Summary

• There are a wide range of documentaries about the paranormal on Netflix, covering everything from demonic possession through to haunted houses.
• Some of the best paranormal Netflix documentaries try their best to be rooted in scientific accuracy, whereas others lean more towards creating as much entertainment value as possible.
• Some Netflix documentaries on the unexplained are anthology based, covering a wide variety of incidents, whereas others focus on one specific event.

Skeptics widely regard the paranormal as unreal, fanciful, or simply fake — but the best paranormal documentaries on Netflix might convince non-believers otherwise. The streamer offers titles that force viewers to question what may lie beyond what people understand. The great thing about the paranormal genre is that it contains a variety of intriguing topics, as "paranormal" means anything beyond the scope of scientific understanding. This includes ghosts and demons to Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. Netflix has a documentary on nearly all of it.

For the best paranormal documentaries currently available on Netflix, there is truly something for everyone. Some focus on spooky stories, while others take a more realistic look into paranormal concepts. Some documentaries chronicle what life could be like on alien planets, while others delve into experiences with ghosts and demons. Each of these documentaries leaves belief or unbelief up to the viewer. Whether audiences want to get scared or learn more about supernatural forces, Netflix has titles worth a watch.

For more streaming recommendations, be sure to check out the best TV shows on Netflix.

25 Files Of The Unexplained (2024)

Eight Episodes Exploring The Unknown

Files of the Unexplained hit Netflix in 2024, and the new supernatural docies ended up as one of the most-watched shows on the streaming service. The first season had eight episodes and focused on everything from hauntings and disappearances to paranormal phenomena and mysterious encounters. Each episode is between 30 minutes and 48. Vox produces the series, and each installment takes on a different subject.

The series includes looks at a supposed alien abduction in Mississippi, the government reportedly investigating over 650 UFOs, a series of mysterious drownings on an old plantation, and much more. Each episode takes in witness testimony and expert analysis. The reviews are not as good as other paranormal documentaries on Netflix, but the positive reviews indicate that it works to get people interested in specific unexplained incidents, so they can do further research outside of the show.

24 Encounters (2023)

Four Stories Of Possible Alien Encounters

Encounters is a 2023 UFO series that hit Netflix, telling the story of four alleged sightings that took place. Alas, it is just mostly a series that has people telling their stories, with drawings, artist's renditions, and some CG footage that demonstrates what the people believe that they saw. What this means is that there is no "proof" that any of these people saw the UFOs. However, the fun is listening to their stories and imagining that what they saw might be true.

Among the stories are people saying they don't think it was aliens, but they think it was angels. Another says that they are an alien who came to Earth to satisfy their curiosity. Yet another simply says what they saw is true, whether viewers believe them or not. This series won't sway any nonbelievers, but people who love to hear about possible alien encounters will find a lot to love in this new series.

23 The Devil On Trial (2023)

A Murderer Claims He Was Demonically Possessed

Released in 2023, The Devil on Trial is a very different paranormal documentary on Netflix. This is a true-crime horror documentary about a man on trial for murder who uses the defense that he was under a "demonic possession" when he committed the crime. However, presiding Judge Robert Callahan rejected the argument as a possibility. This documentary follows that case and the defense based on supernatural aspects.

This is a single documentary checking in at 81 minutes, so there is no fluff, and it gets straight to the point. The accused is Arne Cheyenne Johnson, and the documentary uses reenactments, home videos, and firsthand s to tell the story of his 1981 case. This case was the only one in history that tried to use "demonic possession" as a defense. On a side note, this ended up being the basis for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

22 Ancient Aliens (2023)

The Original Alien Conspiracy Theory Series

Ancient Aliens is the beloved groundbreaking documentary series that approaches pseudoscientific and pseudohistoric topics about the possibility of aliens on Earth. This includes popular topics such as the ideas of Atlantis and other lost civilizations, the concepts of extraterrestrial , and the idea of UFOs. The series also approaches many conspiracy theories that exist in the world of aliens.

Only Season 6 and Season 7 of Ancient Aliens are on Netflix.

There are 20 seasons and 256 episodes of Ancient Aliens, but only two of the seasons are available to stream on Netflix. As expected, many historians and scientists have criticized the series for its pseudoscience, but the entire fun of the series is to suppose there were alien encounters on Earth that remain mysteries to this very day. The format is fast and entertaining, with the "experts" giving their thoughts and the show not really questioning anything, but just presenting its facts about any certain subject.

21 Remastered: Devil At The Crossroads (2019)

The Robert Johnson Story

ReMastered: Devil at the Crossroads is the world-famous story of Robert Johnson, the blues singer in the Jim Crow South who supposedly met the devil at the crossroads and sold his soul. This story has been around for a long time, as he was a recording artist who hit it big in 1936 and 1937, one of the first-ever "rock stars." This doc looks at the singer's life and the legends surrounding his rise to success.

