Let’s be real—true crime television is like potato chips: once you begin, it’s impossible to turn back. You click play thinking you’ll watch one show, and before you know it, it’s 3 a.m., you’re halfway through learning about a serial killer’s history, and you’re somehow convinced that you missed your calling as a detective. There are so many fresh (and vintage) series to watch, it’s hard to choose what’s next. So, if you’re prepared to fall the rabbit hole, here’s a countdown of 10 true crime shows that’ll hijack your weekend—and perhaps your sleep pattern.
9. Say Nothing
This is not your average crime series—it’s history, politics, and tragedy rolled into one compelling drama. Adapting from Patrick Radden Keefe’s bestselling book, Say Nothing tells the story of a mother’s 1972 kidnapping in Belfast, interweaving her narrative with that of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. What sets this series apart is that it doesn’t simply ask “who did it?”—it examines the why, delving into the pain, loyalty, and moral ambiguity that characterized a generation. The largely unseen Irish actors give strong performances that bring the events home. As Screen Rant sums it up, it’s a haunting representation of historical regret and strife.
8. The Murder of Laci Peterson
Some stories just linger with you—and this one never really faded from the headlines. This A&E series has a new, intimate approach to the infamous Laci Peterson disappearance, one more complex than the media circus of the early 2000s ever permitted. With limited access to Scott Peterson and his relatives, and with interviews that include legal analysts, detectives, and even Nancy Grace, the series reconsiders the evidence—and the intense public opinion that ensued. A&E highlights the power of media influencing public opinion, so this series feels as much about journalism as it is about justice.
7. Happy Valley
British crime dramas possess their distinct flavor—gritty, emotionally complex, and achingly human. Happy Valley is all of that and more. The show centers around Sergeant Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire to perfection. She’s tough, imperfect, and utterly unforgettable. It follows her pursuit of the man she is sure killed her daughter, but it’s about grief, family, and survival. Against the gray, wind-swept landscape of West Yorkshire, the atmosphere is somber—but addictive. As Pints, Pounds, & Patepoint out, it’s the performance of Lancashire that made this series a breakout show.
6. The Fall
Want a show that’ll play with your mind in the best possible way? The Fall may be it. Gillian Anderson plays cool, logical Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, who becomes trapped in a cat-and-mouse game of the mind with a serial killer (played chillingly by Jamie Dornan). The Fall is so engrossing because it isn’t about cracking the case—it’s about the gradual, hard-won peeling away of predator and hunter. Screen Rant refers to it as a must-watch for viewers who enjoy multi-dimensional characters and discomforting tension.
5. Unbelievable
This limited series packs a punch. True to life, it traces the story of a young woman who’s charged with falsifying her assault—and two detectives in a different state gradually build a pattern that indicates otherwise. Kaitlyn Dever gives a gut-punch of a performance, and Toni Collette and Merritt Wever are excellent as dogged detectives bent on getting justice. Unbelievable doesn’t merely tell a tale—it insists upon empathy. Oprah Daily named it one of its picks for a testament to resilience and the unassuming strength that goes into holding on to hope, even when everybody else has lost it.
4. Vera
British detectives do not come much better—or grumpier—than Vera Stanhope. Starring brilliant Brenda Blethyn, Vera is all about a veteran, keen-eyed detective cracking gruesome cases in Northern England. With her rumpled coat, blunt attitude, and unerring talent for reading human beings, Vera tackles everything from organized crime to small-town feuds. The mysteries are complex but always based on character-driven storytelling. As Pints, Pounds, & Pate points out, Vera is a favorite among viewers who enjoy their crime tales wrapped in wit, charm, and just a dash of darkness.
3. The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea
If international true crime is something you’ve not yet dabbled in, begin here. This Korean Netflix docu-series tackles the chilling case of Yoo Young-chul, a serial killer whose crimes shocked the nation. What sets The Raincoat Killer apart is the way it integrates cultural background and spine-tingling suspense—you learn about Korea’s criminal justice system, social pressures, and the raw shockwaves the case sent through the country. Netflix says it’s one of a kind because of its distinctive storytelling and unsettling imagery. It’s creepy, evocative, and enlightening.
2. Conversations with a Killer series
Occasionally, the only way to make sense of a killer is to hear it straight from their mouth. Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer series features in-depth explorations of notorious criminals such as Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy, employing real recordings and seldom-seen archival footage to create a haunting narrative. No narrator is employed here—only the killer’s voice, and that’s what makes it so frightening. For fans of the psychological aspects of true crime, this is a must-watch. Netflix describes it as unparalleled access into the minds of monsters, and they’re not wrong.
1. Catching Killers
And at number one, we’ve got Catching Killers—a Netflix docuseries that puts the spotlight not on the criminals, but the people who brought them down. Each episode tells the story of a real investigation, with detectives walking us through the twists, dead ends, and breakthroughs that finally cracked the case. It’s raw, gripping, and oddly inspiring. If you’ve ever found yourself yelling at the screen, “How did they miss that clue?! ”, this one’s for you.
Netflix highlights it as a series that showcases the grind, heartbreak, and victory behind solving impossible cases. Whether you’re an old true crime hand or just wading your feet into the genre, these shows are guaranteed to have you up late—and perhaps even leave you looking at your neighbor a little suspiciously. Just keep in mind: always trust your gut… and perhaps double-check the doors.