Best Documentary Series, Ranked

Documentary series ranked by reception — nature epics, investigations and archive-driven history in one chart.

The 17 highest-rated documentary series right now

1
Prehistoric Planet (2022)
SeriScore 14007.9Audience 8.3/10 Apple TV+
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic series from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth. Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies.
2
MythBusters (2003)
SeriScore 5347.5Audience 7.8/10 Discovery+
MythBusters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The show's hosts, special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, use elements of the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes, adages, Internet videos, and news stories.
3
Cosmos (2014)
SeriScore 5312.5Audience 8.5/10 Disney+
Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson provides clarity for the vision of the cosmos as he voyages across the universe with never-before-told stories that delve into the scientific concepts of the laws of gravity and the origins of space and time.
4
Planet Earth (2006)
SeriScore 5257.4Audience 8.6/10 BBC iPlayer
David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.
5
Planet Earth II (2016)
SeriScore 2650.3Audience 8.6/10 BBC iPlayer
David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
6
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
SeriScore 2529.1Audience 8.2/10 Netflix
Drivers, managers and team owners live life in the fast lane — both on and off the track — during each cutthroat season of Formula 1 racing.
7
The Last Dance (2020)
SeriScore 2401.8Audience 8.3/10 Netflix
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 basketball’s biggest names.
8
Marvel Studios Legends (2021)
SeriScore 2294.6Audience 7.4/10 Disney+
Revisit the epic heroes, villains and moments from across the MCU in preparation for the stories still to come. Each dynamic segment feeds directly into the upcoming series — setting the stage for future events. This series weaves together the many threads that constitute the unparalleled Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9
The Jinx (2015)
SeriScore 873.1Audience 8.0/10 HBO Max
Robert Durst, scion of NY's billionaire real-estate family, has been accused of three murders but has evaded justice for over 30 years. Durst speaks in this true crime series, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities.
10
Tiger King (2020)
SeriScore 708.5Audience 6.9/10 Netflix
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.
11
Making a Murderer (2015)
Audience 7.8/10
Filmed over 10 years, this real-life thriller follows a DNA exoneree who, while exposing police corruption, becomes a suspect in a grisly new crime.
12
Seven Deadly Sins (2008)
Audience 7.7/10
The series traces the history of the seven deadly sins, how they became part of religious doctrine, and looks at historical figures who have been the worst perpetrators of each. Each of the seven sins is explored, from their origins and nature, their opposing virtue, and their corresponding punishment.
13
Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Audience 7.6/10
A twisted criminal's gruesome videos drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that pulls them into a dark underworld.
14
De viaje con los Derbez (2019)
Audience 7.5/10
The series follows the fun and endearing Derbez family as they discover new cultures in foreign lands and for the first time – all together and unfiltered.
15
Hugo Chávez, El Comandante (2017)
Audience 7.3/10
The life of Hugo Chavez; from childhood, his arrival to power, confrontations, and loves to his last days as president.
16
Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak (2020)
Audience 6.9/10
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.
17
Sex, Explained (2020)
Audience 6.6/10
From the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.