We are living in a golden age of documentaries. Filmmakers are proving to audiences that non-fiction can be just as captivating as fictional feature films. The best documentaries have a fascinating subject, a good storyteller, perfect timing, and, in some cases, a healthy dose of luck. These movies educate, enlighten, and entertain. By taking a subject from the distant or recent past and examining them they shed light on a mystery that time forgot, on an influential figure’s impact on society, the repercussions of a local, national, or international event and, in doing so, deliver an important lesson to the present.

2018 was a great year for documentaries and many of these are available to rent on DVD Netflix. Here is a look at the top four most rented documentary films of 2018 and why you should add them to your queue.