Why do we have such an obsession with true crime? There’s no denying the genre is captivating, drawing you right into the real-life stories of murders, kidnappings, strange disappearances, financial crimes, and cults. Netflix is one of the best streamers for true crime series because a new one launches seemingly every month. Some of the best true crime shows on Netflix right now also happen to be the most disturbing. They aren’t always for the faint of heart. You’ll be dying to talk about these jaw-dropping stories with others after hearing these awful and gruesome stories.
If you’re trying to decide which ones are worth watching, we have you covered. But be ready to deal with the intense emotions each of these true crime series will evoke. Friends, family members, and even passionate online forums will be sought out to learn what everyone else thinks.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (2024)
The story chronicled in Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter spans a 15-year search. What makes it stand out from others of its kind is the especially emotional, heartbreaking way it handles themes of a mother’s unwavering love and failures of the justice system. Produced by Charlize Theron, Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter will make you want to hug your kids tightly.
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2023)
It’s almost too crazy to believe. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh was investigated for the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, but this is only one part of the long and sordid tale that became one of the most high-profile cases in South Carolina. As a member of a prominent family, Murdaugh’s web of lies began to unravel, along with the story behind the tragic death of Mallory Beach. She died several years prior after falling overboard when the family boat crashed with Paul and several friends aboard. Paul was charged with three felony counts relating to the events and was out on bond and awaiting trial at the time of his murder.
An incredible story of power, influence, wealth, lies, and tragedy, Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal takes new twists and turns relating to the two intertwined cases during its six-episode run. The heartlessness of some of the allegations will leave you shaking in horror.
American Murder: Gabby Petito (2025)
It was a case that rocked the nation. Gabby Petito was a lovely young woman who chose to enjoy the “van life” with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. The case gained national attention after Gabby went missing. Bodycam footage was released of the time officers were called to the scene when a witness saw her and Brian getting into an altercation in their car. The footage is heartbreaking, especially knowing that Gabby would be murdered a few weeks later.
The case is outlined from start to finish in American Murder: Gabby Petito, which includes interviews with both sets of Gabby’s parents and stepparents and others. While the three-part docuseries has faced criticism for using AI to narrate Gabby’s journal entries in her voice, directors and executive producers assure that her family gave their blessing. Whether you find that portion unsettling or not, the entire case of what Gabby went through is a haunting situation.
Apple Cider Vinegar (2025)
Bella Gibson is a former Australian influencer who was also a peddler of pseudoscience. She called herself a wellness guru and falsely claimed that she had multiple cancers that her various methods — diet, exercise, and natural medicine — healed. In Apple Cider Vinegar, Kaitlyn Dever plays Gibson, and Alycia Debnam-Carey plays Milla Blake, a fictional character based on Jessica Ainscough, a magazine editor who swore by alternative cancer treatments for her illness.
As the two ladies vied for the attention of others by spouting their mistruths, the stakes aren’t quite as high for Gibson since she doesn’t actually have cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar is a fictional dramatization of the stories of these two ladies, drawing from the book The Woman Who Fooled the World. But it’s rooted in a true story about two ladies selling nothing more than snake oil and how the walls eventually closed in on both of them.
American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson (2025)
It’s one of the biggest crime stories with celebrities, a case still referenced thanks to the televised trial that saw O.J. Simpson walk free. You might think you know everything you need to know about that fateful night and the televised trial, which has been covered in many TV specials, documentaries, and even dramatizations. But America Manhunt: O. J. Simpson adds a new layer.
You’ll hear new interviews from people like LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, witnesses like Kato Kaelin, and attorneys Carl Douglas and Christopher Darden, who worked for the defense and the prosecution, respectively. Now that 30 years have passed, there’s an opportunity to reflect on the case and see some things differently, like testimony from two individuals who reported witnessing Simpson both run a red light by the scene of the crime and discard items in a trash can at LAX later that same evening. Delivered in four parts, American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson will grip you from the very first scene.
