The Best Netflix Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now

The Best Netflix Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now

Movies where one can shut their brain off and enjoy are great, but sometimes the mind needs to be engaged. Documentaries are perfect for that, and Netflix is a great place to go for diving down the proverbial rabbit hole and coming out a well-informed viewer of whatever subject they just watched. For those looking to do that sometime in the near future, check out some of the best documentaries to stream right now below. Let's start with the Netflix-exclusive ones, i.e. you won't find them anywhere else.

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

There are plenty of documentaries on various topics worth checking out, but we'd be remiss not to give a nod to one of the better movie documentaries out there at the moment. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond is a documentary in which Jim Carrey gives interviews of his making of Man On The Moon 20 years later. It's paired with never-before-seen footage of Carrey on the set, completely in character as Andy Kaufman.

The documentary is a fantastic examination of two different comedians and a fascinating show of the pain and sacrifice that can go into a theatrical performance. Perhaps the most amazing thing is how a documentary about two funny men gets so deep and introspective. I guess that's kind of the point of the documentary genre, so mission accomplished.

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

We're not the first people to tell you to watch Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, and we certainly won't be the last. The documentary goes from one crazy story to the next, with several high profile figures appearing in and out of various scenes all throughout. It all culminates to the disaster that made several headlines throughout 2018, and how people were affected by its failure.

The best part about the whole thing is that knowing what happened only enhances the tale. Everything else is just icing on the cake, and stories like the promoter prepared to perform fellatio to get water into the country is just one example of how decorative this cake can get. Those who think the stories can't get any crazier than that just need to strap in for this one and check back after the viewing.

ReMastered: Tricky Dick And The Man In Black

Netflix's ReMastered documentaries highlight the music world and interesting stories surrounding musicians throughout the years. One of the best the collection has to offer is Tricky Dick And The Man In Black, which chronicles Johnny Cash's invitation to the White House by Richard Nixon. The President is hoping the grassroots singer will strengthen the support of his base and gain him additional support, but what's in it for Cash?

That's what the documentary covers, as Johnny Cash undergoes some personal reflection as the days tick down. As a true blue American, will he respect the honor of playing at the White House or will he use his platform to talk about the issues he thinks are relevant? Folks can probably guess which route he goes, but that doesn't make the story any less riveting.

13th

Ana DuVernay partnered with Netflix to shed some light on America's incarceration problem. As the beginning of the film states, America is home to 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prison population. As the title implies, DuVernay argues the current prison problem is, in part, tied to the 13th Amendment, and has created a widespread issue in American society. It's heavy stuff for sure, and definitely a topic that doesn't end when the credits roll.

13th received strong critical acclaim, Emmys and an Oscar nomination for its presentation of a subject others might have balked at. The fact that it won a few Emmys and had a shot at an Oscar should be proof it's one worth checking out, and one of Netflix's best original documentaries to date.

Gaga: Five Foot Two

Hot off her latest batch of award show glory, now is the perfect time to watch Lady Gaga's Netflix documentary. Gaga: Five Foot Two follows the singer along the making of her album Joanne and ends with her iconic halftime show performance during Super Bowl LI. It's also a look behind the struggles of touring, life on the road, and how much one sacrifices for the amount of fame she's celebrated.

Those who watch will even notice the doc features Gaga discussing talks she had with Bradley Cooper, and a movie they're planning that later became A Star Is Born. This is perfect for those who appreciated her work in the movie and want to see more of her as the artist removed from the various Hollywood performances and shock art over the years. The whole thing skews positive, but it's not like Gaga's image was suffering prior to its release.

Now that we've gone over the Netflix-exclusive documentaries, let's look at the ones that didn't start out on the streaming platform, but can easily be accessed there.

Abducted In Plain Sight

Abducted In Plain Sight has gotten a lot of buzz lately, as parents continue to fear for their children's safety in an ever-expanding world. This story is quite unlike anything folks may expect, however, as the man responsible for one family's misery is someone they loved deeply and all considered a close friend. If you can't trust those closest to you, who can you trust?

