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Let’s get this out of the way: I, much like Blink-182, think it’s possible that aliens exist. Do I believe every abduction account from every UFO truther that appears on late-night cable? No. Will I watch every one of these insane pseudo-documentaries? Absolutely.
There’s something really fun about alien abduction “documentaries.” Some of them are true, well-researched pieces of documentary filmmaking that are informative and interesting. Some are pure insanity. All of them will leave me transfixed as I obsess over the grandness of the cosmos and laugh cruelly at these people while still sort of believing them. It’s a complicated feeling but one that’s so very much fun. And on this otherworldly front, Netflix more than delivers. The streaming giant doesn’t have many alien conspiracy documentaries but the few it does have are worth the watch. From absolutely insane first-person accounts to human tales of rejection, here’s your guide to the best real-life extra-terrestrial content Netflix has to offer.
‘Unsealed: Alien Files’ Season 1-4
Here we go. This case-by-case half hour show is basically everything you want out of an alien conspiracy theory show. Each episode focuses on a different alien abduction case, and the series is filled with abduction stories, UFO sightings, claims of government cover-ups, and talking head interviews with people of questionable credibility. You really couldn’t ask for a better or longer crazy alien watch.
‘Australien Skies’ (2015)
Directed by Don Meers, this documentary follows Meers and UFO expert Damien Nott as they explore extraterrestrial oddities around Australia. From there, it follows the typical alien doc format. There are interviews with people who claim to have spotted extraterrestrial life, but these claims paired with Australia’s expansiveness makes for a creepy watch. Adding to the doc’s creepiness is the fact that Meers claims he was questioned by men in black and not the rapping Will Smith kind.
‘UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught on Tape’ Season 1
There’s a homemade element to this docu-series that makes it watch like something you would stumble on at 3 in the morning. Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame rounds up the best amateur footage of UFO encounters that he can find. It’s weird, but it’s worth checking out late at night.
Stream UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught on Tape on Netflix
‘Curse of the Man Who Sees UFOs’ (2016)
Though other titles on this list are ideal for an unsettling binge in the middle of the night, there’s heart at the center of Curse of the Man Who Sees UFOs. Directed by Justin Gaar, the film follows Christo Roppolo, a believer who claims he’s been seeing aliens since he was eight. Roppolo’s story is a confusing once, often tinged with both comedy and tragedy over what he believes and how other people react. It’s a human and sympathetic look into one man’s beliefs.
‘Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story’ (2013)
As far as alien documentaries go, this is by far one of the most insane. Directed by Jon Sumple, the film explores the claims of one of the best known UFO enthusiasts in modern history. Romanek discusses his multiple abductions, shows off the wounds he’s received from these alleged encounters, and talks about Kioma, a supposed alien-human hybrid that is claimed to be Romanek’s daughter. Romanek has admitted to faking claims on at least one occasion, but his account of what has happened is addicting to watch. Romanek was later arrested for possessing child pornography, something that this doc addresses in a very disturbing way.
‘The Truth Behind: UFOs’ (2011)
This documentary comes from National Geographic, so you know it has to be reliable. Just kidding! Nat Geo is one of many networks that produces weird truth-adjacent things all the time. This particular installment of The Truth Behind attempts to explain whether or not aliens exist once and for all, starting with reports from the 1940s and progressing to modern day. If you’re looking for a timeline of alien claims that’s relatively devoid of insane claims, this is it.
‘Top 10 Secrets and Mysteries’ Season 1
This British series isn’t strictly about aliens but rather about all mysteries. Each episode focuses on a different mystery that alludes scientific explanation, from vampires and ghosts to superpowers. It’s all sorts of crazy, which makes it the perfect watch if you want your crazy alien binge to turn into a crazy everything binge.
‘The Search for Life: The Drake Equation’ (2010)
Looking for an alien doc that has some semblance of science attached to it? Look no further than The Search for Life. Directed by Tim Usborne, the movie explains and explores the equation that completely transformed attitudes about extraterrestrial life. Though a bit dry at times, it’s an informative watch that won’t make you feel completely insane.
