You know what, Netflix has the best library of true crime docuseries especially for the US viewers. From Ted Bundy to Making a Murderer, the network has numerous series that are based on real-life tragedies.
It can be a thrilling and engaging experience, but it’s important to remember that these documentaries are actually having a true story behind them.
So, don’t watch them if you have a faint heart or won’t complain me after peeing in your pants while watching any of them.
By watching these documentaries, you will gain a better understanding of the criminal mind and the justice system, as well as the impact of these crimes on the victims and their families.
Whether you are interested in the psychology of killers, the failures of the justice department, or the impact of crimes on victims and their families, you can start with our list of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix.
1. Making a Murderer (2015 – 2018)
Making a Murderer is a very special type of series that you will love to watch as a true crime docuseries lover.
It will show you the flaws in the criminal justice system and leaves you questioning in the end whether the criminal justice department of the United States is fair.
Even though, it happened 20 years ago, some things always remain the same and the show is here to expose those flaws.
This is about the story of Steven Avery, the man who served 18 years in prison (from 1985-2003) for the attempt to murder and sexual assault case but the catch is that, Avery didn’t commit any crime.
After being exonerated through DNA evidence, the innocent victim was again arrested in 2005 for the murder of a young photographer.
2. The Keepers (2017)
This true crime docuseries follows the story of the unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a beloved Catholic high school teacher from Baltimore.
You will see the interview of various journalists and former students of the school where sister Cathy taught.
Some students also alleged that Father A Joseph Maskell sexually abused their beloved Sister Cathy.
The series features those students too and family members of both parties that brings us even closer to unravel the murder mystery.
3. Icarus (2017)
Icarus is another thought provoking docufilm that won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2018 under the direction of Bryan Fogel.
The documentary won the award for its unique take on examining the issues related to corruption in sports organization, a Russian scientist, and Putin’s most wanted whistleblowers who exposed the doping scandal.
4. Evil Genius (2018)
This true crime docuseries explores the bizarre case of the “pizza bomber” in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 2003, a pizza deliveryman named Brian Wells was killed after robbing a bank with a collar bomb attached to his neck.
The series talks about the reasons that forced Wells to rob a bank and the twisted story that behind the great heist along with the criminal mastermind Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, and her accomplices.
5. Wild Wild Country (2018)
Wild Wild Country is a six part docuseries explores the rise and fall of controversial Indian Guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) and his followers in Rajneeshpuram, a commune in Oregon in the 1980s.
The series discusses the internal power struggles within the commune and focuses on their attempts to make a utopian society in the United States that eventually led to the dissolution of the society.
6. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)
In 2017, Fyre was promoted as a luxury music festival which was set to happen on a private Island in The Bahamas. It was hyped among the millennials and partygoers and was presented in such a magnetic way that attracted millions of dollars in the funds.
However, the event never took place and this true crime documentary features interviews with all the persons behind the festival scam including the main organizer Billy McFarland along with the raw footages of the preparations for the event.
7. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
Directed by Joe Berlinger, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is a true crime documentary series released in 2019. The docuseries examines the media frenzy and how Bundy’s good looks influenced the girl students.
Ted was having such a good charm that enabled him to evade suspicion for so long.
Director Joe has included several crime scene photos, mix of archival footage, and interviews of the reporters who dare to expose the heinous crimes of the evil man including Journalist Stephen Michaud who was reporting while Bundy was on a death row.
8. The Social Dilemma (2020)
The Social Dilemma will show you the dark side of social media, how these sites keep users hooked so that they don’t want to leave the platform until 2-3 hours while draining all their energy and motivation.
Jeff Orlowski has directed the 2020 docudrama that features the interviews with ex-employee of leading social media sites as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat who are providing the insidious tactics used by these tech giants to manipulate user’s behavior.
9. My Octopus Teacher (2020)
Documentaries are not always meant for humans, sometimes nature is the best teacher and here we are with our nature documentary My Octopus Teacher that shows us how every living being on this Earth is connected with each other.
Directed by Pippa Ehrlich & James Reed, the docufilm follows the story of an African filmmaker Craig Foster who develops an unexpected relationship with a giant Octopus while wandering in a kelp forest off the coast of South Africa.
10. The Last Dance (2020)
The Last Dance is a compelling and comprehensive sports documentary series directed by Jason Hehir, based on the career of legendary basketball player Michael Jordan and delves into important issues as race, celebritym and impact of sports on pop.
It is a must-watch for basketball fans as it provides a closer look at Jordan’s struggles, intense pressure he faced, and many things that only Jordan knew. Along with the raw footages, the series features interviews of Jordan, his teammates, and coaches.
11. Our Father (2022)
Our Father is a documentary film released in 2022, directed by Lucie Jourdan and produced by Blumhouse Productions. It sheds light on a lesser known but deeply troubling issue that has been going in the fertility industry.
The film follows the story of a woman who discovers through an at-home DNA test that she has multiple half-siblings, and uncovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.
12. Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)
Directors Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan use a mix of archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and first-person interviews to tell the story of the most notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in a nuanced and gripping way.
Netflix also released a true crime docuseries The Watcher alongside Dahmer that talks about Broadduses who purchased a million dollar property at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey and were subsequently threatened by anonymous letters.
13. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared (2023)
MH370 was a Malaysian Airlines flight that flew from Kuala Lumpur Airport but never landed at its destination in Beijing leaving all 239 passengers missing onboard without leaving a trace behind.
Directed by Louise Malkinson, the reality docuseries delves into the various theories and speculations surrounding the disappearance, including mechanical failure, pilot error, and deliberate sabotage.
14. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2023)
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is one of the best true-crime docuseries that explores the shocking murder of prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son, as well as the subsequent unraveling of the Murdaugh family’s dark secrets.
Directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason use a mix of archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and first-person interviews to tell the story in a compelling and nuanced way.
The docuseries examines the powerful influence of the Murdaugh family in the region, as well as the long history of corruption and scandal in South Carolina politics.
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