The best true crime on Netflix: Binge these documentaries with lights on

Killers, disappearances, and cold cases – true crime aficionados can never truly get enough stories of the dark and depraved real-life goings-on of our world. After all, it’s better to be aware of what can happen, right?

If you’re looking for more true crime then look no further. We have compiled some of the best Netflix true crime documentaries for you to bingewatch. You might want to watch them with a friend though, and we certainly don’t recommend watching in the dark.

The Confession Killer

This mini-series follows the odd story of Henry Lee Lucas, a man who was more serial liar than he was a serial killer. This five-episode documentary looks into how Lucas was thought to have killed hundreds of people despite proof this wasn’t possible.

Amanda Knox

This movie covers the story of the case of Amanda Knox. Odds are, you’ve heard of her even if you aren’t a true crime buff, because her case became a media frenzy. Knox was an American exchange student in Italy, who was accused of the murder of another student.

Abducted in Plain Sight

This hour and a half long documentary describes how one man was able to manipulate the parents of Jan Broberg, and Jan herself, when she was only twelve years old. This sociopath managed to kidnap the Brobergs’ daughter more or less with permission.

Cold Case Files

This show originally ran from 1999 – 2005 and recounted how decades-old cold cases were finally able to be solved. Netflix doesn’t have the original, but it does have the ten-episode reboot from 2017. Even better, the series is narrated by Danny Glover.

From Halloween kidnappings to family murder, this show is rife with cases you may not have heard.

The Keepers

The Keepers is a seven-part series that starts about the unsolved murder of a nun. However, as the search for answers deepens, the investigation starts yielding evidence of Catholic church corruption and maybe even in the justice system itself. This isn’t a story you will soon forget.

Unabomber in His Own Words

This 2020 docu-series about the infamous Unabomber looks through his entire life, from childhood to the terror he caused. This documentary features a rare interview with Ted Kaczynski himself, which helps to lead this four-part series.

Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist

Evil Genius is a four-episode mini-series about a strange bank heist involving a coerced pizza man with a bomb vest. Who could have forced him into this? How could they have gotten away with it?

Answers are still being searched for in this case, but the documentary does its very best to follow as many leads as possible.

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

This documentary series has eight episodes that explore two theories of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. The three-year-old girl was on vacation in Portugal with her parents when she disappeared. One theory describes her parents being behind the disappearance, and the other points to human trafficking.

No matter which answer is true, both are absolutely horrifying and prone to keeping viewers up at night.

The Staircase

This docu-series spans over many years. It started in 2004 as an eight-part story looking into the death of novelist Michael Peterson’s wife. The series added more episodes in 2013 and 2018 to cover Peterson’s arrest and trial.

The Staircase will interest anyone even vaguely interested in criminal law, since the director had extensive access to Peterson’s lawyers. Plus, the story takes a number of surprising twists and turns.

Confessions with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

Netflix really cashed in on Ted Bundy – obviously, there’s the Zac Efron movie, but first, there was a documentary series. This four-episode story looks into the thirty murders committed by Bundy as well as exclusive interviews with women who made it out alive.

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