12 best true crime documentaries

The world of true crime documentaries has exploded in popularity over the past few decades, captivating audiences with real-life stories that are often stranger than fiction. 

From groundbreaking classics that laid the foundation for the genre, to modern masterpieces that delve into the psychology of crime, these documentaries reveal the complexities of human behaviour and the darker sides of society. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore 12 of the best true crime documentaries. Whether you’re a seasoned true crime aficionado or new to the genre, these films and series promise to engage, inform, and often leave you questioning the nature of justice. 

Get ready to dive into tales of wrongful convictions, chilling murders, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

The classics

The documentaries in this list are considered to be those that laid the groundwork for the true crime genre, skyrocketing it into popularity. 

1. The Thin Blue Line (1988) 

The Thin Blue Line is a groundbreaking documentary that explores a wrongful conviction. Directed by Errol Morris in 1988, this American film examines the trial and sentencing of Randall Dale Adams, who was convicted for the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert W. Wood. The documentary delves into the inconsistencies, contradictions, and unresolved aspects of the case. Through his investigation, Morris not only reaches a different conclusion but also secures an admission from the original suspect, David Harris, confirming Adams’s innocence.

2. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills is a 1996 American documentary film directed, produced, and edited by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. It chronicles the trials of the West Memphis Three - three teenagers accused of the May 1993 murders and sexual mutilation of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of a satanic ritual.

Modern masterpieces

True crime has definitely made a comeback in the last decade or so. If you’ve recently got into the true crime genre, it’s possible that it was one of these documentaries that spurred your interest. 

3. Making a Murderer (2015)

Making a Murderer is an American true crime documentary series created by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. It follows the case of Steven Avery, a man from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who spent 18 years in prison for the wrongful conviction of the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. After his exoneration and release in 2003, he was later charged and convicted for the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. The series also examines the case of Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, who was accused and convicted as an accessory in Halbach’s murder.

4. The Jinx (2015)

The Jinx is an American true crime documentary series centred on Robert Durst, a New York real estate heir and convicted murderer. Directed by Andrew Jarecki, the series follows Durst’s story, building on Jarecki’s earlier feature film, All Good Things, which was inspired by Durst’s life. After the film’s release, Durst, who admired the movie, reached out to Jarecki and offered to be interviewed - a conversation that was recorded and later incorporated into the documentary. Over the course of several years, Durst sat for more than 20 hours of interviews with Jarecki, despite having never previously spoken to the media.

International perspectives

Interested in true crime beyond the UK and US? Check out these documentaries that offer unique insights into crimes and criminals from around the world. 

5. The Staircase (2004, 2018)

The Staircase is a 2004 French-produced documentary mini-series directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presented in English. It follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson. Filming began shortly after Peterson's indictment, following de Lestrade's Oscar-winning Murder on a Sunday Morning, where camera crews were granted access to Peterson's extended family, his defense team, and the courtroom proceedings. In 2012-2013, de Lestrade returned to document further developments in the case, resulting in a two-hour sequel. Netflix later produced three additional episodes with more updates, and in 2018, the streaming service added all 13 episodes to its catalog, consolidating the series.

6. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019) 

Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is a 2019 true crime docuseries that explores an online manhunt. Directed and written by Mark Lewis, it was released on Netflix on December 18, 2019. The series details the aftermath of a crowd-sourced amateur investigation by internet sleuths into a series of animal cruelty incidents involving Canadian pornographic actor Luka Magnotta, which ultimately led to the murder of Jun Lin, a Chinese student studying at Concordia University.

Psychological deep dives

Want to get deep into the mind of a criminal? These documentaries focus on psychological deep dives of true crime. 

7. Mindhunter (2017)

Mindhunter is an American psychological crime thriller television series created by Joe Penhall, inspired by the 1995 true crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The series follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they conduct a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers in order to understand their psychology and apply this insight to solving ongoing cases.

8. I Am a Killer (2018)

I Am a Killer is a documentary television series available on Netflix and Crime+Investigation UK that presents interviews with death row inmates. In each episode, the inmates share details about their crimes, the circumstances that drove them to kill, and their perspectives on their actions both at the time and in the present.

Lesser-known gems

Searching for a true crime documentary that you may not have seen, or even heard of, before? One of these may be just what you’re looking for. 

9. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) 

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father is a 2008 American documentary film created by Kurt Kuenne, who wrote, produced, directed, edited, filmed, and scored the project. The film tells the story of Kuenne's close friend Andrew Bagby, who was murdered after ending his relationship with Shirley Jane Turner. Following the murder, Turner was arrested as a suspect and soon revealed that she was pregnant with Bagby’s child, a boy she named Zachary Turner.

10. The Confession Tapes (2017)

The Confession Tapes is a true crime documentary series that explores various cases of potential false confessions that resulted in murder convictions for the individuals involved. Each episode presents alternative perspectives on how the crimes may have occurred and includes insights from experts in false confessions, criminal law, miscarriages of justice, and psychology.

Recent hits

Whilst you may have already seen them, it wouldn’t be a “best” list without including the latest true crime documentaries that have had us all glued to our seats. 

11. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

American Murder: The Family Next Door is an American true crime documentary film directed by Jenny Popplewell. The film chronicles the 2018 Watts family murders in Frederick, Colorado, utilising archival footage such as social media posts, law enforcement recordings, text messages, and home videos to illustrate the unfolding events - only letting you know half-way through who actually committed the crime.

12. The Ripper (2020)

The Ripper is a British true crime four-part docuseries directed by Jesse Vile and Ellena Wood. This mini-series recounts the events and investigation surrounding the murders of 13 women in West Yorkshire and Manchester, England, between 1975 and 1980 by the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, known as “The Yorkshire Ripper”. The series follows a chronological timeline of events through interviews with investigators, journalists, survivors, and family members of the victims.

Searching for more true crime content? From the best true crime books to the best true crime youtube channels and TikTok creators, we have the eerie list you’ve been searching for. 

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