That's what Abducted In Plain Sight covers, as it travels back through various encounters that the family should've seen as red flags at the time. It's chilling and from an era that shows that while the internet presents a fresh set of problems for today's kids, danger can still exist very close to home.

Michael Jackson's This Is It

The mystery of Michael Jackson continues to be unraveled to this day, and while some details regarding his personal life are up in the air, his passion as a performer cannot be denied. This Is It chronicles Jackson's big concert tour that never was, as the singer died a little over two weeks prior to its beginning.

Michael Jackson fans are treated to his final performance just before his death. It's a great swan song to a legendary professional career, and the perfect movie for any Jackson fan. Even those only casually familiar will appreciate the amount of hard work that goes into putting together a massive tour, and the hours performers and crew put in to make it happen.

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From A Mythical Man

Bill Murray is an interesting dude who's only gotten more interesting in his older age. He's made a habit of getting into some weird situations, but really they're only weird because he's injected himself into them. The Bill Murray Stories chronicles some of these events from the people who were there, and tells the story from their perspective.

Which is way more fascinating than it sounds, at least from an audience perspective. It's like hearing a friend recall a story of some crazy encounter, but if that encounter involved Bill Murray doing the types of things Bill Murray could only do without anyone getting upset. Seriously, who else could wave a tambourine in a cop's face and get away with it?

Studio 54

It's not often that old nightclubs get movies and documentaries made about them, but when they do, it's Studio 54. This documentary looks at it from the perspective of co-owner Ian Schrager, and offers a different perspective on one of the most famous nightclubs of all time.

After watching the documentary, it isn't hard to see why this place is still talked about to this day. It's one of those unique places that came around at the right place and right time, and nothing like it will ever happen again. If it does, let's hope we get an invite!

Harold Shipman: Driven To Kill

It wouldn't be a documentary list without highlighting at least one serial killer, and who better than one of Britain's most prolific murderers to date. Harold Shipman is believed to have killed around 250 people all whilst serving the public as a doctor for years. Harold Shipman: Driven To Kill highlights his childhood and the early adult years of the physician who would hurt far more than he would ever heal.

It's one of those documentaries that can make a person question everything. If someone can get away with killing that many people before being caught, are there other people in our own lives who have done the same?

Documentary lovers with suggestions or opinions to add on the above picks feel free to share their thoughts in the comments below. For more on documentaries, read up on the latest buzzworthy docuementary Leaving Neverland, and why Macaulay Culkin was not asked to participate in it.

Jesse Eisenberg Says Zombieland: Double Tap Went Through A Bunch Of Scripts

Jesse Eisenberg Says Zombieland: Double Tap Went Through A Bunch Of Scripts

Zombies have captivated audiences for decades, starting with 1968's Night of the Living Dead. Nowadays they're perhaps most associated with popular TV empires The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, Ruben Fleischer's horror/comedy Zombieland actually pre-dated both shows. The Venom director brought levity to the zombie apocalypse, with Zombieland quickly becoming a cult favorite.

Fans have been calling for a Zombieland sequel for years, and now it's finally happening. Zombieland: Double Tap will arrive a decade after the original film hit theaters, so it's been a long time coming. The full cast is returning, including Jesse Eisenberg as the protagonist/narrator Columbus. The Social Network actor recently spoke to the long development and multiple scripts, saying:

We would never have made another one if we didn’t think it was going to be great. They wrote a ton of scripts for this movie and we went through a lot of different ideas.

It looks like quite a few scripts were brought to the table for Zombieland: Double Tap. But those involved in the franchise wanted to make sure it was the right one, which is why it took so many years for the sequel to finally get green-lit. But Zombieland is finally getting its follow-up, so we should expect big things from the movie's script.

