A disaster documentary needs to be nuanced, addressing a challenging topic with sensitivity and intelligence. In an age where the media can sometimes feel exploitative when it comes to tragedy and true crime, it’s important for filmmakers to do the work and tell each story the right way. The care put into these films really comes through onscreen and makes for more engaging storytelling.
Netflix has recently entered something of a golden age of documentaries. Over the past five years, the streaming service has provided viewers with some high-quality disaster documentaries. These are the best 10 that you won’t be able to look away from start to finish.
10 ‘Challenger: The Final Flight’ (2020) Challenger: The Final Flight Release Date 2020 – 2019
Creator(s) Glen Zipper, Steven Leckart Powered by Expand Collapse
This four-part documentary series recounts the tragic explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, which resulted in the death of all seven crew members onboard. The series was developed and directed by Glen Zipper and Steven Leckart. Leckart is best known for his work on the award-winning Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers miniseries in 2022 and the What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali documentary in 2019.
Revisiting the Explosion
Challenger: The Final Flight traces the events leading up to the incident alongside first-hand accounts and an exploration of the disaster’s aftermath. Critics and audiences appreciate the documentary’s detail-oriented approach. Viewers who were alive in 1986 and those born later will find this to be a thorough account of a devastating moment in the history of space exploration.
9 ‘Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche’ (2021) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche Documentary Release Date October 23, 2021 Runtime 96 Minutes Director Jared Drake, Steven Siig Producers David Hillman, Evan Hayes, Michael Sugar, Shannon Houchins Cast See All Anna Conrad Allen Self – Snowboarding Pioneer Mike Alves Tom Burt
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In 1982, an avalanche struck the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in Northern California after four days of heavy snowfall. It launched a five-day search for eight missing people, only one of whom would be found alive. Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche was a personal project for directors Jared Drake and Steven Siig, both of whom are Alpine Meadow residents.
Haunting Interviews
The film is well-made and expertly edited, with footage from the search and interviews with those who were there in the snow that day. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it “a compelling documentary about memory, tragedy and the terrifying power of nature.” The interviews with those who lost loved ones that day are particularly difficult to watch, though the filmmakers handle them with great care.
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Posts 8 ‘Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire’ (2021) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire Documentary Release Date November 9, 2023
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This three-part documentary series unpacks the tragic fire at Sydney’s Luna Park in 1979 that claimed the lives of seven people, six of whom were children. While the fire was originally attributed to an electrical issue, some believe it to be a case of arson. Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire explores both of these theories in full, with a detailed history of the event and a wide array of interviews.
The Sole Survivor
The first-hand account of Jason Holman is particularly harrowing. He was pulled from the train ride at the last moment by an employee right before the carriage pulled his four friends inside the ride, leading them to their deaths. Jason was only 12 years old at the time. Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire was nominated for Best Documentary or Factual Program at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards in 2021.
7 ‘Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake’ (2022) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake TV-MA Documentary Drama History Release Date 2022 – 2021 Network Netflix Directors Olly Lambert Cast See All Gopal Shrestha Climber Ilenia Cipollari Dr Anne Natasha Zinni Uncredited Tamar Lawson
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An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal in 2015. Thousands died as a result of the earthquake, and the event triggered the most deadly avalanche to ever hit Mount Everest. This three-part limited series uses first-hand interviews and footage from the disaster itself to construct a harrowing portrait of the most devastating earthquake in Nepal’s history.
The Legend of Mount Everest
At least 22 people were killed in the avalanche, with 60 more injured. While there were more casualties from the earthquake than the avalanche, the mythos surrounding Mount Everest and the history of climbing are the focus here. The series is directed by BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker Olly Lambert, who also directed the 2025 Hulu miniseries Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.
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Posts 6 ‘The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari’ (2022) The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari PG-13 Documentary Release Date November 3, 2022 Runtime 97 minutes Director Rory Kennedy Producers Brian Grazer, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Jennifer Davisson, Mark Bailey, Phillip Watson, Dallas Brennan, Jennifer Davisson
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The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari is a documentary film that covers the volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s island of Whakaari in 2019. The island was a popular tourist attraction and there were 47 people on the island when the disaster occurred. Twenty-two of those people died. This film is directed by Rory Kennedy, who was nominated for an Academy Award in 2015 for her work on the documentary Last Days in Vietnam.
