The right story can fuel personal transformation, and Netflix offers a multitude of documentaries that can shift your perspective, and reignite your passion. These documentaries can aid you in your journey of self discovery, and help you set new goals, and gear up for an emotional reset.
Here’s a curated list of 10 documentaries that motivate, and urge a viewer to pursue their passions.
- Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
This documentary narrates the story of a transformative Camp for teenagers with disabilities and the documentary won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. Released by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, the documentary focuses on a 1970’s summer camp that served as a stepping stone for the start of American disability rights.
Why it’s inspiring: Proves that being a part of a team with a collective vision, no matter grassroots in nature, can result in a lasting impact, and transformative change.
Crip Camp had its world premiere at the sundance film festival on January 23, 2020, where it won the Audience Award. It was released on March 25, 2020, by Netflix and received acclaim from critics. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
Craig Foster, the filmmaker, experiences unanticipated interactions with an octopus, and slowly develops a bond with it while diving in the waters of South Africa. The documentary is a deep meditation on the lessons and learnings the filmmaker gains during his daily interactions with the octopus, and even life itself.
In 2018, Craig Foster began free diving in a cold underwater kelp forest at a remote location in False bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. The location was near Simon’s Town on the Cape Peninsula, which is exposed to the cold Benguela current of the Atlantic Ocean
Why it’s inspiring: “Encourages to slow down in life and embrace the world’s endless wonders with a sense of curiosity”
- 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible
The documentary features Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who attempts to climb all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 meters within 7 months, a feat that was once deemed impossible. It follows his relentless and grueling journey through treacherous and multidimensional high-stake terrains.
Fastest ascent of all 14 eight-thousanders in 6 months and 6 days (the previous record was 7 years and 310 days by South Korean climber Kim Chang-Ho, who still holds the record for achieving the feat without using supplementary oxygen)
Why it’s inspiring: “Reinforces the effectiveness of a solid plan, collaboration, and relentless pursuit in achieving the impossible”
This Oscar-winning short film follows a southern Indian couple Bomman and Bellie who dedicate their lives to caring for an elephant named Raghu. Set in southern India, the film features beautiful sceneries along with the amazing bond and life story of the couple caring for the elephant, which is heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time.
The film had its world premiere on 9 November 2022 at Doc NYC Film Festival, a film festival for documentaries in the United States. It was released by Netflix globally on 8 December 2022 for streaming. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards
Why it’s inspiring: “Portrays the importance of caring for the environment and life along with showing the beauty of nurturing the world”
The short documentary The Speed Cubers follows the world’s most talented Rubik’s Cube players, Max Park and Felix Zemdegs. The film portrays Zemdegs and Park’s fierce rivalry, their intense friendship, and sparks of love and respect for each other while showcasing wonders of the world of Rubik’s cubes.
The documentary’s main focus is the rivalry and friendship between two of the fastest speedcubers in the world, Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs. Announced in June 2020, the film was directed by Sue Kim and premiered on July 29, 2020, on Netflix.
Why it’s inspiring: “Provides a viewpoint that opposing and friendly forces make life and everything significantly better and enhances performance”
- Brené Brown: The Call to Courage
Understanding vulnerability, bravery, and the essence of living fully are finely woven into the life and work of Brené Brown. In this talk-style documentary, she seamlessly integrates humor, research, and personal narrative. It is a 2019 documentary film directed by Sandra Restrepo. The documentary depicts Brené Brown as she discusses what it takes to choose courage over comfort in today’s culture. The film was released by Netflix on April 19, 2019
Why it’s inspiring: It’s more of a living room workshop than a documentary, inspiring viewers to pursue significant change, discomfort, and all.
- Living on One Dollar
This documentary follows four friends to rural Guatemala, where they will attempt to survive on a dollar a day for two months. It offers insight into the powerful human spirit and the ingenuity that emerges from a life of poverty. It is a documentary film directed, produced, and edited by Chris Temple, Zach Ingrasci, Sean Leonard, and Ryan Christoffersen
Why it’s inspiring: The film challenges viewers to reconsider their day to day activities and think of their purpose, all while re-evaluating the inequality in the world and empowering one person to make a change.
- Under an Arctic Sky
The raw and extreme beauty of Icelandian nature tinged with exquisite danger serves as a playground for a group of surfers in search of the perfect wave. This documentary follows one of the country’s worst storms in decades to display how dreams come with perilous conditions. The film’s official website and Netflix confirm it’s a documentary about searching for perfect waves in Iceland during winter
Why it’s inspiring: The documentary serves as a reminder that risk, uncertainty, and passion all come hand in hand with perseverance no matter the endeavor.
- The Minimalists: Less Is Now
Through personal narratives and actionable insights, The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, aim to transform consumer culture into reflection and to foster more intentional living. The film vividly illustrates how to live more by owning less. It is a 2021 American documentary filmcreated for Netflix and directed by Matt D’Avella.[1] The story focuses on two friends, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, better known as the Minimalists, who demonstrate the benefits of living according to minimalism
Why it’s inspiring: The film inspires viewers to declutter not only their homes, but also their lives and focus areas.
- Twister: Caught in the Storm
This stunning and moving documentary retraces the 2011 Joplin tornado’s harrowing path of destruction through survivor narratives and raw footage. The scale of the destruction was only matched by the will of the community to rebuild. It is a 2025 documentary film produced by Netflix. The films details the events of a devastating EF5 tornado that caused catastrophic damage and killed 158 people in the city of Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011
Why it’s inspiring: The film documents the boundless human ability to recover, come together, and hope after an overwhelming tragedy.
