If you are looking for documentaries that will give you insight into some of today’s hottest political issues, then our list of the 11 best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube is a perfect starting point.
In its most simple definition, politics could be described as the process of making decisions for people who are organized into larger groups. The role of politics in our lives is huge and people often forget about its importance. Every aspect of our lives is affected by politics, from education to healthcare and even our social interactions inside the community and with other nations. If you have good politicians who are running your government and deciding your country’s politics, you probably have a good life. If you have a corrupt government that only looks out for its own interests, you probably live in Eastern Europe and dream about getting to Germany.
Now, I know lots of people who don’t care about politics. They think this is something out of their reach and it is best to leave it be. This way of thinking got us to the point we are now. The keystone of politics is that we indirectly have the power to determine it. By choosing our representatives who will create the politics, we are actually creating it ourselves. This is what democracy, our most advanced political system, is all about. Democracy is far from being ideal, but this is the best we could think of.
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Many people won’t agree with me, but I don’t blame politicians for everything bad that is happening. I blame us, the common people who gave them the power. Joseph de Maistre said that “people have the leaders they deserve.” So when I read about everyone who is against Trump being President of the United States, all I can do is laugh. The man didn’t walk into the Oval Office and proclaim himself as the person that will make the country’s most important political decisions for the next four years. He was elected there by the electoral college system. That is what politics is all about. It is a game of power and the only question is who wants to take that power for themselves.
A similar situation happened in Great Britain. The majority of the older population turned up to vote for the Brexit and that was the key factor that completely changed Britain’s future and led to its exit from the European Union. The younger generation wasn’t nearly as interested in the outcome of the referendum, despite it being about their future. The long-term consequences of Britain’s EU exit will not be immediately visible, but it will have a huge impact in the future. This all happens because people are not interested in politics. Now, before we present you documentaries that will show you how politics work and the way it controls our lives, we strongly recommend you to check out our list of the 35 Best Documentaries on Amazon Prime, which cover other important subjects.
The battle between the four video platforms is even more heated than ever, as each vies for the attention of eyeballs and the subscription or advertising revenue that comes with them. Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL)‘s YouTube is enormous, with 1.3 billion people using the website, during which time they watch an average of 5 billion videos a day. YouTube’s prime issue is that much of its content is not high definition, which can detract from the visual appeal. A joint venture of Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (NASDAQ:FOX), Hulu was founded in 2006 and operates in the U.S and Japan. About 12 million people use the service, which Hulu hopes to bring to other countries in the future. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)‘s Prime Video has recently done just that, being made available in over 200 countries. The service is bundled with Amazon’s Prime delivery subscriptions. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) remains the streaming king, scaling back on third-party content and significantly boosting its original content. Netflix has 93.6 million subscribers worldwide as of the beginning of 2017.
To get our list of the 11 best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube, we gathered recommendations from multiple sources like Huffington Post, Whickers World Foundation and Decider, among others. Each documentary was then checked for their availability on any of these four streaming services. Those that were available on at least one platform were then ranked based on their IMDb rating. The titles that got the best ratings were added to our list, which begins on the next page.
11. Dirty Wars
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Available On: Netflix, Hulu
You could say that the official policy of the United States is to bring democracy to countries they believe has a lack of it. This is how they end up sending troops to a country and make an even bigger mess. This documentary that ranks 11th in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube will enable you to see how those interventions look and what consequences they have on the countries and people living there. Maybe then you will vote for someone who isn’t so easy on the trigger next time.
10. Where to Invade Next
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Available On: Hulu, Amazon Prime
You have to love Michael Moore and the way he approaches his documentaries. The main villain in most of them is the government of the United States. Since the United States is always proud of how they handle things and want other countries to learn from them, Michael Moore decides to investigate what other countries have to offer to the United States. He travels to multiple European countries to see how they dealt with problems that the United States is facing now. Through documentaries, he shows that every problem has a solution and concludes that his native country still has a lot to learn.
9. Miss Representation
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Available On: Netflix
It isn’t news that women are not treated equally in our society. This is especially common in politics. Women have to work twice as hard as men to accomplish the same goal. This documentary that ranks 9th in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube explores the problems women have in getting into positions of power, while questioning the role of media in all of that. The goal of the documentary is to show positive examples of how women can accomplish many things if they are given a fair chance.
8. Weiner
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Available On: Hulu
Politics is a cruel game in which your weaknesses will be exploited. This documentary ranks 8th in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube. It follows American politician Anthony Weiner and his campaign to become the Mayor of New York. Weiner had had his fair share of problems and scandals in the past, but he wanted a second chance to prove he had what it takes. Things were looking good for him as he gathered momentum and it looked like he might have a chance to become the winner. Unfortunately for him, another scandal emerged involving sext messages he had sent to multiple women. In a moment, everything shifted, and he began losing the support he had worked so hard for.
7. Hearts and Minds
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Available On: YouTube
This Academy Award-winning documentary focuses on the Vietnam War and explores the opposing views on the participation of the United States in the conflict. To shed some light on the role of the United States, it features interviews with both those who supported the intervention and those who were against it. The documentary also discusses the possibility that the United States had a major role in creating the conflict. And now, let’s see what else we have in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
6. The Square
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Available On: Netflix
The people have the power, it’s just up to them whether to use it or not. The Square that ranks 6th in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube follows the Egyptian Crisis and tells the story of a group of revolutionaries who were determined to battle the old and antique regime, wanting to create a better country for them and their countrymen. Their battle is ongoing, but this documentary will give you insight into what happens when the government forgets who has the ultimate power.
5. Citizenfour
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Available On: YouTube
Edward Snowden became a hero in the eyes of the public when he revealed how deep government surveillance goes and how our thoughts of privacy are just an illusion. This documentary will give you clear insight into everything that happened before and after Snowden’s act. Filmmaker Laura Poitras was one of the first people Snowden approached with his findings, and through the documentary, you will be able to find out more about Snowden and the reasons he decided to risk his life by fighting for the truth and freedom.
4. Inequality for All
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Available On: Amazon Prime
The subject of income equality has never been more current than now. 1% of the population owns more than half the wealth in the world. This documentary that ranks 4th in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube will show you how serious the issue is by exploring the income inequality in the United States. It also investigates the possible effects this inequality could have on politics.
3. The Act of Killing
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Available On: Netflix
From 1965 to 1966, more than 1 million people were killed in Indonesia as a result of political disagreements. This documentary ranks 3rd in our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube. It goes back to the scene of the crime and talks with people who took part in the murders, exploring their motives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD5oMxbMcHM
2. Inside Job
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Available On: Netflix
From 2007 to 2008, the United States endured what is thought to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. As a consequence, millions of Americans lost their jobs, their savings and their homes. Inside Job investigates the crisis and its origins. The conclusion is that foolish and greedy political and financial decisions played the most important part in setting it off. And now, let’s see the number one on our list of best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
1. Winter On Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom
IMDb Rating: 8.4
Available On: Netflix
We have finally come to the best-rated documentary on our list of the 11 best political documentaries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube. This one talks about the events in Ukraine that took place in 2013 and 2014. What began as a demonstration against Ukraine’s entrance into the European Union, ended up a revolution that had the goal of ousting the country’s president, Viktor Yanukovich. This attempt ultimately led to a wave of violence from which Ukraine has yet to recover. It offers an unbiased look at the events, trying to accurately portray all sides of the story. More than you will get watching the news.
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