10 Documentaries On Netflix Better Than Making A Murderer
It might be Netflix's most well-known, but it certainly isn't their best...
Upon its release in 2015, Netflix's Making a Murderer redefined the true crime documentary genre and was received with critical acclaim.
The series tells the story of Steven Avery who, following his 2003 release after serving 18 years in prison for a sexual assault he didn't commit, was re-arrested along with his nephew Brendan Dassey and charged with the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.
The show's first season follows Avery after his trial and subsequent legal case against Manitowoc County for his wrongful imprisonment until he is re-arrested. The series then focuses on the trial, and the alleged prosecutorial misconduct, which resulted in both Avery and Dassey being convicted.
Despite the rave reviews from critics, many law enforcement officials and members of Halbach's family have criticised the series for being one-sided towards Avery's innocence.
In addition, the show's second season, which debuted in October 2018, failed to achieve the same critical success as its predecessor, leaving viewers with a documentary-shaped hole in their hearts frantically searching Netflix for a new documentary fix.
So, whether it be true crime, politics or nature you're after, within Netflix's vast catalogue there are certainly some exceptional shows to enjoy that are even better than Making a Murderer.
10. Take Your Pills
The US opioid epidemic has become the subject for a large number of prominent documentaries over the past few years, however, Netflix's Take Your Pills explores another growing public health crisis - prescribed amphetamines.
Starting from their origins in weight loss and their later uses as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it focuses on the significant media coverage that drugs like Adderall and Ritalin have received for their recreational use by students and workers as a means to improving productivity and to meet deadlines.
Featuring interviews with doctors who are prescribing the drug and current and former users, Alison Klayman's documentary provides an intricate look at the multi-million dollar pharmaceutical industry behind these drugs and those who have suffered as a result of chronic over-prescription which has led to them becoming worryingly easy to obtain.
Despite receiving minor criticism upon its release for its perceived 'anti-adderall' message, Take Your Pills is an intriguing look at an ever-growing problem amongst exhausted employees and overworked students.