A Tale of Bravery
The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari uses footage from the day and accounts from survivors to construct a devastating portrait of nature’s might alongside the moving stories of people working together in a time of tragedy. Critics and audiences agree that the result is incredibly moving, making this a documentary you won’t want to miss.
5 ‘From Dreams to Tragedy: The Fire That Shook Brazilian Football’ (2024)
In 2019, a fire broke out at the Flamengo sports club in Rio de Janeiro. The fire originated at the Ninho do Urubu youth training ground, where temporary dorms had been set up in a parking area. As a result, 10 teenagers were killed and three were injured. At the time, it was believed that the fire was the result of a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
Searching for the Truth
Directed by Pedro Asbeg, this three-part limited documentary series closely examines the days leading up to the fire and the event itself. The third episode is devoted to the stories of surviving family members, as well as journalists and lawyers who continue to look for answers. It is a compelling limited series that leaves room for important questions.
4 ‘Apollo 13: Survival’ (2024)
Very few disaster documentaries feature no fatalities, and this is one of them. On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13 took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Two days later, an oxygen tank exploded in the service module, and the three crew members entered a race against the clock to survive. Through perseverance and ingenuity, the crew coordinated with Mission Control on the ground to make modifications to what was left of their vessel in order to return to Earth.
Surviving the Impossible
This film is directed by Peter Middleton, who also directed Notes on Blindness in 2016 and The Real Charlie Chaplin in 2021. Apollo 13: Survival was nominated for two BAFTA Awards in 2025. It holds a 100% rating from critics and an 88% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it an informative and incredible tale of survival.
3 ‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ (2025) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Follow Followed Titan: The OceanGate Disaster Documentary Release Date June 11, 2025 Runtime 111 minutes Director Mark Monroe Producers Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Mala Chapple, Kate Barry, Amy Herdy, Tommy Coriale, Jon Bardin Cast See All Lily Garrison Producer
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Only two years have passed since the Titan submersible imploded during an expedition to visit the wreck of the Titanic off the coast of Canada, killing all five people onboard. Directed by Mark Monroe, Titan: The OceanGate Disaster is a documentary feature film that examines the details of this deep sea accident. It also takes a close look at OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who died on the Titan.
Parallels Between Two Tragedies
Critics say that the film presents a fascinating cautionary tale. Wall Street Journal Critic John Anderson calls the film “the most exhaustive exploration” of the disaster thus far and that the intertwined tales of hubris for both the Titanic and Titan make for a compelling story. Both ships wanted to make history and both paid the ultimate price.
2 ‘The Twister: Caught in the Storm’ (2025) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like The Twister: Caught in the Storm Documentary Release Date March 19, 2025 Runtime 89 Minutes
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In 2011, a deadly EF5 tornado touched down in Joplin, Missouri. The region was deeply damaged by the ferocity of the tornado and 158 people were killed. Utilizing archival footage and first-hand interviews, director Alexandra Lacey frames an intimate study of the disaster.
Speaking to Survivors
The Twister: Caught in the Storm focuses on a group of teenagers who were set to graduate high school the day the tornado hit. It delves into their lives and experiences before and after the storm. Viewers say the film does a good job of telling the story and personalizing the experience for audiences.
1 ‘Grenfell: Uncovered’ (2025) Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Grenfell: Uncovered PG-13 Documentary Release Date June 19, 2025 Runtime 100 minutes Producers James Rogan, Soleta Rogan
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Grenfell Tower was a 24-story block of flats in West London that burned down on June 14, 2017. Over 70 people were injured and 72 people were killed. It was said that faulty wiring caused the fire, but the entire situation escalated as a result of flammable building materials that were used in the construction of the building.
Why Housing Regulations Matter
Directed by Olaide Sadiq, Grenfell: Uncovered explores the events leading up to the fire and how the tragedy could have been prevented. The film also includes interviews with survivors, first responders, and family members of those who died in the fire. The Guardian gives Grenfell: Uncovered five stars, calling it “heartwrenching and enraging.” It’s the kind of documentary that makes you want to stand up and take action.
