43 Best True Crime Shows on Streaming

Stephanie Osmanski,Mara Reinstein

December 3, 2022 at 8:00 AM·21 min read

Can't get enough true crime? We got you.

When it comes to the genre of true crime, nothing shocks us anymore. Actually, strike that—even if we know what we're in for when we put on true crime shows, we're still often shaken to the core with what unfolds before us. And we just can't get enough of them.

If you're in the market for a new true crime show to binge-watch (either alone or with another fellow Murderino), check out our ultimate list of the 43 best true crime shows, most of which are streaming on Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Discovery+ and other streaming sites. We ranked them all (because TBH, we're true crime-obsessed), so be sure to bookmark this one for future viewings!

Best True Crime Shows

1. See No Evil

Hands down the best true-crime show on television, See No Evil originated as an ID show and now, its seven seasons are available for streaming on Discovery+. Each episode follows a true-crime case that was solved with the help of real-life security footage. From single women who went missing in the Target parking lot to kidnappings caught on tape, all seven seasons are addictive. And when you're done, don't be surprised if you also find yourself subconsciously looking for security cameras everywhere you go.

2. The Jinx

Available on HBO Max, The Jinx is a can't-look-away-from-the-screen experience. This six-part docuseries (that won two Emmy Awards) focuses on the shady past of millionaire Robert Durst. Long-suspected for killing his wife in 1982, then later, his confidante Susan Berman, and then even later still, a neighbor, Durst may have committed three killings in the past four decades. And he may have admitted to it in the final scenes of the series. You'll want to see this.

3. Outcry

Completely underrated, Outcry is tragic and will make you feel hurt for all parties involved. The title of this five-part docuseries comes from the legal term "outcry witness," which typically refers to an adult who hears a child's outcry regarding the child's abuse. After high school football superstar Greg Kelley was accused of sexual assault by a 4-year-old boy, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Available to stream on Showtime, we don't want to give anything away, but this docuseries is stunning from start to finish and it will make you question everything.

4. Dirty John

Based on the critically acclaimed podcast from The L.A. Times, love goes spectacularly wrong in this Netflix anthology series set against the backdrop of sun-drenched southern California. First, an unlucky-in-love interior designer (Connie Britton) gets swept off her feet by the handsome John Meehan (Eric Bana), who claims to be an Iraq War vet and doctor. Little does she realize her happily-ever-after is anything but. In the second installment, unhappy 1980s housewife and mother of four Betty Broderick (Amanda Peet) ends up killing her estranged husband (Christian Slater). Soapy elements aside, the human-interest element is the heart of the show.

5. The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

The case that gripped a nation in the early 1990s has inspired multiple series, films, documentaries and podcasts. But it's Ryan Murphy's 10-episode limited series called The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story that had us glued to the TV just like when we first watched the Bronco chase. It dives deeper into what really happened when NFL superstar OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ron Goldman—from the iconic White Bronco Chase to the role the Kardashian-Jenner family played, no other portrayal quite hits it out of the park, like this one. Stream it on Hulu.

6. 20/20

You may remember 20/20 from late nights spent staying up with your mom when she watched TV, but don't sleep on this long-running true-crime show. Every episode tackles a different story that made headlines—though not all episodes qualify as "true crime"—and all 43 seasons can be found on Hulu. Not sure where to start? We recommend watching Season 43, Episode 23: "The Chameleon" (about the stunning Bear Brook Murders) and Season 43, Episode 24: "The Accused" (about a three-year-old who goes missing from her home in the middle of the night and the father who falsely confessed). Stream 20/20 on Hulu.

7. The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

Perhaps known as one of the world's most infamous missing child cases, The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann is particularly disturbing, of course, because the abducted child in question was only three. The toddler vanished from her family's vacation home in Portugal in 2007 and what ensued after was a media circus that potentially diluted the possibility of ever finding Madeleine—from incriminating Madeleine's own parents to corruption in the investigation bureau. While this unsolved abduction docuseries on Netflix is a must-watch, it's not for the faint of heart—especially for parents.

