Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story – Picture Credit: Netflix
Netflix has 12 documentaries coming our way in October 2026, with docs tracing the lives of legendary comedians being the most prominent, as well as sports documentaries about legendary Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
From all-new Netflix Original documentaries to licensed pickups of film festival favourites, Netflix has 12 documentary films and series landing in its library throughout October. At the forefront of the month are five documentaries chronicling the lives and legacies of beloved figures from the world of comedy, including Saturday Night Live star Norm Macdonald and Friends icon Matthew Perry.
Down below, we’ve listed every documentary coming to Netflix throughout October. Let’s take a tour.
Schumacher ’94 — The Birth of a Legend
Coming to Netflix: October 2
There aren’t many names in Formula 1 quite as ubiquitous as Michael Schumacher. This documentary takes a look back at the legendary 1994 Formula 1 season — a year of immense tragedy, controversy, and one that also saw the emergence of a new generation of racing stars. In a single season, Schumacher went from an F1 prodigy and underdog to a national hero in Germany.
This documentary takes an intimate look at Schumacher featuring an interview with his wife and closest confidante, Corinna Schumacher. It also features interviews with numerous well-known figures from the F1 circle, including former driver David Coulthard, Schumacher’s former manager Willi Weber, and German sports reporter Kai Ebel.
The story is told through rare archival footage of the legendary 1994 Formula 1 season.
Lorne (2026)
Coming to Netflix: October 5
A licensed documentary, Lorne was released earlier this year to great acclaim. The film comes from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville. Through a star-studded line-up of guests, it tracks the life, career, and enduring legacy of Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels.
The film features interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from a massive roster of comedy legends, including Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Maya Rudolph, and Chris Rock.
Who Is Martin Mull?
Coming to Netflix: October 7
From the late Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley, documentary Who Is Martin Mull? shines the spotlight on the multi-talented Martin Mull — an American musician, actor, and comedian. Mull sadly passed away in 2024 at the age of 81. The documentary film features testimonials from those who knew him best, including Steve Martin, Tom Waits, and David Alan Grier.
Per the official logline, the film “traces his restless reinvention from smoky folk clubs to primetime sitcoms to gallery walls, told in his own words and by the friends who watched it happen.”
Mull’s most notable television roles include playing Leon Carp on Roseanne and Willard Kraft on Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Later in life, he played Gene Parmesan in Arrested Development. He also became widely known for his portrayal of Colonel Mustard in the classic 1985 movie Clue, starring alongside the late, great Tim Curry.
The First Monday in May (2016)
Coming to Netflix: October 10
A licensed title coming to Netflix, this documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of fashion’s biggest night: the 2015 art exhibition ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ by curator Andrew Bolton at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and that gala that accompanied it. The film is directed by Andrew Rossi.
Free Leonard Peltier
Coming to Netflix: October 12
Earlier this year, Netflix picked up some documentaries that were performing strongly in the film festival circuit, from Sundance to Telluride to Tribeca. We saw one of them, Teenage Wasteland, premiere on the streamer in September.
Next up is Free Leonard Peltier. The two-hour documentary from Jesse Short Bull and David France traces the decades-long effort to free Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier from prison.
TYSON
Coming to Netflix: October 13
This 4-part documentary is a portrait of the legendary fighter Mike Tyson, the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history, taking the title aged just 20. Throughout all four episodes, it tracks all of his triumphs, controversies, trials and tribulations. Tyson’s story stretches far beyond the ring, with him experiencing incarceration, financial strain, substance abuse, and more.
“Most people are too scared to look at their lives objectively, wanting to paint themselves as the hero of their own story,” Tyson said of the motivation behind the documentary. “But if we are truly objective, we know we can never be the hero in our own story. We have to be able to face the man in the mirror — taking the good with the bad — to give a full account of our contributions in this life.”
The documentary is developed by Floyd Russ, the man behind American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing.
