15 Most Shocking True Crime Documentaries On Netflix
1. Making a Murderer (2015)
The long, winding legal saga of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, who were convicted of murder after Avery had already spent 18 years wrongfully imprisoned for a separate crime. This series sparked a global debate over the integrity of the American justice system, police conduct, and alleged prosecutorial misconduct in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
2. Wild Wild Country (2018)
The bizarre and escalating conflict between the followers of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) and the conservative locals of Antelope, Oregon, after the cult established a massive utopian city in the 1980s. This docuseries chronicles everything from large-scale commune building and political maneuvering to bioterrorism, capturing the explosive and often absurd power struggle at the heart of the controversial group.
3. The Keepers (2017)
The unsolved 1969 murder of beloved Baltimore nun and high school teacher Sister Cathy Cesnik. The series is an emotional and meticulous investigation led by Sister Cathy’s former students, who uncover a far-reaching web of trauma and alleged systemic sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and a possible cover-up that may have led to her death.
4. Death on the Staircase (2004)
The mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson in 2001, whose novelist husband, Michael Peterson, claimed she fell down the stairs but was later charged with her murder. The documentary provides unparalleled access to Michael Peterson and his defense team, meticulously following the legal proceedings, evidence, and competing theories.
5. Don't F with Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer (2019)
This highly viral, fast-paced series focuses on a dedicated group of amateur internet sleuths who became obsessed with tracking down the killer, often outpacing law enforcement agencies. It begins with a terrifying series of online videos posted by Luka Magnotta showing the abuse and killing of animals, which then escalates into human murder.
6. The Tinder Swindler (2022)
This film is a compelling, high-stakes investigation told entirely from the perspective of the victims, who eventually banded together to seek revenge and expose the notorious fraudster. It follows the real-life story of Simon Leviev, a con artist who used the dating app Tinder to create an elaborate Ponzi scheme, defrauding women across Europe out of millions of dollars.
7. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
The 2018 disappearance and murder of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters by her husband, Chris Watts. The entire story is told using raw archival footage, giving it a chilling atmosphere. Police bodycam recordings, social media posts, and text messages create a disturbing, real-time look into the case and the façade of a seemingly perfect family.
8. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
Richard Ramirez was a terrifying specter on the streets of Los Angeles, and his random yet dangerous killing spree dominated public fear for years. This docuseries is a gripping procedural that focuses less on the killer and more on the dedicated detectives who worked tirelessly to piece together the evidence and catch the notorious criminal during one of the most frightening manhunts in California history.
9. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2022)
The unraveling of the powerful Murdaugh legal dynasty in South Carolina, triggered by a fatal boat crash and culminating in the shocking double murder of a mother and son. The series dives deep into decades of alleged corruption, privilege, and cover-ups tied to the Murdaugh family, detailing how their wealth and influence shielded them from justice until the double murder brought the entire web of scandal crashing down.
10. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
This documentary does not shy away from putting forward the disgusting and gritty truth about Jeffrey Epstein through its powerful narrative. The harrowing testimonies of survivors detail how Epstein used his immense wealth and political connections to carry out his abuses and evade accountability for decades. The extensive sex trafficking and abuse committed by the billionaire financier and the systemic network that enabled him are laid bare in this docuseries.
11. Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
The bizarre 2003 “pizza bomber” case in Erie, Pennsylvania, where a pizza delivery man was forced to rob a bank with a bomb locked around his neck. The show investigates the layers of deceit, madness, and manipulation orchestrated by the supposed mastermind, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, in one of the most complex and bizarre criminal conspiracies in U.S. history.
12. Amanda Knox (2016)
The sensationalized, decade-long legal battle surrounding the murder of Meredith Kercher in Italy and the subsequent trials and media frenzy involving her American roommate, Amanda Knox. The film provides a rare, personal testimony from Knox herself, exploring the profound impact of media sensationalism, prosecutorial overreach, and the complexities of the justice system in one of the highest-profile international murder cases of its time.
13. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
The systematic abuse and oppression within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) polygamist sect under the control of its prophet, Warren Jeffs. This series features shocking firsthand accounts from the women and children who escaped the tyrannical, patriarchal cult, detailing the cruelty, forced marriages, and psychological control wielded by Jeffs.
14. American Nightmare (2024)
In 2015, a home invasion and subsequent kidnapping in California were initially dismissed by authorities as a fabricated story, branding the victim and her boyfriend as liars in a “Gone Girl” scenario. The documentary highlights the gross misjudgment and skepticism of law enforcement, detailing the intense public and police scrutiny the victims faced before irrefutable evidence proved the shocking truth of their ordeal.
15. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
The horrific abuse and murder of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez by his mother and her boyfriend is one of the most gruesome true-crime stories available on Netflix. The story encapsulates the legal proceedings and the social workers charged with negligence. This series is a deeply painful, powerful, and necessary watch that focuses heavily on the systemic failures and bureaucratic negligence of the child protective services that failed to save Gabriel.
