[imagesource: Netflix]

I once received a message from a friend that simply said “I think I’ve finished Netflix” and I can relate.

Two words of advice on that front, starting with a reminder that Netflix has codes you can use to unlock extra content.

Secondly, sometimes a good watch slips through the net, and with the deluge of new content, can disappear from view.

That’s why it’s worth revisiting some of the classics from the past few years, which is where CNET comes in.

They’ve put together an extensive list of the best documentaries and docuseries Netflix has to offer, and we have picked five.

I don’t want to brag, but I’ve seen them all.

To start, a classic of the true-crime genre, The Staircase:

Focusing on Michael Peterson and the death of his wife Kathleen, The Staircase is more than just a murder mystery.

It’s a drawn-out epic that takes place over literal decades, a documentary that follows Peterson and examines his every move, but somehow still remains objective.

All in all, there are 13 episodes.

Sounds like too many for a true-crime series, but you watched all of Schitt’s Creek and Ted Lasso, so don’t judge.

Evil Genius:

Telling the bizarre story of the “pizza bomber”, Evil Genius is definitely one of those docu-series that should have been a movie, but it’s compelling nonetheless.

It thrives by focusing on the characters behind the crime. Well worth a gander.

I concur.

Gander away:

That’s a four-parter by the way.

Next up, a cautionary tale for the social media age, FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened:

Hulu also has a great Fyre festival documentary, but I prefer this Netflix one. Unlike many Netflix documentaries, which are stretched and bloated into multi-part episodes, this documentary is sharp, direct and solid gold the entire way through.

There are some genuine ‘laugh out loud’ moments:

A less entertaining indictment of social media comes in the form of The Great Hack:

In the wake of the Capitol siege, the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy almost feels like ancient history, but that doesn’t make this documentary any less important. If you haven’t seen it, then watch it.

It’s almost enough to make you want to delete the social media apps from your phone, but then how would you know what that friend you haven’t spoken to in a decade is up to?

Finally, a name you will certainly recognise, involving a story you probably misunderstood.

Enter Amanda Knox:

A lot of people have forgotten about this documentary but it’s a humdinger. Amanda Knox focuses on the famous murder Knox was accused of.

But beyond that, this docu is a great examination of how media reporting can skew a case. The sexism here was fairly brutal.

Amanda Knox is still fighting to clear her name, as the movie Stillwater (starring Matt Damon) picks at old wounds.

At least in this doccie, she has a role in telling her own story:

Her name will always carry a certain stigma, but she’s married, pregnant, and moving on with her life.

Well done if you’ve seen all of the above, you’re clearly someone with great taste.

See the full list here.

[source:cnet]