Over the last few years, the true crime genre has simply exploded, and as someone who finds movies and shows that fit the bill both interesting and perplexing, I've watched my fair share of true crime documentaries. Given that this is the case, I can say without question that true crime documentaries on Netflix tend to make for some of the most captivating streaming experiences.
Many of the Netflix films and shows have gone on to become massive talking points among friend groups and on social media, as viewers couldn’t believe the stories they watched. Who can forget Tiger King and its takeover of pop culture?
Now because there are so many true crime projects to choose from on Netflix, novice and veteran true crime watchers alike may find it difficult to narrow down which documentaries are worth watching. I wanted to help out with this predicament, so I came up with a list of arguably the 20 best true crime documentaries to stream on the platform (admittedly I got a little guidance on a few picks from colleagues). So without further delay, let’s jump right into it.
American Nightmare
American Nightmare is a three-episode series that follows the 2015 kidnapping of Denise Huskins from the home she shared with her boyfriend Aaron Quinn in Vallejo, Cali. Although law enforcement originally believed the kidnapping was a hoax staged by the couple, it's later determined that it was not a hoax and was tied to a home invasion in Dublin, Cali. In the end, a disbarred attorney is at the center of the chaos. See why Netflix subscribers were left in a state of shock after watching the documentary. Personally, the doc seems interesting given how it's presented. There are cliffhangers, and despite being a story that you could easily research, you may still find yourself surprised.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke
ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke follows the life of R&B crooner Sam Cooke and the circumstances that may have led to his unfortunate murder at the age of 33. The film is just over an hour and 14 minutes. Sam Cooke's death is one that was always clouded with mystery, so watching the doc helps flush some of that mystery out for me. Although, I oddly still have lingering questions as will you should you watch.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
By now, many people have heard of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced businessman who victimized numerous young girls in secret while amassing a fortune in public, networking with well-known politicians and public figures along the way. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich hears from some of his survivors as they recount several of his crimes across four episodes. I admittedly had no idea who Epstein was before watching this series, and by the finale episode, I was horrified by all the allegations against him and how he flew under the radar for so long.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal not only follows the high-profile arrest and conviction of Alex Murdaugh for the murder of his wife and son, but it also dives into some of the scandalous mysteries surrounding this South Carolina family. The docuseries has six episodes spread across two seasons. Now there are a few docs about the Murdaughs (one on Max and another on Peacock), but the Netflix one is the best in my opinion. It offers a more well-rounded perspective.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%
The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
The three-episode docuseries follows director Katherine Kubler and her classmates as they recap the alleged abuse they faced as students at the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a behavior modification facility. The series also dives into the lasting trauma. All the documentaries on the list can be a tough watch, but given this one deals with childhood trauma, it may be a harder watch for some.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
The Tinder Swindler
At almost two hours, the film sheds light on the fascinating tale of how one man allegedly used the dating app Tinder to connect with numerous women and manipulate them into financially providing for him. People reports he was able to swindle roughly $10 million from people across the globe. As someone who has used dating apps, The Tinder Swindler made me question whether I should get back to meeting people the old-fashioned way. Not that I believe I'll be swindled out of millions.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Tiger King
When the world was shut down during the pandemic, many of them were watching Tiger King. The docuseries follows the uncanny feud between Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin over actual tigers and big cats. Their rivalry ends in an alleged murder-for-hire plot landing Exotic in prison. By the way, there is also a mysterious missing person’s case wrapped in all of this. The documentary is technically two seasons, but season 1 is the main draw.
Tiger King is one of the most provocative true crime docs I may have ever seen. I gasped with every episode of season 1 as there were so many shocking revelations. Trust me, this doc isn't really about wild cats at all.
Rotten Tomatoes score for season 1: 84%
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter is proving to be quite the remarkable story. It follows Cathy Terkanian's journey as she tries to find out what happened to the daughter she gave up for adoption. As she unearths more details surrounding her daughter's adoptive father, she soon discovers a nightmare revelation.
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter is another tough one to watch because it pulls at your heartstrings. To think about a mother who gave up her child hoping she was giving her a better life, only for the child to be faced with trauma is gut-wrenching, is heartbreaking.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey documents the rise and criminal fall of Warren Jeffs, a leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The twists and turns of his leadership led to him being convicted and imprisoned. I honestly can't believe all that was discussed in this true crime doc. It made me cringe and I questioned how such "corruptive behavior" could occur on such a large scale.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Sins of Our Mother
Sins of the Mother showcases the story of Lori Vallow and her missing children. As the investigation unfolds, the authorities come to focus their attention on Lori and her secrets, including those pertaining to her husband’s first wife. The docuseries has three episodes. For those like me who are fans of ID channel content, Sins of Our Mother is likely something you'll find interesting.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Who Killed Malcolm X?
