The best crime documentaries on Netflix (2023)

• entertainment
• documentaries

In recent years, there has been an explosion of true crime stories on virtually every platform. You can hardly open a web browser and not find a video, podcast, long story, or other content revealing a horribly tragic crime and/or court case. The lesson, as always: When a nation offers you a corrupt and punitive justice system that is biased against minorities and the poor, make a documentary about it.

Netflix has played an important role in spreading the true crime genre:make a killerIt's one of the best-known crime docs on the streaming service and is helping solidify the form's resurgence, but there's plenty more to whet your appetite. Take a look at these titles, a mix of feature films and documentaries.

READ ALSO: OwnThe best documentaries on NetflixIt's inbest documentaries and documentaries of 2021

kidnapped in front of everyone(2017)

kidnapped in front of everyoneIt's the kind of documentary that infuriates/wows everyone who watches it, as hordes of viewers can't believe the story of how the seemingly perfect Broberg family was singlehandedly murdered by a sociopathic neighbor, Bob, in the mid-1990s. 1970. ” Berchtold, who was obsessed with her 12-year-old daughter, Jan. But that description doesn't do the documentary justice, as what unfolds is one of the most amazing cases, committed by an incredibly cunning man who managed to kidnap to Jan not once, but twice. Duringkidnapped in front of everyoneIs one ofThe craziest true crime movies in recent history, is also another chilling look at how one man's manipulation can destroy multiple lives and how adults and the justice system consistently fail young victims of sex crimes.

amanda knox(2016)

Amanda Knox was twice convicted and acquitted of murder for the murder of her roommate while she was studying in Italy. Directors Rod Blackhurst (only here) it Brian McGinn (chef's table) to revive the controversial media sensationstrange storyhere with unparalleled access to top players and new stock footage. The documentary explores both sides of Knox's case, though Knox's involvement gives an idea of ​​where the film is headed in terms of his guilt or innocence, ultimately asking viewers to put themselves in his shoes and agree to ask " Do you suspect her?" or "Do you believe her?" dust off yourconspiracy theory walls.

American Murder: The Neighboring Family(2020)

How do you reaffirm a previously told narrative in tabloid headlines and cable news chirons? Like any true crime story, it's challenging, and this documentary about the widely publicized case of Chris Watts, who killed his pregnant wife, Shanann, and his two daughters, Bella and Celeste, is chilling and deeply dark. Showcasing suburban Watts family dynamics primarily through Shanann's social media accounts and text messages, and delving into police body cameras, interrogation room, and courtroom footage , filmmaker Jenny Popplewell creates a compelling doc that feels more like a found film, with nothing new. Talking Head interviews, no mockups and no voiceovers. For some, the simple approach ofamerican murderedIt will be alarming, but it's the kind of true crime document that will stick with you.

Athlete A(2020)

Not to be confused with HBOin the heart of gold,Athlete Ais a Netflix Original documentary about the US gymnastics scandal that rocked the sports world when it was exposed in 2017. It focuses on the heinous sexual crimes of former team doctor Larry Nassar, who abused the young athletes for years, and investigates the research work. journalists inIndianapolis-Sternwho told the story first. He is relentless, but allows these young women a catharsis to heal.

Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. refugees(2022)

Was raw vegan restaurateur Sarma Melngailis the victim of a scam, or was she the "vegan Bernie Madoff" as the media portrayed her? That is the questionbad vegan, vonfeuermanager youking of tigersExecutive Producer Chris Smith, Try to unravel what is surprisingly not more complicated than one or the other. Yes, she was lured by a con artist using the alias Shane Fox, who promised Melngailis success, wealth, and immortality for his beloved rescue dog if he sent him hundreds of thousands of dollars of his restaurant winnings, which he gambled in casinos. . , but the narrative is so wild that the four-episode documentaries leave more questions than answers.

