Binge-worthy sports docuseries are having a major moment

The rise of streaming services has inevitably contributed to both the boom in documentary filmmaking and the subsequent production of docuseries about pretty much all subject matter. The couch and sweatpants-filled days of the pandemic only amplified this new boom (remember Tiger King?). The rise in mass popularity of docuseries has changed the way we view the documentary genre – it’s moved from seen as somewhat textbook and dry (think: the ones we watched in school growing up) to highly addictive and binge-worthy. A quick search of Netflix’s current docuseries lineup includes subjects that range from true crime (always a shamelessly satisfying choice), music, and nature, to natural disasters (just to name a few). But one sector that’s really taken off in the docuseries department is the world of professional sport – and Netflix viewers can’t get enough. 

Sports docuseries score major points with viewers

The inner worlds of professional sport are now exposed like never before, thanks to a slew of docuseries that have made their way to Netflix as of late. Gripping, dramatic, and inspiring all at once, these series allow fans a more intimate and relatable look into the lives of their favourite spots stars – and even inspire a more widespread interest in particular sports.  

Some may argue that the craze all started with The Last Dance, an April 2020-released documentary – a project between ESPN and Netflix – that captivated nostalgic basketball fans with its storytelling of Michael Jordan’s time playing for the Chicago Bulls in the 90s. In the absence of live sports due to pandemic measures, gripping docuseries like these offered the next best thing. Even as life returned to normal and stadiums filled with fans, the docuseries stuck around. And they keep coming, in all of their grit and drama-filled glory – providing hours of quality entertainment value for both sports fans and non-sports fans. 

Netflix’s current lineup of docuseries also turns the lens onto specific famous faces in the sporting worlds (from David Beckham to Naomi Osaka), documenting the good, bad, and ugly of their lives both as professional athletes and “regular” people. In short, they offer a closer connection to sports world idols, humanizing them in the process. 

From the race track to the golf course 

Netflix’s current lineup of documentaries fuel the race car craze. Now in its sixth season, Box to Box Films’ hugely popular Drive to Survive takes viewers behind the scenes as their favourite drivers battle it out for the World Driver Championship. The latest season of the fast-paced series premiered on February 23 and includes everything from the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, to cameos by new Alpine team owner Ryan Reynolds. Not only does the series allow F1 fans the change to relive the thrilling 2023 races, it sets the stage for the anticipated 2024 season. Meanwhile – perhaps inspired by the success of Drive to Survive – the five-episode docuseries NASCAR: Full Speed has been giving race car fans something to talk about since it hit Netflix on January 30. The project covers the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, NASCAR’s top racing series, which is widely seen as one of the most challenging and dangerous. 

Another sports-related documentary, Full Swing – another Box to Box Films project produced in a collaboration between Netflix and the PGA – has become a quick favourite with both the golf club-swinging set and the golf-curious TV bingers. Now in its second season, the immersive 2023 docuseries follows a group of professional golfers both on and off the green, capturing a behind-the-scenes look at really goes on in the world of professional golf at the highest level (spoiler: things aren’t always as calm at they appear on the course). 

 Not to be outdone, the National Football League (NFL) partnered with Netflix to develop its own docuseries, Quarterback, last summer. The eight-episode series follows three of the biggest quarterbacks in football for the 2022 season – Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons’ Marcus Mariota – offering an inside look on what it takes to succeed in the sport when all eyes are on you. This includes everything from plays on the field, to how they spend their days off. 

Also on the behind-the-scenes front, the cycling world, 2023’s Tour de France: Unchained Netflix docuseries follows several cycling teams as they compete in the 2022 installment of the world’s most famous – and physically gruelling – bike race. Yet another series from the team behind Drive to Survive, the series offers a colourful look into every facet of the iconic race. This means an in-depth perspective from everyone from riders to team managers – and no shortage of drama both on and off the road. 

Giving the ladies a chance to shine, the Netflix series Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team follows the U.S. Women’s national soccer team as they pursue their third consecutive title amid the trials, tribulations, and triumphs at the 2023 FIFA World Cup. The series offers an inside look at the unique pressures faced by world-class female athletes. 

Leaving no stone unturned, Box to Box Films serves up entertainment to the tennis-loving set with Break Point. Now in its second season, the docuseries follows a select group of top tennis players on and off the court as they compete in grueling Grand Slams and tournaments all over the world. Finally, Netflix’s Six Nations: Full Contact – a brand-new docuseries (yet another from the Drive to Survive team) that premiered in January 2024 – puts the game of rugby on the world stage. The series offers an inside look into the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. Just last week, Netflix announced that the series would return for a second season, which will follow the 2024 Six Nations championship. 

The binge-worthy scandals 

While the sports-related docuseries may inspire, everyone loves a good dose of drama and scandal – and the sports world is certainly not immune to either. 

For the shameless binging, documentary anthology series Untold: Hall of Shame has returned for its third installment – and the stories are wilder than ever. Consisting of three films and a four-episode series, Untold pulls back the curtain on some of sports most infamous events – from infamous doping scandals to boxing’s most hated heel, a football star under scrutiny, and how the Florida Gators went from being league underdogs to winners of two BCS National Championships. 

Untold comes after the success of 2021’s Bad Sport, which highlighted true crime cases of total corruption and chaos in the professional sports world. The six-part docuseries (which is still available on Netflix) highlights the biggest worldwide controversies and scandals, from  the 1994 Arizona State University basketball point-shaving scandal to the “Gold War” at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Each episode focuses on a different scandal within the sports world. 

The green light ahead 

Both sports lovers and those who prefer to binge watch sports-related shows from the sidelines will appreciate the fact that Netflix has recently green lit other intriguing sports-centred documentaries. Hitting closer to home, Netflix has given the green light to an untitled docuseries that chronicles the setbacks that lead to the departure of Quebec’s beloved MLB team, the Montreal Expos, and how the move continues to spark debate two decades later. Fun fact: the Expos were the first MLB team outside of America. 

On the football front, earlier this week, Netflix announced the upcoming sports docuseries, Receiver, which is executive produced by football legend Peyton Manning. The fresh series follows pass catchers during the NFL 2023-24 season: Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions). The series is set to hit Netflix this summer.

So, if you can’t play sports, at least the sports world offers countless hours of entertainment both inside the stadium or from your couch. 

Editor's note: Looking to add these to your watch list? You can use the "My List" feature on Netflix so you can queue these up for your binge moments. See how here.

All photos: Courtesy of Netflix