Netflix is home to a plethora of original content, ranging from dramas and romances to thrillers and horror. However, if you love true crime, Netflix offers some of the best true crime series available when compared to other streaming services. Making a Murderer might be the streamer's most well-known series, but it only scratches the surface of what lurks in Netflix's extensive library.
From an inside look into the dark minds of America's most notorious serial killers to the web of mysteries and exploitation the internet can create, here are the 10 best true crime series streaming on Netflix right now, listed in order of release date. Viewer discretion advised, but also highly recommended.
The Keepers (2017)
The Keepers might be one of Netflix's most compelling true crime docuseries to date. It centers on the unsolved murder of Catherine Cesnik, a Catholic nun first reported missing in 1969 and then found murdered in 1970. Those who like a neat ribbon at the end of their true crime stories won't get that here. However, if you dig sprawling mysteries that keep getting deeper, The Keepers fits the bill to a tee.
While Cesnik's former students at the all-girls high school she taught at seem to think the prime suspect is a priest removed by the ministry for sexually abusing minors, the investigation ultimately creates more questions. Cover up? Conspiracy? Watch the seven-part series and decide for yourself.
TIME: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)
True crime typically covers sadistic serial killers, sketchy heists, and long-simmering cold cases, but in the case of TIME: The Kalief Browder Story, it delves into the story of an innocent high school student held hostage by a corrupt justice system. Throughout six mind-boggling episodes, the docuseries lays out the unjust imprisonment of 16-year-old Kalief Browder, whose biggest mistake seemed to be a case of wrong place, wrong time.
After receiving 700 days of solitary confinement for allegedly stealing a backpack housing assorted valuables, what follows for Kalief is nothing but heartache and tragedy. Although The Kalief Browder Story may leave you in tears, it is an eye-opening look into the dark corners of America's justice system and how racial and socioeconomic privileges can make a difference in who gets fair treatment.
Wild Wild Country (2018)
Like Making a Murderer, Wild Wild Country is one of Netflix's more well-known releases. However, for anyone who hasn't given it a shot yet, consider changing that… immediately. The six-episode docuseries covers Indian guru and, let's just call him what he is, cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the devoted following he amassed in Wasco County, Oregon. Known as Rajneeshpuram, the community rose to prominence as a result of its many criminal activities, including assassination attempts, immigration fraud, and bioterrorism, to name a few.
Wild Wild Country might start as a slow burn, but those that stick with it are in for a docuseries loaded with twists, turns, and shocking reveals. It's rare for a true crime series to feel as riveting as a scripted show, but Wild Wild Country manages to do just that while delivering an informative storyline that remains relatively unbiased.
Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
Ted Bundy is arguably America's most notorious serial killer. While there have been countless movies and TV series made to understand his crimes and psychology, what's better than hearing about them straight from his own mouth?
Over the course of four episodes, creator and director Joe Berlinger offers an intimate look into the dark, twisted mind of Bundy, drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews and archival footage. Coupled with interviews from friends, law enforcement, and surviving victims, Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is one of the most thorough docuseries about the killer to date. As a warning, it might also be one of the scariest.
The Trails of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
As a word of warning, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a brutally heartbreaking watch. The six-part miniseries delves into the abuse and murder of eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez at the hands of his very own mother and his mother's boyfriend. The graphic nature of Gabriel's abuse is hard to hear. Still, it offers an important reminder about how society's most vulnerable people can all too frequently slip through the cracks of social services and law enforcement.
Really, The Trails of Gabriel Fernandez functions as a cautionary tale of institutional failure. You won't walk away from this docuseries the same. It will change you for the better, even if it shatters your heart in the process. Made with absolute respect for Gabriel, this docuseries is a great match for viewers who enjoy crime but not the sensationalism and exploitation that often comes with it.
Tiger King (2020)
During the early days of the pandemic, Tiger King took the world by storm. Directed by Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin, this true crime docuseries knows how to get weird. The main subject of Tiger King is the eccentric zookeeper turned felon Joe Exotic, who feels like he has been training to be on TV all his life—although probably not quite like this. Exotic's zoo, particularly his treatment of wild big cats, led to a feud with big cat conservationist Carole Baskin and a murder-for-hire plot.
If you've only seen the memes, it's time you watched the show. What lurks inside Tiger King's three seasons is truly stranger than fiction. You never quite know what to expect next, and that's what makes Tiger King so engrossing and bingeable for true crime fans searching for something a little different.
Athlete A (2020)
The USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal first received news coverage in 2016, but the horrific truth of these crimes extends back to the 1990s and involves a staggering number of victims, most of them minors. At the center of it all is Larry Nassar, the USAG team doctor who sexually assaulted hundreds (that's right, hundreds!) of girls during so-called "medical treatment." Athlete A tells the accounts of these victims, including the story of Maggie Nicholas, the gymnast who kickstarted the investigation into Nassar and the USAG while sparking a powerful and painful "Me Too" movement among the affected athletes.
Unlike some true crime docuseries where the perpetrator is the shining star, Athlete A takes care in how it presents this web of abuse and ensures the victims remain the focus. While it delivers a critique of the USAG as a whole, its message transcends beyond gymnastics, reminding audiences how sexual abuse can be overlooked when it involves people in power, no matter the setting.
Unsolved Mysteries (2020)
If you grew up between 1987 and 2010, then you probably already know the addictive staying power of Unsolved Mysteries. Always on TV, the series explored everything from cold cases to supernatural phenomena. In 2020, Netflix revived the series, with an Unsolved Mysteries reboot tackling a new set of mysteries. While not every episode features true crime in the traditional sense, the paranormal entries offer a nice change of pace from the grisly murder investigations that so often dominate the genre.
From mysterious vanishings and unidentified bodies to extraterrestrial encounters and ghostly entities, there's something here for everyone to enjoy. If you're looking for hard answers, you won't find them here. But you will get thought-provoking theories that are sure to keep you intrigued.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
For those who like serial killer docuseries, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer is one of Netflix's best offerings—and yes, it even rivals The Ted Bundy Tapes, previously mentioned on this list. The Night Stalker, aka Richard Ramirez, had a relatively short killing spree—as far as serial killers go—but still managed to kill 15 victims and plunge Los Angeles and San Francisco into total chaos.
The four-part miniseries chronicles the desperate search to capture the killer who used the cover of darkness to chilling advantage. While Ramirez certainly gets the spotlight at points, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer keeps the majority of its focus on law enforcement and the victims, which is how it should be.
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (2025)
In the digital age, Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing works as a cautionary tale. Whether you're a layperson interested in learning more about the dangers of "kidfluencing" or a parent seeking information about the types of trouble your child can encounter online, this is the docuseries for you.
Primarily following the story of "kidfluencer" Piper Rockelle, The Dark Side of Kidfluencing uses interviews and online receipts to paint a picture of exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Given the current relevance of the source material, The Dark Side of Kidfluencing is a timely watch that will, hopefully, spur regulations for online content involving minors, similar to the Child Actor Protection Act.
Where To Watch More True Crime Series Online
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