an uncertain future. When he gets into rap music with his friends, he's really starting from the bottom. Yet, through hardships, controversies and constantly being filmed by his admiring little brother, Aurelien becomes Orelsan, one of the most popular French artists of his generation, changing the rap genre forever.
Prime Video - #23979#23979Disney+
Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II
2020– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Family
With less than a year until the world premiere of Frozen II (2019), the filmmakers, artists, songwriters and cast open their doors to cameras for a six-part documentary series to reveal the hard work, heart, and collaboration that...
Disney+ - #24679#24679
NetflixAmerican Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing
2023– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime · History
Follows the tragedy in which terrorists detonated a bomb at the Boston Marathon's finish line; they carried out the attack by placing two homemade pressure-cooker bombs that resulted in three fatalities and numerous injuries.
Netflix - #25579#25579Prime Video
A Cook's Tour
2002–2003 · Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary
Bad-boy chef and author Anthony Bourdain goes off the beaten track in search of foods that are rare, highly esteemed and sometimes downright dangerous. The show, which aired for two seasons on the Food Network, was an offshoot of a best-selling book Bourdain wrote in 2001.
Prime Video - #25879#25879Apple TV+
Vietnam: The War That Changed America
2025– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
A raw, intimate look at the Vietnam War's impact on America. Through personal stories, the series examines the conflict's far-reaching consequences and lasting influence on society as the 50th anniversary of Saigon's fall approaches.
Apple TV+ - #26379#26379PeacockPrime Video
The Cisco Kid
1950–1956 · Series · 6 seasonsWestern
The Cisco Kid rides through the American frontier with his sidekick, Pancho, fighting corruption with a blend of pride and humor that created a legend in the hearts of generations of television viewers.
PeacockPrime Video - #26778#26778Netflix
The Confession Tapes
2017–2019 · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime
A critical look into some true crime cases where American law enforcement made up for lack of actual physical evidence by using devious psychological tactics during interrogation in order to extract confessions from naive suspects.
Netflix - #26978#26978
Disney+HuluNetflixPeacockPrime Video60 Days In
2016– · Series · 9 seasonsDocumentary · Crime · Reality
"60 Days In" offers an unprecedented look at life behind bars at Indiana's Clark County Jail. Seven ordinary people volunteer to live among its general population for 60 days, without fellow inmates or staff knowing their secret.
Disney+HuluNetflixPeacockPrime Video - #27078#27078Netflix
Sean Combs: The Reckoning
2025– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime
A revealing look at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' journey from music mogul to high-profile sexual offender, featuring footage and insider accounts that expose both his groundbreaking success with Bad Boy Entertainment and the troubling shadows behind his empire.
Netflix - #27378#27378Netflix
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson
2025– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime · History
Revisits the infamous 1990s murder case and trial that captivated America. With new interviews and insights, it explores the chase, courtroom drama, and cultural impact, offering a fresh look at this pivotal moment in US history.
Netflix - #27778#27778
Prime VideoHighway Thru Hell
2012– · Series · 12 seasonsDocumentary · Reality
See how a local heavy recovery firm works through the hard winters helping highway users that have fallen victim to the brutal road conditions. Their essential service keeps the traffic on the highways thru hell moving.
Prime Video - #27978#27978
NetflixThe Confession Killer
2019– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime
Henry Lee Lucas was known as America's most prolific serial killer, admitting to hundreds of murders, but, as DNA results contradict his confessions, will they expose the biggest criminal justice hoax in U.S. history?
Netflix - #28078#28078
Prime VideoEdwardian Farm
2010–2011 · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Action
In this 12-part documentary series of Edwardian Farm, archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and historian Ruth Goodman go back in time to the early 1900s to live the lives of Edwardian farmers for a full calendar year.
Prime Video - #28278#28278
Prime VideoGreat Greek Myths
2016–2021 · Series · French · 3 seasonsDocumentary · Animation · Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Tales of love, sex, power, betrayal, heinous crimes, unbearable separations, atrocious revenge, and metamorphoses - the poetic force of the myths has crossed the centuries.
Prime Video - #28678#28678
Disney+HuluSecrets of the Octopus
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Action
Octopuses are like aliens on Earth: three hearts, blue blood and the ability to squeeze through a space the size of their eyeballs, but the secrets of the octopus are more extraordinary than we ever imagined.
Disney+Hulu - #28978#28978MAX
I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter
2019– · SeriesDocumentary · Crime
Teen Michelle Carter's actions shocked a nation - but what really happened behind closed doors? This HBO special showcases the prosecution's point of view and alternately the defense's. Which side do you fall on?
MAX - #29078#29078
Disney+HuluSecrets of the Bees
2026– · SeriesDocumentary · Action
With the expertise of entomologist and fellow National Geographic Explorer Dr. Samuel Ramsey, the series uses groundbreaking filming technology to reveal the extraordinary world of bees; and uncover their astonishing architecture and intelligence, unlocking their secrets and featuring never-before-filmed moments.
Disney+Hulu - #30977#30977Prime Video
Most Evil
2006–2015 · Series · 3 seasonsDocumentary · Crime
Series follows Columbia University's Michael Stone as he searches for the roots of evil in human beings by exploring acts committed by infamous criminals and ordinary people which he rates on his "scale of evil".
