Looking for new and interesting documentaries to add to your watchlist? We’ve got you covered. The year so far has brought forward uncovered hidden histories, followed extraordinary individuals, captured world-changing events as they unfolded, and most importantly, an element of honesty and commitment to storytelling. Take a look at our favourites below.
Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Apple TV
Pavel Talankin takes an enormous personal risk to document how Russian schools changed after the invasion of Ukraine. A teacher and school videographer, he captures propaganda slowly replacing innocence, from scripted lessons to military demonstrations where children are taught to use assault rifles and grenades. His narration shifts from whimsical to defeated as the film unfolds.
Rafa
Netflix
Rafa captures Rafael Nadal at a moment when greatness begins confronting its own limitations. It reflects on the pain and suffering that forged one of tennis' greatest players, while showing how those same forces eventually take their toll. The documentary is filled with genuine reflection on the equally difficult challenge of accepting that every career must come to an end.
Man on the Run
Prime Video
Built around archival footage, photographs, and interviews, Man on the Run by Morgan Neville revisits an important chapter in Paul McCartney's career. The film celebrates one of music's greatest songwriters while also acknowledging his run-ins with the law and the pressures surrounding his life at the time. Honest interviews from former bandmates, along with McCartney's own responses, create a rounded portrait that feels candid.
Lorne
Prime Video
Another one of Morgan Neville documentaries, Lorne, examines the man behind Saturday Night Live and the week-long creative process he has cultivated for over fifty years. Chris Parnell's narration, inventive B-roll, unseen footage, and playful animation give the documentary the same irreverent spirit as the show itself. Even for devoted SNL fans, it offers fresh stories and perspectives.
Queen of Chess
Netflix
Queen of Chess follows one of the greatest female chess players, Judit Polgar's rise while examining the sexist attitudes that defined competitive chess for decades. It reveals how women were rarely seen as serious competitors despite their extraordinary talent. The documentary occasionally dives into the strategy behind individual matches without becoming inaccessible.
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Apple TV
This portrait of Mary Oliver is emotional from its opening moments, combining familiar biographical storytelling with striking visual poetry and readings of her work. The film explores her love for the natural world, her brief experience with organised religion, and the values that shaped her writing. It presents her as someone who cared more about paying attention than seeking recognition, making for a moving tribute to one of poetry's singular voices.
Ghost Elephants
National Geographic
Set in Angola's mist-covered highlands, Ghost Elephants follows three KhoiSan master trackers searching for the legendary elephants of Lisima. Believed to have disappeared, the animals continue to exist through ancestral ritual and oral tradition. Blending wildlife filmmaking with Indigenous knowledge, the documentary becomes a spiritual journey devoted to an enduring connection to the landscape.
The Great Indian Illusion
YouTube
Complex ideas are explained in an accessible way in The Great Indian Illusion, which asks difficult questions about India's economic policies and the systems that shape everyday life. It examines the realities behind demonetisation and explores how financial losses are often borne by ordinary citizens while profits remain concentrated among powerful private interests.
Words Platform Desk
Date 28.7.2026