Related: Who Killed Crystal Theobald?

8. Nightstalker: The Hunt for a Killer

Described by one victim as "a killer clown," Netflix's original docuseries Nightstalker: The Hunt for a Killer rehashes the heinous crimes of Richard Ramirez and the manhunt that ensued to catch him. Known as "The Nightstalker" and other terrifying names during his monthslong tormenting spree of the Los Angeles area, Ramirez was eventually found guilty of 13 murders, though police believe he may be responsible for more. Chilling and near-unbelievable, Nightstalker was one of the most talked-about Netflix series at the start of 2021.

9. Fear City: New York vs. The Mafia

You don't have to be a fan of The Sopranos in order to genuinely enjoy this Netflix series about the standoff between New York City and the Italian Mob throughout the 70s and 80s, which covers everything from the Mafia Commission Trial to Mayor Rudy Guiliani's role in taking back New York. And there's nothing more shocking than the various crimes and conspiracies that powerful Mafia families committed.

10. America's Most Wanted

One of the longest-running criminal justice shows is back on TV once again—with its new host Elizabeth Vargas—and is also available for streaming rentals or purchases on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu. America's Most Wanted is one of the only true crime shows that asks the average American viewer for help in catching a wanted fugitive. It first debuted in 1988, ended in 2012, and is now back for a revival as of 2021 with Season 25. With more than 1,085 episodes to catch up on, America's Most Wanted is reportedly responsible for 1,190 captures of wanted fugitives.

11. McMillion$

If it's more mob-related true crime you're looking for, you can't ignore HBO's McMillion$. In fact, you probably lived through this one and didn't even know it was a Mafia-related scam. This six-part docuseries dives into the national conspiracy set forth by mob members to rig the McDonald's Monopoly game promotion for over a decade. And no one ever knew about it!

12. Dateline

Dateline—which first kicked off in 1992 and is now in its 29th season—is available to watch on Peacock and fuboTV. One of the most successful true crime-related shows in the investigative journalism genre, Dateline has profiled every headline-grabbing case from the real story of Dirty John (Season 26, Episode 12) to the somewhat lesser-known, but equally shocking Carrollton Plot (Season 23, Episode 4).

13. Jodi Arias: An American Murder Mystery

There's a lot to discuss (and a lot of different made-for-TV movies, docs and series to watch) when it comes to Jodi Arias. After notoriously killing her lover Travis Victor Alexander, the blonde bombshell made headlines everywhere—not only for brutally murdering Alexander in the shower but also for her odd behavior during the police interrogations (think: headstands, singing "O Holy Night," etc.). People can't get enough of Arias, so definitely add this limited series, available on Discovery+, to your list.

14. The Murder of Laci Peterson

It's the true crime case that most directly inspired Gillian Flynn's bestselling book and the subsequent blockbuster starring Ben Affleck, Gone Girl. Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn child in 2004. But all the evidence is circumstantial. If your memory of the case is tainted by Nancy Grace's commentary and ultimately, how the media portrayed him, The Murder of Laci Peterson may just change everything you thought you knew about the Laci Peterson case...and Scott Peterson as a person.

Stream The Murder of Laci Peterson on A&E (with valid cable subscription login), Hulu and Pluto TV.

15. Mindhunter

This expertly crafted series focuses on the team who began the Behavioral Science Unit in the FBI (and ultimately coined the phrase “serial killer”). The main characters, however, are fictional: Young and idealistic Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) teams up the wise Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) in the 1970s to interview criminals in a bid to learn more about the dark inner workings of murderers. (The killers are real people, including Edmund Kemper and Charles Manson.) Watch Mindhunter on Netflix.

