20 Best Biography TV Shows on Netflix 2026
Explore 20 of the most compelling biography TV shows on Netflix, from The Crown to Spartacus, plus new 2025–2026 releases worth adding now.
If you want gripping real-life stories, sharp period drama, and performances that stick with you, this roundup of the best biography TV shows on Netflix is a great place to start. The lineup brings together big names and bold storytelling, from The Crown and House of Guinness to the darker, more character-driven Alias Grace and Baby Reindeer. You’ll also find action-forward picks like Spartacus, plus upcoming releases such as Death by Lightning, Straight to Hell, and Theodore Roosevelt. With 20 titles on the page, there’s plenty here whether you want royal intrigue, historical adventure, or a portrait of a life that shaped the world.
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01
Death by Lightning
biography · drama · history
The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.
Directed by Matt RossCast Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley WhitfordNetflix -
02
The Law According to Lidia Poët
biography · crime · drama · history · mystery
In late 19th-century Turin, the young Lidia Poët, fights against everything and everyone to get what is rightfully hers: to be enrolled in the official register of lawyers. A profession, at the time, reserved exclusively for men. Nevertheless, nothing could stop her dream of becoming the first female lawyer in Italy.
Directed by Letizia Lamartire, Pippo Mezzapesa, Matteo Rovere, Jacopo BonviciniCast Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, Sara Lazzaro, Alessia SpinelliNetflix -
03
Spartacus
action · adventure · biography · drama · romance
The life of Spartacus, the gladiator who led a rebellion against the Romans.
Directed by Jesse Warn, Michael Hurst, Rick Jacobson, Mark Beesley, T.J. ScottCast Manu Bennett, Daniel Feuerriegel, Peter Mensah, Lucy Lawless, Nick E. TarabayNetflixStarz -
04
The Crown
biography · drama · history
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny.
The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
Directed by Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, Christian Schwochow, Jessica Hobbs, Stephen DaldryCast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias MenziesNetflix -
05
House of Guinness
biography · drama · history
Dublin, 1868. The Guinness family patriarch is dead, and his four children — each with dark secrets to hide — hold the brewery's fate in their hands.
Directed by Tom Shankland, Mounia AklCast Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, James Norton, Emily Fairn, Michael McElhattonNetflix -
06
Alias Grace
biography · crime · drama · thriller
Based on the true story of Grace Marks, a housemaid and immigrant from Ireland who was imprisoned in 1843, perhaps wrongly, for the murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear. Grace claims to have no memory of the murder yet the facts are irrefutable. A decade after, Dr. Simon Jordan tries to help Grace recall her past.
Directed by Mary HarronCast Sarah Gadon, Edward Holcroft, Rebecca Liddiard, Zachary Levi, Kerr LoganNetflix -
07
Straight to Hell
biography · drama · history
Japan's most famous fortune-teller, Kazuko Hosoki, once held the nation in her thrall. Was she a savior or a devil? Wealth, fame, romance she had it all. But what shocking, untold half-life lay behind it?
Directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto, Norichika ÔbaCast Erika Toda, Ayumu Nakajima, Tôko Miura, Gaku Hosokawa, Kentarô TamuraNetflix -
08
Baby Reindeer
biography · comedy · drama
When a struggling comedian shows one act of kindness to a vulnerable woman, it sparks a suffocating obsession which threatens to wreck both their lives.
Directed by Weronika Tofilska, Josephine BornebuschCast Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Michael Wildman, Danny KirraneNetflix -
09
Theodore Roosevelt
documentary · biography · history
The two-part premium miniseries event on Theodore Roosevelt, the first modern President of the United States, will provide a rich, panoramic biography weaving Roosevelt's captivating personal story while revealing little-known truths behind his expansive curiosity, restless spirit and the profound, lasting impact he has had on the country.
