October's barely off the starting line and Netflix has already got a dozen new documentaries and docuseries on the grid for U.S.subscribers.If you caught those Formula 1 racing references, then there's something particularly great in store for you below.
This weekend's list is all October newbies—OK, one snuck in on September 30 and is climbing the charts—plus, a fascinating doc about one of comedy TV's giants is arriving on Monday, but it's worth the wait.My top pick is a profile on a motorsport legend that focuses on the epic season that changed racing forever.3 Lorne The SNL creator (reluctantly) like you've never seen him before The funniest, and most fascinating, part of director Morgan Neville's excellent documentary isn't the deep history and epic story of one of television comedy's giants; it's how little many around him—from Colin Jost and Tina Fey to Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon—actually know about the notoriously elusive man.
And for that reason, it's about time someone did a proper profile on the creator, that is, if he cooperates.Luckily, the Oscar-winning director was persistent, and the result is an eye-opening journey of the life of Lorne Michaels that traces his path from his humble beginnings on Canadian TV to launching in 1975, walking away in 1980, flopping with The New Show, and returning in 1985.Some incredible archival and behind-the-scenes footage from past and present—including clips of Lorne in action steering the show—is mixed with all kinds of interview time with cast members, friends, and colleagues.
Standouts include the above-mentioned legends as well as Lorne's bestie Paul Simon, Maya Rudolph, Conan O'Brien, and John Mulaney.Chris Parnell does a great job narrating the 100-minute doc that's also peppered with animated shorts from Robert Smigel's .Lorne R Documentary Release Date April 17, 2026 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT Cast Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Colin Jost, Sarah Sherman, Steve Martin, Paul Simon, Kristen Wiig, Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Michael Che, Timothée Chalamet, Kate McKinnon, Ayo Edebiri, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling Director Morgan Neville Producers Morgan Neville, Lauren Belfer Main Genre Documentary Executive Producer(s) Caitrin Rogers Powered by Expand Collapse 2 The Widower: 'Till Death Do Us Part Six marriages, four dead wives, and one determined detective If you'd met Thomas Randolph on the street, and I can only speculate here, you'd probably think he was one of the nicest, quirkiest dudes you'd ever met.
In the new Netflix documentary feature director Chris Smith (who also executive produced ) builds a 91-minute true-crime ride that will have you shaking your head.Told using roughly 15 years of footage shot as the case unfolded, The Widower tells the story of Randolph, a Las Vegas man who, in 2008, claimed that a masked intruder killed his sixth wife, Sharon Causse, and that he'd shot and killed the man.But tenacious Las Vegas homicide detective Dean O'Kelley wasn't buying it, so he and 's Dan Slepian started digging.
What they discovered was shocking—Randolph had six marriages, four dead wives, insurance payouts, and an actual acquittal for the death of his second wife.But it's Slepian's jailhouse footage and interviews with Randolph that are the most unnerving, where the often funny and charming narcissist almost treats it like a big game.The doc also features candid interviews with some of Randolph's ex-wives, as well as Causse's daughter Colleen.
The doc is currently the No.2 movie in the U.S.Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Brand Apple Operating System tvOS $127 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target Expand Collapse 1 Schumacher '94: The Birth of a Legend The epic F1 season that made Schumi a champion Nineteen ninety-four is by and large considered one of the most tragic, controversial, and tumultuous years in the history of Formula 1.It saw the deaths of two drivers in one horrific weekend in Imola—Roland Ratzenberger and the legendary Ayrton Senna—massive reforms and changes in racing safety, and a spotlight on one of the sport's larger-than-life heroes, Michael Schumacher, the subject of this thrilling new documentary feature.
dwells in that crazy year, but with the lens pointed at Schumi, as the German racing icon charges towards the first of his record-setting seven world championships.Director Christin Freitag traces the 25-year-old Benetton driver from his opening win in Brazil, through the carnage of Imola, allegations of cheating, disqualifications, and the epic collision with Damon Hill in Adelaide that knocked them both out of the race but still handed Schumacher the title.True F1 fans will love all the grainy archival race footage and the wails of all the V8s, V10s, and V12s on track.
Plus, there's great archival interviews with Schumacher himself, as well as new interviews with everyone from former driver and commentator David Coulthard, Schumacher's ex-manager Willi Weber, Benetton boss (and current Alpine de facto boss), and Schumacher's wife, Corinna.It's a must-watch for F1 fans.Fire TV Stick 4K Operating System FireOS Resolution 4K $50 at Amazon Expand Collapse Racing towards the weekend From the pit lane of one of motor racing's most notorious and controversial years to behind-the-scenes at Studio 8H in Rockefeller Plaza, and inside a jailhouse with a killer, your weekend of docs is a good one.
If you want more, check out my roundup of the best documentaries of September across streaming services.Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Live TV No Price Starting at $8/month Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.Visit Netflix Expand Collapse
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