16. Abducted in Plain Sight

If it's unbelievable you're going for, Abducted in Plain Sight is truly, truly stranger than fiction. In fact, with each episode in the Netflix original docuseries, it only gets weirder. A young girl is kidnapped by a family friend who has an unnatural fascination with her from the time she is little—but then even after she is returned to her family, it happens again. A second time.

17. The Trial of Gabriel Fernandez

The only reason The Trial of Gabriel Fernandez isn't any higher on this list of ranked true crime shows is that it's incredibly graphic and about a young child. Due to the graphic nature of this Netflix original docuseries, it's not for everyone—particularly parents of small children or those who may be triggered by themes of abuse. Still, this is one of the most compelling and tragic docuseries of all time. From heartwrenching interviews with the EMT who answered the 911 call to Gabriel Fernandez's young friend, this docuseries puts the system itself on trial after 8-year-old Gabriel is murdered by his parents after years of unthinkable abuse.

18. Narcos

If you've ever wondered how drugs are made or how Pablo Escobar unlocked a new status of "infamous" for being the leader of a drug cartel, you have to watch Narcos. All about Escobar and the agents who pursued him, Narcos is based on the true story of the Medellin Cartel, and later seasons take on cartels in other countries and are just as compelling. Stream it on Netflix.

19. When They See Us

Netflix's original series When They See Us finally gives The Exonerated Five—the five young boys who were wrongfully convicted of assaulting and raping a female jogger in Central Park in 1989—the ode they deserve. All five Black and Latino men—Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam and Antron McCray—were officially exonerated in 2002, years after spending their most formative years in prison. When They See Us is a provocative portrayal of one of the most unbelievable stories of wrongful conviction in modern history. Watch this series—you will be better for it.

20. The Act

The 2017 documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest shook the world when we learned of the tragic life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the victim of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, who suffered from Munchausen by Proxy. Gypsy orchestrated her mother's murder. Soon after, The Act—a Hulu original series based on the crimes and life of Gypsy and her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, who she persuaded to stab her mom—came in 2019. With a stunning performance (as Dee Dee Blanchard) that won Patricia Arquette an Emmy, The Act is a show—and a true story—that we won't shake from our heads anytime soon.

21. Scientology and the Aftermath

Ex-Scientology member Leah Remini has made it her life's purpose to uncover the lies, deceit and crimes of the Church of Scientology since leaving the church once and for all. In 2020, the A&E docuseries won an Emmy for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special at the Creative Arts Emmys. The show—which heavily relies on the testimony of excommunicated members of Scientology—started with the intent of encouraging authorities to investigate the leaders of Scientology and the church itself. Now in its third season, Remini and other ex-members are still trying to incite an investigation. Stream it on Hulu, Discovery+, A&E (with valid cable subscription login) and Philo.

22. Manhunt: Deadly Games

Manhunt: Deadly Games is the second season in the Manhunt series and it's the acting in this true-crime-inspired series that ranks it just a teensy bit higher than the other Manhunt season. Deadly Games is unbelievably heartbreaking at every turn as it follows the shocking true story of the search for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park Bomber, the falsely accused security guard who took the fall for years and the militia-led manhunt for the real bomber that eventually ensued. Stream it on fuboTV and Netflix.

23. Manhunt: Unabomber

The first season in the series, Manhunt: Unabomber is all about Ted Kaczynski and the obsessive investigator who made it his mission to unlock the Unabomber's identity through his various letters and manifestos. But the series becomes all the more compelling thanks to the real-time plotline that occurs between flashbacks of FBI profiler Jim Fitzgerald to identify the Unabomber. After breaking the Unabomber case, Fitzgerald became unhinged by the manifesto and teachings Kaczynski lived by, which ultimately challenges everything he thought he knew about life. Stream it on fuboTV and Netflix.

24. Dr. Death

Like The Good Nurse, Peacock's Dr. Death is a harrowing medical horror story. Joshua Jackson (The Affair) plays Christopher Duntsch, a charming and well-regarded Texas-based neurosurgeon who uses his scalpel to harm his patients. Surgeons Randall Kirby (Christian Slater) and Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) first investigate suspicious claims of injury and death, then quickly make it their mission to stop him from scrubbing in ever again. The bad doctor is currently serving a life sentence in prison.

