There is something about a good true-crime documentary series that burrows under your skin and won’t let go. Perhaps it’s the twisty turns, the cavalcade of offbeat suspects, or the glimpse into the seamy underside of human nature. Whatever the reason, true-crime is the genre that keeps us up at night sometimes double-checking the locks, sometimes questioning our faith in humanity, but always, always pressing “next episode.” If you’re ready to dive into the most addictive, shocking, and downright wild true-crime sagas, here are the 15 best docuseries to binge right now.
1. The Lady and the Dale
This wild ride weaves together archival footage, raw interviews, and animation to recount the tale of Liz Carmichael, a larger-than-life businesswoman with a mysterious history. Critics have described it as an inebriating mix that’s half about identity and half about crime.”
2. Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult
If you believe cult tales can’t get any more horrific, think again. Seduced’s eye-witness account and expert analysis of the way a seemingly harmless self-help group descended into a hellish nightmare cult leave viewers appalled and enthralled.
3. Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story
Earnest and serious, the series examines senseless murder of Trayvon Martin and accompanying failure of the system. It’s a compassionate examination of a defining moment in modern history, dissecting individual tragedy and flawed system.
4. The Innocence Files
This highly acclaimed Emmy-winning series digs up buried truth in miscarriages of justice, tracing the secret human stories behind eight cases battled to be reversed by the Innocence Project and its supporters. Boasting a flawless critics’ score, it’s not to be missed for anyone who wants to witness justice served while they’re alive.
5. The Confession Tapes
When is a confession not a confession? This series examines instances where confessions may have been coerced, false, or just weird. It’s a boggling examination of the justice system’s gray areas.
6. Wild Wild Country
Imagine a forgotten slice of American history involving a controversial guru, a sprawling commune, and a culture clash that spirals into chaos. Wild Wild Country is as unbelievable as it is true, and you’ll be glued to every minute.
7. The Keepers
This miniseries reveals decades of deception surrounding the killing of a popular nun and the ensuing abuse and cover-up cycle. Its genuine horror and compelling drama have been widely acclaimed by critics.
8. I Love You, Now Die
Perfection is achieved by director Erin Lee Carr in combining journalistic bite with compassion in this nuanced examination of a messy crime involving texting, suicide, and the limits of blame. It’s tightly edited, absorbing, and admirably exploitation-free.
9. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
Drawn to the late Michelle McNamara’s dogged investigation of the Golden State Killer, this series weaves together trauma, survival, and the curative power of true-crime obsession. Half detective drama and half case study.
10. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Sensational storylines and a combination of interviews and dramatizations make this show unmissable. Real-life tale of real estate heir Robert Durst is stranger than fiction and the last episode will leave your mouth agape.
11. Surviving R. Kelly
This series champions the women who came out of the woodwork to protect themselves from singer R. Kelly. It’s a disturbing, emotionally exhausting rollercoaster that’s half survival and half discovering the worst of secrets.
12. The Staircase
Gloamily slow-motion exploration of the twisted court system, The Staircase documents the suspected murder of Michael Peterson’s wife. With its super-long episodes, it’s an in-depth deconstruction of the turn and counterturn in a real-life court thriller.
13. Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist
A pizza delivery driver, a collar bomb, and a foiled bank robbery this show has everything in true-crime legend. It’s off-the-wall, stay-in-your-head storytelling that will keep you guessing every step of the way.
14. Making a Murderer
Few shows are as polarizing as Making a Murderer. Following Steven Avery’s fight for justice after being wrongly convicted, it’s a rollercoaster of courtroom drama, small-town politics, and questions haunting audiences.
15. Tiger King
No true crime list would be complete without Tiger King. This dirty, guilty pleasure character study of obsession, big cats, and larger egos is the ultimate binge. It’s strange, it’s anarchic, and you can’t turn away.
Whether you’re an old-time veteran or just wading into the world of true crime for the very first time, these docuseries will have you sitting at the edge of your seat and maybe even staying up all night with the lights on.