If you’re someone who finds real-life mysteries more gripping than fiction, then true crime documentaries probably already have a special place in your streaming queue. There’s something about the mix of shocking twists, human psychology, and high-stakes investigations that makes these stories impossible to stop watching. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just now dipping into the genre, these ten true crime series will pull you in and refuse to let go. Let’s count down the top ones to binge-watch—just don’t say we didn’t warn you if you wind up watching all of them in one sitting.
10. Lover, Stalker, Killer
This begins as a contemporary dating tale and then devolves into something much more sinister. It chronicles the life of a man who is torn between two women—one is the love of his life, the other is his worst enemy. It’s a tale of obsession, manipulation, and the terrifying extremes some people will go to when they don’t get what they want. Equal parts shocking and sad, it’s a reminder that real monsters often wear very ordinary faces.
9. What Jennifer Did
This documentary delves deep into the shocking tale of Jennifer Pan, whose placid suburban existence hid a secret that ultimately dissolved into a murder scheme. What makes this one so captivating is how Jennifer narrates her version with such equanimity, with crushing secrets tucked away behind her words. It’s a deceitful lie web, and by the time you’re done, you’ll be wondering just how much you know about the people in your life.
8. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer
Preoccupied with the victims as much as the case itself, which remains unsolved, this series does not simply say “Who did it?”—it says why justice has been so slow. It considers the lives beyond the headlines and the institutional shortcomings that allowed a serial killer to remain undetected for so long. It’s a tragic but compelling watch, particularly if you don’t simply want a mystery—you want to know the why.
7. Chaos: The Manson Murders
Everyone’s familiar with Charles Manson’s name, but this series delves deeper than the standard retelling. Featuring a combination of vintage footage and more recent interviews, Chaos isn’t just about the notorious murders—it delves into the bizarre, almost surreal world that enabled Manson to exert control over his followers. It’s unsettling in a slow-burning sort of way, and if you think you already know the tale, then think again.
6. American Murder: The Gabby Petito Story
This true-life tragedy gripped the nation, and this documentary lays it all out. It isn’t just the facts of the investigation but also the emotional aspect of how social media and public scrutiny influenced the narrative in real time. It’s both heartbreaking and infuriating, especially when you see how some of it could’ve been prevented.
5. American Manhunt: The O.J. Simpson Case
Few trials are as renowned as the O.J. Simpson trial, and this miniseries looks back at it with new perspectives. With new interviews and never-before-seen footage, it burrows into the trial that made the justice system a national spectacle. If you lived through it or are only now getting the facts, it’s difficult to resist being swept up in the pandemonium of it all.
4. The Unresolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith
This one’s a slow burn in the best possible way. It examines a decades-long Canadian murder that was never solved—at least, not officially. What sets this series apart is its examination of how the police investigated and whether justice was served. It’s more about questioning everything you think you know about guilt, innocence, and what occurred on that night.
3. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer
You may think you’ve heard all there is to hear about Bundy, but this series flips the narrative. Told through the lens of the women in his life—including his long-time girlfriend and the families of his victims—it becomes less about the killer and more about the survivors. It’s raw, emotional, and refreshingly focused on the people most often left out of true crime storytelling.
2. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets
This one packs a punch—not because it’s about murder or an isolated case, but because it strips away the facade of a popular family and the sinister systems at work behind the scenes. What begins as a profile of a famous reality TV family soon evolves into a wider exploration of control, abuse, and silence. It’s disturbing, eye-opening, and downright necessary watching.
1. The Last Narc
Number one on the list is a show that retells not just a crime, but a cover-up. The Last Narc is the story of what happened behind the gruesome killing of DEA agent “Kiki” Camarena in 1985, and what they find is nothing less than eye-popping. It includes interviews with whistleblowers and insiders and raises the specter of corruption beyond that of drug cartels and into American intelligence. It’s intense, dramatic, and will have you wondering who the bad guys are.
True crime is not entertainment, though—it’s a glimpse into the intricacies of justice, human nature, and occasionally, sheer evil. These ten documentaries aren’t just watch-all-nighters—they’re eerie, introspective, and sometimes unforgettable. Whether you’re tuning in for the mystery, the people, or the social commentary, each provides something beyond the shock value. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you—you might not be sleeping so soundly after hitting play.