Music is part of our everyday lives, whether voluntarily when we pop on a playlist while getting ready or involuntarily from the songs serving as the backdrop to our favorite shows and movies. While some people like to enjoy a song at face value, others are deeply interested in pulling the curtain back before the curtain lifts. Nowadays, when so much of artists’ lives are plastered around the internet without their consent, more and more singers are choosing to offer fans a closer peek into their world on their terms, from Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me to Jennifer Lopez: Halftime.
Music documentaries provide a great opportunity to glimpse the behind-the-scenes, raw reality of our favorite artists and the industry as a whole. There’s so much to discover about artists’ creative processes, personal struggles, and historical music events, Netflix has a slew of music documentaries to satisfy your curiosity. Here are the best music documentaries you can watch now on Netflix.
Updated on June 7th, 2024, by Patricia Scheer-Erb: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop is a celebration of female rappers and their contributions to hip-hop. While the docuseries has a glossy surface, it also shines a light on the darker side of the industry, and its impact on the female rappers that were a part of it. Importantly, the docuseries records the history of these women and their work, which has gone undersung for decades.
Apart from including the bigger names in Queen Latifah, Saweetie, and Mc Lyte, the docuseries also champions smaller names across various disciplines of music, highlighting their contribution and triumph in an industry that’s predominantly controlled and run by men. The fact that this docuseries lives somewhere as accessible as Netflix also contributes to the success of the project, which is to convey the role of these women in the shaping and development of the hip-hop genre.
The Super Bowl has evolved into a national, cultural event for Americans and the rest of the world, serving as an epicenter that highlights the best of talent across various disciplines. With the eyes of the world watching, it’s an artist’s dream to perform at the coveted event. Jennifer Lopez’s documentary Halftime does just that by solidifying the musician’s multifaceted persona.
Giving the viewer a peep into her rigorous regime and creative vision that makes her stand head and shoulders above her peers, the show was mesmerizing. Much like Beyoncé’s Homecoming, Halftime is treated as a prep film with a major focus on shining the spotlight on Lopes’s buildup to the 2020 Super Bowl performance while also exploring the enigma of stardom and the cost it comes at.
Keith Richards: Under the Influence offers a look into the life of the original member of the world-famous band, the Rolling Stones, which was founded all the way back in 1962 and is still going strong. This documentary is not just a glimpse into the musician’s life, but also a unique ride through the different genres in music, touching on country, rock and roll, and many more. Numerous other well-known artists give their valuable opinions on Richards’s music style, sharing their own expertise and simultaneously highlighting his.
Keith Richards: Under the Influence is an absolute must-watch for hardcore fans and general music lovers alike. The documentary paints an interesting picture as it reveals how the musician wrote some of his best songs and shows that Keith Richards truly is a legend. As the main songwriter of the band, Richards has delivered many successful hits, and this documentary takes a look at how he managed to express himself so well.
Shania Twain is a household name and an artist of immense talent and stature. Her documentary, Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl, aims to capture the singer’s rise to her peak while also exploring her side and shedding light on how her struggles with her health, fame, and personal life. Hearing Twain tell her own story in her own words is a treat for fans everywhere.
An icon of the ’90s, having started her career as a singer at various bars, Twain’s success saw her dominate country and pop charts for a long period. But like with most artists, the creative fuel came at a personal cost, which saw Twain go through a tumultuous first marriage, while she also had her struggles with Lyme disease. While the documentary could have been more stylistically creative, it does its job of conveying Twain’s story.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest directors of the modern generation, Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese revisits Bob Dylan’s career with an emphasis on Dylan’s 1975 tour of the same name. Part fiction, part fact, Scorsese’s documentary helps the viewer gain insight into Dylan’s music as well as America’s political situation during that period and how those two interlaced with each other, creating melody and chaos.
Considered by many to be one of America’s greatest musical icons, Bob Dylan was a master at redefining himself continuously and subverting expectations throughout his career. Owing to his true genius as an artist it’s only fitting that a true genius filmmaker would revisit Dylan’s life and paint an intimate picture for us to see. This is a wonderful example of how creative and experimental you can get with documentaries instead of following the same, familiar formula as always.
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Even after his tragic murder in 1997, Christopher Wallace, who is much better known as The Notorious B.I.G, continues to be a famous name in the music industry. Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell is a documentary that captures the essence of the artist, as it offers a real glimpse into Biggie’s life and soul, making it especially interesting and worth a watch. Including footage filmed by Biggie’s best friend, Damion Butler, and several interviews featuring Biggie’s loved ones, this documentary is an illuminating insight into whom the rapper really was.
Biggie: I Got A Story To Tell shows the reality of what the rap scene looked like during his time, and simultaneously works as a reminder that he really was one of the GOATs and is still regarded as one. The grittiness and darkness yet also the dedication to one’s craft is shown with such precision that it swiftly draws the audience in, allowing them to fully immerse themselves into Biggie’s world.