Prime Video - #31577#31577Netflix
Unsolved Mysteries
2020– · Series · 5 seasonsDocumentary · Crime · Mystery
Immersive, character-driven stories are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable. Families, detectives and journalists hope viewers hold the clues to solving these mysteries.
Netflix - #32077#32077PeacockPrime Video
American Greed
2007–2023 · Series · 15 seasonsDocumentary · Crime
A dissection of the dark side of the American Dream, a survey of how far some people go to become rich, no matter the cost to themselves and those around them. Real-life cases are reviewed and involve such criminal activity as credit card scams, identity theft, counterfeiting and Ponzi schemes.
PeacockPrime Video - #32377#32377
MAXExterminate All the Brutes
2021– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · History
Through time, into the darkest hours of humanity, the documentary deconstructs the making and masking of history, digging deep into the exploitative and genocidal aspects of European colonialism, from America to Africa and its imp...
MAX - #32577#32577Netflix
Ancient Apocalypse
2022–2024 · Series · 2 seasonsDocumentary · History
What if everything we know about prehistory is wrong? Journalist Graham Hancock visits archaeological sites around the world investigating if a civilization far more advanced than we ever believed possible existed thousands of yea...
Netflix - #33577#33577
HuluCult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime · History
Exploring an idealistic religious movement led by Jim Jones, its utopian community in Guyana spiraled into a mass casualty event leaving 918 dead. Told through survivors, it immerses in the final hours preceding this dark chapter.
Hulu - #33677#33677NetflixPrime Video
Theodore Roosevelt
2022– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · History
Two-part series on U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt looking at his work as a progressive reformer as well as his contradictions such as being a passionate conservationist who also hunted animals.
NetflixPrime Video - #33877#33877Prime Video
Hawaii Melting Pot: A Guided Tour
2025– · SeriesDocumentary
"Melting Pot" is a quirky travel show hosted by Hawaii's top stand up comedian and local boy, Kenny Kusaka, that explores the unique food, culture, and history that makes Hawaii one of the most coveted destinations on Earth.
Prime Video - #34377#34377Netflix
Street Food: Latin America
2020– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
The newest installment will travel to six countries in Latin America and explore the vibrant street food culture of Oaxaca, Mexico; Salvador, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lima, Peru; Bogota, Colombia; and La Paz, Bolivia.
Netflix - #34577#34577Hulu
Inside the American Mob
2013– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · Crime
Documentary film about the Italian Mafia and their organized crime activities in USA, mainly New York, between the '60's to mid '90's. Well documented with plenty of interviews and original footage. Story told by ex-members of Maf...
Hulu - #35477#35477
Prime VideoAmerican Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story
2017– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Biography · Drama
The Amazon Original Series draws from unprecedented access to more than 17,000 hours of footage and over 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner's personal archives, chronicling the life of an American icon and the history of the brand he cr...
Prime Video - #35577#35577Prime Video
American Justice
1992– · Series · 16 seasonsDocumentary · Crime · History
Hosted by Bill Kurtis, American Justice looks at groundbreaking criminal cases, presenting viewers with an inside look at the case through the eyes of those directly involved, ranging from law enforcement officers to the victims.
Prime Video - #37076#37076Netflix
Island of the Sea Wolves
2022– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Action
Where the Pacific meets the wilderness of Canada lies a mysterious island. But peer a little deeper and we find something even more remarkable: a community full of charismatic animal residents, waiting to show you around.
Netflix - #37576#37576Prime Video
Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity
2011– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
Professor Jim Al-Khalili tells the electrifying story of our quest to master nature's most mysterious force - electricity. Until fairly recently, electricity was seen as a magical power, but it is now the lifeblood of the modern world and underpins every aspect of our technological advancements. Without electricity, we would be lost. This series tells of dazzling leaps of imagination and extraordinary experiments - a story of maverick geniuses who used electricity to light our cities, to communicate across the seas and through the air, to create modern industry and to give us the digital revolution.
Prime Video - #37876#37876Netflix
Worst Ex Ever
2024– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime
Shocking tales of betrayal, violence, and deceit through testimonials, bodycam footage, and reenactments. Exposes the disturbing realities of monstrous past relationships, tapping into the universal fear of not truly knowing one's...
Netflix - #38876#38876Netflix
Chef's Table: BBQ
2020– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary
The critically-acclaimed series returns for its latest iteration, delving into the smoky, juicy world of barbecue. Featured chefs and pitmasters include Tootsie Tomantez, Lennox Hastie, Rodney Scott, and Rosalia Chay Chuc.
Netflix - #39576#39576Apple TV+
The Line
2021– · Series · 1 seasonDocumentary · Crime · War
In covert modern warfare, the line between right and wrong has blurred. This docuseries examines the moral ambiguities of war as embodied by the 2018 case in which a US Navy SEAL platoon accused its chief, Eddie Gallagher, of war ...
Apple TV+

























































































