Sequels are a tricky game, as there are tons of expectations associated with follow-up movies. And more often than not, they fail to capture the same magic as the original film. This is no doubt a concern for Zombieland: Double Tap, especially now that zombies have become such an integral part of the pop culture zeitgeist. The first film had a tone wholly unique, and the project defied genre in a many ways. So can Ruben Fleischer and the cast strike gold twice?

In his same conversation with The Toronto Sun, Jesse Eisenberg spoke to this pressure, and how those involved with Zombieland didn't want to put out a sequel to simply grab at more money. Instead, they want to produce another film that is just as great. As Eisenberg tells it:

We didn’t want to do a typical sequel to try and capitalize on something that was popular. We waited 10 years until we had a great idea.

You have to respect this craftsmanship and professionalism in this statement. When sequels fail, it's usually because not enough attention was paid to the story. Instead, blockbuster are rushed out in order to make the most money at the box office. That's not the case with the Zombieland franchise. In fact, director Ruben Fleischer passed on directing the Venom sequel in order to pay full attention to Zombieland: Double Tap. Given how successful the comic book movie was, that's saying something.

Zombieland: Double Tap will arrive in theaters on October 11, 2019, just in time for Halloween. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Theater Offers Showers And Yoga During Marvel Marathon Ahead Of Endgame

Theater Offers Showers And Yoga During Marvel Marathon Ahead Of Endgame

Ever since it was revealed Avengers: Endgame would be three hours long, fans have been planning ahead to skip hydrating that day… especially since Marvel chief Kevin Feige said there will not be a single lull in the movie to head to the bathroom. Some fans may be going the extra mile by buying tickets for 22-movie MCU marathon to witness the entire “Infinity Saga” from beginning to end which adds up to just about two full days of Marvel goodness.

For a feat such as this, breaks are pretty much required for survival, and one Massachusetts theater is going the extra mile to provide the best experience for MCU marathoners. At the Showcase Cinema de Lux Revere, fans can catch every single film in the cinematic universe between Tuesday April 23 to Thursday April 25, ending with an early screening of Avengers: Endgame for $90 and a few other sweet perks. The theater will be provided meal breaks, access to shower stations, phone charging stations, 22% off concessions, and the option to drop into a yoga practice and stretch their muscles in between all the movie-watching.

It seems like the ultimate fan event for those interesting in reliving over a decade of superhero origin stories, team-ups, epic battles and one-liners in one cohesive sitting. To be among stoked fans for a couple days and have the opportunity to prep yourself for the main event with these amenities is a clever idea on the Revere theaters part.

Shower stations are especially a nice touch to keep out an uncomfortable stench marinating as a theater full of fans lives there for a few days. It’s unclear just how the theater will provide them, but I’d guess you’d be able to say you’ve showered at a movie theater after the fact. Providing a form of exercise such as yoga is also a great option for the fans to move their legs and keep their energy up amidst all the MCU anticipation!

An event like this is certainly a good way to refresh one’s memory on all that’s happened throughout the 22-film journey. Since Endgame is set to be the culmination of them all, viewing the other movies right before would certainly give fans some additional insight or understanding into the upcoming wrap up. On the flip side, some fans might be so overwhelmed with all the story and battles found in the movies that by the time they get to Endgame they’re exhausted!

No matter how you choose to celebrate the MCU and check out Endgame, it’s certainly shaping up to be one of the most massive moviegoing events in cinematic history. The movie sold five times more presale tickets than the record-breaking Infinity War and is tracking to make $250 million opening weekend or higher when it hits theaters on April 26.

Disney’s Cruella Movie Is Looking To Add Emma Thompson

Disney’s Cruella Movie Is Looking To Add Emma Thompson

Some of Disney’s recent live action adaptations have been relatively straightforward remakes of their animated predecessors, while others have been taken more drastic creative liberties. The upcoming Cruella movie will fall into the latter category, presumably because we already got a 101 Dalmatians remake in 1996. We’ve know for years that Emma Stone will play a younger version of Cruella de Vil, but it looks like another Emma could join this prequel project, this one having the last name Thompson.

