Shows Like Explained
If you liked Explained (2018), a documentary series, here are 20 shows with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.
- 1
History 101 (2020)
★ 7.1/10Also documentaryInfographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
- 2
Mind Field (2017)
★ 8.2/10Also documentaryExplore the surprising things we know (and don’t know) about why people are the way they are through expert interviews, rare footage from historical experiments, and brand-new, ground-breaking demonstrations of human…
- 3
Sex, Explained (2020)
★ 6.6/10Also documentaryFrom the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.
- 4
Last Chance U (2016)
★ 7.2/10Also documentaryIn a docuseries set at one of NCAA football's most fertile recruiting grounds, guys with red flags seek to prove their worth on the field and in class.
- 5
The New York Times Presents (2020)
★ 7/10Also documentaryA series of standalone documentaries powered by the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time.
- 6
Dirty Money (2018)
★ 7.1/10Also documentaryFrom crippling payday loans to cars that cheat emissions tests, this investigative series exposes brazen acts of corporate greed and corruption.
- 7
Trust Me: The False Prophet (2026)
★ 7.5/10Also documentaryIn this true-crime documentary, a cult expert and filmmaker infiltrate a polygamist sect to expose a self-proclaimed prophet and bring him to justice.
- 8
Cursed Films (2020)
★ 7.1/10Also documentaryA documentary series exploring the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions. From plane accidents and bombings during the making of The Omen, to the rumored use of real…
- 9
Eli Roth's History of Horror (2018)
★ 6.4/10Also documentaryAn in-depth look at the history and pop cultural significance of horror films.
- 10
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (2021)
★ 7.6/10Also documentaryIn a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Stars reached new heights, fresh talent exploded onto the scene, and boundaries expanded…
- 11
Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers (2025)
★ 7.7/10Also documentaryInsider accounts and never-seen-before footage tell the story of the 7/7 bombings on London's transport network in 2005 — and its explosive aftermath.
- 12
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (2024)
★ 6.9/10Also documentaryAn investigative journalist pursuing a political conspiracy known as the Octopus is found dead in his hotel room. Decades later, new details emerge.
- 13
MOURINHO (2026)
★ 7.7/10Also documentaryThis trophy-packed, insider-fuelled documentary charts José Mourinho's iconic rise as one of the world's top footballing managers of the most elite clubs.
- 14
The Real History of Science Fiction (2014)
★ 6.8/10Also documentaryThe series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television history of science fiction, told through its impact on cinema, television and literature, with the help of filmmakers…
- 15
Evil Lives Here (2016)
★ 8/10Also documentaryThe true stories of people who lived with a killer. How well do you really know your family? Would you recognize the warning signs? Or would you become entangled in evil?
- 16
The Walking Dead: Origins (2021)
★ 7.7/10Also documentaryThe Walking Dead: Origins is a series of specials exploring the journeys of the series' most celebrated characters. Each episode charts the story of the zombie apocalypse from the point of view of a single character…
- 17
Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story (2023)
★ 7.8/10Also documentaryKeanu Reeves tells one of the greatest sagas in Formula 1 history. Through the insights of Ross Brawn and revered racing icons like Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, all is revealed in this gripping four-part…
- 18
Robbie Williams (2023)
★ 7.5/10Also documentaryAfter 25 years of his record-breaking solo career, Robbie looks back on his younger self and reflects on a lifetime spent in the spotlight.
- 19
American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (2025)
★ 7.7/10Also documentaryFeaturing rare footage and interviews with CIA insiders, this edge-of-your-seat documentary series traces the epic hunt for Osama bin Laden.
- 20
How to Become a Mob Boss (2023)
★ 7.4/10Also documentaryThis darkly satirical how-to guide explores the rise and fall of history's most notorious mob bosses and their tactics for success.