People were relieved when CBS Access became Paramount Plus. They thought the recently launched streaming service would finally provide them with the content they needed. Despite lingering skepticism about other genres, Paramount Plus has excelled in the realm of documentaries.
Paramount Plus holds plenty of incredible true stories and masterful non-fiction chronicles in its catalog. However, viewers may become really confused about where to start. Fortunately, when exploring Paramount’s offerings, one must start with a few select documentaries. Covering a wide range of subjects, these documentaries offer something for all interest levels.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best documentaries currently streaming on Paramount Plus.
Building Star Trek
People love Paramount Plus because it features a lot of content from the Star Trek universe. From Star Trek: Picard to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the streaming service hosts some of the most riveting stories from the iconic franchise. However, Building Star Trek has managed to grab everyone’s attention.
The documentary introduces viewers to many people who contributed to the monumental legacy of the franchise. It marked the fiftieth anniversary of the original Star Trek by exploring the influential origins of the 1960s sci-fi series and how its legacy still resonates today. A must-see for any Trekkie.
The Day Kennedy Died
A lot of people still consider the assassination of John F. Kennedy to be one of the darkest days in US history. There are many projects investigating the president’s death. However, The Day Kennedy Died uses archival footage to talk about what people witnessed on that fateful day, a subject not covered by many projects. Coming from the official Smithsonian channel, the aforementioned documentary is challenging to discredit due to its credibility.
Filled with gripping narratives, the documentary tells the story of a tragic day in American history through the voices of people who haven’t been heard from before. A crisp and lucid documentary manages to resonate with a sense of dread and sorrow over the unprecedented tragedy of that horrible day.
The Fire That Took Her
The Fire That Took Her tells the bone-chilling story of Judy Malinowski, an Ohio woman who testified in her own murder trial, based on themes like domestic violence, traumatic injury, and addiction. Anchored by interviews with Judy’s family members, the film recounts how Judy initiated a volatile relationship with a man named Michael Slager. The Paramount Plus documentary shows how Michael facilitated Judy’s drug addiction, but things got out of hand when they both had an altercation.
During the altercation, Michael soaked Judy in gasoline and set her on fire. Any filmmaker could have created a melodramatic piece of cinema from this story. Thankfully, Patricia E. Gillespie decided to create a documentary on the subject and keep things authentic. Through Judy, The Fire That Took Her addresses all the women who experience a lot of trauma before realizing that enough is enough.
76 Days
COVID-19 stormed the world, forcing everyone to stay inside their houses. In 76 Days, doctors and frontline workers expertly demonstrate their sacrifices as they work continuously during the pandemic. The documentary brings viewers to the frontline of the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan.
76 Days received universal acclaim, and viewers didn’t shy away from showing how much they loved the Paramount Plus documentary. Anyone who wants to fully understand the impact of the global situation must see the documentary.
Painkiller: The Tylenol Murders
Painkillers can be highly addictive, and despite providing temporary relief from pain, they undoubtedly can pose problems. In 1982, someone laced Tylenol with cyanide, resulting in the deaths of seven people. Moreover, it quickly became one of the biggest and most confusing cases in US history.
Using hours of exclusive archival footage, the five-part Paramount Plus docuseries transports viewers back four decades to the moments after a twisted killer laced Tylenol pills with cyanide. It took nearly two years to produce the documentary, making it the first comprehensive film about the poisonings.