Fresh off Emma Thompson’s Saturday Night Live hosting stint and ahead of the release of her next movie, Late Night, Variety is reporting that the actress is in early talks to star in Cruella. However, details regarding who she would play are being kept under wraps.

Assuming a deal is reached, this would be the latest entry in Emma Thompson’s extensive Disney resume. Back in 2002, she voiced Captain Amelia in Treasure Planet, and in more recent years, she’s played P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Banks and Mrs. Potts in the live action Beauty and the Beast remake. As far as what else she has coming up, along with Late Night, Thompson can be seen later this year in Men in Black: International and Last Christmas, and beyond 2019, she’s attached to The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle and How to Build a Girl.

All we know about Cruella so far is that it will be an origin story depicting how Cruella de Vil developed her obsession with dog fur, specifically the dalmatian variety, although it still hasn’t been specified where in her timeline this movie will take place. Cruella was voiced in the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians animated movie by Betty Lou Gerson, and Emma Stone would be the third actress to portray the character in a live action on-screen project, following behind Glenn Close, Victoria Smurfit and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

For now, I’m guessing that Emma Thompson is being eyed to play Cruella de Vil’s mentor in this prequel. Unless Cruella was just born with the impulse to want to turn dogs into clothing, she had to have absorbed such malevolence from someone, and that’s where Thompson’s character would fit into the picture. Alternatively, maybe Thompson could be playing a fashion mogul that the younger Cruella clashes with during this story.

Originally Mozart in the Jungle co-creator Alex Timbers was set to direct Cruella, but due to scheduling conflicts he later dropped out and now I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie is helming the picture. Tony McNamara penned the most recent draft of the script.

Cruella is set for release on December 23, 2020, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the movie as pre-production continues. If you’re curious about what other live action Disney offerings are coming down the pipeline, look through our handy guide.

Dumbo Has Screened, See The Early Reactions

Dumbo Has Screened, See The Early Reactions

2019 is the year Disney goes all in on the remakes of its animated classics. Later this summer we'll see both Aladdin and The Lion King hit the screen. But first, it's all about the flying elephant. Dumbo was Disney's fourth animated feature film, which makes it now the earliest one to get the live-action treatment. How does the new film stack up against the original, as well as the other Disney remakes? A few critics were lucky enough to see Dumbo early and most of them are pretty complimentary.

Film critic Courtney Howard has one of the more glowing responses to Dumbo, complimenting both the message of the movie as well as the CGI title character.

Dumbo has a blessedly surprising pro-animal rights agenda wrapped in a subtle, rebellious meta-commentary on a band of outsiders shaking up a corporate establishment. Its aesthetic design is dazzling, gorgeous & meticulous. The CG elephant is absolutely adorable.

It's interesting, though not too surprising, to hear that there's an animal rights element to the new Dumbo. Several of those who have seen the movie remarked upon it. The fact is that the 1941 original is a movie that hasn't necessarily aged all that well. Many elements that were not seen at the time as being any issue, we now realize were inappropriate. Many people remember, or are at least aware, of the crow characters that give Dumbo his "magic feather." The fact is that's not even the only racially problematic sequence in the film. But beyond race, there's even more about Dumbo that's potentially a problem now.

The fact is that circuses themselves are largely viewed now as something that should be left in our past. Few, if any, of the circuses that remain in business today even use animal acts. Regardless of how well a circus may attempt to treat its animals, the issue of them being repeatedly caged can't be overlooked. The sequence that leads Dumbo's mother to be taken away, as one example, is the sort of thing that would likely result in the entire circus being shutdown, and a host of lawsuits being filed. Dumbo is also repeatedly put at great physical risk for the entertainment of people. We know now such things are entirely wrong. Not at least pointing out this fact would have been a missed opportunity.

One of the more unique aspects of this particular story is that the title character of the film is an elephant created entirely with CGI that never actually speaks. It's safe to say that if the elephant doesn't work, the movie doesn't work. However, one item that pretty much everybody seems to be in agreement on is that the elephant is adorable and emotional. As writer Nick Kazden put it...

