Documentaries you need to add to your watch lists right now

Have you been craving something intense and thought-provoking to watch? Lately, very few movies and TV shows fall into these categories, despite how good they are. So, it’s time to turn your focus onto documentaries.

Whether you’re a true crime aficionado or a history buff, several documentaries and docuseries across all streaming platforms might tickle your fancy.

Here they are:

Showmax

Showmax revamped its entire website and relaunched its app in late February 2024. New international TV shows and movies, alongside some impressive South African shows, came with these updates, like Halo, and Catch Me a Killer.

ALSO SEE: 4 South African TV shows you need to watch right now

But there are several South African-centric documentaries available that are interesting, well-directed, and tick all the boxes of a good documentary. The top 3 are:

Tracking Thabo Bester

“A journalist unmasks an inconvenient truth: Thabo Bester is alive and at large, working with his lover, Nandipha. Their crimes involve stolen bodies and multi-million-rand scams. The investigation reveals disturbing secrets.”

Uncover the truth behind Thabo Bester’s escape from prison, how he was caught, and so much more.

Steinheist

“From the creators of Devilsdorp, this three-part doccie series details the rise and fall of billionaire Markus Jooste and the crash of Steinhoff, which knocked R200 billion off the JSE in 2017.”

With the recent news about Markus Jooste’s passing, interest in the Steinhoff drama has piqued again.  This docuseries, whilst older and doesn’t include the news of Jooste’s passing, takes a deep dive into how he swindled several businesses and leading international and local businessmen of billions of money.

And don’t worry, you don’t need to understand stocks and shares, the showrunners broke down all that complex information for viewers.

Boetie Boer

“Showmax Original takes you inside the mind of a monster in a disturbing true-crime series. We go back in time to 1990 as Stewart ‘Boetie Boer’ Wilken starts his killing spree in Geberha.”

Warning: this documentary is not for the faint of heart. The content within this show is graphic and dives deep into the mind of this South African serial killer.

After you finish this five-part docuseries, head over to another incredible Showmax original, Catch Me a Killer – which follows several of South Africa’s most famous serial killers.

Netflix

Netflix has become a key part of the way South Africans consume content. And there is no shortage of documentaries on the streaming platform. Most of which fall under the true-crime genre. But that’s not all Netflix has to offer:

Alexander the Making of a God

“In this historical docudrama, the life of Alexander the Great is revealed through re-enactments and expert interviews.”

History buffs will enjoy this docuseries as it follows the rise of Alexander the Great. It does a fantastic job of blending re-enactments and interviews with experts, so it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting through a six-hour history lesson.

Beckham

“It’s not just about football — it’s about family, fame, and the dream behind the drive. David Beckham opens like never before in this intimate series.”

Dive into David Beckham’s life with this in-depth docuseries that includes one-on-one interviews with Beckham, Victoria Beckham, and their friends and colleagues. Oh, and get a first-hand look at Victoria’s hilarious recounting of her “working class” life,

Depp v. Heard

“In this docuseries, courtroom footage, transcripts and audio from the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp defamation trial are shown side-by-side.”

Yes, the trial happened two years ago. And yes, the documentary is now a year old. But we will never get over the intensity of the Depp vs. Heard case. It was a defining pop culture moment, and the entire docuseries is thought-provoking and intense – it’s the perfect drama!

ALSO SEE: The many faces of abuse and how to recognise them

Disney+

Disney+ had a rough start in SA, but now that those infuriating glitches have been ironed out, it’s quickly becoming the go-to streaming platform for many. Especially with blockbuster shows like Bear and Shogun.

Several incredibly interesting documentaries and docuseries cover several topics, including true crime and music. However, with the National Geographic “channel” as part of the app, you can watch some thought-provoking and enlightening human interest stories too.

Pretty Baby

“A galvanizing look at actor, model, and global superstar Brooke Shields.”

