WARNING: This article mentions murder and sexual assault.

Summary

• Streaming services offer a diverse range of documentaries, but hidden gems often go unnoticed amidst popular true crime series and biographies.
• From flat-earthers to unsolved murders, these documentaries explore unique stories and delve into the impact of media and public opinion.
• Documentaries like "Telemarketers" and "Finders Keepers" provide a mix of humor, emotion, and absurdity, while others like "Leave No Trace" tackle important and shocking subjects.

In recent years, streaming services have become quite focused on producing and acquiring documentary content. From pulpy true crime to highbrow exposés on controversial figures, from indie fare about strange subjects to bios of iconic pop figures, popular streamers are always looking for the best documentaries. Though it's easy to binge the newest documentary series or film as it gets added, there is always a hidden gem that's just being scrolled past.

For every phenomenal and gossipy new true crime series with its heart-pounding danger, there's a great documentary hiding in the streaming library. With so much content to stream, it's easy to overlook so many thought-provoking new films and the unique worlds of people from other parts of the world. From American youths and pathological fraudsters to French murderers and art legends, not every great documentary was a major binge-worthy streaming hit upon its release.

12 Behind the Curve

Behind the Curve follows a group of flat-earthers, or people who believe the Earth is flat. The film features a group of flat-earthers, including several prominent figures in the movement, on an experiment that promises to prove their theory. Behind the Curve is fascinating for the unique people it follows and their arguably hilarious attempt to defend their point when questioned. The documentary is currently available on Tubi.

11 Who Killed Little Gregory?

This miniseries follows one of 's most famous unsolved cases the 1984 kidnap and murder of a couple's young son. The case has a shocking number of twists, and the documentary itself is tightly directed in a way true crime sometimes is not. Though the series follows the gruesome and puzzling attempt to solve this case, a large part also focuses on the impact the media frenzy that descends upon it has in swaying the scales of justice. It's a brilliant exploration of the court of public opinion and it's currently streaming on Netflix.

10 Telemarketers

This three-part docies follows 20 years in the lives of two men who form an unlikely friendship working as telemarketers at a seemingly lawless company. As the two get closer, they also stumble upon the truth behind their work and a deeper truth about the American telemarketing industry, which they vow to expose. The quirky but sad characters who work for the telemarketing company at the film's core make Telemarketers both hilarious and a little touching. As do the two men at its center, who take us on their very amateurish and insane adventure to try to make a documentary. Telemarketers is streaming on Max.

9 Leave No Trace

This frustrating and emotional film follows the history of The Boy Scouts of America and the sexual abuse claims against them. It's a fascinating look at American idealism through the eyes of a very 'All-American' institution, and the way institutions can abuse their power. This shocking film is a tough but important watch and is streaming on Hulu.

8 Who Killed Robert Wone?

This two-part documentary follows the investigation into the unsolved murder of young DC lawyer Robert Wone. The case is bizarre and the documentary constantly keeps the viewer second-guessing as to the truth, especially when Wone's friends find themselves at the center of the investigation. Who Killed Robert Wone? is streaming on Peacock.

7 Finders Keepers

After losing his leg in a plane crash, John Wood requests his amputated leg from the hospital which he then mummifies and leaves inside a barbecue grill in his storage shed. That's only the start of this absurd independent documentary as things only get more confusing when John accidentally sells his shed, forgetting to take his mummifying leg out first, and finds himself in one of the most bizarre legal battles in history. It's a light and humorous documentary, but it's also surprisingly emotional in exploring John's grief. Finders Keepers is available on Vudu, Pluto TV, or for free at Tubi.

6 The Woman Who Wasn't There

After 9/11, Tania Head's story of her horrifying and brave escape from the south tower of the World Trade Center, and the death of her fiancé in the north tower, was a popular news story. She even became president of a large survivors' group. But Tania was never there. This fascinating documentary on Amazon Prime Video explores the reasoning behind her lie and desperation for fame.

5 Boys State

Boys State follows a group of teenage boys in a week-long summer program in which they elect and govern their mock version of the American government. The film's unfiltered close-ups of the boys reveal the conflicting and rich emotions of youth and the dangers of toxic masculinity. The film splits its focus on the event, which has threatened to turn into a popularity contest. It serves as a microcosm that terrifyingly reflects the state of modern-day politics. This phenomenal documentary is available on Apple TV+.

4 My Old School

My Old School follows "Brandon Lee" who in 1995 attended secondary school in Scotland posing as a 16-year-old before officials discovered he was a 30-years-old former student. Brian MacKinnon, the real Brandon Lee, only agreed to be interviewed for the film on an audio recording. Instead, actor Alan Cumming lipsyncs to audio of MacKinnon's interview, which makes the documentary all the more unique and odd. My Old School's fascinating tale of deceit is available to stream on Hulu

3 Shirkers

In 1992, 19-year-old film lover Sandi Tan lovingly makes her ambitious first film while visiting Singapore, but then her mysterious American mentor Georges disappears with all the footage. 20 years later, Tan sets out to solve the mystery of what happened to her footage and who Georges was. Shirkers is both a beautiful story and a beautifully made documentary. This celebration of film and artists is atmospheric and weirdly unsettling when exploring its mysterious mentor figure, but also colorful and joyous. Shirkers is available on Netflix and is an absolute must-see.