3 gripping new Netflix documentaries to stream this weekend (June 26-28) — here is a clear breakdown of what happened and why it matters right now.
The details below put the news in context: the key points first, the background after.
It's World Cup season, so half of Netflix's U.S. viewership is glued to soccer while the other half is still untangling Harlan Coben's I Will Find You or still arguing over how Outlast: The Jungle played out. There’s still plenty to scroll past on the streaming service, but every so often it pays to step out of the fiction aisle and into the documentaries, which is where this weekly list comes in.
This weekend (June 26 to 28), three new nonfiction picks deserve a spot in your watch list. As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, Netflix is delivering a sweeping look at how a wild, untested idea became the basis for a whole new country. There’s also an intimate portrait of two staunch tennis rivals who grew closer than family, and a trip to the dusty pitches of Brazil where the beautiful game is really made.
As Americans prepare to celebrate 250 years of independence, The American Experiment arrives just in time to offer a poignant retrospective on that "experiment" and what it all means today. The sprawling five-part Netflix docuseries explores the country's founding, but not as a history lesson, and more of a gamble that asks, "Could a government based on the people without a king survive?" and can the people actually govern themselves?
Director Brian Knappenberger (of the Turning Point docs) traces the path from the American Revolution through the drafting of the Constitution and into the first presidency, but without shying away from the contradictions of slavery, liberty, and who got a say. The series blends archival material, dramatic reenactments, and more than 60 interviews from across the political spectrum, including former vice presidents Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, among them. It’s a bit of a talking-head kind of doc, but with its heavy-hitter guests, as well as noted historians, military experts, and other esteemed voices, there’s not a lot of fluff.
Interestingly, Martin Sheen, who’s played more than his fair share of presidents, voices George Washington in the reenactments, and the series is executive produced by Tom Hanks.
Tennis fans will know that one of the fiercest rivalries in all of tennis history was the intense and often heated one between two of the greatest players to ever pick up a racket—Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who battled it out across their 80 matches between 1973 and 1988. But what many people may not know about is the deep friendship that the pair developed over the years, and the surprising personal struggles that bonded them more than the sport ever did.
All this and more is brought to light in the new Netflix feature documentary Chris & Martina: The Final Set, which begins streaming today (June 26). The retrospective examines their careers and rivalry, and how they pushed each other to the top of women's tennis—Evert, the composed Floridian who dominated from the back of the court, and Navratilova, the aggressive lefty who'd defected from communist Czechoslovakia.
The emotional core of the film, though, is in the present, as it delves into their greatest challenges as both women have faced cancer—Evert ovarian, Navratilova breast and throat. It’s heart-wrenching and heartwarming as cameras follow them both through treatment, and features never-before-seen footage.
The 96-minute film is built from archival footage and fresh interviews, including scenes of the two watching their old finals together for the first time, narrating match points they hadn't thought about in decades. The tennis world’s John McEnroe, Pam Shriver, Mary Carillo, and Sally Jenkins add their commentary on the two legends, sharing insights into the women on and off the court. Tennis and sports fans in general will like this one.
From Wrexham to Beckham — see how much you know about the best soccer docs on screen.
In 'Welcome to Wrexham', which two Hollywood actors purchased Wrexham AFC in 2020?
In which English city is the club featured in 'Sunderland 'Til I Die' located?
The 2023 Netflix documentary 'Beckham' covers the life of David Beckham. Which club did he famously join from Manchester United in 2003?
Amazon Prime Video's 'All or Nothing' docuseries has followed several top football clubs. Which of these clubs was NOT the subject of an 'All or Nothing' series?
The documentary 'Diego Maradona' (2019), directed by Asif Kapadia, focuses heavily on Maradona's turbulent years at which Italian club?
Netflix's 'Break Point' is a tennis docuseries, but which streaming platform aired the popular soccer docuseries 'FIFA Uncovered'?
Director Asif Kapadia made a soccer documentary before his acclaimed 'Diego Maradona' film. Which legendary Brazilian player was the subject of his earlier 2016 documentary?
In 'Welcome to Wrexham', what league were Wrexham AFC playing in when Reynolds and McElhenney took over — making their underdog story even more remarkable?
Forget about soccer's megastars, sponsorship money, and the gleaming stadiums for a moment. The Root of the Game (a.k.a. Várzea: Onde Nasce o Futebol), a new three-part Netflix series that landed June 20, heads instead to the rough dirt and grass pitches on the edges of São Paulo, where Brazil's football obsession actually takes root.
Várzea—the country's term for amateur, neighbourhood soccer—is widely seen as the workshop where future professionals are forged, played out amid crowds waving flags, lighting flares, and pounding drums. Director Alec Cutter (Nando) follows the players and coaches chasing the Super Copa Pioneer, São Paulo's biggest amateur tournament, and a competition some call the várzea version of the Champions League. Global soccer legends, including two-time World Cup champion Cafu and FC Barcelona’s Raphinha, appear to reflect on their early days and revisit the dirt pitches that shaped them.
Underneath the drama, though, the series quietly tracks an ongoing concern in São Paulo: these free, open soccer pitches are vanishing as the city builds over them. If you're looking for more soccer documentaries, check out this roundup of some of the best World Cup docs across Netflix, HBO Max, and more.
American history, tennis heroes and heartbreak, and a whole lot of dust and dirt—proof that a quiet weekend in can still transport you a long way from your couch. And when you're ready to line up the next watch, How-To Geek scours all the streaming services weekly to find you the best movies and shows to watch.
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