Take a deep dive into the life of Broke Shields, as she grew from being a sexualised and exploited child actor and model to an empowered woman. She covers the various dangers of being a child in the entertainment industry, a hot-button topic at the moment, and her struggles as a mother in her later years.

The Rescue

“The Rescue chronicles the rescue of twelve boys from a flooded Thai cave.”

This story was all over the news a few years ago, and I remember waiting every day for any positive news about the 12 young football players who got lost in that cave. This documentary dives into how they got stuck, and how teams and experts from around the world came together to rescue them.

Ed Sheeran: The Sum of it All

“Global superstar Ed Sheeran opens the doors to his life in this searingly honest documentary series.”

Fans of Ed Sheeran will love this 4-part docuseries as it follows the singer’s life. From growing and becoming a star, to finding love and dealing with loss and the realities of life, this series is heartfelt, and deep and gives you a deep understanding of Ed Sheeran.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime always seems to be the odd one out. No one really remembers this streaming platform until a show becomes popular on TikTok, like The Summer I Turned Pretty or the upcoming movie The Idea of You, which has set tongues wagging online.

However, there are some interesting documentaries on the app that might pique your interest.

The Greatest Love Story Never Told

“Directed by Jason Bergh, The Greatest Love Story Never Told follows Jennifer Lopez as she attempts her most daring project yet: independently producing a new album and cinematic original that explore her twenty-year journey to self-love.”

Whilst Jennifer Lopez has gotten some flak online due to her continuously bringing up her “Jenny From The Block” persona from her 2002 hit song, the documentary sheds some light on the star. It’s intimate and empowering and gives you an unfiltered look into Lopez’s most intimate moments.

The Sound of 007

“Mat Whitecross’s new documentary The Sound of 007 reveals the history of the Bond music from the genesis of 1962’s Dr. Do with its iconic theme, through to Billie Eilish’s Academy Award-winning song for 2021’s No Time to Die.”

Bond fans will love this interesting documentary as it goes through all the incredible music that has come from the franchise over an almost 60-year period.

Apple TV +

Apple TV+ is a niche platform that few consider. But the app is available across most Android devices, TV boxes and smart TVs, and South Africans should consider signing up for this platform. Irrespective of your stance on the brand. Its growing catalogue is incredible, and you’d be surprised at the valuable content you’ll have access to.

And, of course, that level of quality is extended to their documentary catalogue. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Apple TV+.

Lincoln’s Dilemma

“Discover a side of Abraham Lincoln you’ve never seen before. In this four-part docuseries, a diverse panel of historians and rare archival materials offer a more nuanced look into the man dubbed the Great Emancipator.”

History buffs will particularly enjoy this in-depth documentary on one of America’s greatest presidents.

1971

“In a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fuelled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Stars reached new heights, fresh talent exploded onto the scene, and boundaries expanded like never before.”

Music aficionados with an appreciation for history will enjoy this 8-part docuseries as it covers the greatest and most tumultuous year of music.

The Bloody Hundredth

“Meet the real-life airmen who inspired Masters of the Air as they share the harrowing and transformative events of the 100th Bomb Group. Narrated by Tom Hanks and featuring Steven Spielberg.”

Another history documentary for those who enjoy learning about World War 2. This documentary is interesting and contains interviews of the few surviving members of the 100^th Bomb Group, which suffered the most causalities compared to other bomb groups throughout the war. Watch Masters of the Air after this documentary, it follows these brave soldeirs’ stories more closely.

The Year the Earth Changed

“Narrated by David Attenborough, never-before-seen footage shows how our living in lockdown opened the door for nature to bounce back and thrive. Across the seas, skies, and lands, Earth found its rhythm when we came to a stop.”

It’s been four years (at the time of writing this article) since the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst this period in our history is perhaps one, we’d like to forget, watching how nature came back to life puts a nice positive spin on the lockdown. And, of course, anything with David Attenborough is wonderful and worth the watch.

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