5 documentaries to watch if you liked Netflix's 'Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare'

Kirat Assi's life took a shocking turn in Netflix's documentary Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare (2024), where she reveals a decade-long catfishing ordeal. In 2010, Kirat, a former radio presenter, began an online relationship with "Bobby Jandu," a supposed cardiologist. However, after years of strange excuses for not meeting, she discovered that "Bobby" was actually her cousin, Simran Bhogal, who had created over 60 fake identities.

This chilling tale of deception not only highlights the emotional turmoil Kirat endured but also raises questions about trust and identity in our digital age. Fans were captivated by its emotional depth, real-life drama, and cultural relevance, as it explores the shocking true story of deception in online relationships while sparking important discussions about trust and vigilance in the digital age.

For fans intrigued by the compelling yet disturbing events in Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, these 5 documentaries with similar stories of deception, whether through catfishing, fraud, or psychological manipulation make them a perfect watch.

The Tinder Swindler, Catfish and 3 other documentaries to watch if you liked Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare

1) The Tinder Swindler (2022)

The Tinder Swindler covers the life of Shimon Hayut, an Israeli conman who scammed women on Tinder while posing as a wealthy diamond mogul. The documentary unfolds the gripping stories of three women drawn in by his lavish lifestyle, as he cunningly swindled them out of their cash, claiming he needed it to fend off imaginary "enemies."

Fans love the storytelling and the twists, just like Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare. Both docs explore the dark side of online relationships and emotional manipulation, how trust can be used against the people closest to you. For fans who loved Sweet Bobby, The Tinder Swindler is just as bonkers and leaves you questioning the whole idea of modern dating.

Tinder Swindler is available on Netflix.

2) Catfish (2010)

Catfish (2010) (image via Roadside Attractions)

Catfish (2010) kicks off with Nev Shulman, a New York photographer who gets a Facebook friend request from a young girl named Abby, leading him down an unexpected path of online intrigue. Abby sends Nev a stunning painting inspired by one of his photos, sparking a digital connection that extends to her older sister, Megan. As Nev dives deeper into this online romance, he starts noticing inconsistencies that raise red flags.

Fans love the documentary for its raw portrayal of deception and the emotional twists that keep viewers guessing. Similar to Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, Catfish explores the dark side of online relationships and the complexities of trust. Both documentaries reveal how easily people can be manipulated in the digital age.

Catfish is available on Prime Video.

3) The Imposter (2012)

The Imposter (2012) (image via Indomina Releasing)

The Imposter (2012) is a gripping hybrid doc and psychological thriller that follows Frederic Bourdin, a master con artist who tricks a grieving Texas family into believing he is their missing son, Nicholas Barclay. Using a blend of archival footage, police records, and firsthand accounts, the film unveils how Bourdin, despite glaring differences in appearance and accent, convinces authorities and the family of his fabricated identity.

Fans are captivated by the shocking twists and the exploration of denial and belief in Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare. Like this documentary, The Imposter delves into online deception and its emotional impact on victims. Both offer gripping stories that make viewers question identity and trust in a digital age filled with fraudsters.

Watch The Imposter on Prime Video.

4) The Great Hack (2019)

The Great Hack (2019) (image via Netflix)

The Great Hack (2019) goes deeper into the effects of the data theft, and manipulation of personal information during the 2016 American presidential campaign and the Brexit referendum, with a special focus on Cambridge Analytica. As this firm has shut down the documentary shows how it actively targeted millions of Facebook users gathering personal data, and leveraging it to micro-target ‘persuadables’ with subjectively devised political messages.

Audiences love its revelation on how harmlessly, people engage in social media and quizzes thereafter big data harvests from the same. Much like Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, this documentary also focuses on the deceptive and manipulative aspect of power and how one can control others using information.

For fans of Sweet Bobby, The Great Hack is unmissable because its portrayal of the use of data as a weapon in the manipulation of beliefs and behavior makes the viewers scrutinize their digital actions and profiles’ imprint cost.

5) The Social Dilemma (2020)

The Social Dilemma (2020) (image via Netflix)

The Social Dilemma (2020) takes a deep dive into the dark side of social media, featuring interviews with former tech insiders from giants like Google and Facebook. The documentary reveals how these platforms use algorithms to hook users, creating addictive behaviors that can seriously mess with mental health, especially for teens.

Fans appreciated its eye-opening insights and the dramatized narrative that illustrates the impact of social media on everyday life, making complex issues relatable. Similar to Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, both docs explore manipulation—whether through social media or personal relationships—highlighting how trust can be exploited.

For fans of Sweet Bobby, The Social Dilemma is a recommended watch, as it offers a chilling perspective on how digital interactions shape lives and perceptions, leaving viewers questioning their own online habits and the true cost of connectivity in a world increasingly driven by algorithms.

The Social Dilemma is available on Netflix.

These documentaries delve into various aspects of deception, whether through catfishing, fraud, or psychological manipulation, making them compelling companions to Sweet Bobby.

Edited by Divya Singh