Thanks to the great insights and behind-the-scenes drama, the Netflix docuseries, Formula 1: Drive To Survive, has been credited with increasing the sport's fanbase. Since 2018, the docuseries has covered the intense world championships as well as the lives of drivers and the people that enable them to perform at their best.
With its IMDb rating of 8.6, the docuseries is TV gold. But are there any more similar shows like it? Well, there are a couple of notable ones. Shows that are similar to the Netflix hit are mostly those that explore the behind-the-scenes drama, tactics, and personal lives of sports teams or personalities as they prepare for competitions.
All Or Nothing (2017 - Present)
Stream On Amazon Prime
Focussing on a different team each season, the docuseries covers the coaching style, daily practices, and player feuds. So far, the most popular seasons have been the ones featuring soccer teams such as Juventus, Machester City, and Tottenham Hotspurs.
With the presence of tough coaches and players that keep feeling the need to go rogue, there is never a dull moment in All Or Nothing. Most of the teams covered have plenty of flaws too and the process of trying to rectify them only adds to the entertainment. Given how saccharine the proceedings are, the Amazon offering is good enough to easily convert casual fans into staunch ones.
Cheer (2020)
Stream On Netflix
The camera follows various university cheerleading teams as they prepare for the Daytona Beach event as well as a chance to win the National Cheerleading Association’s championship title. And there's more required rather than just learning how to dance.
Most sports documentaries only paint the players as the real stars but through Cheer, it becomes clear that most sports wouldn't be the same if the activities on matchday were only limited to the field. And while cheerleading might seem like a simple task when seen live or in some of the best sports movies, Cheer triggers the realization that there is a lot more work required.
Last Chance U (2016–2020)
Stream On Netflix
The first two seasons take viewers through the grueling football programs of the Jones County Junior College and the East Mississippi Community College, while the next two focus on Kansas’ Independence Community College, and Laney College in Oakland, California.
What Last Chance U excels at is showing just how football looks without the marketing and star-power. Despite being derailed by limited budgets and resources, everyone still holds the desire to make it big. Drama isn't lacking either, as fans are introduced to loud-mouthed players as well as controversial ones.
Grand Prix Driver (2019)
Stream On Amazon Prime
After a couple of bad seasons, the McLaren team vows to do better. Narrated by one of the best actors of the '80s, Michael Douglas, the show follows the team as it sets itself on a journey of redemption.
Great documentaries are defined by their narration and as someone who has made a career out of delivering great dialogue scenes, Douglas makes Grand Prix Driver a worthy watch. Staunch Formula One fans might find it weak compared to Drive To Survive but casual viewers will have a blast as they are taken through all the basics
The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team (2020)
Stream On Amazon Prime
After a famed ball-tampering scandal, the Australian cricket team jumps on a path to redemption. And given all the negative press, the process is far from easy.
Since the docuseries is produced by Australia's cricket governing body, all the footage that fans would wish for is provided. Though the team doesn't fully regain its former glory, the sequence of events makes it impossible not to appreciate the hard work that everyone puts in. Nothing feels rushed either.
The Playbook (2020)
Stream On Netflix
The Playbook focuses on popular coaches from different sports, giving them ample time to share their tactics and principles. The show features five coaches in total.
Most sports documentaries justifiably gloss over the tactics because of the fear that revealing too much might have detrimental effects. The Playbook, on other hand, adopts a carefree approach. Coaches that are still working, such as AS Roma's Jose Mourinho, aren't afraid to lay down their strategies and as a result, they come off as more interesting.
Fearless (2016)
Stream On Netflix
A group of professional American and Brazilian Bull Riders prepare for the Las Vegas Championship in this series. And legendary champion Adriano Moraes gets featured heavily too.
Bullfighting doesn't get much mainstream press but the six-part documentary shows just how entertaining the sport can be. What's more impressive is that the returns are quite low yet the players push themselves to the limit to achieve victory. Viewers thus get the impression that passion matters more in this particular sport than money.
Le Mans: Racing Is Everything (2017)
Stream On Amazon Prime
The famous Le Mans racing competition is explored in detail in Ford V Ferarri, one of the best car movies of all time but this Amazon docuseries does even better. Over the course of several episodes, six teams are followed from Kuala Lumpur all the way to the Côte D'Azur as they chase glory.
Petrolheads are guaranteed to have plenty of fun while watching Racing Is Everything because of how smoothly it juggles between speed and engineering. The importance of hard work and intense preparation is highly emphasized too. And just like Drive To Survive, both major and minor behind-the-scenes workers are acknowledged.
Hard Knocks (2001 - Present)
Stream On HBO Max
Different National Football League (NFL) teams are examined each season, with events mostly focussing on the preparations for upcoming seasons. Additionally, a couple of undrafted players get featured.
It's no surprise that Hard Knocks has been on the air for more than two decades. Given how much it goes into detail about the league, fans of other sports might find it hard to watch but those that love football will keep yearning for more. By switching between educating and entertaining, the series highly excels where others like it fail.
Naomi Osaka (2021)
Stream On Netflix
The life of the world's biggest tennis star is explored over the course of two years. Viewers not only get to learn about the extent of her work ethic but her personal life too.
Achieving so much success at a young age can lead to its own challenges and that's what Naomi Osaka explores so well. Ultimately, fans are left appreciating just how much a young star can handle so much weight and still be able to perform. And while it's mostly a Naomi story, past stars get a nod too.