Anyone who grew up in the early ’00s will have vivid memories of what a superstar Britney Spears was after bursting onto the scene with “Baby One More Time”. For a while, she was the Queen of Pop, beloved by millions, with the public interested in her every move. However, that all took a sharp turn when a media firestorm erupted around her seemingly struggling with mental health issues, as striking images of her shaving her head went viral. Britney instantly became a pariah and a poster child for the dangers of fame. However, decades later, the illuminating documentary Britney vs. Spears chronicled why all was not as it seemed.
Between journalist Jenny Eliscu and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr, for the first time, the world was given personal access to the other side of the story. This one told a terrifying tale of how the beloved musician had allegedly been manipulated and forced into signing away her own freedom, all while a narrative was being used to discredit her for the sake of exerting control over her assets. The documentary placed the surrounding furor about her infamous conservatorship under the spotlight and casts a very different tone over the story the public had been fed for so long. With that said, it’s important to note that this is still not Spears’s own words, and therefore, yet another narrative constructed around her by others.
While most people would crave Beyoncé’s life, actually living it would not be many people’s cup of tea. This was made clear in the singer’s Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé documentary that highlighted her hard work, rigorous drive, and vision behind her iconic 2018 Coachella performance, allowing the multifaceted singer to direct and produce the project as well.
While also serving as a performance piece, the documentary provided a great resource for fans to get a glimpse into the level of dedication and organization it takes to build up a live show. Through the film, fans also get to relive Beyoncé’s iconic performance again and again, capturing and broadcasting it for her loyal fans all across the globe. There’s no doubt that Beyoncé is a one-of-a-kind figure, so this peek into her life is a gem.
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Pop duo Wham! consisted of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. The British singers have several catchy hits under their belts, such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” In this documentary that Netflix categorizes as “captivating, heartfelt, and nostalgic,” fans get an inside look into the whirlwind days when Wham! was part of the British invasion. Wham! opens up with vintage footage of the duo sitting outside the school they met at, instantly tapping into that feeling about fate and what could have been had they not gone to the same school at the same time. How the stars aligned!
Using archival footage, old interviews, photos, and articles, we see how they connected over music, the creation of their first demo, and the funny inspiration behind “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” This documentary is perfect for lovers of the ’70s and ’80s music scene. The loss of George Michael is still a heartbreaking one, so this depiction of the singer is a welcome one.
In recent years, the multi-talented Lady Gaga has made a name for herself in the acting world, with stellar performances in A Star Is Born and House of Gucci. But before her acting prowess was on display to the world, her musical talents were what she was known for. In Gaga: Five Foot Two, Gaga’s “Little Monsters” follow along the singer’s journey to get her fifth album Joanne out in the world (think hit song Perfect Illusions) and as she prepares for a little gig known as the Super Bowl halftime show.
Known for her eccentric outfits and stunts, Gaga: Five Foot Two shows a more human side of the superstar. We learn of the challenges her chronic pain condition causes with her fast-paced lifestyle and how much soul she puts into her music. She states, “You have to go to that broken place of your heart to write songs. They say sometimes [making music] is like open-heart surgery.” This documentary is bound to inspire creatives no matter the medium they prefer.
Taylor Swift has been lighting up the music charts for a long time, but has truly transformed into one of the most dominant musicians in history in recent years. Miss Americana was a documentary film released in 2020 that detailed her life and career over the course of many years. Providing stark insights into her personal life, her ambitions, and behind-the-scenes, backstage, and onstage footage from her concerts, the film gives fans a mesmerizing glimpse into her world. Far from just being the pop singer who sang about her ex-boyfriends, the film ably shows why she’s become one of the most influential people in the world.
Hailed for the transformative impact the film had on issues like mental health disorders, self-esteem, and eating disorders, the singer’s candid admissions during the film helped shine a light on these problems. Given the massive global influence Swift has, and the armies of fans that hang on her every action, Miss Americana has acted as a significant cultural antidote against many social and mental problems plaguing young people within the main demographic of her fan base. Unsurprisingly, the film won a host of awards and was ranked among the best documentaries on a wide range of influential lists by media outlets like Forbes and Cosmopolitan.
Blackpink has taken the world by storm and their legion of fans will enjoy their documentary, Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, released shortly after their 2020 debut album, simply titled The Album. The South Korean girl group doesn’t simply show fans their rise to topping the charts and breaking records, but a view from the beginning when they are training and learning the ways of the industry and exactly what it took to become a successful girl group. You’ll get chills seeing the group’s humble beginnings and then flashing to scenes when they’re performing in front of crowds that number in the thousands all across the globe.
The K-pop music industry is notoriously grueling, yet these performers manage to go through it all with grace and humility while retaining their passion for the craft. The documentary builds up to Coachella 2019, where they were the first women K-Pop group to perform. Individual interviews are dispersed throughout, so you’ll become attached to not only the group as a whole but each member.
