The Best Documentaries and Docuseries to Stream: September 2026’s Top Picks

The landscape of streaming television continues to be heavily influenced by the public’s seemingly insatiable appetite for true crime and investigative journalism. As September 2026 comes to a close, the data across major platforms suggests that while the genre remains the dominant force in viewership numbers, the month also provided a refreshing variety of subject matter. From lighthearted celebrations of television fandom to the high-stakes world of professional sports and the somber realities of domestic tragedies, the September slate offered a diverse range of storytelling that transcended simple "whodunits."

While the previous month of August set a high bar for documentary quality, the major players—Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Peacock—all managed to deliver standout content this month. Several of these releases are already being discussed as potential contenders for year-end "best-of" lists, demonstrating that the documentary format is as vital and impactful as ever. These five selections represent the pinnacle of non-fiction storytelling for September 2026, offering viewers everything from nostalgic comfort to harrowing social commentary.

5. Fan Level Midnight: Devoted to The Office (Peacock)

For fans of NBC’s legendary sitcom The Office, the title of Peacock’s latest docuseries, Fan Level Midnight: Devoted to The Office, is an immediate and welcoming "Easter egg." Referencing the fictional action film created by the show’s protagonist, Michael Scott, the six-part series serves as a heartfelt salute to one of the most dedicated fanbases in television history.

Directed by Shawn Cauthen, who previously explored the evolution of streaming in Netflix vs. the World, this docuseries takes a comprehensive look at how a struggling American adaptation of a British institution transformed into a global phenomenon. The series provides a fascinating historical perspective, detailing the show’s early days when its survival on NBC was far from guaranteed. Through twenty-minute episodes, Cauthen weaves together the narrative of the show’s creative peak, its transition through the post-Steve Carell years, and its eventual status as the ultimate "comfort watch" for millions.

What sets Fan Level Midnight apart from a standard "making-of" featurette is its focus on the viewers themselves. While it includes valuable insights from former NBC executive Kevin Reilly, director Paul Feig, and cast members such as Andy Buckley and Leslie David Baker, the heart of the series lies in the personal stories of the fans. It explores the psychological and social impact of the show, investigating why people continue to binge-watch the series years after its conclusion. For many, The Office is more than just a comedy; it is a community and a source of emotional stability. The documentary captures this devotion with a light, joyous touch that makes it an essential watch for anyone who has ever felt like a resident of Dunder Mifflin Scranton.

4. Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly (Netflix)

The Untold series on Netflix has built a reputation for providing deep-dive, often controversial perspectives on the biggest names and scandals in the world of sports. Its latest installment, Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly, tackles a cultural moment that redefined the concept of "going viral" for all the wrong reasons. The documentary focuses on Rachael Gunn, the Australian breakdancer known as Raygun, whose performance at the Paris Olympics became an international lightning rod for criticism and ridicule.

Two years after the event, the dust has finally settled enough for a sober reflection on what actually occurred. The 72-minute film offers Gunn a platform to tell her story from her own perspective, moving beyond the memes of the "kangaroo hop" and the zero-point score that dominated social media feeds. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the absurdity of the situation, but it adds a necessary layer of human complexity to a woman who was, for a time, the most mocked person on the internet.