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can say that Dumbo is a genuinely heartwarming, entertaining movie that is definitely worth your time. The cast is enjoyable but the VFX Dumbo is so damn expressive that he steals the show everytime he's onscreen.

Dumbo is directed by Tim Burton. While he's mostly known for making movies about more macabre subjects, this isn't the first time he's made a movie designed to warm the heart, and many are in agreement that he's done a good job with Dumbo. Slashfilm calls it one his best live-action films in years.

I enjoyed Dumbo. Fantastic art/production design, a surprising/necessary pro-animal rights message. One of the best live action films Burton has directed in years. Unlike most Disney adaptations, its in the unique position to be 35% an adaptation and 65% a sequel, which is cool.

The idea of Dumbo being a sequel likely comes from the fact that Dumbo only actually shows the world he can fly in the last minutes of the original film. As it seems clear that's not the case here, most of this version of Dumbo would have taken place after the original movie was over. This gives Tim Burton a lot more to work with, which may be where his creativity is allowed to shine.

The sentiment that Burton is at his best is also echoed by Attractions Magazine, though without the caveat of "live-action..."

t’s absolutely wonderful - a beautiful story, quite different than the original, that won’t leave a dry eye in the theater. The cast is kismet together on screen. It’s one of Tim Burton’s best in a long time.

Of course, few films receive entirely perfect responses from all corners, and while few seem to have truly hated Dumbo, many still found it lacking. While the remake may offer a bit more substance than the animated original, Nerds of Color still found the new version fairly thin...

Dumbo the character is quite cute. But unfortunately, though it looks great, the movie lacks the sincerity and heart that made the animated original a classic. Too manufactured, and it’s super talented cast is a bit wasted on paper thin characters and relationships.

Similarly, IGN felt that the movie was simply missing the heart of the original, and that the stories of the human characters, the part of the live-action film that is entirely original, never felt fully realized...

Watched Dumbo last week. Despite some great visuals, a very fun Michael Keaton performance, and an adorable baby pachyderm, the movie never really gets you caring as much about what's going on as the original. The human stories feel undercooked and it really rains on the parade.

Dumbo is an interesting movie to want to remake in the first place. While it's got some beautiful visuals and musical moments, the story itself leaves a bit to be desired. The movie isn't very long, and it still has moments, like the well-known "Pink Elephants on Parade" that are mostly just filler designed to show off Disney's animation talent.

The new version was always going to need something to give it a bit more substance. The decision was to create a collection of new human characters who come into conflict over Dumbo's fate, but it seems not everybody agrees they have all that much substance themselves.

There are clearly a lot of fans of the animated classic that will likely want to check this one out. Some are saying it is much better than some of Disney's more recent remake efforts. The rest of us will find out when Dumbo hits theaters March 29.

Stephen King Drops F-Bomb Over How Great Pet Sematary Is

Stephen King Drops F-Bomb Over How Great Pet Sematary Is

Stephen King is never shy with his opinions. Just ask The Shining. But the good news is he thinks the new Pet Sematary movie is "fucking great!" This is the second movie to adapt his 1983 horror novel, following the 1989 film.

Critics have already seen the 2019 Pet Sematary and the reactions have been very positive. King seems to agree, particularly appreciating the maturity of the film:

It’s fucking great! It’s a really good movie. It’s a grown-up, adult kind of movie. It’s not like 12 semi-clad teens get killed in a summer camp. In this particular time frame, you know, there’ve been several movies that have been successful. Horror movies like Jordan Peele’s Get Out last year. And then I think when Us opens, I think it’s gonna be big. I think it’s gonna be huge. Those are like adult-type fantasies.

Stephen King must've shared those quotes a while before EW posted them, since by now Us has come out and it was indeed big -- with a bigger-than-expected opening. Horror is huge right now. Pet Sematary isn't expected to have a huge box office opening opposite Shazam! but it should pull in respectable numbers. The strong word-of-mouth can't hurt.