Unsolved Mysteries (2020)
One of the preeminent mystery documentary series, Unsolved Mysteries has been around since 1987, though it has gone off the air and been revived numerous times. The latest revival was in 2019, when Stranger Things executive producer Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) rebooted the series for Netflix with a slightly new format. Even without a host (could anyone ever truly replace Robert Stack?), the episodes still draw you in with their terrifying tales of murder, mysterious vanishings, UFO sightings, and other creepy stories.
Each episode focuses on recollections from those involved in each case, and includes archived footage, theories, interviews with law enforcement, and reenactments. Some of the most compelling episode include those about the Berkshires UFO, the infamous Dupont de Ligonnès murders in France, the mysterious disappearance of Rey Rivera, and the chilling tale of Amanda Antoni, who was discovered dead on her basement floor. The best part about Unsolved Mysteries is you can watch each season or episode in any order you like, even selecting only the true crime stories you find most interesting.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024)
A gripping dramatization of one of the biggest murder cases of the 1990s, Ryan Murphy tackles the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez in his second installment of the biographical crime drama anthology series Monster, which began with his interpretation of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. In Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch brilliantly portray the two brothers at the center of the harrowing case. Claiming years of mental, physical, and sexual abuse, they plan to murder both their parents in cold blood. Their actions thereafter disturb everyone, going on a spending spree with their massive inheritance.
The case is far more complex, however, than two young men killing for money or to break free from a domineering dad, as the trial reveals. A riveting story about one of the most infamous murder cases in American history, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story sets out to both humanize and vilify the brothers, as well as their parents. It’s the type of dramatization that will leave you curious to learn more and spark conversation. Chavez and Koch, both relative newcomers, lead the series with their heart-wrenching, nuanced performances.
Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)
Evan Peters earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the sadistic serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in this first instalment of this biographical true crime anthology series. Created by Ryan Murphy, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story provides an intimate look into the life and crimes of Dahmer, who lured, murdered, and dismembered 17 males between 1978 and 1991. He engaged in necrophilia and even cannibalism, and the series attempts to dive into the psyche of the killer, exploring not only his twisted motivations, but the desperation of his parents to help their clearly troubled son.
Niecy Nash is a standout as Dahmer’s suspicious neighbor, Glenda (she won an Emmy for the gripping performance), as is Richard Jenkins as his father, Lionel. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story isn’t an easy watch. But beyond the gruesome and disturbing nature of many of the scenes, the series presents crucial commentary about law enforcement, missed opportunities, and the treatment of cases involving young and marginalized victims.
Mindhunter (2017)
Arguably one of Netflix’s best-ever original series, and certainly one of the best in the true crime space, David Fincher‘s Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller based on the real-life story of two FBI agents and a psychologist who coined the term serial killer back in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Veteran agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), rookie agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), and psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) devise a research project to try and understand the minds of repeat killers, who they eventually begin to refer to as serial killers. The goal is to understand their motivations and psyches, in hopes this will in turn help them solve future cases and prevent more killings.
The actors playing real-life killers like Edmund Kemper, Charles Manson, David Berkowitz, and Dennis Rader are incredible in their portrayals. They capture everything from the look to the vocal inflections, attitudes, and even subtle mannerisms of these individuals. With conversations taken right from actual transcripts, Mindhunter will leave you with goosebumps as you listen to these vicious killers recall why they did what they did and justify their heinous acts with no remorse. Sadly, Mindhunter ended in 2019 after two seasons. But that hasn’t stopped fans from continuing to beg for its return, even to this day.
Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
One of the most disturbing true crime docuseries released in the last five years, Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer focuses on the story of convicted Canadian killer Luka Magnotta. But the approach is much different than a typical docuseries. It centers around a group of internet sleuths who discovered troubling videos a mysterious person had posted online and became determined to discover his identity. They were convinced his actions of killing two kittens on camera would eventually lead to murdering humans, and they were right. The group banded together to search for clues in his videos so they could find something, anything, to convince authorities to investigate these heinous acts.
A story of Facebook being used for good and the incredible talent and determination of a group of citizens who had no ties otherwise to the incidents will keep you at the edge of your seat through all three episodes. Just be prepared to feel intense emotions when watching: this one is only for true crime fans who aren’t easily put off.