Cast of JonBenet(2017)

Cast of JonBenetis one of the smartest and most difficult documentaries to just sit back and enjoy. Based on the unsolved 1996 murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, the film finds amateur actors, all from the town where the tragedy occurred, auditioning for roles in a dramatization of the story. The result is more disturbing than expected, though more intriguing when exploring the legacy of the mystery and others like it. When it comes to true crime movies, the facts almost always trump the narrative. This is an important exception, one that needs to be discussed much more than the cold case at hand.

Cocaine Jeans: Kings of Miami(2021)

True crime documentaries set in Florida such ascocaine jeansmiCocaine-Cowboys 2, filmmaker Billy Corben recounted the excesses of the Miami drug trade in the 1970s and 1980s with style and determination. withthis six-episode Netflix documentary series, broadens its scope to tell the story of Willy Falcón and Sal Magluta, a couple of Cuban drug traffickers nicknamed "Los Muchachos." While the two men don't appear as talking heads on the show, we do hear from a variety of their associates and adversaries, from ex-girlfriends to speedboat drivers to promoters. Unlike so many other mysteries of the streaming agecocaine jeansstrikes the perfect balance between epic style and gritty detail, delivering an intimate tale of rise and fall with Corben's blend of flash and wit.

The confession tapes(2017-)

Is it possible, after hours of grueling police interrogation, to confess to a crime that you may or may not have committed? This happened so often that Netflix released a documentary about it.The confession tapesinvestigates cases in which people convicted of murder detail how they believe they were forced to confess under duress, including in some cases where those convicted say the charges are completely false. While the series may seem like another true crime wave, there are more than six stories told in seven episodes.The confession tapesit is limited to a specific phenomenon and its unfortunate capture by the criminal justice system.

The Confession Killer(2019)

The notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to killing more than 100 people. Lucas is actually confirmed to have murdered his mother and 11 others, which is pretty egregious, but almost as disturbing as the Texas police being manipulated into falling into his trap of false confessions at will. Rather than just providing an overview of who the serial killer is, this five-part Netflix series examines the failures of law enforcement to show how they acted and failed to seek justice for those whose cases went unsolved. It's another story about holes in the criminal justice system, but one of the most compelling in recent history.

Conversations with a Murderer: The Ted Bundy Tapes(2019)

A Chilling Companion to Joe Berlinger's Zac Efron-Directed MovieExtremely evil, shockingly evil and heinous, It isDocumentaries of four episodesfrom the same director deftly explores the life and mind of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy and the frantic investigation of his many heinous crimes against women. Never-before-heard audio of interviews conducted with Bundy during his time on death row headlines the series, but old news footage and new interviews with surviving victims and investigators tell the full sordid story in a new way. that satisfies even them. . Crime buff.

crime dinner(2021-)

crime dinneris an anthology ofLost paradisetrilogy andThe Ted Bundy TapesFilmmaker Joe Berlinger, who in each chapter reveals the shame behind specific crime scenes. in your first seasonThe disappearance at the Cecil Hotel, the series checks in at the scariest hotel in Los Angeles: the Cecil, which has seen more than a few horror stories. However, the subject of this document is the death of Canadian traveler Elisa Lam, whose body was discovered in a hotel water tank in 2013. The series tries to make sense of the theories that lounge detectives have been pondering. during years. Surveillance footage of the case has gone viral online, and there are enough details to keep you from cutting your stay short. So, in its second season, the series takes us across the country and back in time to investigate another embarrassing location: Times Square. While New Yorkers may still scoff at the tourist spot, it wasn't always filled with Broadway shows and M&M shops, and the documentary explores its history in the '70s and '80s, when the neighborhood was primarily for drug use and work. Sex in the Times. The square-chested ripper goes wild.

dirty money(2018–)

White collar crime is still a crime! By Alex Gibneyclear),these documentationsexamines the world's biggest and worst companies, including Donald Trump's. Other topics include a maple syrup robbery (Canadian crime of all time), exploitation of the payday loan industry, and the VW emissions scandal. It will certainly make you want to shake your fist at the global corporatocracy.

