Biographical Documentaries on Netflix
Last updated April 20, 2024
Bones Brigade: An Autobiography
2012 | NR | 4.4 out of 5 StarsThis documentary follows six teenagers who formed a skateboarding team in the 1980s, revitalizing the sport and becoming its top athletes: Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, Lance Mountain and Rodney Mullen.
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Bridegroom
2013 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsHelmed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this illuminating documentary chronicles the story of Shane Bitney Crone, who finds himself shut out and deprived of the legal protections of marriage after his same-sex partner dies in a tragic accident.
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American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsAs host of "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, Johnny Carson was seen by more people on more occasions than anyone else in American history. Explore Carson's life and career, as well as the history of his beloved television program.
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Benji
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis gripping documentary tells the story of Ben Wilson, a good-natured and beloved teenage basketball phenom from Chicago's South Side whose life was tragically cut short by violence in November 1984.
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Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsIn a television interview filmed in 1995 and believed to be lost, the charismatic Steve Jobs talks frankly about his early life, battles with Apple CEO John Sculley, competition with Microsoft and his vision for the future.
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Marley
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsFeaturing dozens of interviews, electrifying concert performances and rare footage, this documentary explores the music, life and legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley, from his birth in 1945 to his death from cancer at age 36.
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Senna
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis fast-paced documentary profiles Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One racing, and a hero in his native Brazil. Using archival footage, director Asif Kapadia examines the idealistic Senna's inspiring legend.
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A Band Called Death
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsBlending a larger-than-life family story and a rock documentary, this film follows David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney, three teenage brothers from Detroit who founded the band Death, commonly regarded as the first black punk group, in the early 1970s.
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30 for 30: You Don't Know Bo
2012 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsA close look at two-sport athlete Bo Jackson and the creation of a legend. Even without winning a Super Bowl or World Series, Bo will forever be known as a cultural icon and one of the most famous athletes of all time.
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Elon Musk: Bloomberg Risk Takers
2011 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsBorn and raised in South Africa, entrepreneur Elon Musk is the driving force behind SpaceX, a private company exploring commercial space travel. Musk also co-founded PayPal and Tesla Motors -- all before the age of 40.
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Burzynski
2010 | NR | 4.3 out of 5 StarsThis true story follows a biochemist who challenged the Food and Drug Administration for his right to begin clinical trials on a new cancer treatment. In addition to recounting Burzynski's astonishing legal victories in the face of skepticism, this documentary also examines several of his patients and their success in fighting terminal cancer.
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Bill Cunningham New York
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsLiving simply and using a bicycle to get around New York, 80-year-old photographer Bill Cunningham tirelessly records what people are wearing in the city -- both out on the sidewalk and in the salons of the wealthy.
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Serving Life
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFilmed in a notorious Louisiana prison, this moving documentary chronicles the work of some inmates who find a sense of redemption for their past crimes by volunteering in the jail's hospice, offering compassion to other prisoners as they die.
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Chasing Ice
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsEnvironmental photographer James Balog deploys time-lapse cameras to capture a record of the world's changing glaciers, compressing years into seconds to illustrate how these ice mountains are disappearing at a breathtaking rate.
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First Position
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsFollow dancers training for the Youth America Grand Prix, one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions. The stakes are high: their performances will determine the success or failure of their dreams.
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Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis documentary presents the musical saga of Arnel Pineda, who goes from singing in Manila nightclubs to fronting the legendary rock band Journey. Brought into the group just before a world tour, Arnel must sell himself to Journey's many fans.
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30 for 30: The Two Escobars
2010 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsDiscover the surprising parallels between star athlete Andres Escobar and international drug kingpin Pablo Escobar -- two renowned Colombians who loved the sport of soccer, achieved incredible levels of success and suffered brutally violent deaths.
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Undefeated
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsCinéma vérité tackles football in this inspirational profile of an inner-city Memphis high school football team, whose downtrodden players combine with a dedicated volunteer coach in a valiant effort to reach the school's first-ever playoff game.
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65_RedRoses
2009 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis intimate journey takes an unflinching look into the life of Eva Markvoort, a spirited young woman suffering from cystic fibrosis. Turning to the Internet for support, Eva forms a strong bond with two other girls also battling the disease.
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Jiro Dreams of Sushi
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis delectable documentary profiles sushi chef Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old master whose 10-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant is legendary among Tokyo foodies. Ono is also a father, whose sons struggle to live up to his legacy and make their own marks.
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How to Die in Oregon
2011 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsPeter Richardson's award-winning documentary takes you into the lives of terminally ill men and women as they consider availing themselves of physician-assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon under the state's 1994 Death with Dignity Act.
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The Announcement
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsIn 1991, basketball's "Magic" Johnson suddenly retired, announcing that he was HIV-positive. This powerful film chronicles the 20 years that followed. Friends and teammates discuss his inspiring resilience, strength and success on and off the court.
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Indie Game: The Movie
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsThis captivating documentary follows several independent game designers as they painstakingly develop their games and hope for breakthrough success. It also explores the quirky sensibility these personalities bring to their art form.
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Beauty Is Embarrassing
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsGet to know Wayne White, one of America's most unusual and arresting artists, with this snappy documentary that traces the ups and downs of his career. The jovial White discusses his art, strums the banjo, plays with puppets and simply enjoys life.
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WWE: CM Punk: Best in the World
2012 | NR | 4.2 out of 5 StarsWith a sharp fighting style and an even sharper tongue, CM Punk is one of the most controversial WWE Superstars of this generation. This documentary follows his rise to the top of the WWE, from his early matches to international stardom.
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