Paramount+ U.S.subscribers have a pretty great weekend in store, especially if you're looking for something a bit different.While its streaming calendar isn't exactly spilling over with new documentaries at the moment, some serious action kicks in on Saturday when UFC 330 makes its way to the octagon—and the lead-up special that precedes it, to get fans focused and ready, is my top pick this weekend.
Additionally, Paramount+ also has a great catalog of non-fiction docs and docuseries on tap, including a chilling cautionary tale about two women's shared shady ex-husband and an uplifting and fascinating look at some of the world's hardest-working canines.3 Don't Date Brandon An eye-watering cautionary tale told by the women who lived it So many true-crime documentaries put undue focus on the perpetrators behind the often brutal and heinous stories, but Paramount+'s docuseries doesn't—it zeroes in on the victims and their extraordinary story of collaboration, investigation, and recovery.The victims-no-more leading this charge are Athena Klingerman and Amber Rasmussen, whose popular Ex-Wives Undercover podcast is what this stunning three-part series is based on.
It outlines the women's harrowing story of lies, abuse, and manipulation at the hands of their common ex-husband, Brandon Johnson.The one thing Brandon didn't see coming, however, was the women joining forces—sharing information, methodically documenting and logging his threats, lies, and actions going back decades, surfacing other women caught in his web, and starting a podcast that helped bring him to justice.tells the whole story, driven adeptly by Klingerman and Rasmussen.
It's built using candid sit-down interviews, the women's own personal footage, and expert commentary—no reenactments, no true-crime theatrics, and without making a notorious figurehead out of whatshisname.Three episodes run roughly an hour each and are all ready to binge. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge Best true-crime documentaries on NetflixTrivia challenge Think you know your cold cases from your con artists? Test your knowledge of Netflix's most gripping true-crime stories. DocumentariesCold CasesCon ArtistsMurdersDocuseries Begin 01 / 8 Docuseries Which Netflix docuseries follows the story of Steven Avery, a man who was exonerated after 18 years in prison only to be charged with murder shortly after? AThe KeepersBThe StaircaseCMaking a MurdererDEvil Genius Correct! Making a Murderer, released in 2015, became a cultural phenomenon and sparked widespread debate about wrongful convictions and the American justice system. Filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Monika Chai spent ten years documenting Steven Avery's case in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Not quite — the answer is Making a Murderer.
Released in 2015, it follows Steven Avery, who was exonerated of sexual assault after 18 years only to be charged with the murder of Teresa Halbach.The series raised serious questions about police misconduct and evidence tampering. Continue 02 / 8 Con Artists The Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler focuses on a con man who posed as a wealthy heir to which real-world business dynasty? AThe Rothschild familyBThe Murdoch familyCThe Lauder familyDThe Leviev diamond family Correct! Simon Leviev falsely claimed to be the son of Lev Leviev, a real Israeli billionaire diamond mogul.He used this fabricated identity to romance women on Tinder and manipulate them into lending him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not quite — the answer is the Leviev diamond family.
Simon Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, posed as the son of Israeli diamond billionaire Lev Leviev to gain the trust of women he met on Tinder.He then swindled them out of large sums of money under the guise of being in danger. Continue 03 / 8 Cold Cases The Keepers, a 2017 Netflix docuseries, investigates the unsolved murder of which victim? AA Baltimore schoolteacher named Sister Cathy CesnikBA New York journalist named Kathleen DurstCA Chicago nurse named Pamela MossDA Washington D.C.librarian named Anne Marie Fahey Correct! Sister Cathy Cesnik was a beloved Catholic nun and high school teacher in Baltimore whose 1969 murder remains officially unsolved.
The Keepers digs into allegations that her death was connected to a cover-up of sexual abuse at Archbishop Keough High School. Not quite — the answer is Sister Cathy Cesnik, a Catholic nun and teacher from Baltimore.The Keepers examines her mysterious 1969 murder alongside disturbing allegations of institutional abuse at the Catholic school where she worked, suggesting the two may be deeply connected. Continue 04 / 8 Murders Which Netflix documentary features Robert Durst, a real estate heir, who made a stunning apparent confession while wearing a hot mic? AThe JinxBDon't F**k with CatsCI Care a LotDThe Vow Correct! The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst is an HBO production that is widely available and referenced on Netflix platforms.In the final episode, Durst was caught on a bathroom microphone muttering, 'What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.' He was later convicted of murder in 2021. Not quite — the answer is The Jinx.
Robert Durst, a wealthy New York real estate heir, was the subject of this explosive docuseries.In a bathroom he thought was private, he was caught on a live microphone apparently confessing to multiple killings, leading to his eventual arrest and 2021 murder conviction. Continue 05 / 8 Docuseries Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer centers on the online manhunt for a killer who first gained notoriety by posting what kind of videos online? AVideos threatening public figuresBVideos of himself committing arsonCVideos showing the torture and killing of catsDVideos of staged kidnappings Correct! Luka Magnotta first drew internet attention by posting videos of himself killing cats, which prompted a massive online community to try to unmask him before he escalated.The series shows how amateur internet sleuths tracked him long before he committed murder. Not quite — the answer is videos showing the torture and killing of cats.
