True crime isn’t just having “a moment” anymore—it’s practically its era. If you’ve ever found yourself staying up way too late, eyes glued to the screen, mentally connecting red string between suspects like you’re starring in your detective drama, you’re not the only one. The genre has exploded, and it’s not just about the adrenaline rush of catching a culprit. These tales allow us to delve into actual mysteries, enter the criminal mind, and watch justice prevail… or sometimes heartbreakingly withheld.
A 2022 YouGov survey discovered that roughly half of Americans are fans of true crime shows, one in three watch at least weekly, and a quarter confess that they binge on a multiple of times a week. The appeal? For many, it’s a mix of entertainment, education, and self-defense. We leave more vigilant, more educated, and more compassionate.
Psychiatrist Jean Kim, M.D., says we’re addicted because the stories provide us with comforting symmetry: moral certainty, solutions at the end, and a reminder of how fortunate we are to be snug on our couches. It’s similar to viewing a horror film… but with the lights on. And with each streaming platform launching new documentaries and docuseries, it’s the best time ever for someone who wishes to let the inner sleuth out. Here’s a 10-step countdown of 10 must-see true crime shows—beginning with number 10—that will have you guessing, gasping, and perhaps even stopping to do your research.
10. Cold Justice
Veteran prosecutor Kelly Siegler joins forces with crime scene investigator Yolanda McClary (the inspiration behind Catherine Willows on CSI) to explore small-town murder cases that have languished unsolved for decades. They bring new perspective, unrelenting passion, and—most often—closure to sorrowful relatives. Watch on Oxygen.
9. Disappeared
This anthology focuses on actual disappearances—everyday folks who suddenly vanish. Their loved ones won’t give up, and the shows explore what can happen along the way, sometimes revealing mind-blowing discoveries. Streaming on Hulu.
8. Unsolved Mysteries
A time-honored classic revisited. The Netflix revival maintains the original’s creepy atmosphere but with new tales of inexplicable disappearances, mysterious deaths, and even the odd ghostly run-in.
7. Murder Mountain
Based in Northern California’s Humboldt County, this documentary looks beneath the surface of the legal marijuana industry. A series of killings and missing persons cases—focusing on the death of a young grower—unspools against the background of pot farms, risk, and intrigue. Netflix release.
6. The Innocence Files
Wrongfully accused individuals campaigning for their liberty are brought to the fore in this poignant series. Based on the work of The Innocence Project, it deconstructs eight cases to reveal how faulty investigations, misidentifying witnesses, and defective systems can hijack justice. On Netflix.
5. The Case Against Adnan Syed
If you were addicted to Serial, this HBO Max documentary goes even further. It revisits the conviction of Adnan Syed for murdering Hae Min Lee in 1999, examining his relationship with her, gaps in the trial, and the appeals process that had the world polarized.
4. Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children
A chilling five-part HBO Max series reliving the killings of 30 African American youngsters and young men between 1979 and 1981. Using archival footage, interviews, and court transcripts, it looks at the racial tensions and political agendas that framed the case.
3. Who Killed Malcolm X?
Journalist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad embarks on a years-long investigation into the assassination of Malcolm X, uncovering new leads, exploring FBI and NYPD involvement, and questioning the official story. Streaming on Netflix.
2. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark
This HBO Max docuseries, from Michelle McNamara’s book, traces her single-minded pursuit of the Golden State Killer, interweaving his ghastly crimes in the ’70s and ’80s with her quest for personal justice.
1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
HBO Max’s six-part epic tells the bizarre, terrifying story of real estate scion Robert Durst—accused of his wife’s disappearance and the killings of two others. Years of probing culminated in interviews so forthright that they eventually uncovered a lot more than anyone could have anticipated.
True crime television is more than a late-night binge watch—it influences the way we think about crime, safety, and justice. Sure, they can sensationalize and distort our view of risk, but they can also humanize victims, open up difficult discussions, and educate us about the system’s faults. If you’re in it for the mystery, the moral dilemma, or the real-life application, there’s never a lack of tales to get lost in.