Top 2023 TV Documentaries, a list by Tonka

9.1

/4772/

87

/441/

85

/64/

4.4

/3647/

100

/9/

88

/4/

Journeying to the far reaches of our planet, this eight part series follows some of the world's most amazing species, telling extraordinary stories that are dramatic, thrilling, funny and sometimes heart-breaking, but always full of hope.

81

8.1

/39804/

77

/1247/

80

/168/

3.9

/31755/

88

/25/

95

69

/8/

age 14+

With never-before-seen footage, this docuseries follows David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom.

84

81

8.4

/4217/

78

/331/

78

/53/

4.0

/3020/

89

/9/

91

age 15+

Keanu Reeves tells one of the greatest sagas in Formula 1 history. Through the insights of Ross Brawn and revered racing icons like Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, all is revealed in this gripping four-part series. From the formation of Brawn GP see their remarkable journey through strategic manoeuvres and financial trials during an exceptionally competitive era in the annals of the sport.

82

81

8.0

/5721/

76

/448/

79

/41/

89

/9/

88

age 11+

Follow the bruised bodies, soul-crushing fumbles, agonizing losses, and pure joy of three NFL quarterbacks during one season.

81

80

8.2

/6947/

81

/456/

80

/89/

4.1

/3097/

age 15+

Through vividly enhanced archival footage and voices from all sides of the conflict, this docuseries brings WWII to life like never before.

87

80

8.2

/4010/

77

/215/

79

/47/

4.1

/3190/

100

/5/

97

age 10+

A vast community of chimpanzees thrives in a forest in Uganda, navigating complex social politics, family dynamics and dangerous territory disputes.

78

7.5

/9053/

74

/530/

75

/62/

3.6

/9099/

89

/9/

81

age 16+

Archive footage, chilling reenactments and exclusive interviews shed new light on a tragedy — and two brothers — that suspended a city in terror.

76

75

7.3

/8288/

71

/474/

70

/64/

3.5

/3077/

90

/10/

78

74

/5/

age 15+

This docuseries follows the rise and fall of financier Bernie Madoff, who orchestrated one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Wall Street history.

79

74

7.3

/5005/

70

/266/

69

/26/

3.8

/8405/

96

/26/

91

81

/13/

3.0

age 15+

This docuseries chronicles the darkly comedic, unexpected 20-year journey of two unlikely office buddies, who stumble upon the murky truth behind the work they’ve been doing at a seedy New Jersey call center – persuading people to give money to charities – and vow to expose the crooked American telemarketing industry from within.

81

73

8.2

/4746/

77

/245/

85

/83/

4.0

/4695/

age 15+

From the locker room to the pitch, this docuseries offers exclusive access to all 32 teams as they fight for football glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

73

IMDb 64

7.7

/7146/

73

/534/

63

/48/

88

/35/

70

70

/13/

age 13+

America’s most cunning contestants, a mix of famous faces and everyday Americans, play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by Alan Cumming at an ancient castle in Scotland, they will work together on exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. But hidden amongst the Faithful contestants are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves.

77

72

7.8

/4227/

72

/243/

76

/37/

3.7

/1919/

100

/7/

73

67

/4/

age 8+

Travel around the world with author Dan Buettner to discover five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.

71

6.8

/12736/

70

/723/

67

/61/

3.3

/11927/

82

/11/

73

66

/10/

age 15+

Shocking tragedies shatter a tight-knit South Carolina community and expose the horrifying secrets of its most powerful family.

74

70

6.7

/5393/

68

/359/

61

/30/

3.3

/8373/

100

/6/

74

age 15+

A couple built a spiritual business to help people find true love. Now, former followers are sharing their disturbing practices in this docuseries.

70

8.0

/23736/

77

/880/

79

/231/

3.7

/15752/

70

/27/

91

59

/10/

1.5

age 16+

This intimate docuseries follows Arnold Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life and career, from bodybuilding champ to Hollywood icon to politician.

72

69

7.3

/4883/

71

/304/

72

/40/

81

/21/

70

67

/11/

age 13+

Travel alongside some of the world's most talented tennis players as they swing for greatness and Grand Slams through an action-packed season.

68

8.1

/7392/

78

/551/

80

/187/

3.8

/4391/

50

/6/

69

55

/5/

age 8+

Life's extraordinary journey to conquer, adapt and survive on Earth across billions of years comes alive in this groundbreaking nature docuseries.

