8 Netflix Documentaries That Are Stranger Than Fiction
They're sure to keep your Netflix queue interesting.
1. The Legend of Cocaine Island (2018)
A man hears about a massive load of cocaine worth $2 million just chilling underground in the Caribbean. Our guy is a regular Joe, with a family and a business on the skids, but he figures it's time for a drastic change. So, what's a man to do? Go on a treasure hunt, duh. The journey turns his life upside down as he and a motley crew – including a buddy with a boat and some sketchy connections – scramble to unearth the buried white gold. They dodge the law, fumble through misadventures, and things get super tense as they try to flip their fortunes overnight.
2. The Family (2019)
Under the guise of fellowship, there lurks a secret organization with tendrils deep into the heart of global politics. This is about The Family, a group that says they're just simple Christians, but they have so much power it makes you wonder who's actually in charge in Washington, D.C. The documentary shows how they started, their secret activities, and their impact on top leaders, even presidents. From their headquarters at Ivanwald, a mansion in Arlington, Virginia, to the National Prayer Breakfast, the group's reach is both stealthy and startling.
3. Behind the Curve (2018)
Flat Earth theory, in this day and age? You better believe it. The documentary introduces us to people who seriously believe the planet is as flat as a pancake. We meet the key players in the flat-Earth community, who are hell-bent on proving mainstream science wrong with homemade experiments and a zeal that would give Galileo goosebumps. The film doesn't just show their quest to validate their beliefs but also peeks into the why – what drives a modern human to dismiss centuries of evidence for a concept that seems so outlandish?
4. The Devil Next Door (2019)
John Demjanjuk is a retired autoworker in Ohio, living the American dream, until accusations hurl him into the global spotlight. He's tagged as "Ivan the Terrible", a notoriously brutal Nazi death camp guard. What follows is a harrowing legal tug-of-war that spans continents and decades. Through court drama, personal testimonies, and a sea of evidence and counterarguments, we're taken on a twisting journey that questions identity, history, and the pursuit of justice.
5. Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020)
Celebrities spill the beans on their most mind-melting experiences with psychedelics in this comical documentary. There are star-studded interviews, trippy animations, and even some wild reenactments just to spice things up. From Sting to Sarah Silverman, celebs recount their escapades with LSD, magic mushrooms, and peyote, all the while exploring the effects – good, bad, and ugly – of these mind-altering substances.
6. We Are the Champions (2020)
From the perilous pursuit of cheese rolling in England to the strategic sophistication of fantasy hairstyling in the U.S., this docuseries gives you an access-all-areas pass to the wild, the wacky, and the downright whimsical. Each episode is a new adventure, shining a light on the competitors who pour their hearts and souls into winning these unconventional contests.
7. Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy (2021)
Step into the gritty reality of the '80s crack epidemic that swept through American cities and the systemic chaos it unleashed. This hard-hitting documentary takes you to the streets where crack ruled and to the corridors of power where the war on drugs waged on. You'll see how crack changed the urban landscape, led to an explosion of gang violence, and exposed racial and socioeconomic disparities that the U.S. is still grappling with.
8. Wild Wild Country (2018)
The wild saga of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), his loyal band of red-clad followers, and the small American town turned upside-down by their arrival. With a sprawling ranch in Oregon as the stage, this series documents the clash between the Rajneeshees and the locals, complete with tales of espionage, a mass poisoning, and a battle for land and ideological dominance. It's a tumultuous exploration of what happens when a new social experiment stakes its claim in the backyard of traditional America.