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann(2019)

If you have children, be careful before watching these documentaries because it is every parent's worst nightmare. Although it begins to stretch out over eight episodes,The disappearance of Madeleine McCanntries to make sense of one of the most baffling and publicized enforced disappearances in British history. Doctors are investigating the case of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann, who disappeared during a family vacation in Portugal while she was sleeping in her hotel room with her parents having dinner less than 200 feet away. As an unsolved mystery, she still raises many questions: are the parents covering something up, as the press has long led people to believe? Or should we feel sympathy for them, as the documentary suggests? — but it does its best to punctuate a tragedy with recoveries and to suggest that this might not remain a cold case forever.

Do not play with cats: search for a killer on the Internet(2019)

A warning message:don't play with catsdo not play. This three-part docuseries is a prime example of recent Netflix territory.Shit, how is this real?Documentary themes that follow a group of Internet sleuths in search of someone seemingly obsessed with gaining influence by cruelly torturing and killing cats on camera. In an age where true crime obsessions have exploded, this series manages to challenge our own voyeurism and hypocrisy while telling its own twisted story.

evil genius(2018)

While true crime documentaries generally follow the course of an incident, the best ones tend to unfold like an onion, with layers upon layers of shocking developments. netflix ownerevil genius, for example, which surprisingly tackles a bank robbery, a bomb explosion and a relentless, twist-filled treasure hunt in four 45-minute episodes, all supposedly written by a woman. The series investigates the seemingly diabolical robbery-murder plot of Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong.what could be the reasonthis fence that perversely undermined the authorities.

the innocent man(2018)

Based on John Grisham's only nonfiction book of the same name,the innocent manfollows two mysterious murders that took place in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma, in the 1980s. This gripping series documents the initial conviction and exoneration of former suspects, as well as the fate of two other convicts who, to this day, today, they pleaded not guilty. guilty while in prison behind bars. Like other hit true crime series, this Netflix original knows how to captivate audiences by slowly uncovering details and alternate case theories.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich(2020)

With access to great wealth and proximity to incredible power, Jeffrey Epstein, the predatory billionaire at the heart of an international sex-trafficking ring, makes a compelling subject for an investigative documentary. So it was no surprise that Netflix jumped on you.four part documentary series, directed by Lisa Bryan and produced by Joe Berlinger (Lost paradisetrilogy) and James Patterson, author of numerous bestsellers and a nonfiction book on the subject. Although Epstein died in prison under mysterious circumstances in 2019, viewers actively seeking conspiracy material with this document will find a carefully chosen, confident, and relentless attempt to unravel some of the mysteries of Epstein's biography, while at the same time giving voice to many young woman. the abusevery richIt's an irritating watch as it leaves the number at stake virtually unrecognizable, but the survivors are heard and understood. His stories shed light on a case that has yet to be fully solved.

The Guardians(2017)

The Guardianstakes the true crime genre to another level, tackling the micro and macro layers of a story that spans sexual abuse, murder, police corruption, and the Catholic Church. It centers on the strange disappearance and death of a teacher named Sister Cathy Cesnik in 1969, a case that continues to be investigated by her former students, who are followed by the filmmakers. Numerous shocking twists are revealed throughout the seven-part series, as the haunting mystery turns into a haunting exposé and then back again.

make a killer(2015-2018)

Netflix's true crime took 10 years to make and has yet to fully solve the case of Steven Avery, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole after serving 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. . It's a moving story, and whether you find Avery guilty or not, the show reveals disturbing truths about crime, justice, and America's handling of both. while thethe case is evolving, Season 2 delved into these disturbing truths as a new defense attorney took on Avery's case.

Murder among the Mormons(2021)

Over three episodes full of twists and turns. Murder among the Mormons, Netflix's true crime documentary series about a series of deadly bombings in Utah in 1985, turns out to be a shrewd study of the faith that entangles Mormons in a web of fraudulent lies. In what a prosecutor interviewed on the series described as a "good morning", two pipe bombs went off at different locations in Salt Lake City, killing two; A third bomb exploded in a car the next day, injuring rare documents dealer Mark Hofmann, who police discovered had planted the first two bombs to escape an elaborate scheme involving a series of potentially valuable church documents. . While Hofmann's story is haunting, there's a warmth and curiosity about the series that helps set it apart from traditionally gruesome true crime and sheds light on how a master con artist crushes the crowd with such ease that he can shock the world. .

Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer(2021)

Richard Ramirez, aka Night Stalker, terrorized Los Angeles in the 1980s by not targeting a specific demographic at the height of the satanic panic and spreading fear with devil-worshipping imagery. Thisdocumentaries in four partshe deals with their brutal murders, but frames them in a way that becomes a police procedural. Director Tiller Russell emphasizes the struggles of the detectives investigating the case, the media hype surrounding the events, and the disturbing stories of the victims. For the true crime freaks curious about the details of the case, this can be a frustrating look, but it's largely an admirable effort, leading up to a fascinating series about how cases like this become political and cultural football. .

the stairs(2004; 2018)

Before French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestradethe stairsAcquired by Netflix in 2018, the series was one of the first true crime series of the mid-2000s, and since then its many successors have built on its stylistic choices and formats. The series follows the lengthy trial of Michael Peterson, the author, accused of murdering his wife in 2001 after Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the stairs of his home. Peterson has maintained his innocence, even as one crazy revelation after another and the appearance ofinteresting theoriesthis strongly suggests that an owl may have done this. As the case approaches two decades, the show shows that whether or not Peterson is innocent doesn't matter: if the system doesn't work even for a well-known wealthy white man, who will?disapproving gesturedoes it fit? The mess of the criminal justice system is almost as terrifying as the murder mystery itself.

strong island(2017)

Not all true crimes fit the true crime label. Yance Ford's portrait of her brother, William Ford Jr., a 24-year-old black teacher shot to death by a 19-year-old white man on April 7, 1992, could become athin blue line- oSerial- like the dissection of a shocking crime. But the personal connection infuses the film with a different kind of emotion, using facts, photos, and interviews to weave a visual elegy that turns into a conversation about the criminal justice system and black people.

survivor r kelly(2019-2020)

For years, it was basically an open secret in the music industry that R&B artist R. Kelly was a predator. At 27 he married singer Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time; In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were many allegations of forcing underage women to have sex with him, and allegations of child pornography; and reports of a sex cult he ran were revealed in 2017. After years of putting these allegations to rest, this documentary finally brought the whole thing to light and gave the women involved a great platform to share their stories. It's a heartbreaking look at how harassed black women are treated and how far celebrities in power can go without serious scrutiny.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness(2020)

A docuseries about big cat owners looks rather peculiar on paper, but Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madnessexceeds all expectations. You see, people eccentric enough to own lions and tigers are eccentric enough to do things like run a cult, commit and cover up arson, and even orchestrate someone's murder. All of that and, if you can imagine, more unfolds in this seven-part series from documentary filmmakers Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, who spent five years investigating the practices of big cat owners in the United States, particularly Joe Exotic (also known as "the Tiger King"), his ethically questionable zoo, network of big cat owners, equally insane co-specifics, and the assassination attempt Joe tried to stage against the "animal shelter" owner and self-proclaimed nemesis Carol Baskin. Intended to show that no one is a hero, this document traces chaos to its bitter and inexplicable end.

The Tinder Scammer(2022)

If there's one lesson to be learned from this movie, it's that you should never lend money to a man you just met. Simon Leviev met women on Tinder and convinced them that he was the son of the "King of Diamonds" and began long-distance relationships with random dating apps, eventually convincing them to give him their credit card numbers for travel around the world and promised to pay. again. (That's what he did: with forged, bad checks.) History is a whirlwind, andThe Tinder Scammerit gave Leviev enough attention for his crimes that he was caught with a fake passport and charged with fraud, theft, and forgery.

process through media(2020)

process through media, executive produced by George Clooney, is a true crime documentary series with a truly refreshing take on the genre. While some of these series address community and media reactions to violent homicides and political scandals, this seven-part anthology addresses just that, stepping outside the inner circle of each case and reflecting on the broader social context and key cultural implications. of Amadou Diallo after he was shot 41 times by the NYPD and his impact on the racist tactics of the NYPD, Jenny Jones, and the lawsuits that stemmed from the "gotcha" talk shows that Wild Tale of Shame Illinois Gov. Roy Blagojevich brought him down in his maelstrom of corruption scandalscelebrity trainee🇧🇷 A fascinating look at the last 30 years of history,process through mediaYou'll re-imagine those cases you may or may not have heard of in a new light.