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Lewis Capaldi is relatively new on many people’s radars after the Scottish singer-songwriter’s 2019 single Someone You Loved imprinted itself in everyone’s minds. From his subsequent body of work, the public discovered his soulful voice which emits so much pain and heartfelt lyrics, was not a one-off, and he’s a talent that many fans hope will be around for a while. In his 2023 documentary, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now, Capaldi displays more of his jovial, carefree nature that many fans know from his social media presence
However, as the best music documentaries show, there’s a lot more under the surface. Capaldi also has Tourette’s syndrome and experiences panic attacks and anxiety regularly. His vulnerability when he shares insights about these topics makes his ultimate transition from performing in local pubs to some of Europe’s biggest music festivals even more impressive.
Nina Simone was an iconic figure for many different reasons. As a musician, she was an astoundingly talented pianist, singer, and songwriter. However, beyond music, she was also a civil rights activist, with her protest songs like “Mississippi Goddam” causing a poignant stir. Personal struggles and controversies aside, she was a brilliant artist, with the musical biography documentary film What Happened, Miss Simone? making for an honest and powerful look back at her life, career, and political standing as a stalwart of the civil rights era.
Between the film’s fearless portrayals of the backlash she endured, her painful personal struggles, and her own flaws, it paints a necessary and urgent portrait of why figures like her remain so relevant today amid the escalating racial tensions still prevalent in society. Her music and legacy are immortal, and she’s been honored many times over for her contributions to the art form. However, Simone’s true legacy lies in the conversations her music forced into the open about racial discrimination and why change was so direly needed.
Clive Davis is not just another name in the music industry but rather one of the most influential record producers to exist. Clive Davis: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives offers a dive into whom the producer has turned into a world-famous artist. A significant portion of this documentary is dedicated to one of the most famous artists he has worked with, Whitney Houston. Their close relationship, which could be compared to the one of a father and daughter, and Houston’s tragic death are portrayed in more detail.
With five Grammy Awards in his back pocket and his name included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the previous president of Columbia Records and founder of Arista Records has enjoyed an incredible career. Discovering gifted artists such as Whitney Houston, Patti Smith, or Barry Manilow, Davis significantly shaped the music industry with his “golden ears”. Aretha Franklin, Eurythmics, and Lou Reed are just a few of the many other artists who found success through Davis’s label.
We all knew that one kid in elementary or middle school who couldn’t stop pretending to drum on any surface imaginable. After watching Count Me In, you may have a bit more understanding of the seemingly uncontrollable urge to tap on desks, walls, or any metal surface. In a departure from some of the other entries, Count Me In doesn’t follow one particular musician, but instead puts a spotlight on drummers as a whole.
While the documentary places particular emphasis on the rock genre, it smartly recognizes the influence other genres had on rock and vice versa. The drummers discuss the changes in drumming over the years and the sexism female drummers faced. “I can play my drums all day and all night, and I love it,” one musician says, and it’s easy to believe. The joy and passion radiate from the screen as you watch each person interviewed talk about their love for this instrument.
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Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99 is one of the more unique documentaries on Netflix. Instead of a 90-minute-long film, it’s broken up into three parts and documents the historic Woodstock festival held in July 1999. Rock and roll has a reputation for chaos and violence, but this year it took that reputation to a whole new level. Over four days, over 200,000 people attended the event in Rome, New York, and afterward, no one would look at music festivals the same.
Riots, sexual assaults, fires, looting, vandalism, and deaths made Woodstock ‘99 infamous in ways no one wanted. In the docuseries, you’ll receive first-person accounts from concertgoers, musicians, and journalists who were there during those scary days. So much was wrong with this event before it started and many believe it shouldn’t have happened; now the main questions are: how and why?
Hip-Hop Evolution is another docuseries with tremendous insight and coverage on the birth and widespread impact of the hip-hop genre. Often overlooked, the show proves how influential rap and hip-hop have been, not just to the Black community, but to other cultures and genres in general. Starting from the Bronx, turntables, DJing, and more, rapper and presenter, Shad, celebrates the constantly transforming genre that even made it into mainstream cinema.
It’s not just dry facts and history. Viewers will hear from some of the top hip-hop artists like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ice-T, Diddy, and so many more. It’s fascinating to discover the differences between East Coast, West Coast, and Southern rap, as well as the qualities that unite the three. It also delves into the racism that the genre faced by mainstream White American culture, and the acceptance rap and hip hop gained over the years.
Circling around the world-famous American rock band, the Grateful Dead, The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir highlights the contribution of its lead singer, Bob Weir. Known for their ability to shift between different genres and combine them in order to successfully create new music, the Grateful Dead was first formed in 1965 in California’s Palo Alto and was active until 1995. The documentary is filled with exciting interviews of the band members and friends but definitely focuses on Weir himself.
The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir offers a much-needed glimpse behind the scenes of the group, allowing fans to get to know their favorite artists off the stage. Regardless of whether you are a hardcore fan or not, this documentary is intriguing from the very beginning. It delivers insight into what happened after tragedy struck and how Weir continued his journey as an artist.
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