True crime documentaries have become a cultural phenomenon. There’s something unsettling yet gripping about real-life mysteries, shocking crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Why do we love them so much? Maybe it’s the intrigue of uncovering the truth. Maybe it’s the psychology of criminals and their motivations. Or maybe it’s just the sheer intensity of these stories—because real life is often more disturbing than fiction.
Netflix has become a goldmine for the best true crime docs, offering everything from high-profile murder cases to bizarre scams and cult exposés. If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy obsession, here are 13 must-watch true crime documentaries (and a few docuseries’) currently streaming on Netflix.
1. Amanda Knox (2016)
This riveting documentary takes a deep dive into one of the most infamous murder trials of the 21st century. In 2007, Amanda Knox, an American student in Italy, was accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher. The case became an international media frenzy, fueled by sensationalist headlines, conflicting forensic evidence, and multiple convictions and acquittals.
The film doesn’t just recount the crime; it explores how Knox became a symbol in a case that was as much about perception as it was about evidence. With raw, candid interviews—including from Knox herself—this documentary forces viewers to question how media narratives shape our understanding of guilt and innocence.
2. American Nightmare (2024)
If you thought Gone Girl was disturbing, wait until you watch American Nightmare. The three-part Netflix true crime documentary miniseries explores the shocking real-life case of Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. The story revolves around a 2015 home invasion and kidnapping in Vallejo, California, which was initially dismissed by authorities as a hoax.
Denise was abducted from Aaron’s home by an intruder who drugged and restrained them. After 48 hours, she was released unharmed, but the police, influenced by the bizarre nature of the crime, accused the couple of staging the event—comparing it to the plot of Gone Girl (2014). The series uncovers the emotional trauma they faced, the media frenzy, and the failures of law enforcement. However, the truth eventually emerged when another, similar crime led to the arrest of Matthew Muller, a former Marine and Harvard-educated lawyer, revealing him as the real perpetrator.
Through interviews, interrogation footage, and news clips, American Nightmare sheds light on the devastating impact of not being believed, the failures of law enforcement, and the terrifying reality of home invasions.
3. Athlete A (2020)
Athlete A investigates the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, focusing on the survivors who spoke out against former team doctor Larry Nassar. The film follows the investigative journalists from The Indianapolis Star who uncovered the widespread abuse and the institutional cover-ups that enabled it.
The documentary highlights the experiences of gymnasts like Maggie Nichols, who was the first athlete to report Nassar’s abuse to USA Gymnastics but was ignored. It also sheds light on the toxic culture within elite gymnastics, where winning was prioritized over athlete safety. Athlete A is a harrowing but essential watch, highlighting institutional failures and the resilience of survivors.
4. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022)
Scams and deception take center stage in this bizarre true crime docuseries about Sarma Melngailis, a once-celebrated vegan restaurateur who fell under the influence of a mysterious man, Anthony Strangis.
Sarma was the owner of New York’s popular raw food restaurant Pure Food and Wine. However, after meeting a mysterious man named Anthony Strangis online, her life took a dark turn. Strangis manipulated her with bizarre claims, including promises of immortality for her and her beloved dog, and convinced her to transfer vast amounts of money to him. The couple eventually drained the restaurant’s finances, failed to pay employees, and went on the run—only to be caught in 2016 after ordering Domino’s pizza, which ironically wasn’t even vegan.
Exploring the themes of psychological manipulation, cult-like control, and the fine line between victimhood and complicity in financial fraud, Bad Vegan has become one of the best true crime docuseries to watch on Netflix right now.
5. Casting JonBenet (2017)
Casting JonBenet explores the unsolved 1996 murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey in an unconventional way. Rather than focusing on a traditional investigative approach, the film examines the cultural impact of the case through a meta-narrative.
Directed by Kitty Green, the documentary features actors from Boulder, Colorado, auditioning for roles as key figures in the case—JonBenét, her parents (Patsy and John Ramsey), her brother Burke, and investigators. As they read lines and reenact moments from the case, they also share their own theories, experiences, and emotions about the crime.
In a way, the documentary digs at our fascination with true crime stories and serves as a meditation on how crime stories affect public imagination.
6. Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is a Netflix true-crime documentary series about a shocking online manhunt that led to the capture of Canadian murderer Luka Magnotta.
The three-part docuseries follows a group of internet sleuths who, in 2010, noticed disturbing videos of a man torturing and killing kittens. Outraged, they formed an online community to track him down, analyzing every detail of the videos to uncover his identity. As they got closer, the man escalated his crimes—eventually committing more heinous acts that he put up online.
With every episode, the tension builds as internet sleuths work against the clock, trying to catch a murderer before he escalates. It’s a terrifying look at how the internet can be used for both good and evil.
7. Girl in the Picture (2022)
This chilling true-crime documentary on Netflix unravels the shocking mystery surrounding a young woman’s identity, her tragic death, and the decades-long crimes of a dangerous fugitive.