The trials of Gabriel Fernández(2020)

Some documentaries turn your stomach; this one will piss you off. Over six episodes, documentary filmmaker Brian Knappenberger (Nobody Speaks: Trials for Press Freedom) investigates every misstep by the Los Angeles justice system and children and family services to prevent the abuse and eventual murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernández. The series is one of the hardest to watch in the franchise, being utterly unrelenting in its demand that our systems be better at supporting the most vulnerable, but it's a story that needs to be heard.

unsolved mysteries(2020–)

In 2020, Netflix and the producers ofweird thingsrelaunched the classic cold case seriesunsolved mysterieswith his original team, and the result was a match made in true crime fans heaven. In addition to the inclusion of a presenter and silly staging, the confusing storytelling formatto disappear,haunting murders, miparanormal experienceswith interviews and investigations it is just as you remember it and captivates viewers with the inclusion of mysterious and unknown cases. While there's no Richard Stack, the show's philosophy remains the same: "Maybe you can help solve a mystery." to use the information available to youbreak these storiesfeel that they are aloneresolution edge.

wild wild country(2018)

The cult formula rules herewild wild country: There is a charismatic leader, his loyal followers, behavior that deviates from the norm, all culminating in events that lead to a tragic and chilling end.wild wild countryexamines the case of the Rajneeshee movement, which thrived before its demise in rural Oregon in the 1980s, when the leader Osho and his companion Ma transformed the lives of thousands. Finally, as their radical antics rock a sleepy small town and law enforcement, we see the machinations behind the biggest bioterrorist attack the country has ever seen, instigated by the cult and its other crimes to stay in power. Those fascinated by cults will rejoice, as this largely unknown moment in Oregon history is no less wild than the more notorious groups you're probably already familiar with.

the mythical documentarianerrol morris(the thin blue line) has moved to Netflix to premiere this fascinating mix of documentary and fiction about the history of the CIA and its attempts to control the human mind. The premise highlights the strange and disturbing work being done at MKUltra, a project in which agents injected innocent citizens with LSD only to see what happened as they prepared for the mysterious death of CIA scientist Frank Olson. The docudrama may not be a new form, but actors like Peter Sarsgaard elevate what tend to be useful dramatizations into a more complex collage than other conspiracy theories clearly limit. Morris and his subjects know there is more to the story.

The worst roommate of all(2022)

If you thought this docu-series was full of wild tales about housemates being useless at cleaning or having too much fun, you're in for a rude awakening. Produced by the horror studio Blumhouse,The worst roommate of allIt really does contain some of the worst roommate stories of all time, from an elderly con woman who had the corpses of her principals buried in the backyard to a serial intruder who made his roommates' lives hell. . Watching all five episodes will convince you to never look for a roommate on Craigslist again, or anywhere else.

because it killed me(2021)

In the initial moments ofbecause it killed me, plays the familiar Windows XP theme song when an anonymous user starts a computer. It immediately evokes a time and place of digital innocence when the events explored in Fredrick Munk's documentary occurred. Much of the story takes place on MySpace when, after 24-year-old Crystal Theobald was fatally shot from a passing car in 2006, her mother, Belinda Lane, hired a young niece to create a fake profile and try to find out more. the gang she believed she was involved with. While the revenge mission takes many dark turns and explores the gang's perspective, the film complicates and challenges Lane's understanding of justice. It's the kind of lesson you don't normally learn by hiding behind a computer screen.

Do you want more thrillers? follow usInstagram,Gore,interest,Youtube,tag thank you, miSnapchat.