10 Best Music Documentaries on Netflix, Ranked

Co-directed by Quincy Jones‘ daughter, Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones, Quincy highlights the producer, songwriter, composer, film, and producer’s influential impact. Through a timeline of his life, interviews with presidents such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and breakdowns of one of his most successful collaborations with Michael Jackson and his album, Thriller, the viewer comes to understand they were aware of Jones all along even if they never knew his name.

Legendary songwriter and guitarist of The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, is arguably one of the best rock figures of our time. Keith Richards: Under the Influence follows Richards as he works on a solo album and dives into the timeline of his career. There’s something nostalgic about this documentary, through the way it looks at the inspirations that made him the musician he is today, along with archival footage of The Rolling Stones in the studio recording classic hits.

Lewis Capaldi still doesn’t understand how he’s famous in Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now. The impact of fame on the artist allows him to open up about his relationship with panic attacks, his Tourette syndrome diagnosis, and his fear of death. In addition to showcasing his funny personality, Capaldi also shows how he has found ways to balance his well-being and music career.

Who better to make a documentary about Bob Dylan than Martin Scorsese? The film details the musician’s Rolling Thunder Revue 1975-1976 concert tour. With special guest appearances from Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and more, Scorsese does a beautiful job highlighting the intimacy of this tour while taking the viewer back in time to the 70s. Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese emphasizes the importance of creating every day of your life.

WHAM! feels like a memoir to viewers. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley changed the 80s cultural landscape. The documentary explores the British pop duo’s relationship, history, and fun music. While giving background to their greatest hits — like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and tracks from their solo ventures like “Careless Whisper” — and hearing from the band themselves, this is a great way to learn about an influential pair while also having something catchy to sing along to.

There are some things about Taylor Swift we didn’t know before this documentary. Because of her massive fame, some may have forgotten she’s a person with emotions and personal struggles. Miss Americana focuses on the artist at a pivotal time in her career. Being in the public eye led to her constantly searching for approval and even caused her to develop an eating disorder, which Swift opens up about here. She also touches upon conflict with her team, and particularly her family, that came up when she wanted to speak more openly about her political views.

A beautiful, educational, and informative documentary, ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke examines the artist and activist Sam Cooke. Known for the songs “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “(What a) Wonderful World,” and “Cupid,” and as talented a singer he was, he was also a savvy business man. Cooke became the first Black artist to top the Billboard pop chart and own a record company. The documentary touches upon his life in the music industry, his influence in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and the mysterious circumstances around his death that still remain unsolved. There’s something special to be learned about this artist and his music that has a special relevance today.

Rich, moving, tragic, and heartbreaking, What Happened, Miss Simone? details the life of the singer-songwriter and activist, Nina Simone. Archival footage, her best-known songs, and interviews with family and others are all included to allow the viewer to understand her story and strength. The documentary follows her transformation from genre-bending music to politics, along with the challenges she experienced during her life.

Singer-songwriter, boundary-pushing fashionista, and pop icon Lady Gaga is anything but perfect. In Gaga: Five Foot Two, she can be seen crying to her stylist, “And all these people will leave, right? They will leave, and then I’ll be alone. And I go from everyone touching me all day and talking to me all day to silence.” The film is a raw documentation of Gaga’s personal conflicts as they intersect with fame. Heartbreak, depression, chronic pain, the making of her album, Joanne, and a behind-the-scenes look at her Super Bowl performance are all covered in the film. She only gets more vulnerable throughout the documentary, establishing a relatable presence that the viewer has never seen before.

Beyoncé proved herself to be a force of nature in her 2018 Coachella performance, also known as “Beychella.” Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé is for everyone. Whether or not you’re a fan of Beyoncé, there’s something in this documentary for all viewers. From behind-the-scene clips showing the eight-month process it took to create the historic performance (she was the first Black woman to ever headline Coachella, which she cheekily addresses at the top of her on-stage pyramid in the concert footage), the emphasis on historically Black universities, to high-quality videos of the performance, it’s moving to watch. There’s no denying the star power of his music icon when watching her two Coachella sets. Pair the front-row seat footage of the performances with the BTS details, and you have an unforgettable music experience.