The film begins with the 1990 discovery of a dying woman, initially identified as Tonya Hughes, on the side of an Oklahoma road. As investigators dig deeper, they realize her entire life was a lie. The man claiming to be her husband, Clarence Hughes, is actually Franklin Delano Floyd—a fugitive with a long history of kidnapping, abuse, and murder.
As the layers of deception peel away, the documentary reveals the victim’s true identity, the horrors she endured, and Floyd’s connection to other crimes, including the abduction of her son. Based on the work of investigative journalist Matt Birkbeck, Girl in the Picture is a harrowing tale of manipulation, stolen identities, and the resilience of those seeking justice.
Related to Best True Crime Documentaries on Netflix – Girl in the Picture (2022) Netflix Review: Netflix’s true-crime documentary about a girl with multiple names is never less than shocking
8. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
The 4-part Netflix true-crime documentary series Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey exposes the harrowing abuses within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous sect led by Warren Jeffs.
The series examines how Jeffs took control of the FLDS and imposed extreme religious doctrine, forcing women and underage girls into polygamous marriages, separating families, and demanding absolute obedience.
Through survivor testimonies, archival footage, and expert insights, the documentary reveals the psychological and physical abuse within the cult and the fight to break free.
9. Lover, Stalker, Killer (2024)
Obsessive love turns deadly in this chilling documentary about an online romance gone horribly wrong. The true crime documentary follows Dave Kroupa, a mechanic who started casually dating two women after joining an online dating site. One of them, Cari Farver, suddenly disappeared—only to start bombarding him, his ex-girlfriend, and others with relentless, threatening messages for years. However, the truth was far more sinister than it seemed.
Told through real footage, interviews, and chilling reenactments, Lover, Stalker, Killer is a harrowing reminder of how obsession can spiral into violence.
10. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2023)
Spanning two seasons with 3 episodes each, Netflix’s true-crime docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal delves into the shocking crimes and corruption surrounding the powerful Murdaugh family in South Carolina.
The series examines a series of tragic and suspicious events linked to the wealthy and influential legal dynasty, focusing on the 2021 double murder of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. It also explores the 2019 boating accident that killed teenager Mallory Beach, financial fraud, and other mysterious deaths tied to the family.
Also, Read – Murdaugh Murders: The Movie – Part 2 (2023) Ending Explained: Who is the culprit behind the Murdaugh Murders?
11. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
This four-part Netflix true-crime docuseries chronicles the terrifying spree of Richard Ramirez, a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California between 1984 and 1985. The series follows the relentless manhunt led by LAPD detectives Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno, who painstakingly pieced together clues to track down the elusive killer.
Packed with grisly crime details, firsthand accounts, and archival footage, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer is gripping in its procedural storytelling. However, its formulaic approach raises questions about the true-crime genre’s tendency to sensationalize killers while minimizing the victims’ stories. While the series attempts to honor the lives lost, it largely focuses on the pursuit of Ramirez rather than deeply exploring the societal factors that contributed to his crimes.
Related to Best True Crime Documentaries on Netflix – Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer [2021] Netflix Review – A Fairly Engaging Series with an Algorithmic Treatment
12. The Keepers (2017)
Running for seven gripping episodes, Netflix’s new true crime docuseries The Keepers investigates the unsolved murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik, a Baltimore nun and high school teacher who disappeared in 1969. Her body was discovered two months later, but her killer was never found.
The series delves into a disturbing web of sexual abuse, cover-ups, and institutional corruption within the Catholic Church and Archbishop Keough High School, where Sister Cathy taught. Former students, including Jean Hargadon Wehner, come forward with harrowing allegations that a priest, Father Joseph Maskell, sexually abused them and that Sister Cathy may have been killed because she was trying to expose the abuse.
13. The Tinder Swindler (2022)
The Tinder Swindler is a Netflix true-crime documentary that exposes the elaborate and devastating scams orchestrated by Simon Leviev, an Israeli conman who used Tinder to manipulate and defraud women.
Directed by Felicity Morris, the documentary follows three of his victims—Cecilie Fjellhøy, Pernilla Sjöholm, and Ayleen Charlotte—who bravely share their stories of deception, emotional manipulation, and financial ruin. Leviev posed as the wealthy heir to an Israeli diamond empire, using money stolen from one victim to create an illusion of luxury and credibility, which he then used to lure in his next target.
Rather than glorifying Leviev’s criminal tactics, The Tinder Swindler focuses on the emotional and financial devastation left in his wake, as well as the resilience of the women who exposed him. It’s a chilling yet cautionary tale about the dangers of online dating and the courage it takes to fight back against a master manipulator.
![Sardar Udham [2021] Review: A Slow but Steady Exploration through the Annals of the Aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre](https://www.highonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Sardar-Udham-768x432.jpg)
