Credit: Cardmapr

From the way we eat to the way we spend, from who we follow on Instagram to who we let into our hearts, it feels like modern life is one endless experiment. And Netflix knows this. The doc game on the platform has been on point for years now. In fact, over time, it has become laser-focused on pulling apart the fads, the frauds, and the cult-like habits we convince ourselves are normal.

That is why this week’s picks are less about casual streaming and more about holding up a mirror. These documentaries expose the diets we swear will fix us, the scams we fall for when money feels too complicated, the toxic promises of love and belonging, and the uncomfortable truths hiding in our food. They aren’t just bingeable… they are uncomfortable yet fascinating and way too close to real life.

And sure, some of these shows will make you roll your eyes at just how gullible we can be, while others will stick with you long after the credits. But all of them point to one bigger truth: obsession is the currency of our time.

So if you have ever wondered why people throw savings into crypto, cut carbs to “retrain” their bodies, or follow love gurus into YouTube-shaped hellholes, these five documentaries are the crash course you didn’t know you needed.

Netflix docs that expose our modern obsessions:

Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022)

Money has always been messy, but crypto took that obsession to a whole new level. Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King follows the shocking story of Gerald Cotten, the CEO of QuadrigaCX, who died suddenly in 2018. He took access to $250million in customers’ funds with him. The documentary dives into the mess that followed. This documentary has everything from conspiracy theories about whether Cotten faked his death to desperate investors trying to claw back their life savings. Also, the darker side of an industry built on hype.

It is a reminder of how obsession with “the next big thing” can cloud judgment. People weren’t just investing; they were buying into a dream of freedom from banks and governments. What they got was financial ruin and paranoia. The doc forces us to ask if crypto was ever really about empowerment or just another trap dressed up as a revolution.

The Magic Pill (2017)

Remember the keto diets everyone was doing a few years ago? In fact, every now and then comes a diet that promises to fix everything. Enter The Magic Pill, a documentary that dives into the ketogenic craze. It argues that switching to a high-fat, low-carb diet could solve issues from diabetes to autism to chronic illness. The film follows families and individuals around the world who take up the keto lifestyle as a kind of cure-all experiment.

It is provocative, and whether you agree with it or not, it speaks to something bigger. That is our obsession with the idea that food can fix us instantly. They say health is not just medical anymore; it is moral. And The Magic Pill captures that perfectly.

The Game Changers (2018)

If The Magic Pill made you question carbs, The Game Changers comes for your steak. Produced by James Cameron and fronted by elite athletes, this Netflix documentary argues that a plant-based diet isn’t just ethical but actually superior. And not just for strength but for performance and recovery too. With slick visuals and convincing athletes, it suddenly makes you wonder if lentils are the secret to a six-pack.

But what is fascinating is less about whether the science holds up and more about how much the film feels like a rallying cry. It is not just about plants; it never was. What it is about is redefining masculinity, performance, and the myths we have swallowed about protein.

Escaping Twin Flames (2023)

This one is not about diets or money, but it is just as modern an obsession: love. Escaping Twin Flames tells the story of an online group that promised to help people find their “twin flame”. To find that one person they are cosmically destined to be with. In reality, it was a manipulative empire that left people financially drained. But it was not just about finance. These people were emotionally broken and, in some cases, completely isolated from family and friends.

This Netflix doc is both horrifying and fascinating to watch because it speaks to a real vulnerability. In a world where apps commodify dating and connection feels scarce, people will latch onto anything that promises belonging. The documentary exposes a cult. It also exposes how an obsession with love can be weaponised in the most 21st-century way. All you need is some YouTube videos, online courses, and relentless digital branding.

Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food (2023)

Finally, we get to the one obsession none of us can avoid: food. Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food is a chilling look at America’s food safety system and how it fails. From salmonella outbreaks to contaminated lettuce, it shows just how often our meals are tied to negligence and systemic flaws. It is the kind of documentary that makes you side-eye your fridge for days after.

But what really lands is how it exposes the fragility of a system we trust blindly. Eating feels so ordinary, so automatic, but Poisoned reminds us how many hands and shortcuts are involved before anything hits our plate. In a culture obsessed with wellness and health fads, it’s ironic how little attention we pay to the basics of food safety.