Sometimes it takes a single story – or a moment inside someone else’s world – to shift our perspective entirely. Documentaries have a beautiful way of slowing us down, stirring our empathy, and reminding us of what really matters. Whether you’re craving inspiration, a mindset reset, or simply a fresh outlook on life, these films offer deep and lasting impact.
*Please note that since some of these documentaries are no longer available on Netflix, we have included updated links below for viewing them elsewhere online. This updated list includes your original reader favourites plus new additions that speak to the times we’re living in now.
The Minimalists: Less Is Now
The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, delve into the history of consumerism and how marketing during the industrial revolution shaped our belief that acquiring more possessions would bring us happiness. Through honest storytelling in this moving Netflix documentary, they share their own journeys of discovering minimalism and how stripping back the excess helped them rediscover purpose, clarity, and fulfilment.
“We’re binging on all the wrong things, and dying of hunger for the things that really matter.”
The film also offers practical advice for simplifying your life – from decluttering your home to simplifying your finances and embracing experiences over things. A powerful reminder that living with less can help us live far more meaningfully.
Happy
What is happiness and how do we achieve it? While scientists have been measuring depression for the last century, there hasn’t been a huge amount of research done into happiness and the small things we can all do to find one the most sought-after emotions in our lives.
Academy Award nominated director Roko Belic explores this very topic in this eye-opening film which takes us on a voyage from the Himalayan hilltops to the plains of Africa. He speaks to a woman whose life was changed for the better after a horrendous car accident, and explores why some of the families living in the slums of Calcutta are amongst the happiest people on the planet.
One not to miss, this documentary might have you seeing the small things in your life as some of the most profound.
Living on One Dollar
First world problems bogging you down? Get a slap-in-the-face reality check when you watch this film about four friends who challenge themselves to live on $1 a day for two months in rural Guatemala.
In a place where life seems simple and slow, the companions learn about the different reality a third-world family faces during the ins and outs of their daily lives.
What’s beautiful about this story is its ability to expose the things most of us take for granted, like fresh water, parasite-free food and enough calories in our daily meals to give us sufficient energy.
A true inspirational lesson to appreciate the privileged existence we are living in wealthy nations, no matter what our individual hardships.
Expedition Happiness
Thinking of running away and hitting the road? Get a glimpse of the realities of leading an alternative #vanlife inside the renovated school bus of the Expedition Happiness trio, Selima, Felix and their dog Rudi.
Attempting a lengthy road trip across North and Central America, they experience the ups and downs of life on the road, from a homesick puppy to a cartel hijack in Mexico.
While slowing down and taking in the beauty of the landscape this way of life has to offer, the hardships of travel are exposed rawly and honestly in this true-to-life, self-made travel documentary.
Under an Arctic Sky
If you love watching epic adventures that require courage and commitment, this is your film. This doco trails along the journey of photographer Chris Burkard and filmmaker Ben Weiland, who take a crew of passionate surfers to the remote island of Iceland to surf in the most colossal conditions on earth.
With only three hours of daylight each day and inside the worst storm to hit Iceland in 25 years, the group embark over ice-laden seas, snow-covered roads and sub-zero temperatures to capture footage that is jaw-dropping, stunningly surreal.
Under an Arctic Sky is incredibly inspiring for anyone who has ever wanted to push the boundaries to live their dream.
Given
This cinematically beautiful story, told through the narration of a six-year-old, follows an intrepid family through 15 different countries, headed by professional surfers, Aamion and Daize Goodwin.
With a toddler and newborn baby in tow, the couple travel across the globe, witnessing the charm of both the natural and man-made environments. Through their first-hand experience, they teach their young ones about life and culture in far away villages, the delicacy of nature and the extent of the global family of humans that awaits them in their adult life.
Gracefully shot imagery fills each frame, leaving you questioning why you are sitting at home watching TV and not out there doing the same thing yourself.
Down to Earth
This engaging series follows actor Zac Efron and wellness expert Darin Olien as they travel the globe in search of sustainable living practices, innovative solutions, and stories of human resilience.
Rather than focusing solely on environmental problems, the show shines a light on what’s working – from geothermal energy and clean water systems to regenerative farming and plant-based lifestyles. Its hopeful, solutions-focused storytelling makes sustainability feel uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Season two, filmed across Australia, sees Efron and Olien exploring Indigenous wisdom, local food systems, and the rich culture behind the country’s most sustainable communities.
My Octopus Teacher
This Academy Award–winning documentary follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he builds an unlikely and deeply moving bond with a wild octopus in a South African kelp forest. What begins as a simple curiosity unfolds into a profound experience of connection, trust, and presence.
Through Foster’s year-long journey of returning to the same underwater world each day, we witness the extraordinary intelligence of the octopus, the fragility of marine ecosystems, and the quiet beauty of observing nature without interference.
What makes this film so powerful is its invitation to slow down — to pay closer attention, to cultivate wonder, and to reconnect with the natural world around us.
A gentle, meditative reminder that profound wisdom often comes from the simplest encounters.
Stutz
In this intimate and reflective documentary, actor Jonah Hill sits down with his therapist, Dr. Phil Stutz, to explore the tools and insights that have shaped his own healing journey. Shot with striking simplicity, the film feels less like a traditional documentary and more like a personal conversation you’ve been welcomed into.
Stutz shares practical techniques for navigating anxiety, self-doubt, grief, and the messy parts of being human, all while the two reflect openly on their own vulnerabilities. Their exchanges reveal not only the power of therapy, but also the universal desire to understand ourselves more deeply.
Heartfelt, raw, and unexpectedly comforting, Stutz offers a compassionate guide for anyone yearning for emotional clarity or a gentle reminder that growth is possible — one small shift at a time.
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
In this fascinating series, author and explorer Dan Buettner travels to five Blue Zones — regions where people routinely live past 100 – to uncover what sets their lifestyles apart.
From the sun-drenched villages of Sardinia to the peaceful gardens of Okinawa, Buettner explores the habits that contribute to longevity: natural movement, plant-based diets, community belonging, a sense of purpose, and stress-reducing rituals woven seamlessly into daily life.
What makes this series so inspiring is its simplicity. Rather than offering quick fixes, it highlights the slow, steady rhythms that lead to healthier, happier, more connected lives.
A beautiful reminder that wellbeing doesn’t come from doing more – but from living more meaningfully.
Each of these Netflix documentaries opens a small window into a different way of living – more intentional, more connected, more aware. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, gratitude, or a gentle reminder of what truly matters, these films offer a powerful nudge toward living life a little more unhurried.