It’s time to take time out and binge-watch these four mind-blowing Netflix original documentaries to change your perspective of the world.
Want to expand your awareness of the world while simultaneously leaving your mind blown and thinking about what society and this planet has become?
Well, these 4 Netflix original documentaries will do just that.
It doesn’t take much effort to physically start these docs, but I will admit, it took a lot of will power to convince myself that this was the right thing to do. However, watching these left an incredible impact on my life and forced myself to consider the way I live.
And what great dinner party chat they provide.
1. The Social Dilemma
The Social Dilemma is a documentary I was putting off for a while in fear of never seeing social media and technology the same way again. But living and growing with social media, I felt it was something I needed to watch. Boy, was I right.
I found myself sighing and gasping, often looking at my phone contemplating whether or not I should just throw it out the window, and asking myself ‘are they watching me right now?’. Of course I was being a little dramatic and overthinking it, but this is what the documentary does to you – allows you to rethink your choices online.
Lead by former employees from social media platforms, including Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram, the documentary uses metaphorical visuals that are easy to understand and therefore provides an important wake-up call to create awareness on the holes of social media.
If you can scroll on Tik Tok for hours, you can watch a 90-minute documentary.
2. Athlete A
Gymnastics – a sophisticated sport with a dark secret.
I knew sports had their flaws, but not this extreme. The documentary follows the story of former American collegiate artistic gymnast, Maggie Nichols, along with numerous other young women gymnasts, who survived the abuse from USA Gymnastics (USAG) doctor Larry Nassar and the overall toxic culture of the USAG.
As the case unfolds, the more shocking it gets, leaving you empathising deeply for the young gymnasts. There were numerous times where I felt frustrated the way a young girl’s passion can quickly turn into her worst nightmare, and the trauma they experience will follow them forever.
However, the documentary is a testimony on how brave and strong women really are, especially to the extent of exposing a distinguished establishment in the sporting and Olympic world.
3. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
At 93 years of age, this could potentially be Sir David Attenborough’s final cry for help in saving the planet from climate change and as he describes as, “humanity’s blind assault on our planet”.
Attenborough tells his first-hand experiences through his long and inspiring career, and terrifyingly exposes what and how we have damaged our sacred world. The scary statistics and horrifying before and after pictures/videos are what puts the real in reality.
Similar to the ‘The Social Dilemma’, I found myself staring into space while the credits rolled, taking in not only what I just watched, but reflecting on my own choices I make on a daily and how that impacts the earth.
However, Attenborough’s soothing voice and calming personality sets an underlying tone of hope to the current and future generations to save our planet but also ourselves.
4. Don’t F**k With Cats
Now this – this documentary truly messed my mind for days (I watched it last year and I’m still talking about it). As much of a gruesome crime story the documentary follows, it’s one of the best I’ve ever watched. You know it’s a good documentary if it truly disgusts you but you willingly watch the whole series in one sitting.
‘Don’t F**k With Cats’ follows an online horror story of a twisted criminal and his appalling videos on the internet (spoilers: it involves cats). This crime scene drives a group of casual online users to perform a risky manhunt that leads them to a chilling series of events.
I physically had to cover the screen at some points or pause for a couple of minutes to process what I had just watched. But when the pieces all come together and the realisation hits, it’s the most satisfying feeling ever. I started cheering at the end, as if I was a part of the online group.
The clever and unique editing is also what ties everything for me – the tension it creates makes you feel like you’re being watched at that moment. Another documentary which warns the danger of social media and how incidents can move offline.