77

68

7.5

/3280/

72

/131/

74

/37/

3.7

/8584/

88

/43/

88

71

/12/

3.0

Actor, model, and global superstar Brooke Shields’ journey from a sexualized young girl to a woman who embraces her identity and voice.

68

7.0

/9085/

71

/528/

69

/75/

3.3

/7121/

84

/19/

63

73

/9/

2.0

age 14+

This docuseries includes never-before-seen material from the infamous 51-day standoff between federal agents and a heavily armed religious group in 1993.

72

67

7.2

/6044/

73

/367/

73

/34/

3.2

/3790/

age 14+

Dr. Paolo Macchiarini is world famous for his revolutionary stem cell-infused windpipe transplants. There's just one problem: His patients keep dying.

85

67

8.6

/1881/

70

/100/

85

/27/

4.1

/1208/

100

/9/

94

78

/5/

age 15+

Explore the history of activist Afeni Shakur and hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur, two voices that could not be silenced. Told through the eyes of the people who knew them best, this series is an intimate wide-angle portrait of the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution and justice are more relevant today than ever.

87

67

8.6

/1367/

79

/136/

82

/26/

3.9

/556/

100

/6/

90

86

/5/

age 6+

This nature documentary introduces viewers to the fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland across four main areas: woodlands, grasslands, freshwater and marine.

83

66

8.1

/2196/

71

/155/

71

/17/

100

/8/

94

83

/5/

age 15+

At a storied professional wrestling organization, new owners and a roster of rising stars strive to make an impact beyond the ring in this docuseries.

82

66

7.8

/1793/

78

/98/

72

/25/

3.8

/1946/

100

/15/

83

81

/9/

3.5

age 11+

Winningest NBA champion and civil rights icon Bill Russell builds a larger-than-life legacy on and off the court in this biographical documentary.

75

65

7.2

/4547/

68

/204/

68

/26/

3.6

/15841/

100

/7/

67

age 15+

Chronicles the life and death of Amy Carlson, also known as Mother God, a self-proclaimed spiritual savior who built a cult through her online manifestos and live-streaming sessions. As Amy's health declined, her followers believed her death would lead to her evacuation by UFO and salvation for humanity. Told through the eyes of Amy's devotees and constructed from the cult's archival footage, the three-part docuseries captures the perils of internet proselytizing and a conspiracy-driven faith.

71

65

7.2

/5036/

72

/216/

75

/34/

3.6

/3444/

73

/15/

68

70

/8/

age 16+

After 25 years of his record-breaking solo career, Robbie looks back on his younger self and reflects on a lifetime spent in the spotlight.

70

65

6.8

/5271/

65

/296/

77

/50/

2.9

/3688/

This stranger-than-fiction series explores the question of whether Natalia Barnett is an exploited Ukrainian child with dwarfism or a dangerous adult masquerading as a child. Featuring exclusive bombshell interviews with members of Natalia's adoptive family, relatives, friends, legal experts, and neighbors, this docuseries offers a never-before-seen glimpse into the Barnett family, Natalia's identity, Michael Barnett's October 2022 trial, as well as key insights into new theories and evidence.

85

64

8.2

/2311/

76

/146/

84

/13/

3.9

/2262/

100

/5/

89

80

/5/

age 14+

For the first time ever, global superstar, Ed Sheeran opens the doors to a definitive and searingly honest view into his private life as he explores the universal themes that inspire his music. This series follows Ed after he learns of life changing news and reveals his hardships and triumphs during the most challenging period of his life. Featuring exclusive footage behind his iconic hits, never-before-seen personal archive with his friends and family, and epic stadium performances giving insight into Ed’s world.

72

63

7.0

/3553/

71

/278/

72

/27/

3.4

/1656/

67

/9/

81

age 15+

Murder. Extortion. Drug smuggling. Racketeering. The charges are mounting against John Gotti — but will any of them stick to the "Teflon Don"? Told from both sides of the law, this docuseries from the makers of "Fear City" follows the FBI's battle to bring down infamous mob boss.

77

63

6.7

/2578/

69

/243/

68

/17/

3.2

/2297/

96

/56/

89

age 16+

In this docuseries, a scrappy electronic cigarette startup becomes a multibillion-dollar company until an epidemic causes its success to go up in smoke.

