Entertainment

The Best Documentaries New To Streaming In March

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If you've ever watched a good documentary, then you know the accuracy of the saying that truth is often stranger than fiction. Yes, movies are fun and all, but there's nothing quite like a bizarre and unexpected true story. Here's a list of documentaries new to streaming in March 2020 if you find yourself with a free evening and a particular ripped-from-the-headlines itch that needs scratching.

The great thing about documentaries is that they can span multiple genres. You can have pulse-pounding tales of true crime, intimately personal confessionals, incisive portraits of public figures, sweeping looks at nature, and deep dives into fascinating subjects as small as an atom or as large as the universe itself. The films and shows on this list encompass all of these genres, and even more.

Whether you're in the mood for something light-hearted or something fiercely topical; something about a well-known celebrity or something about a little-known figure; something to help you relax after a long day or something to get your blood boiling… there's something streaming out there for everyone. So scan the slideshow, pop the popcorn, boot up your favorite streaming service, and enjoy some of the juiciest true stories of the month.

by Jefferson Grubbs
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

1. 'Axios' Season 3 (HBO Now)

Available March 1

The third season of this docuseries — the result of a partnership between HBO and news website Axios — features interviews with Democratic presidential contenders Joe Biden, infamous political consultant Roger Stone, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and more.

2. 'Beyond The Mat' (Netflix)

Available March 1

WWE fans will want to check out this 1999 documentary, now available to stream, about the lives of famous wrestlers outside the ring. Fun fact: Beyond The Mat technically features the feature film debut of future Hollywood superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

3. 'Standing In The Shadows Of Motown' (Hulu)

Available March 1

You've heard of famous Motown musicians like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Marvin Gaye. But you've probably never heard of The Funk Brothers: the studio musicians who played the instrumentals on many of those singers' iconic tracks. Given the breadth of their largely uncredited work, The Funk Brothers actually produced more hits than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Elvis combined.

4. 'The Story Of God With Morgan Freeman' Season 3 (Netflix)

Available March 1

Morgan Freeman literally played God in the movies Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty. Now he leads this National Geographic series that investigates different cultures' traditions surrounding and beliefs in a higher power.

5. 'ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band From Texas' (Netflix)

Available March 1

Fans of ZZ Top won't want to miss this new look behind the scenes at the formation, rise to fame, and successful career of the rock trio, featuring interviews with the band members themselves as well as famous fans including Billy Bob Thornton.

6. 'Hillary' (Hulu)

Available March 6

This wide-ranging docuseries goes in depth on the former presidential candidate's life, from her childhood through her time as First Lady through the fraught 2016 election. It's sure to be equal parts empowering and bittersweet.

7. 'Ugly Delicious' Season 2 (Netflix)

Available March 6

Each episode of this travel and cooking show shines the spotlight on one wildly popular regional food. Season 1 already highlighted Korean BBQ, Nashville hot chicken, and authentic Italian pizza. Season 2 is ready to take fans around the globe and make their mouths water all over again.

8. 'Women Of Troy' (HBO Now)

Available March 10

The USC Trojans women's basketball team won back-to-back national championships and changed the fabric of women's basketball forever. Find out why their success was so remarkable and why it's had such an impact on the sport in this new HBO original documentary.

9. 'Dirty Money' Season 2 (Netflix)

Available March 11

Each episode of this Netflix docuseries takes viewers inside a different remarkable — and remarkably infuriating — true story of corporate greed, fraud, and corruption. As if we need more excuses to get our blood pressure up in the year 2020.

10. 'The Test: A New Era For Australia's Team' Season 1 (Prime Video)

Available March 11

In 2018, Australia's Men's Cricket Team was disgraced when players were discovered tampering with the ball. This emotional documentary picks up immediately after those events and chronicles the team's efforts to win back their integrity, respect, and glory.

11. 'After Truth: Disinformation And The Cost Of Fake News' (HBO Now)

Available March 19

Fake News! We're all familiar with the phrase these days, thanks to 45's tweets. But what is fake news, really? And what are its real-world consequences? This new HBO documentary examines the phenomenon and tries to get at the truth behind the rampant false truths.

12. 'A Life Of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story' (Netflix)

Available March 20

Did Ford v. Ferrari make car racing seem dangerous and frightening? Then wait until you watch this documentary about Argentinian Formula One racer Juan Manuel Fangio. He raced a decade before the events of that Best Picture nominee — a time before many modern safety precautions, when racing was truly at its most dangerous.

13. 'Tiger King' (Netflix)

Available March 20

True crime fans won't want to miss this bizarre documentary about Joe Exotic, an Oklahoma tiger breeder who was arrested for plotting to murder an animal rights activist who was one of his harshest critics. Tiger King hails from the team behind Netflix's popular Fyre Festival doc Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened.

14. 'Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution' (Netflix)

Available March 25

In the 1970s, Camp Jened in the New York Catskills was a place for differently abled kids to spend their summers in a loving environment with other people like them; it then became the genesis of a nationwide disability rights movement. This inspiring true story was produced by none other than Barack and Michelle Obama.

15. 'Kill Chain: The Cyber War On America's Elections' (HBO Now)

Available March 26

Heading into the 2020 presidential election is the perfect time to examine how our country's elections can be tampered with by internal and external forces. Will the lessons of this frightening new documentary keep us from repeating history, or serve as a harbinger of things to come in November?

16. 'There's Something In The Water' (Netflix)

Available March 27

Netflix picked up this documentary after it aired at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. Produced and directed by Ellen Page (Juno), the Oscar nominated actor draws attention to the plight of her home, Nova Scotia, and the efforts of its citizens — largely led by Indigenous women — to save the land from being destroyed by industrial development.

17. 'The Scheme' (HBO Now)

Available March 31

This HBO original documentary tells the shocking true story of the biggest criminal case in collegiate sports history… and how a 25-year-old ended up at the center of it all.

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