NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARIES TO BE RELEASED IN JANUARY 2023
By Rashmi Goel
Netflix has some of the most fascinating and curious on-demand documentaries available in streaming. Whether you are curious about different places, cultures, or topics you have never thought of exploring, Netflix's original documentaries might be just what you are looking for. Despite its reputation as a true-crime hub (think: "Making a Murderer" and "I Am a Killer"), it offers so much more than that. Having a Netflix account provides you with a fascinating library of documentaries that will assist you in exploring the world around you. Although you may be able to glean plenty of interesting trivia from these films and series, many of them are based on rigorous research and offer unique insights. There are so many documentary choices that you might find yourself at a loss when it comes to choosing one. Here is a comprehensive list of the best original documentaries you can watch on Netflix if you are having trouble selecting your next educational adventure.
Pamela, A Love Story (January 31)
There will be no holding back for Pamela Anderson. In Pamela, A Love Story, viewers are given an unfiltered account of the life of one of Hollywood's most infamous stars. Jessica Hargrave, Julia Nottingham, and Brandon Thomas Lee, Anderson's oldest son, will produce Pamela, a love story, which is scheduled to premiere on January 31. In this documentary, Anderson will be profiled as "one of the world's most famous blonde bombshells," and the path of her career from a small-town girl to "an international sex symbol, actress, activist, tape, and doting mother." In a statement made by Netflix when Pamela, a love story directed by Ryan White (Ask Dr. Ruth, The Keepers), was first announced, Netflix said it had been in development for several years and would feature the pop culture icon setting the record straight as she reflected on her career and personal journey. Anderson included a note with a kiss print in the original announcement, which was published on social media, that read, "My life, filled with a thousand imperfections, a million misperceptions. Lost, wild, wicked, and nothing to live up to. I can only surprise you. Not a victim, but a survivor -- alive to tell her true story."
"Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street" (January 4)
This four-part thriller miniseries from Netflix combines reenactments, commentary, and interviews to tell the story of white-collar crime. Throughout the documentary, it follows the rise and fall of Bernie Madoff, who operated a $50 billion Ponzi scheme for decades because the financial system permitted it. An experienced true-crime director will tell the story: Joe Berlinger, who helmed "Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes," as well as "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel."
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (January 10)
One man's rise and fall from hitchhiking hero to murder suspect are explored in Netflix's "The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker." The episode follows Kai Lawrence, better known as Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, who became an internet sensation after he used a hatchet to defend a utility worker from an attack in 2012. The attacker with whom he received a ride also claimed to have "smashed, smashed, smashed" him in an interview with a Fresno, CA news station. McGillvary became wanted not long after the clip went viral for the death of 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy in New Jersey in May 2013.
Break Point (January 13)
There are many challenges facing professional tennis players, one of which is the tremendous stress that comes with playing four Grand Slam tournaments as well as competing on the ATP and WTA tours. In "Break Point," we see how the production team behind " F1: Drive to Survive" deals with everything from game injuries to heartbreak. There are a number of players who will feature in this documentary, including Igor Swiatek, who won this year's US Open, and Ons Jabeur, who is currently Tunisia's No. 1 player.
Big Mack: Gangster And Gold (January 20)
In 1995, Donald Stellwag was convicted for a crime he didn't commit because he was big, overweight, and had a prominent earlobe. In Germany, his case made legal history because he was wrongly accused and spent nine years behind bars. Several years later, Stellwag's name came up during a trial regarding the robbery of a gold vehicle. In testimony before the jury, gangster-rap artist Xatar testified that Donald "Big Mäck" Stellwag gave him tips on how to commit the robbery. There has been no trace of the loot of €1.8 million. Is this a real gangster operation and where is the money? It tells the unforgettable truth about Donald Stellwag, a troubled criminal who is embroiled in a tragic and puzzling mystery. Netflix will release the documentary on January 20, 2023, produced by bildundtonfabrik, the company behind How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast), King of Stonks, and Shiny_Flakes. A real portrait of Donald Stellwag is painted in BIG MACK: Gangsters and Gold, which features his cellmates, childhood friends, and business partners. It will be Stellwag's first time telling his own story in front of a camera.
Suzan & Freek (January 13)
For Suzan & Freek, it was through their Facebook covers of songs such as "Don't Let Me Down" by The Chainsmokers that they first gained attention on social media. A few years after their initial success in 2016, the movie follows the titular Dutch singing duo and couple a few years into their subsequent success. It is no secret that their chart-topping songs and albums have been accompanied by buzzy music videos that have been viewed millions of times all over the world. In the process of navigating the music industry and fame, the documentary will focus on the ups and downs of their personal lives.
