2025 has delivered a powerful slate of documentaries, plunging us into the heart of true-crime sagas, institutional failures, and profound social issues.
From the digital terrors of catfishing to the devastating impact of gun violence, these are the documentaries that defined our year of viewing.
Unknown Number: The Catfish
A deeply unsettling look at the psychological terror inflicted by a modern-day digital predator. This documentary explores a massive catfishing and manipulation scandal that ripped apart a quiet American high school.
It highlights the real-world consequences of online anonymity and weaponized trust, showing how easily a simple text can unravel lives, friendships, and entire communities.
Surviving Ohio State
A harrowing and necessary documentary that confronts the decades-long sexual abuse scandal involving former Ohio State University team doctor Richard Strauss.
The film gives voice to the male survivors—mostly athletes—who bravely came forward to expose the abuse and the institutional indifference that allowed it to continue for over twenty years.
It is a powerful examination of the cultural forces and power dynamics that protect predators and silence victims in collegiate sports.
Thoughts & Prayers
Perhaps the most difficult, yet vital, watch of the year. This documentary offers a scathing, absurd, and heartbreaking look at the active shooter preparedness industry in America.
It captures the reality of a nation where mass violence has become so routine that safety rituals—from bullet-proof backpacks to tactical training in kindergartens—have become part of the new ‘normal.’
It forces viewers to confront the uncomfortable truth about a society that focuses on surviving violence rather than preventing it.
The Perfect Neighbor
This documentary delves into the dark side of suburban life, exploring a case where trust is betrayed by a seemingly innocuous presence next door, a familiar narrative given a compelling new twist.
The Truth About Jussie Smollett
A deep dive into the controversial and highly-publicized case of a celebrity’s alleged hate crime, exploring the media circus, the ensuing trial, and the many questions that still surround the events.
Con Mum
A jaw-dropping documentary that explores a scam unlike any other. It tells the story of celebrated chef Graham Hornigold, who was contacted by a woman claiming to be his long-lost biological mother—only to find she was a seasoned con artist.
The documentary dives into the deep emotional trauma of abandonment and how the desperate desire for a maternal connection was ruthlessly exploited, costing the victim hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (also known as Bad Influence)
A hugely significant and disturbing docuseries that peels back the curtain on the multi-billion-dollar world of child influencers.
Focusing on the high-profile allegations surrounding a popular internet celebrity and her “momager,” the series exposes the murky ethical waters, the lack of child labor protection in the digital space, and the allegations of abuse behind the seemingly joyful viral videos.
Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser
This provocative series explores the dark underbelly of the hit weight-loss reality show, The Biggest Loser.
Featuring interviews with former contestants, trainers, and producers, it confronts the show’s extreme methods, the damaging psychological and metabolic consequences experienced by participants, and the systemic failures to provide proper aftercare, asking tough questions about the line between entertainment and exploitation.
America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys
This docuseries chronicles the tumultuous and wildly successful dynasty of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s under the ownership of Jerry Jones.
Featuring candid interviews with legends like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders, the series explores the triumphs, controversies, and the central, often fractured, relationship between Jones and coach Jimmy Johnson that defined one of the world’s most valuable sports franchises.
Surviving Black Hawk Down
A powerful three-part historical documentary that addresses the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (the “Black Hawk Down” incident) with a crucial new lens.
Produced by Ridley Scott Associates, the series blends archival footage and immersive storytelling with first-person interviews from both sides of the conflict, providing harrowing and humanizing accounts from American servicemen as well as Somali fighters and civilian residents.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