Abdur-Rahman Muhammad is a historian who spent more than 30 years investigating the murder of famed civil rights leader, Malcolm X. Due to Muhammad’s research and the attention he helped bring back to the case, two men formerly convicted of Malcolm X’s assassination were later exonerated. The series consists of six episodes.
I applaud this documentary a great deal. Not only was riveting to watch from start to finish, but I appreciate that it helped shed more light on the truth of Malcolm's death and aided in the exoneration of innocent men.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
The Keepers
The seven-episode docuseries shows the investigation into the 1970s unsolved mystery of Cathy Cesnik, a beloved Baltimore Catholic high school teacher and nun. The case of her murder went cold until a separate sexual abuse case into a high school chaplain again shined a light on what happened to Cathy.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
I Just Killed My Dad
I Just Killed My Dad follows the story of Anthony Templet, who at 17 called the police to report he had murdered his father. Although the authorities were initially skeptical of Templet’s claims of self-defense, his attornies set on a quest to prove their client was telling the truth.
It's not every day that someone calls the police on themselves for a murder crime, so I Just Killed My Dad instantly piqued my interest. Considering the doc also won over critics, I think it's worth the watch.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing
In 2013, on the day of the annual Boston Marathon, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev planted two bombs along the race route that killed three people and injured hundreds. The three episodes of American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing showcase the story to capture them.
While I knew of the Boston Marathon tragedy, I didn't know of all the particulars. So this documentary does a solid job of laying everything out.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
The disastrous Fyre Festival is one of the biggest scams in recent history. What was promoted to be a luxurious music festival, turned out to be a miserable experience for the attendees who didn’t see any musical acts or luxury accommodations. Over the course of an hour and 37 minutes, the documentary follows how organizer Billy McFarland put the scheme together, and the fraudulent practices that led him to be arrested and convicted.
Not that I don't sympathize with the victims of this scam, but I kept watching thinking how this could happen. I know social media can make many things feel appealing, but there were many red flags with this Fyre Festival.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
![FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uZ0KNVU2fV0/maxresdefault.jpg)
MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street
Bernie Madoff orchestrated one of the largest Ponzi schemes in the history of Wall Street. The three episodes of MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street follow Madoff’s rise and subsequent fall. I always find it remarkable when white-collar criminals can pull off such massive schemes, stealing millions upon millions. So this documentary is a must-watch.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
The Staircase
The Staircase follows the story of American novelist Michael Peterson, whose second wife Kathleen mysteriously wound up dead. Somehow The Staircase feels different from other true crime series, mainly because the tragic death is still shrouded in so much mystery. There’s a lot to unpack in this 13-episode series. Once you've unpacked everything, allow me to suggest the drama series The Staircase on Max (on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
American Murder: The Family Next Door
The nearly hour-and-a-half-long film documents the investigation into the 2018 Watts Family in Frederick, Colorado. As authorities unravel the mysteries of the case that left a pregnant mother and her two children dead, police are led to a surprising suspect. I'll fight the urge to spoil the story (although you can Google it), but let's just say I was again left shaking my head.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%
Girl in the Picture
Girl in the Picture is centered around a young girl known as Sharon Marshall who was abducted by Franklin Delano Floyd and held captive for almost two decades. The nearly two-hour film unpacks all the efforts put in to identify who this young girl really was. This is a sad missing person's case that is another must-watch.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Abducted in Plain Sight
Consider this one of the most baffling true crime stories you’ll ever watch, as it unpacks the story of Jan Broberg who was abducted by the same man twice. The hour-and-a-half-long film shows how Robert Berchtold managed to use manipulation, blackmail and his power of persuasion to torment the Broberg family for years.
I'm still perplexed by this story, largely because of how entangled this web goes. I was a latecomer to the doc, so I watched A Friend of the Family (the drama series based on the Broberg story) first on Peacock. Let's just say that watching the series then the doc makes for a very interesting ride where you realize how deeply Bertchold intertwined himself with the Broberg family.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