83

63

8.2

/1571/

72

/170/

67

/12/

100

/5/

90

90

/4/

age 15+

This gripping docuseries follows New York City's frontline medical professionals as they balance the intensity of their work with their personal lives.

61

6.1

/15600/

64

/935/

65

/148/

2.8

/12518/

80

/10/

29

71

/4/

age 14+

In 2014, a plane with 239 people aboard vanishes from all radar. This docuseries delves into one of our greatest modern mysteries: Flight MH370.

71

61

7.5

/3326/

71

/259/

73

/33/

69

/9/

age 11+

Award-winning actor and nervous explorer Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world's most beautiful and intriguing destinations.

70

60

7.0

/4487/

67

/191/

74

/52/

3.5

/3089/

age 15+

Conor McGregor's brutal strikes and trash-talking swagger made him the UFC's biggest draw. This rousing documentary series follows his dynamic career.

71

59

7.2

/3482/

71

/281/

71

/33/

3.5

/2841/

age 15+

In the '90s, TV's stunt-filled "American Gladiators" thrilled fans. This docuseries explores the show's success — and how it almost ended before it began.

86

59

8.8

/1338/

78

/66/

84

/13/

4.3

/1293/

90

/10/

92

88

/6/

Twenty-five years on from a peace agreement being reached, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland shares intimate, unheard testimonies from all sides of the conflict.

79

58

7.1

/2035/

67

/86/

69

/9/

3.7

/1346/

100

/6/

93

80

/4/

On October 23, 1989, Charles Stuart places a frantic 911 call reporting that he and his pregnant wife — a white couple — have been shot by a Black man. The ensuing investigation ignites decades-old tensions and brutal racial profiling amidst a media firestorm and skepticism about Stuart's story.

72

58

7.4

/5299/

67

/238/

76

/26/

3.6

/9369/

age 14+

A limited docuseries exposing the truth beneath the wholesome Americana surface of reality tv’s favorite mega-family, The Duggars, and the radical organization behind them: The Institute in Basic Life Principles. As details of the family and their scandals unfold, we realize they’re part of an insidious, much larger threat already in motion, with democracy itself in peril.

74

58

7.2

/3192/

67

/188/

77

/25/

3.7

/3322/

83

/8/

age 15+

A group of bright Sarah Lawrence College students fall under the dark influence of a friend's father, Larry Ray. With unprecedented access to the survivors who lived with Ray, the series follows the cult from its origins through its still-unfolding aftermath.

79

57

7.1

/1394/

69

/73/

67

/14/

3.7

/892/

100

/20/

85

85

/10/

In the early 1990s, with homophobia and hate crimes on the rise as the AIDS crisis worsens, a serial killer preys upon gay men in New York City, infiltrating queer nightlife to find his victims.

59

53

6.7

/2717/

69

/252/

67

/45/

3.2

/2536/

57

/7/

46

52

/5/

age 15+

Look inside the cult leader's playbook for achieving unconditional love, endless devotion and the power to control people's minds, bodies, and souls.

68

52

6.6

/1414/

62

/128/

63

/26/

3.4

/724/

92

/12/

63

63

/5/

age 15+

Experience the chilling true story of the world's most famous poltergeist case through original audio recordings made inside the house as the events unfolded.

76

52

8.0

/4805/

75

/294/

74

/8/

age 15+

This immersive documentary series follows a diverse group of professional golfers - on and off the course - during a relentless season of competition.

62

51

6.3

/2962/

62

/194/

66

/21/

3.0

/2139/

73

/11/

44

66

/6/

age 13+

Revisit the shocking 1999 murder of beloved TV presenter Jill Dando, which continues to mystify experts and the public, in this in-depth documentary.

64

50

5.9

/2556/

69

/286/

66

/31/

age 14+

Follow officers from a South Carolina sheriff’s department as they urgently search for individuals who've disappeared under troubling circumstances.

70

49

5.3

/3188/

62

/21/

76

/7/

86

/7/

78

70

/5/

age 15+

Follow six people competing in the 2022 Invictus Games, a global event founded by Prince Harry that helps wounded service members heal through sports.

61

48

6.4

/2196/

67

/217/

70

/29/

3.3

/638/

40

/5/

65

age 14+

Mass UFO sightings from the last 50 years fuel a mystery in this documentary series featuring eyewitness accounts, expert interviews and new evidence.

77

48

7.0

/1371/

69

/105/

78

/10/

77

/13/