10 Celebrity Documentaries on Netflix You Need to Watch Right Now

Did you know that Netflix's celebrity documentaries now generate more buzz than most scripted shows? In 2026, viewers are increasingly craving raw, unfiltered access to the lives of the world's most famous people — and Netflix is delivering exactly that. From football legends baring their souls to pop icons confronting their demons on camera, the streaming giant has quietly built the most compelling celebrity documentary library in entertainment history. Whether you're a die-hard fan looking for an intimate glimpse behind the curtain or simply someone who loves a great true story, this list has something for you. Grab your popcorn, because these ten documentaries are unmissable right now.​

1. Beckham (2023)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Docuseries (4 episodes)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

This Emmy-winning four-part documentary is nothing short of a masterpiece. It tells the extraordinary story of David Beckham — from his shy, working-class beginnings in East London to becoming one of the most recognizable humans on the planet. What makes Beckham genuinely special is its unflinching honesty: the Manchester United falling-out, the move to Real Madrid, and Victoria's candid admission that she was not a Spice Girl from a working-class background are moments that had the internet talking for weeks. Fans love it because it feels genuinely personal rather than a PR exercise — and that's rare for a celebrity doc made with the subject's full cooperation.

2. Miss Americana (2020)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Feature Documentary

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Taylor Swift has sold over 200 million albums worldwide — yet Miss Americana shows a side of her that the stage never could. Directed by Lana Wilson, this documentary follows Swift through a pivotal chapter of her life: the end of her Reputation stadium tour, the creative birth of Lover, and her landmark decision to speak publicly about politics for the first time. The film captures raw studio sessions, deeply personal conversations about body image and eating disorders, and the emotional toll of years of public scrutiny. Fans love it because it shatters the carefully constructed pop princess image and reveals a genuinely complex, vulnerable human being underneath.​

3. Simone Biles Rising (2024)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Docuseries (4 episodes)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Few stories in sports history are as powerful as Simone Biles's. This four-part docuseries tracks the most decorated gymnast of all time from her controversial withdrawal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — citing mental health — to her breathtaking, tears-inducing comeback at the Paris 2024 Games. Directed by Katie Walsh, the series goes far beyond athletic training, diving deep into Biles's mental resilience, her conversations with therapists, and the impossible pressure of being expected to be superhuman. It's not just a sports documentary — it's one of the most important conversations about mental health in elite sport ever captured on film.​

4. Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Feature Documentary

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Lady Gaga is one of the most theatrical performers alive — which makes Gaga: Five Foot Two all the more remarkable for how stripped-back and raw it is. Directed by Chris Moukarbel, this documentary captures an intensely creative year in Gaga's life: preparing for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, recording her deeply personal album Joanne, and battling the chronic pain of fibromyalgia that few fans knew she was suffering. There's a quietly devastating scene of Gaga playing songs for her grandmother that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Fans love it because it's the rare celebrity documentary that makes a global icon feel genuinely human.​

5. Martha (2024)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Feature Documentary

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Martha Stewart is, at 82, the original influencer — a self-made business empire builder who survived scandal, prison, and public humiliation to become a cultural icon again. Martha dives far beyond her public persona, exploring her remarkable journey from a small-town New Jersey girl to America's most famous homemaker, her meteoric rise as a lifestyle brand, and the insider trading scandal that sent her to federal prison in 2004. With candid interviews, stunning archival footage, and Martha's own unflinching self-assessment, this documentary is as stylish and compelling as its subject. Fans of female resilience stories consider it essential viewing.​

6. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model (2026)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Docuseries (3 episodes)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

One of Netflix's biggest documentary hits of early 2026, Reality Check debuted with a stunning 14.2 million views in its first week — making it the most-watched series on the platform in February 2026. This three-part critical examination of the iconic 2000s reality show America's Next Top Model features raw conversations with former contestants, winners, judges, and creator Tyra Banks herself. It pulls no punches, addressing the psychological manipulation, body image pressures, and questionable practices that contestants endured behind the cameras. If you remember watching ANTM in the 2000s, this documentary will make you see it in a completely different light.​

7. The Last Dance (2020)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Docuseries (10 episodes)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Even if you've never watched a single basketball game in your life, The Last Dance will have you completely hooked. This masterful 10-part documentary tells the story of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls dynasty — their extraordinary 1997–98 championship season, Jordan's singular and obsessive drive for greatness, and the messy behind-the-scenes power struggles that nearly tore the team apart. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage and interviews with Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coaches, this is widely considered the gold standard of sports documentaries. It's not just about basketball — it's about what it takes to be the greatest at anything.​

8. Sean Combs: The Reckoning (2025)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Documentary

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Few celebrity stories in recent memory have been as shocking as the fall of Sean "Diddy" Combs. This documentary covers everything — from his early days in the music industry and his rise to near-untouchable levels of fame and power, through to the serious criminal allegations, arrest, and legal proceedings that captivated the world in 2024–2025. It does not shy away from accountability, presenting extensive evidence, testimonies, and a chronological breakdown of how the allegations emerged. For anyone trying to understand one of the most dramatic falls from grace in entertainment history, this is essential — if deeply uncomfortable — viewing.​

9. Being Eddie (2025)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Feature Documentary

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Fifty years in showbusiness is an achievement few entertainers can claim — and Eddie Murphy has done it spectacularly. Being Eddie, released in November 2025, is an intimate documentary that follows the comedy legend at home, reflecting on fame, faith, mental health, and his lifelong experience managing OCD. From his explosive breakout on Saturday Night Live to Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and beyond, this film traces a career that literally changed the comedy landscape. What makes it special is the setting: Murphy in his own home, unguarded and reflective, offering insights you won't find in any interview. Fans call it the most honest celebrity documentary of the year.​

10. Arnold (2023)

Platform: Netflix | Type: Docuseries (3 episodes)

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

He was a bodybuilding champion from rural Austria who became the biggest action movie star in Hollywood history and then the Governor of California. Arnold tells the extraordinary story of Arnold Schwarzenegger across three episodes — covering his bodybuilding years, his acting career, and his political life — with remarkable candor. Arnold speaks openly about his relationship with his father, his ruthless competitive drive, his marriage to Maria Shriver, and the affair that ended it. It's a documentary that acknowledges the flaws as freely as the achievements, and that honesty makes it far more compelling than the typical celebrity hagiography.​

???? Where to Watch — Summary Table

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch all of these celebrity documentaries?

All ten documentaries featured in this list are available to stream exclusively on Netflix. You'll need an active Netflix subscription to watch them. Some titles may vary in availability depending on your region — use a VPN if a specific title isn't available in your country. 

Have any of these celebrities written a book or autobiography?

Yes — several have! David Beckham published My Side (2003), Arnold Schwarzenegger released the bestselling Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story (2012), and Martha Stewart has authored over 90 books on lifestyle and homemaking. Taylor Swift has not published an autobiography, but Miss Americana serves as a deeply personal on-screen equivalent.

What is the most popular celebrity documentary on Netflix right now?

As of March 2026, Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model holds the record as the most-watched Netflix documentary of early 2026, with 14.2 million views in its debut week. For all-time popularity, Beckham and The Last Dance remain the most critically acclaimed and rewatched celebrity documentaries in Netflix's catalogue.