Crime fascinates us—whether it’s the mystery, the twisted psychology, or the need to make sense of the unimaginable, it’s easy to fall into a binge-watching spiral, Googling details at 2 a.m., or texting friends wild theories. With so many options out there, here are 9 unforgettable true crime series worth your time—each gripping, emotional, and likely to spark conversation long after the credits roll.
9. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke
This is not a music doc. It’s a riveting examination of the life, legacy, and tragic death of soul legend Sam Cooke. The movie delves into the politics, racial issues, and questions that still surround his murder after all these years. It’s a thoughtful blend of biography and true crime that haunts long after the credits have faded.
8. Long Shot
Imagine being charged with murder and your best hope is a television show. That’s what happened to a man whose alibi rested on being filmed at a baseball game… in the background of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. It’s brief, bizarre, and very gratifying.
7. Victim/Suspect
This one will get your blood boiling. It traces the cases of young women who were sexually assaulted, only to discover that they were being treated as suspects rather than victims. It’s a gut-kick of a documentary that reveals serious shortcomings in the way certain cases are treated.
6. Casting JonBenet
Instead of reenacting the fatal JonBenet Ramsey case the typical way, this documentary does it entirely differently. It interviews actors who are auditioning to portray major players in the case, mixing performance and genuine emotion in a way that’s unnervingly poignant and strangely illuminating.
5. Why Did You Kill Me?
A distraught family takes to social media—MySpace, of all things—to track down their daughter’s murderer. This documentary combines cyber sleuthing and raw emotion with a personal twist. It’s no ordinary true crime, but that’s what makes it work.
4. Abducted in Plain Sight
It’s the type of story that you’ll stop reading several times just to say, “Wait—what?!” A little girl is kidnapped twice by someone the family trusted absolutely. The twists are nearly too bizarre to believe, but it’s all horrifyingly real. This one lingers.
3. I Am Vanessa Guillen
This gut-wrenching film is based on the true story of Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, whose murder and disappearance brought a national outcry. It’s both an ode to her and an exposé on the silence and abuse that can occur within influential institutions.
2. Athlete A
This one’s difficult—but so necessary. It centers on the gymnasts who spoke out to bring down Larry Nassar, to expose the horrific extent of abuse within USA Gymnastics. It’s an unflinching, tear-jerking watch, but one that demonstrates the resilience of survivors who would not be silenced.
1. Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
A dramatised account of one of the most notorious serial killers ever known, this show swept the world up. It’s frightening and unsettling, but it also asks tough questions about how we retell these stories, and at what price. Although it’s not an easy one to watch, it’s undoubtedly powerful.
True crime isn’t just about solving puzzles—it’s about people. Real lives, real trauma, and real consequences. Whether you’re into court cases, conspiracies, or character-driven mysteries, these shows prove that the truth really can be stranger—and more compelling—than fiction.