Directed by Malcolm VenvilleCast Rufus Jones, Marco Mintaka, Mark Elderkin, Shane John Kruger, Greg KriekNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
10
Washington
documentary · biography · drama · history
The story of how a fatherless young soldier full of personal ambition becomes a leader of men willing to sacrifice all for the common cause. How a once-loyal British subject rises to battle an empire in a liberty-or-death campaign to forge a new nation. And then how, at the zenith of his power, the victorious general voluntarily steps down, becoming what King George III would call “the greatest man in the world.”
Directed by Matthew Ginsburg, Roel ReinéCast Nicholas Rowe, Nia Roberts, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Josh Taylor, James RobinsonNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
11
Grant
documentary · biography · history
This documentary-series examines Grant's life story using his perspective and experiences to explore a turbulent time in history: the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Directed by Malcolm VenvilleCast Justin Salinger, Carel Nel, Francis Chouler, Gabriel Harry Meltz, Barton A. MyersNetflixAmazon Prime Video -
12
Kaulitz & Kaulitz
documentary · biography · music
Twin brothers and superstars Tom and Bill Kaulitz offer a glimpse into their private lives in LA and Germany in this funny and intimate reality series.
Directed by Michael Schmitt, Annika Blendl, Pablo Ben YakovCast David Goldstein, Tyler Menjivar, Haley Clair, Eduardo De Los Reyes, Nick MonteleoneNetflix -
13
Narcos
biography · crime · drama · thriller
A gritty chronicle of the war against Colombia's infamously violent and powerful drug cartels.
Directed by Andrés Baiz, Josef Kubota Wladyka, Fernando Coimbra, Gerardo Naranjo, Guillermo NavarroCast Pedro Pascal, Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Alberto Ammann, Paulina GaitanNetflix -
14
Monster
biography · crime · drama · thriller
This series examines the gruesome and horrific true crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer and the systemic failures that enabled one of America’s most notorious serial killers to continue his murderous spree in plain sight for over a decade.
Directed by Max Winkler, Paris Barclay, Jennifer Lynch, Carl Franklin, Ian BrennanCast Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, Cooper Koch, Charlie Hunnam, Javier BardemNetflix -
15
Abraham Lincoln
documentary · biography · drama · history · war
The true story of America's iconic 16th president as told by weaving together both scripted dramatizations of important moments in his life and commentary by authoritative historians and public figures.
Directed by Malcolm VenvilleCast Graham Sibley, Stefan Adegbola, Jenny Stead, Andre Jacobs, Colin MossNetflixAmazon Prime VideoHulu -
16
Love & Death
biography · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Candy and Pat Montgomery and Betty and Allan Gore — two churchgoing couples — enjoy their small town Texas life... until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe.
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, Clark JohnsonCast Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, Patrick Fugit, Krysten RitterNetflixMax -
17
The Staircase
biography · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An exploration of the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson.
Directed by Antonio Campos, Leigh JaniakCast Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sophie TurnerNetflixMax -
18
The Last Dance
documentary · biography · history · sport
A 10-part documentary chronicling the untold story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty with rare, never-before-seen footage and sound from the 1997-98 championship season – plus over 100 interviews with famous figures and basketball’s biggest names.
Directed by Jason HehirCast Jalen RoseNetflix -
19
When They See Us
biography · crime · drama · history
Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park.
Directed by Ava DuVernayCast Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse, Marquis Rodriguez, Marsha Stephanie BlakeNetflix -
20
James.
documentary · biography · sport
A documentary following soccer star James Rodríguez's journey through professional football, spanning his rise in club soccer, national team success, and path toward the 2026 World Cup.
Directed by Simon BrandCast James Rodríguez, Carlo Ancelotti, Sergio Ramos, Radamel Falcao, David OspinaNetflix
Wrapping Up
These biography-based series prove that real people can inspire some of the most compelling television on Netflix, whether the focus is power, scandal, survival, or ambition. From sweeping dramas like The Crown to stranger, more intimate stories such as Baby Reindeer and Alias Grace, there’s a strong mix of styles to explore. If you’re building a watchlist, bookmark this page and come back whenever you need a fresh pick. We update it regularly, so the lineup stays current as new releases arrive and older favorites shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Netflix subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Netflix. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these biography shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the biography titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026