Luka Magnotta posted these videos online, which prompted a group of internet users to attempt to identify him.Tragically, their investigation came too late to prevent him from murdering Jun Lin in 2012. Continue 06 / 8 Con Artists Bad Vegan: Fame.Fraud.
Fugitives.tells the story of Sarma Melngailis, a celebrity restaurateur who was manipulated into committing financial fraud by a man who claimed he could do what? AMake her the world's most famous chefBMake her dog immortalCGive her access to a secret vegan research networkDHelp her open a restaurant empire in Europe Correct! Anthony Strangis, the man Sarma married, convinced her that he had mystical powers and could make her beloved dog Leon immortal if she proved her loyalty — which she did by funneling money and going on the run with him.The story is as bizarre as it sounds. Not quite — the answer is that he claimed he could make her dog immortal.
Anthony Strangis used this outlandish promise, along with psychological manipulation, to convince Sarma Melngailis to embezzle money from her own acclaimed New York restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, and eventually flee with him as fugitives. Continue 07 / 8 Cults Which Netflix true-crime docuseries examines NXIVM, the organization accused of being a cult that recruited women as 'slaves' and branded them? AThe VowBEscaping Twin FlamesCThe FamilyDHoly Hell Correct! The Vow is an in-depth docuseries about NXIVM, a self-improvement organization led by Keith Raniere that prosecutors proved was actually a criminal enterprise.Former members describe how they were manipulated into a secret sorority called DOS, where women were branded with Raniere's initials. Not quite — the answer is The Vow.This multi-part Netflix docuseries examines NXIVM and its leader Keith Raniere, who was ultimately convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in 2019.
Several high-profile members, including Smallville actress Allison Mack, were also charged in connection with the organization. Continue 08 / 8 Murders The Staircase, one of the earliest true-crime docuseries on Netflix, follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife at the bottom of what? AA swimming poolBA staircase in their Durham, North Carolina homeCA staircase in a French chateauDA hotel fire escape Correct! Michael Peterson was accused of killing his wife Kathleen at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home in 2001.The case became famous for the bizarre 'owl theory' defense and was later adapted into a scripted HBO drama series of the same name. Not quite — the answer is a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home.Michael Peterson claimed his wife Kathleen fell accidentally, but prosecutors argued she was beaten to death.
The case is also famous for the unusual 'owl theory,' which suggested an owl attack may have caused her injuries before she fell. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again 2 Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs Hard-working dogs are the heroes of this excellent docuseries Paramount+ is home to all kinds of great docs and series from the Smithsonian Channel, and while they may not be as flashy as some of the Showtime or Paramount-produced titles, what they do really well is dig up some of life's most interesting worlds, subcultures, and professions.With that, I give you , an awe- (and aww-) inducing five-episode series that profiles more than 25 working canines, spanning the globe from Massachusetts to the British countryside to South Africa and Namibia.Narrated by renowned British dog trainer Victoria Stilwell—the creator and star of the hit TV series —the series follows dog trainers and handlers through their training routines and on the job in some remarkable professions that only dogs can do.
The 44-minute episodes are broken up into their unique fields: The Rescuers, The Lifesavers, The Partners, The Protectors, and The Detectives, with standout good dogs including George the Great Dane, who takes care of a young girl with mobility-limiting Morquio syndrome, and a black lab with a nose for sniffing out disease in beehives.Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs TV-G Documentary Release Date 2019 - 2019-00-00 Seasons 1 Powered by Expand Collapse 1 This Is UFC: Makhachev vs.Machado Garry Your homework before Saturday's title doubleheader Not a documentary in the purest sense, I know, but where does qualify is that it provides all the background knowledge, storylines, and profile information you need to prep for this weekend's UFC 330 event in Philly.
The one-hour special, which airs on CBS on Friday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m.ET before hitting Paramount+ the next day, is hosted by lead anchor Kate Scott, with the help of analysts and former UFC greats Daniel Cormier, Paul Felder, and Chris Weidman.Expect the special to go in-depth with weigh-in and archival footage, fighter interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and more, to paint a full picture of welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who'll be defending his title against number one contender Ian Machado Garry.
The context is important here, too, and is known for giving fans (or slackers, like me) the stories, stakes, grudges, and gossip behind the fights.The 28-1 Makhachev, for example, is on a 16-fight winning streak and is just one win away from beating legend Anderson Silva's all-time UFC record.It's a classic striker versus grappler fight, and lays out why this is important, setting the stage perfectly for Saturday night's fight.
The co-main event also features Mackenzie Dern in her first strawweight defense against fifth-ranked Gillian Robertson.Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Operating System Fire OS Resolution 4K $50 at Amazon $50 at bestbuy $50 at Target Expand Collapse Three great weekend contenders Whichever option you go with this weekend, you'll end up rooting for someone—two women who refused to stay quiet, a Great Dane taking care of a girl in need, a champion chasing a record, or a challenger hoping to dethrone him.Paramount Plus Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams 3 Live TV Select live sports (NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League) Price Starting at $8/month or $60/year Stream on Paramount+ Expand Collapse
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