1. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
Even if you haven't watched this yet, you've probably heard about the infamous Fyre Festival. What promised to be the most luxurious music festival ever ended up being one of the biggest scams in the digital era. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened gives viewers a front row seat to the actual events that transpired leading up to the disaster it would inevitably end up as. The documentary itself is not without controversy as it is produced in partnership with the team tasked to market the event. Regardless, it is an entertaining and, for those who dislike the influencer culture, a satisfying watch from start to finish.
2. Explained
Explained is a series of mini-documentaries made by Netflix and Vox on a broad range of topics. At 15-20 minutes long, they're the perfect length for watching during a short commute or right before going to sleep and they always leave you smarter than you were before watching an episode.
3. Iverson
Allen Iverson is arguably one of the best and undeniably one of the most culturally relevant NBA players of all time. In this documentary, viewers are treated to an unfiltered view at the polarizing star's life. From his student-athlete days to the arrest that almost stopped his career before it even began, this film does a good job of chronicling AI's life. And if you're still thinking that The Answer doesn't like to practice, then you really have to watch this documentary.
4. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Originally released in 2011, this gem of a documentary can fortunately be streamed via Netflix. The film follows Jiro Ono, a sushi master and the owner of a Michelin-star restaurant, and his undying passion for creating the best sushi. Aside from highlighting the food that Jiro creates, it also serves us a glimpse of Japanese culture and how their relationships and roles in the family play out. We know it's a topic that doesn't sound particularly appealing but the 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes should speak for itself. Watch it now.
5. Hired Gun
Even if you only remotely like music, this underrated film is worth checking out. This 90+ minute documentary shifts the spotlight from the stars and focuses it squarely on the session musicians that, honestly, you've probably never heard of before. These are the musicians that the stars hire if they want a kick-ass gig or the perfect album. There are interviews from an impressive set of musicians that have played for the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Mandy Moore, and Michael Jackson and it's interesting to hear what they all have to say about performing in the shadows of the stars.