We have compiled a list of 20 best true crime documentaries that are currently available on Netflix for you to binge-watch!
Time to time, Netflix releases best crime documentaries. True crime documentaries are always loved by audiences and also reminds us that how dark this world really is. Netflix is a go-to platform and has the best stock of crime documentaries which will give you a great, brilliant insight to crime scenes and the minds of criminals. We have compiled a list of 20 best true crime documentaries which are available on Netflix.
Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
If you are a cat lover, this documentary will break your heart. It is a true story of a sociopath man, who posted a video online of killing two kittens alive. A group of people from the internet started a mission to hunt down this man behind this animal killing. Later, encouraged by the attention he was receiving, he shamelessly continued to post disturbing and atrocious videos online, even led him to murder an innocent man.
This docuseries reminds us that how powerful the internet is and people using it can solve an extreme case like this too.
Director: Mark Lewis
Cast: John Green, Deanna Thompson, Antonio Paradiso, Anna Yourkin and more
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Conversation with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
This documentary is created by the Emma Award-Winning Filmmaker ‘Joe Berlinger’. The documentary gets inside the twisted mind of America’s most notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy, in his own words. Ted Bundy was a serial killer who was convicted for kidnapping, raping and murdering more than 30 young women and was caught in 1978. It’s a must-watch for crime documentaries fans.
Director: Joe Berlinger
Cast: Stephan Michaud, Kathleen McChesney, Bob Keppel and more
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Read: Most anticipated Netflix shows 2020
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Tiger King is a true American crime docuseries about the life of zookeeper Joe Exotic. It was released this year on March 20, 2020. Joe has an obsession with big cats. Things turn dark when an animal activist and an owner of big cat sanctuary Carole Baskin, becomes a threat for his business. The twisted tale begins when the two develops a rivalry that eventually leads to Joe’s arrest and for a murder plot.
Directors: Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin
Cast: Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, Bhagavan Antle, Rick Kirkham
IMDb Rating: 7.6
The Staircase
On December 9th, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson’s wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. However, Michael claimed that she died by falling from the staircase but the speculation arises on Michael and it turned out to be a murder investigation. Watch this documentary to find out what really happened to Michael Peterson and this case.
Director: Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
Cast: Michael Peterson, David Rudolf, Tom Maher, Bill Peterson and more
IMDb Rating: 7.9
The Keepers
The Keepers is a 2017 Netflix original documentary which tackles the mysterious, unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, who was a beloved nun. Cathy disappeared in November 1969 but her body was found two months later. Lots of conspiracy theories unravels while the investigation of the case. The story is a big cover-up involving priests, business, doctors, Baltimore police and killed Cathy as she was going to expose. This documentary is really dark and horrific.
Director: Ryan White
Cast: Alan F. Horn, Lil Hughes, Gemma Hoskins and more
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Read: Netflix June 2020 releases
Making a Murderer
After spending 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Steve Avery filed a lawsuit against those behind his arrest but this time the story took a twisted plot as Steve was again convicted for the murder of a photographer. The story doesn’t end here and is the most intriguing documentary on Netflix.
Directors: Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos
Cast: Dolores Avery, Steve Avery, Laura Nirider, Ken Kratz and more
IMDb Rating: 8.6
The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
The documentary takes a detailed look at the disappearance of 3-year old Madeleine McCann, who vanished while on holiday with her family. The Daily Telegraph described the disappearance as ‘the most heavily reported missing person case in modern history’.
Director: Chris Smith
Cast: Anthony Summers, Robbyn Swan, Sandra Felgueiras and more
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Strong Island
Strong Island is an Oscar-nominated documentary which covers family’s devastation and lingering pain after the murder of a son and brother, William Ford. The documentary tells us how the system failed a black man and his family’s fight for dignity and justice. A documentary about white supremacy, state ignorance and racial prejudice.
Director: Yance Ford
Cast: Yance Ford, Harvey Walker, Kevin Myers, Ed Boyer and more
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Shadow of Truth
Shadow of Truth is a true-crime Israeli documentary which explores the explosive 2006 murder case of a 13-year-old Israeli girl and the process that led to the conviction of a Ukrainian immigrant but the real killer is still out there. The documentary deals with police corruption and failed investigation.
