Best Documentary TV Shows of 2020
The 34 highest rated documentary TV shows released in 2020, ranked by viewer ratings on TMDB. Only titles with enough votes to count are included, so one-off five-star ratings can't skew the list.
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1
The Last Dance (2020)
A 10-part documentary chronicling the untold story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty with rare, never-before-seen footage and sound from the 1997-98 championship season – plus over 100 interviews with famous figures and…
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2
MATARIFE (2020)
Matarife, an unmentionable genocide | The series has generated great controversy in Colombia because it exposes former president Alvaro Uribe Vélez in its plot like never before.
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3
How To with John Wilson (2020)
In a uniquely hilarious odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation, documentary filmmaker and self-described "anxious New Yorker" John Wilson covertly and obsessively films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to…
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4
Tiny World (2020)
This docuseries showcases nature's lesser-known tiny heroes. Spotlighting small creatures and the extraordinary things they do to survive, each episode is filled with surprising stories and spectacular cinematography.
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5
Down to Earth with Zac Efron (2020)
Actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a travel show that explores healthy, sustainable ways to live.
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6
Unsolved Mysteries (2020)
Real cases of perplexing disappearances, shocking murders and paranormal encounters fuel this gripping revival of the iconic documentary series.
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7
James May: Our Man in… (2020)
James May embarks on a remarkable journey across Japan, from its icy north to its balmy south. He’ll see the sights, meet the locals, and eat the noodles in a bid to truly understand the Land of the Rising Sun.
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8
Súbete a mi moto (2020)
The Story behind the the iconic boy band Menudo according to the creator and manager of the band
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9
Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020)
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II wages an epic campaign to take the Byzantine capital of Constantinople and shapes the course of history for centuries.
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10
Marvel's 616 (2020)
Explore Marvel’s rich legacy of pioneering characters, creators and storytelling to reflect the world outside your window. Each documentary, helmed by a unique filmmaker, showcases the intersections of storytelling, pop culture, and fandom…
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11
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
A boy’s brutal murder and the public trials of his guardians and social workers prompt questions about the system’s protection of vulnerable children.
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12
High Score (2020)
This docuseries traces the history of classic video games, featuring insights from the innovators who brought these worlds and characters to life.
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13
Undertaker: The Last Ride (2020)
The anticipated WWE Network docuseries will look back on The Undertaker’s storied WWE career and place a focus on the ongoing challenges the wrestling legend appears to have with a career beginning to near it's end.
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14
Night on Earth (2020)
This nature series’ new technology lifts night’s veil to reveal the hidden lives of the world’s creatures, from lions on the hunt to bats on the wing.
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15
Cheer (2020)
The stakes on the mat are high, but for these cheerleaders, the only thing more brutal than their workouts and more exceptional than their performances are the stories of adversity and triumph behind the athletes themselves.
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16
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez (2020)
Via interviews with friends, players and insiders, this docuseries examines how Aaron Hernandez went from an NFL star to a convicted killer.
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17
Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
Engineers, officials and the crew members' families provide their perspective on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and its aftermath.
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18
History 101 (2020)
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
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19
Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (2020)
This four-part documentary series follows the story of India Oxenberg's perilous journey through the dark and criminal world of the notorious self-help-group-turned-sex-slave-cult NXIVM.
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20
The Vow (2020)
The docuseries follows people deeply involved in the group NXIVM — which is faced with various charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy — over the course of several years.
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21
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses.
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22
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020)
An exploration of the case of the Golden State Killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s, committing 50 sexual assaults and 10 murders, and true crime author Michelle McNamara's obsessive quest to find justice on behalf of his…
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23
Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II (2020)
The team behind Frozen II open their doors to cameras for a six-part documentary series to reveal the hard work, heart, and collaboration it takes to create one of the most highly-anticipated films in Walt Disney Animation Studios’…
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24
The Business of Drugs (2020)
To detail how drugs push people into risky — even deadly — behaviors, a former CIA analyst investigates the economics of six illicit substances.
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25
McMillion$ (2020)
A detailed account of the McDonald's Monopoly game scam during the 1990s as told by the participants in the case, including the prizewinners and the FBI agents who caught the security officer who orchestrated the entire scheme.
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26
Tiger King (2020)
A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.
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27
Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (2020)
In this docuseries, meet the heroes on the front lines of the battle against influenza and learn about their efforts to stop the next global outbreak.
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28
Alien Worlds (2020)
Applying the laws of life on Earth to the rest of the galaxy, this series blends science fact and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets.
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29
Lenox Hill (2020)
From birth to brain surgery: This docuseries provides an intimate look at the lifesaving work of four doctors at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.
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30
Tiny Creatures (2020)
Little animals embark on big adventures across the U.S. in a dramatic nature series that explores their hidden worlds and epic survival stories.
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31
Fear City: New York vs The Mafia (2020)
New York City in the 1970s was ruled with a bloody fist by five mafia families, until a group of federal agents tried the unthinkable: taking them down.
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32
Futbolistas por el mundo (2020)
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33
Sex, Explained (2020)
From the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.
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34
The Ripper (2020)
For five years, from 1975 to 1980, the Yorkshire Ripper murders cast a dark shadow over the lives of women in the North of England. 13 women were dead and the police seemed incapable of catching the killer. No one felt safe – and every man…