The best documentaries to watch in 2026 include Six Nations: Full Contact (Netflix), with behind-the-scenes access to four rugby union teams; Beckham (Netflix), four episodes on David Beckham's life, career and marriage; 100 Foot Wave, about surfer Garret McNamara's obsession with riding a 100-foot wave at Nazaré; and Making a Murderer (Netflix), the series that changed true crime. Among British documentaries, Michael Palin's travel series, Louis Theroux: Forbidden America and the fly-on-the-wall Ambulance (BBC One) are essential viewing.
The documentary has never been a more compelling art form. The combination of streaming platforms willing to fund ambitious long-form non-fiction and a generation of filmmakers who understand how to make documentary television as gripping as drama has produced an exceptional range of work. Here are the best documentaries available to US viewers right now.
Best New Documentaries of 2025–2026
Six Nations: Full Contact (Netflix)
Behind-the-scenes access to four Six Nations rugby union teams across a tournament cycle. Brilliant — especially the scenes with Ireland's staff and England's dressing room dynamics. The best sports documentary on Netflix since Drive to Survive.
Beckham (Netflix)
Four episodes of David Beckham's life, career and marriage told with remarkable candour and extraordinary archive footage. Even for viewers with no interest in football, this is compelling television about fame, family and reinvention.
100 Foot Wave (HBO / Sky Atlantic)
The story of surfer Garret McNamara's obsession with riding a 100-foot wave off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. Visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and one of the finest sports documentaries of the decade.
Making a Murderer (Netflix)
If you haven't watched it yet, this is the documentary that changed the true crime genre permanently. The story of Steven Avery's murder conviction in Wisconsin is essential — ethically complex and compulsively watchable.
Essential British Documentaries
- Our Man in... series (BBC One) — Michael Palin's travel documentaries remain matchless. Available on BBC iPlayer.
- Louis Theroux: Forbidden America — Three episodes exploring extreme US subcultures. Essential Theroux.
- Ambulance (BBC One) — Fly-on-the-wall NHS ambulance service documentary. Moving and important.
- The Rescue (2021) — Oscar-winning documentary about the Thai cave rescue. Extraordinary.
Nature Documentaries
David Attenborough's BBC nature documentaries represent the pinnacle of the form. Planet Earth III, Blue Planet III and Wild Isles are all available via BBC iPlayer.
True Crime Picks for 2026
- The Staircase (HBO) — The original true crime series that predicted the genre's rise.
- I Just Killed My Dad (Netflix) — The Anthony Templet case. Three parts, genuinely disturbing.
- The Jinx (HBO) — Robert Durst's extraordinary televised confession. Six episodes and an unforgettable finale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the Beckham documentary in the USA?
Beckham is on Netflix in the USA.
Where can I watch Planet Earth III?
Planet Earth III is a BBC production. Where it streams varies by country, so check its current streaming home in your region.