This documentary is about Robert Johnson's life and musical career. He recorded only 29 songs before his death. However, it also details the myth of the crossroad's deal with the devil, which helps make it a fun look into the possible paranormal aspects of the man's life and musical endeavors. It also touches on the symbolism involved in giving someone living his social status such great success in that period of racial tensions.

20 Ghost Hunters (2004- )

A Team Of Paranormal Investigators Visit Famous Haunted Locations

Ghost Hunters is arguably the most popular and successful of the ghost-hunting documentary series on TV. The show premiered in 2004, following Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS). They began exploring famous haunted locations across the United States before finally branching out and hitting haunted spots in Ireland, The United Kingdom, and Canada. The show even spun off with an international version in 2008. When it comes to Netflix, there are limited episodes to enjoy.

Only Season 8 and Season 9 of Ghost Hunters are on Netflix

There are only two seasons of Ghost Hunters on Netflix, with the streaming giant offering seasons eight and nine, for a total of 52 episodes. This means Netflix subscribers can watch a few of the scariest Ghost Hunters episodes, including the 10th episode of season 8, which focuses on a haunted military ship called the USS Yorktown.

This means Netflix subscribers can watch a few of the scariest Ghost Hunters episodes, including the 10th episode of season 8.

19 Alien Worlds (2020)

A Hypothetical Look At Alien Life

Alien Worlds is an incredible and visually striking limited series, and it's one of the best paranormal documentaries on Netflix. It merges scientific ideas with fictitious creations to imagine what aliens of the universe could realistically look and act like. The show is driven by a calming narration that guides audiences through beautifully imaginative worlds. It is a more than ideal watch for fantasy enjoyers, and perhaps the perfect amalgamation of science-fiction and science-non-fiction.

The weekend after Alien Worlds' release, it made it into the Netflix Top Ten for the UK and the series uses its Earth-bound science to create extraordinary worlds. The four-episode series starts with "Atlas," a planet larger than Earth with higher gravity and a thicker atmosphere. They also discuss exoplanets and their place in the universe. They next explore "Janus," a planet that orbits a red dwarf star and becomes tidally locked. The third episode is "Eden," an ideal star system. Finally, "Terra" contains an advanced alien civilization terraforming other planets.

18 John Was Trying To Aliens (2020)

An Unexpected Love Story Within The Search For First

This quick 16-minute short film is a must-watch for documentary lovers. John Was Trying to Aliens is an intimate dive into one man's extreme interest in wanting to make a connection with something otherworldly. The film tells a touching story through vintage and psychedelic footage. Although it does ultimately veer away from its paranormal aspect, this film will bring audiences back down to earth in a thought-provoking way and includes a heartwarming LGBTQ+ storyline.

Matthew Killip directs this short documentary which features John Shepherd in the lead. His goal is to try to make with aliens through the use of broadcasting music into space using state-of-the-art equipment. Not only did he take on this labor of love, but he did it for over 30 years. The movie premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival before Netflix picked it up. It is easily one of the best paranormal documentaries and also one of the best UFO documentaries on Netflix.

17 The UnXplained With William Shatner (2019)

A Look At The World's Most Notorious Unanswered Questions

The UnXplained with William Shatner is now six seasons strong and worth seeking out. With the incomparable Star Trek star narrating, The UnXplained follows several different paranormal cases per episode and is the perfect program for those looking to explore the full breadth of the supernatural.

Only Season 3 and Season 4 of The UnXplained are on Netflix.

The series reportedly brought more tourism to the Lake Shawnee Amusement Park (via Bluefield Daily Telegraph) after the episode focusing on it, and two new seasons premiered in 2023, adding up to 83 episodes so far. While this is a great series to watch on Netflix, it is actually a HISTORY Channel series, so keeping up with new episodes means watching that cable network while catching up on the older seasons can be done on Netflix.

16 Surviving Death (2021)

An Examination Of Death And What Comes After

Based on the book of the same name by Leslie Kean, Surviving Death is a wonderfully existential documentary series with a high production value. Though it is more informative rather than scary, the show grounds supernatural experiences that are usually exaggerated for dramatic effect back in reality. Each episode covers spiritual and emotional experiences that people all over the world have had with death and explores topics like reincarnation and near-death experiences.

This specific series has also been criticized for exploiting the plight of grieving and vulnerable people, but others praise it for its balanced treatment of a difficult topic of discussion.

It merges inexplicable phenomena with what the human species can scientifically and rationally comprehend. There were only six episodes in its sole season, all directed by Ricki Stern, who is best known for the true-crime documentary The Trials of Darryl Hunt and the 2020 documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein. This specific series has also been criticized for exploiting the plight of grieving and vulnerable people, but others praise it for its balanced treatment of a difficult topic of discussion.