Related: The Best Crime Documentaries

25. House of Gucci (2021)

Glamour, wealth, style, lust, jealousy, murder. Yup, all the boxes are checked in a salacious saga that focuses on the ill-fated marriage between Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga, herself a true-crime fan) and fashion heir Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver). After he grows tired of her tantrums and files for divorce, she seeks her revenge. The plays fast and loose with the murder plot details, but Gucci was shot down outside his apartment in 1995. Stream House of Gucci on Paramount+.

26. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)

Fear and dread are front and center of a four-part Netflix documentary that breaks down the crimes of proud satanist Richard Ramirez. A serial killer known as “The Night Stalker,” he terrorized the City of Angels for 18 months until his 1985 arrest. That’s only half the story: This series also shines an important light on the heroic Los Angeles homicide detectives who dedicated their every waking hour to tracking him down and bringing him to justice.

27. The Staircase

Kathleen Peterson’s fatal fall down her North Carolina staircase in 2001—and the subsequent court cases that ended with her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, being convicted of murder—has spawned podcasts, a groundbreaking 2004 documentary and an intriguing HBO Max original series starring Toni Collette and Colin Firth. While it’s not a traditional whodunit, Firth, who plays Michael, has described the crime series as “the study of a family and the whole idea of mystery even with people you’re closest to—it compels you.” Michael still maintains his innocence; case experts still theorize about the presence of the distracting owl.

28. Candy

This limited series is set in the heart of Texas, where mild-mannered teacher Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey) is found dead in her home with 41 ax wounds. Who did it? Not her husband. Not a psycho. Surprisingly, the answer is her outgoing church friend, well-to-do housewife and mom Candy Montgomery (Jessica Biel). Stories like the one in this Hulu series make us ask ourselves, “What am I capable of?” says Lynskey, who also stars in Yellowjackets, also inspired by a true story, about plane crash survivors.

29. The Vow

NXIVM-focused docuseries The Vow made waves after premiering on HBO and rightfully so. The Vow is a healthy helping of ex-members' experiences inside, how NXIVM even came to be and how these ex-members helped take Keith Raniere down. Stream it on HBO Max.

30. The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway

If you're a millennial, then you probably remember when Natalee Holloway mysteriously disappeared on a class trip to Aruba back in 2005. But while the case got international coverage at the time, years later, Natalee's father Dave is still working to uncover the truth about what happened to his teenage daughter. You won't be able to look away from each heartbreaking scene of Dave pursuing the truth and ultimately, his daughter's killer. Stream it on Peacock and fuboTV.

31. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness

Likely, you've already watched the series that will indirectly represent the beginning of quarantine for the rest of our lives, and you're reading this because you want more like it. If not, there aren't many words to describe the odd docuseries that is Tiger King and everything that happens in it, but we can promise it's unexpected and entertaining—and the Netflix original got a lot of people through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

32. Making a Murderer

You can't make a "true-crime series" list without including Making a Murderer. Arguably, it's the true-crime docuseries that cemented Netflix as a powerhouse when it comes to true crime. After being wrongfully convicted—and then finally exonerated—of a rape he did not commit, Steven Avery becomes the number one suspect in the murder of another woman, Teresa Halbach. Without much physical evidence to connect Avery to the case, some say Avery was set up by police so that Manitowoc County didn't have to pay Avery the $36 million in damages he sought for his wrongful conviction.

33. The Serpent

America loves a good conman story. Netflix's The Serpent is based on the real story of Charles Sobhraj, a French serial killer, gem dealer, con artist and thief. What will it take to bring the conman known as The Serpent to justice? A really dedicated detective.

