Top 10 Documentaries on Netflix & Amazon Prime 2025
The world of streaming has given us a golden era for documentary filmmaking, giving us front-row seats for incredible stories, groundbreaking investigations and breathtaking natural wonders. As we head into a new year, our 2025 entertainment guide is full of must-see non-fiction titles. We’ve waded through literally hours of upcoming new content to produce what we believe is the definitive list of the Top 10 Documentaries on Netflix & Amazon Prime 2025. Whether you are a true crime fanatic, a nature lover or a history buff, this list of the best documentaries on Netflix and Amazon Prime in 2025 has something that will captivate and enlighten you.
Netflix’s Must-Watch Documentaries
Netflix continues its reign as a powerhouse for producing original and compelling documentary content. This year, the platform is set to release a diverse slate of films and series that explore everything from technological frontiers to mysteries.
1. The Silicon Shadow: AI and the New Arms Race
Platform: Netflix
Expected Release: Spring 2025
This haunting expose takes a deep look into the secret world of developing artificial intelligence for military purposes. From autonomous drone warfare to predictive war programming applications, The Silicon Shadow includes interviews with top technical ethicists, retired military strategists, and anonymous engineers who alert us to a new global arms race. The film is a stark reminder of the way technology is rapidly reshaping the landscape of war, and it poses timely questions about power and the morality of war. It is a vital read for anyone interested in the future of technology and world security.
2. The Last Monarchs of the Amazon
Platform: Netflix
Expected Release: August 2025
From the creators of other award-winning nature series, this is a stunning visual masterpiece. Filmed over three years using the latest 8K camera technology, The Last Monarchs of the Amazon tracks the dangerous and almond lush existence cycle of the giant river otter groups in the Pantanal wetlands. The series not only showcases their incredible social structures and prowess in hunting but showcases the ever-growing threats that they are facing due to deforestation and climate change. Prepare to be mesmerized by cinematography and touched by the fight for survival of the otters.
3. Citizen Journalist: The Lina Khan Story
Platform: Netflix
Expected Release: Late 2025
This is a biographical documentary following the meteoric growth of Lina Khan from an unknown law student to the head of the Federal Trade Commission and becoming one of the most powerful corporate regulators in the nation. Citizen Journalist explores her ground-breaking theories on antitrust, and her David versus Goliath battles against the monopolies of Big Tech. Through exclusive interviews conducted with Khan, her colleagues, and her critics, the film examines the modern-day battle for a just digital marketplace.
4. Vanished in the Keys: The Disappearance of Flight 914
Platform: Netflix
Expected Release: October 2025
True-crime buffs, make way for your next obsession. This multi-part docuseries revisits the puzzling disappearance of a private jet over the Florida Keys in 2018. The plane disappeared off radar screens without a single trace, with four billionaires on board. Starved of evidence as Scientists and at a loss for concrete explanations for this mystery, Disappeared in the Keys uncovers new evidence, explores the secrets of corporate espionage, international intrigue, and the families who are still begging desperately for answers. It’s a drama deep of mystery that keeps you guessing to the vacuum.
5. Taste the Nation: Future of Food
Platform: Netflix
Expected Release: June 2025
In this future-focused food show, acclaimed chef and food scientist Dr. Anya Sharma travels around the US to find out what advancements are shaping how we’ll be eating in the decades to come. From vertical farms in Detroit to lab-grown meat companies in Silicon Valley and insect protein pioneers in Texas, Taste the Nation is a fascinating look at sustainability, science and flavor. It’s a must-watch for foodies and people who care about the future of our planet.
Curious to know what is streaming besides? Check our list of top Netflix series of 2025 for your next binge-watch.
Amazon Prime’s Top Documentary Picks
Not to be outdone, Amazon Prime Video is delivering a strong lineup of documentaries that promise deep dives into sports, history, and human achievement.
6. The 200 MPH Club: Quest for Speed
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Expected Release: May 2025
The 200 MPH Club lets you experience the thrill. This high-octane documentary follows the big blue bike, the underdog team of engineers, and a fearless rider, as they try to eliminate the 200-mph land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a custom-built electrically propelled motorcycle. The film documents the colossal technical gulfs, financial pressures, as well as personal costs in pushing the limits of what can be achieved. Innovation and pure human determination is what it’s all about.
7. Apollo’s Children: The Next Giant Leap
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Expected Release: July 2025
Timed to coincide with new interest in lunar missions, Apollo’s Children tells the story of the Artemis program through the eyes of the new generation of astronauts. With unprecedented access thanks to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the film is an intimate look at their rigorous training, the state-of-the-art technology behind the Orion spacecraft, and the personal stories behind the men and women chosen to return humanity to the moon. This is one that is a must see if you are a space enthusiast and those who dream of the stars. It’s one of the most anticipated movies USA for science geek.
8. The Cost of Gold: An Olympic Exposé
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Expected Release: January 2025
With only a short period until the next Olympic cycle, this hard-driving investigative documentary provides a glimpse into the more sordid side of the world’s biggest sporting competition. The Cost of Gold delves into the enormous financial and economic cost imposed on host cities, forcing communities into homelessness, and shedding light on the rarely mentioned psychological suffering of elite athletes. The film, with its gripping testimony from those who have competed on the world stage, economists and activists, raises the difficult questions of whether the glory of the games in fact comes at a price.
9. Redwood Kings: The Guardians of the Giants
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Expected Release: April 2025
Journey deep into California’s ancient forests in Redwood Kings. This beautifully shot documentary follows scientists and conservationists as they work to protect the world’s tallest trees from the effects of drought, wildfires, and disease. Viewers will climb to the top of these majestic giants, witness the complex ecosystem that thrives in their canopy, and learn about the groundbreaking efforts to ensure their survival for generations to come.
10. The Unseen Stage: A Broadway Story
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Expected Release: November 2025
Go behind the curtain in The Unseen Stage. This documentary chronicles the cast and crew of a brand new Broadway musical from its first workshop to opening night. It’s a vivid depiction of the wild creativity, the financial constraints, the personality clashes, and the moments of pure creative magic that go into making a hit show. Whether you’re a theatre enthusiast or simply intrigued by the creative process, this film provides an authentic and captivating glimpse of the world of the live stage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where can I watch these documentaries in the USA?
All the documentaries listed are slated for release on either Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in the United States. Specific release dates are subject to change, so be sure to check the platforms for the latest updates.
What are the best documentaries coming out in 2025?
This list represents our top picks, but other major platforms, such as HBO Max (Max), Hulu, and Disney+, also have exciting documentary slates. Keep an eye out for titles like “Ocean Unknown” on Disney+ and “The Reporter” on HBO.
How can I find more of the latest movies in the USA?
For a comprehensive 2025 entertainment guide, follow major industry news outlets or visit our site for updated lists and reviews covering all genres and streaming services.
What Will You Be Watching?
This year is shaping up to be extraordinary for documentary fans. From the frontiers of science to the depths of human emotion, these ten films offer a powerful look at the world around us. They challenge our perspectives, spark our curiosity, and remind us of the power of a true story.
Which of these documentaries are you most looking forward to watching? Did we miss any that are on your must-see list? Please drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
