For all you true crime junkies out there, here are 20 of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix. They prove that the truth can be stranger than fiction.
If you are a fan of true crime documentaries, Netflix has some of the most gripping documentaries that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
These documentaries cover serial killers, con artists, cults, and unsolved mysteries.
We will list 20 of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix that you must see.
These documentaries show you how the truth can be stranger than fiction.
We offer a free checklist you can download for future reference.
The link to the documentary in Netflix is provided for each selection below.
This series follows the story of Steven Avery, a man who spent 18 years in prison for a wrongful conviction of rape and attempted murder, and was later accused and convicted of another murder. The series explores the flaws and corruption in the criminal justice system, and the role of the media and public opinion in shaping the case.
2. Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
This series chronicles the online manhunt for Luka Magnotta, a Canadian killer who posted videos of himself torturing and killing kittens and a human victim. The series shows how a group of internet sleuths tracked down Magnotta’s identity and location, and alerted the authorities.
3. Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
This series tells the story of the 2003 “collar bomb” case, in which a pizza delivery man robbed a bank with a bomb strapped to his neck, and died when it exploded. The series reveals the twisted plot behind the heist, involving a group of eccentric criminals, and the investigation that followed.
This film unravels the mystery of Tonya Hughes, also known as Sharon Marshall, who was kidnapped as a young girl by Franklin Delano Floyd, raised as his daughter, and eventually became his wife. The film uses archival footage, interviews, and investigative reports to expose Floyd’s crimes and reveal Tonya’s true identity.
This film documents the 2018 Watts family murders, in which Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters. The film uses social media posts, text messages, home videos, and police recordings to show the events that led to the murders, and the aftermath of the case.
This film tells the story of Simon Leviev, a conman who used the dating app Tinder to scam women out of millions of dollars by pretending to be the son of a billionaire diamond mogul. He would woo them with lavish gifts and trips, then ask them for money to escape his “enemies”, before disappearing with their cash.
This series follows the case of Michael Peterson, a novelist who was accused and convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen, who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home. The series explores the evidence, the motives, and the controversies surrounding the case, including the role of a mysterious owl.
This series examines the disappearance of 3 year old Madeleine McCann, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007, while her parents were dining nearby. The series covers the investigation, the media frenzy, the suspects, and the theories about what happened to Madeleine.
This series features four stories of roommates with malevolent and sometimes violent intentions who turn the lives of their unsuspecting victims into nightmares. The cases include a serial killer who ran a boarding house for the elderly, a quiet student who killed his roommate and hid her body, a fraudster who attacked people across several countries, and a serial squatter who terrorized his landlords.
This film tells the shocking story of Jan Broberg, who was abducted twice and raped repeatedly by a family friend named Robert Berchtold when she was a child in Idaho in the 1970s. The film reveals how Berchtold manipulated Jan and her parents with lies, threats, and sexual encounters, and how he brainwashed her into believing he was saving the world from aliens.
This series follows Dan Schneider, a pharmacist in Louisiana, who lost his son to a drug-related murder in 1999. He then became a crusader against the opioid epidemic, exposing a corrupt doctor who was over prescribing painkillers and endangering the lives of many patients.
“Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case” is a gripping true crime documentary series that delves into the mysterious disappearance and subsequent investigation of Lucie Blackman, a young British woman who went missing in Tokyo, Japan, in 2000.
Lucie, who had been working in Tokyo as a hostess, disappeared under suspicious circumstances, leaving her family and authorities desperately searching for answers.
As the investigation unfolds, viewers are presented with a series of shocking revelations, and the documentary raises questions about the role of the Tokyo nightlife industry, the complexities of cross-cultural investigations, and the pursuit of justice in a foreign country. It also highlights the tireless efforts of Lucie’s family, particularly her father, Tim Blackman, in seeking answers and holding those responsible accountable.
This film documents the 2018 case of Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young female gymnasts over decades. The film shows how his crimes were exposed by the brave survivors, the journalists of The Indianapolis Star, and the law enforcement officials who brought him to justice.
This film unravels the mystery of Charles Cullen, a nurse who confessed to killing up to 40 patients in nine hospitals and one nursing home during his career. The film includes interviews with Cullen, his co-workers, detectives, and Amy Loughren, a friend and fellow nurse who helped catch him.
This series investigates the unsolved murders of four women in Texas in the 80s and 90s in an area known as the Texas Killing Fields, where over 30 bodies of slain women were found since the 1970s. The series explores the possible involvement of multiple serial killers, the challenges of the investigation, and the impact on the victims’ families.
This series follows the case of Richard Cottingham, also known as the Times Square Killer and the Torso Killer, who terrorized New York City in the 1970s and 80s with his brutal murders of young women, many of whom were sex workers. The series reveals how Cottingham was caught, his shocking confessions, and his connection to other unsolved crimes.
This film documents the director’s attempt to expose the doping scandal in cycling by using performance-enhancing drugs himself and evading detection. However, he stumbles upon a bigger conspiracy involving the Russian state-sponsored doping program and its cover up by Grigory Rodchenkov, the head of the Russian anti-doping laboratory, who becomes a whistleblower and a fugitive.
18. Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan (2021)
This true crime documentary explores the life of Billy Milligan, who became notorious for being the first person in U.S. legal history to successfully plead multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) as a legal defense. He faced criminal charges for a series of crimes, including rape and robbery. However, he claimed that he was not solely responsible for these actions, asserting that different personalities within him had committed the crimes.
This series exposes the influence and agenda of a secretive Christian organization known as The Family or The Fellowship, which operates within Washington D.C. and around the world. It reveals how The Family cultivates relationships with powerful politicians, business leaders, and dictators, using Jesus as a tool to advance their interests and shape global events.
“The Devil Next Door” is a documentary series that delves into the extraordinary and harrowing story of John Demjanjuk, a retired Ukrainian-American autoworker living in the United States.
The series explores the shocking allegations that Demjanjuk was, in fact, Ivan the Terrible, a notorious Nazi concentration camp guard responsible for the deaths of countless prisoners during World War II. The series combines interviews, archival footage, and reenactments to provide viewers with a compelling and often disturbing look at this complex and controversial case.
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Tiffany is a female entrepreneur who has been in the movie business since 2005.
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