Director: Yotam Guendelman
Cast: Amnon Rubinstein
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez is a Netflix original documentary that follows the rise and fall of the infamous athlete Aaron Hernandez. This documentary focuses on how an NFL star becomes a reason of his own fall which led him to be a killer. From the same studio that brought ‘Making A Murderer’ and ‘Evil Genius’.
Director: Geno McDermott
Cast: Susan Candiotti, Kevin Armstrong, Dan Wetzel and more
IMDb Rating: 7.4
The Innocent Man
Based on John Grisham’s true crime best-seller book of the same name which is inspired by an old case that shook the small town of Ada, Oklahoma in the 1980s. After getting hold of some surprising evidence, the case was again re-opened that made everyone question whether the right men were arrested or the killer is still out there.
Director: J. Clay Tweel
Cast: Heather Mcphaul, Maura Antas, J.J. Arends, Serena Burns and more
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Wild Wild Country
Wild Wild Country is a documentary about a controversial Indian cult leader, guru, Shree Rajneesh (Osho) who builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert which resulted in conflict with the locals and national controversy. It received Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Directors: Maclain Way and Chapman Way
Cast: Rajneesh, Ma Anand Sheela, Jane Stork, Laura Eisen and Philip Toelkes
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Abducted in Plain Sight
Abducted in Plain Sight is a crime documentary film which was released in 2017. In this true-crime documentary, a trusted neighbour abducted a 12-year old Jan Broberg not once but twice. This documentary is disturbing and an eye-opener as whom to trust. Even a close friend or neighbour can be evil.
Director: Skye Borgman
Cast: Jan Broberg, Bob Broberg, Mary Ann Broberg, Susan Broberg and more
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist
On August 28, 2003, this true story starts when a pizza man robs a bank with a bomb around his neck. It’s a complex tale with lots of twists and turns unravelling in this four-part docuseries.
Director: Barbara Schroeder
Cast: Trey Borzillieri
IMDb Rating: 7.6
The Confession Tapes
The Confession Tapes is a 2017 true crime documentary series which gives us an insight of convicted murderers who claim that their confessions were false and coerced. These shocking confessions reveal the manipulative and true side of police investigations. This docuseries has two seasons currently on Netflix.
Director: Kelly Loudenberg
Cast: Sarah Issacs, Loretta Fisher, Brian Hutchinson and more
IMDb Rating: 7.5
The Confession Killer
This documentary is about American convicted serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. During the early 80’s Henry confessed to committing murders but there was no direct evidence linking Henry to the crime scenes. The Confession Killer could be one of the smartest true-crime docuseries till now.
Director: Robert Kenner
Cast: Nan Cuba, Bob Prince, Phil Ryan, Hugh Aynesworth and more
IMDb Rating: 7.4
I Am a Killer
This crime documentary consisting of two seasons that features prisoners confessing the reason and motive which led them to murder. Each episode deals with different prisoners in jail.
Directors: Ned Parker, Jeremy Turner, James Tovell, Zoe Hines, Ross Young
Cast: Reece Putinas, David Galea, Justin Dickens, Wayne Doty and more
IMDb Rating: 7.5
The Pharmacist
The Pharmacist is an American true crime docuseries about a small-town pharmacist who lost his son in a drug-related shooting. He then takes an extreme step to expose the rampant corruption behind the opioid epidemic.
Directors: Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason
Cast: Dan Schneider
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Murder Mountain
Murder Mountain is another American true-crime documentary. In Humboldt County, California, the big business of legal marijuana brings in visitors from all around the world. Disappearances and murder cases were in peak in this mountain.
Director: Joshua Zeman
Cast: Garret Rodriguez
IMDb rating: 6.9
Amanda Knox
Amanda Knox is a 2016 American documentary film about Amanda Knox who was convicted for the brutal murder of British exchange student roommate, Meredith Kercher in Italy. She was twice convicted of murder. Amanda Knox and the closest people to her speak out in this documentary. It was nominated in several award shows including Robert Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Directors: Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn
Cast: Amanda Knox, Raffaele Sollecito, Giuliano Mignini, Nick Pisa and more
IMDb rating: 6.9
Every year Netflix drops phenomenon content on true crime documentaries. So, if you are a crime junkie, Netflix is a place to be.