34. I'll Be Gone in the Dark

I'll Be Gone in the Dark is an HBO original docuseries that examines the late writer Michelle McNamara's obsession with solving the Golden State Killer case. In fact, "Golden State Killer" is a name McNamara—who was married to Patton Oswalt—penned herself in her book of the same name. With six episodes, interviews from victims and Oswalt himself, I'll Be Gone in the Dark is a fascinating look into how an obsession with a crime can result in the solving of the crime.

35. Unbelievable

Inspired by real events, Unbelievable is the story of a young teen who reports, then recants her own rape. What follows is a twisty, turny eight-episode examination that will have you wondering what's true and what's not true as detectives across statelines struggle to figure out what really happened. Watch this powerful story on Netflix.

36. Unsolved Mysteries

Volumes 1 and 2 of Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries will creep you out and infiltrate your mind. But if you're a true-crime lover, then that's what you want out of a show, right? Each episode of Unsolved Mysteries highlights a specific case or story that has never been definitively solved. From bizarre deaths to chilling, inexplicable disappearances, Unsolved Mysteries is a must-binge.

37. Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness

The best part of the Netflix docuseries Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness isn't the rehashing of David Berkowitz's most gruesome crimes, but the compelling story of the investigator who attempted to uncover whether or not the Son of Sam killer worked alone. Episode after episode points to evidence of Berkowitz being involved in a demonic cult. So, is it true?

38. JonBené t: An American Murder Mystery

An Investigation Discovery original show that's now streaming on Discovery+, the three-episode JonBenét: An American Murder Mystery is one of the more in-depth takes on the JonBenét case. Six-year-old JonBenét's disappearance and murder rattled the nation and is a truly divisive topic; some think a family member killed JonBenét inside the house, while others spin conspiracy after conspiracy about who else could have done it. But with exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage straight from the crime scene, JonBenét: An American Murder Mystery is definitely worthy of a watch, even if you've binged all other movies and series about the case.

39. Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders

What happens when Law & Order dips its toes into true crime without fictionalizing it? Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders! And frankly, we're here for it! Edie Falco stars as defense attorney Leslie Abramson, defending the Menendez brothers, who killed their parents in 1989 after allegedly enduring years of sexual abuse. Watch it on Tubi.

40. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Now available on Netflix, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story first premiered on FX and is the incredible true story of a man who wanted to be famous—Andrew Cunanan—and so killed a man who actually was famous—Gianni Versace. Cunanan also killed four others as the limited docuseries explores the pivotal moments in Cunanan's life that ultimately led him to be a killer. Stream the series on Hulu.

41. Love Fraud

Need more true-crime-conman stories in your life? If you're a fan of Dirty John and The Serpent, you'll too be blown away by Love Fraud. A four-part docuseries that relies heavily on the victims—innocent women who were merely looking for love—to help find conman Richard Scott Smith, Love Fraud unfolds in real-time. But when traditional justice doesn't exactly pan out in their favor, the women turn to a bounty hunter to find out just how sweet revenge is. You can tune in on Showtime and Paramount+.

42. The Dropout

Based on the true case of Theranos, Amanda Seyfried received universal acclaim (and an Emmy!) for her portrayal of founder Elizabeth Holmes in Hulu's The Dropout.

Holmes, born into generational wealth, became a celebrity in the tech world and covered numerous magazines—and became one of the youngest female billionaires ever—after she dropped out of Stanford University at 19 to start Theranos. The company claimed to be able to conduct blood tests using significantly smaller samples from a mere finger prick—but as it turned out, their machines didn't work at all.

In addition to bilking investors, Theranos also caused strife for its workers and their families, with some having devastating fallout from the scandals.

43. A Friend of the Family

Like Abducted In Plain Sight, this Peacock original miniseries is based on the true experiences of Jan Broberg, who was groomed and abducted twice by a family friend. However, A Friend of the Family is a dramatization of the events and was co-produced by Broberg herself.

Next, here's what to do when your true crime obsession starts getting out of hand.

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