Stephen King also reiterated he's OK with the 2019 Pet Sematary changing one aspect of the film -- which was already revealed in the trailer so it's not really a spoiler -- that the older girl is resurrected this time and not the little boy.

It’s something different. They did a good job. Boy, I saw all the stuff that came online when people realized that it was Ellie rather than Gage that got run over in the road, and I’m thinking like, “Man, these people…” It’s so nuts. You can take Route 301 and go to Tampa, or you could take Route 17 and go to Tampa. But both times, you’re gonna come out at Tampa! [Laughs] You know what I’m saying? It didn’t change anything for me. I thought, “Okay, I understand why they did it, because it’s maybe easier to work with a zombie when she’s a little girl, [rather] than a toddler.”

Stephen King said, in general, he's fine with stories changing details -- if, in his opinion, it works for the story:

I’m really kind of mercenary about all this. My idea is, “If it works, it’s golden. If it doesn’t work, you know, Jesus Christ, why did you change it?” I mean, I’ve seen changes in stuff that’s been done to my work where I just throw up my hands and I say, “Why? Why did you do that? You had a book. You had a blueprint you could’ve gone by.”

It's true. There are good Stephen King adaptations, bad Stephen King adaptations, and a whole lot in between with a mix of both in the same project.

Read the whole Q&A for a lot more from Stephen King. Pet Sematary opens this coming Friday, April 5. And don't forget we also have It Chapter 2, Doctor Sleep, Castle Rock Season 2, The Stand, and more King adaptations still to come. He never stops!

How Clark Gregg Originally Found Out He'd Be In More Than Iron Man Movies In The MCU

How Clark Gregg Originally Found Out He'd Be In More Than Iron Man Movies In The MCU

While Clark Gregg's agent Phil Coulson doesn't have superpowers, the character is as loved by fans as any of the Avengers. Between his appearance in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films, and the ongoing Agents of SHIELD TV series, he's become a significant part of the story. However, if it was always the plan for Coulson to become a recurring part of the MCU, somebody forgot to tell Clark Gregg, as he didn't know his role was growing until the middle of filming Iron Man 2. According to Gregg...

During one of those [Iron Man 2] scenes they said, ‘Oh Tony, you’ve got to tell him he’s going to New Mexico.’ Finally, after I did a couple of takes, because I was obedient and happy to be there, I was like, ‘One question: What’s in New Mexico?’ And they said, ‘Oh, Thor! You’re going to be the one to find his hammer. Are you free?’ And I was like, ‘Oh shit, I’m going to get free!’

Clark Gregg made his debut as Agent Phil Coulson in the original Iron Man, back when the only hint that there was ever going to be anything like the MCU came in a post-credits sequence back when people didn't know they needed to stay through the credits. He was Tony Stark's liaison with SHIELD.

He returned for Iron Man 2 and likely just assumed that he'd just be a small part of whatever shenanigans Tony Stark got up to. The Incredible Hulk was the only other Marvel movie at that point and while Robert Downey Jr. did appear in a post credits sequence of his own, connecting the stories, it still wasn't clear just how well the MCU idea would work. Hulk wasn't a hit like Iron Man had been.

It's clear from the way Clark Gregg talks to Polygon that he's as much a fan of the Marvel movies as he is happy to be a part of them. Of course he would get excited about the chance to be in Thor as well as the Iron Man movies. I like how it was just sort of planned to have Clark Gregg appear in the movie and he was asked if he was free after telling him he was going. Based on his response, it was probably assumed he would make himself available if he made it clear how happy he was to be making the movies.

His fate in The Avengers was probably somewhat disappointing to him, though Gregg says he was humbled by the outpouring of support from fans who wanted to find a way to bring him back. One theory was that dead Coulson could have been a Skrull. Now, Gregg is back on the big screen in the MCU in the 90s prequel Captain Marvel which opens on Friday, and so are the Skrulls. Is Coulson actually a Skrull? No spoilers.