The Disciple — A Wu-Tang Fable
Coming to Netflix: October 16
Oscar winner Joanna Natasegara is chronicling the making of the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album in a new documentary. And if you don’t know what that album is, it is the most expensive record ever sold, worth so much that almost no one has even heard it. The Wu-Tang Clan’s seventh studio album — Once Upon a Time in Shaolin — was recorded in secret over the course of six years. Once completed, it was sealed in an ornate silver case. It was later sold in a 2015 auction for a reported $2 million. The orders were strict and steadfast: there must be no commercial release until 2103.
The story behind the record has become a legend in the hip-hop community, and while this documentary will not reveal its sound, it traces the remarkable history of its origins and reception. “For the last five years, making this film has been a labor of love and discovery,” Natasegara told Netflix. “Initially I was inspired by a teenhood love of Wu-Tang and a story about the secret album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin too intriguing to miss. In the making, I discovered so much more about why Tarik, myself, and so many of us idolize them. They stand for so much that is so needed right now — community, talent, tenacity, innovation, and love. I’m so thrilled audiences will get to spend time in this world I’ve loved so much.”
This documentary makes its debut at the Sundance Film Festival before making its way to Netflix, where it begins streaming on October 16.
Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald
Coming to Netflix: October 16
Director Judd Apatow offers up an intimate portrait of the late, great comedian Norm Macdonald — an undisputed master of absurdist and dry humour. The film honours the comedy legend, piecing together all of his best and most iconic moments, from Saturday Night Live sketches to stand-up routines.
The Tale of Norm Macdonald takes a deep look at his career, featuring home videos and photos submitted by fans and friends. Clips included show Norm talking with legends Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, and David Letterman.
Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story
Coming to Netflix: October 23
Since beginning her career in the ’90s, Maria Bamford has gone on to tour the world with her stand-up routines, known for her deeply personal and surreal brand of comedy. She also starred in the beloved Netflix sitcom Lady Dynamite in 2016, which was loosely based on her life and her experiences with bipolar disorder.
Directed by Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley, this documentary traces her esteemed career from her upbringing in Minnesota to her life in LA. It chronicles the many trials and tribulations she has faced, ranging from mental health struggles to complicated family relationships.
Surviving Hurricane Otis
Coming to Netflix: October 13
This documentary comes out of Mexico, telling the story of how Wirpul and his half-brother fought to survive Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, where their brotherhood and courage turn adversity into hope.
Hurricane Otis hit in October 2023 and caused devastation; it was the costliest Pacific hurricane on record. It caused at least 52 deaths and left 32 others missing.
The One About Matthew Perry
385848 04: Actor Matthew Perry stars as Chandler Bing in NBC’s comedy series “Friends.” (Photo by Warner Bros. Television)
Coming to Netflix: October 28
Despite airing back in the 1990s and concluding in the early 2000s, legendary sitcom Friends remains one of the most popular shows on the planet. Back in 2023, fans were shook upon learning that star Matthew Perry — the hilarious man behind Chandler Bing — had passed away. Off camera, Perry suffered from a secret, decades-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction. He would go on to bravely speak in public about addiction, advocating for addiction recovery and counselling. Perry wrote about his experiences extensively in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. In October 2023, he sadly passed away, and the world lost a true comedy legend.
Marking three years after his passing, Netflix is releasing a three-part documentary about his life. Directed by Emmy-winner Mary Robertson (The Fall of Diddy), the documentary is told through intimate testimonies from close family and friends. It seeks to shine the spotlight on the real Matthew Perry and the battles he fought to become the man behind the sitcom icon.
SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of
Coming to Netflix: October 29
Second City Television (SCTV) is one of the most influential sketch comedy series in television history. Beginning back in 1976, the series went through several versions and network changes, ultimately concluding in 1984. So many comedy legends came out of SCTV, including such alumni as John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, and the list goes on.
Produced by Jimmy Kimmel, Netflix’s documentary explores the creative partnership that transformed a small Canadian production into a cultural phenomenon. It features never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive stories, told from an emotional cast reunion in Toronto.
While you’re waiting for this documentary, all of SCTV is currently streaming on Netflix.
Check out here for the full list of what’s coming to Netflix in October 2026.
