The number of crime documentary content has been rapidly increasing on Netflix in past years. The major cause of this change could be how people are investing so much of their time in consuming Netflix content with the number of Netflix subscriptions increasing over the last few years. People are more into realistic content these days they have become more practical with the passing years and have started taking a keen interest in crime documentaries. If you are a Netflix user then you must have noticed how many crime documentaries have Netflix produced in past years and the numbers are only increasing.
Viewers have come a far way from the era when everyone enjoyed watching cliché rom-com content, they practically find this sort of content gross nowadays. The change in taste from romcoms to crime thrillers is one of the reasons why Netflix has too started investing so much in this kind of content. The rising demand for documentaries and especially crime documentaries have only made the viewers happy there are tones of cases from all around the world that not everybody has knowledge about however with the production of these crime documentaries netizens can also have an idea about all the crimes taking place around the world. We have listed down all the fan’s favourite crime documentaries on Netflix to save your time and give you a brief idea about the series.
1) American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
It is a British documentary movie Directed by Jenny Popplewell, it follows the story of the disappearance of Shanann Rzucek and her four and three years old daughters named Bella and Celeste respectively. Shanann’s friend Nicole called the police after being suspicious of her friend’s unanswered calls and messages, that’s what made the police investigate this case. Investigation of the case lead to many unknown facts and events that nobody was aware of. According to IMDB the film has been watched by 27K users who have given it a score of 7.2 out of 10. This film is one of the most popular crime documentary films on Netflix which was released on
September 30, 2020.
2) Trial by Media (2020)
It is a 6 episode American mini tv series, the series unfolds six different stories on how media played some role in manipulating the outcome of different trials in the courtroom. The series first episode covered the talk show murder case Jonathan Schmitz appeared on the show unknown of the fact that the producers were going to present Scott Bernard Amedure as his secret admirer. The jokes about his sexuality brought him to the edge and he murdered Amedure a few days after. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 3.1K users who have given the series a 7.1 out of 10.
3) Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story (2020)
It is an American crime documentary movie, directed by Daniel H. Birman. This documentary depicts the story of 16-year-old Cyntoia Brown, who murdered a sleeping Johnny Allen by shooting him in the head. According to Cyntoia, she shot Johnny because she was scared of him but later it was proved that she shot him dead and robbed him for which she was sentenced to life in imprisonment.
According to IMDB the series has been watched by 2.7K users who have given the series a 6.3 out of 10.
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4) Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez (2020)
It is an American 3 episode tv mini-series Directed by Geno McDermott, the series follows the story of football player Aaron Hernandez who murdered two people and played an entire season as a professional athlete later on. People around him described him as a kind person, who never picked on other kids and later became one of the best players in America. During the trial, he was proven guilty of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. According to IMDB the series has been watched by 17K users who have given the series a 7.4 out of 10. This series is among one of the most-watched crime documentaries on Netflix, it could be because Aaron Hernandez is a very popular sports athlete and everyone wanted to know more about the case.
5) The Confession Killer (2019)
It is an American 5 episode tv mini-series, Directed by Robert Kenner and Taki Oldham. The series covers the story of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas who murdered his mother in the year 1960 he later confessed to having committed 600 murders. When the investigation team later concluded that the cases Lucas has been confessing to murder were not true. He couldn’t commit all those crimes they said and he was charged with life in prison for the murder of his mother. According to IMDB the series has been watched by 8.9K users who have given the series a 7.4 out of 10.
6) Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
It is a British 3 episode tv mini-series written by Mark Lewis and Directed by Mark Lewis. The series unfolds the story of a Canadian guy named Luka Magnotta, who posted a graphic video of animal cruelty on the social networking website. After this video got massive attention people from all around the world started looking for clues to find the man behind the camera later on he murdered a Chinese international student named Jun Lin. According to IMDB the series has been watched by 51K users who have given the series an 8 out of 10. This case was already in the media all around the world in 2010 when everyone from all around the world started looking for the real culprit after the viral cat cruelty video.
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7) The Staircase (2018)
It is a french tv series consisting of 13 episodes, written by Nathalie Sobania and directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. The series covers the story of Kathleen Peterson who was murdered by her husband American novelist Michael Peterson. She was found dead at the bottom of the staircase but the injuries were not consistent with falling stairs. The investigation of Kathleen’s death also lead to Elizabeth Ratliff who was a friend of Michael and was also found dead in the same manner in 1985 Germany. According to IMDB the series has been watched by 23K users who have given the series a 7.9 out of 10.
8) Abducted In Plain Sight (2017)
It is American crime documentary film Directed by Skye Borgman, the film follows the story of an Idaho based family who fell into the trap of their charming neighbour named Robert Berchtold. He first made a good impression on the family by putting on an act of a friendly man who was very good with kids. The family became very good friends and then he kidnapped their teenage daughter twice his brother described him as a pervert. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 19K users who have given the series a 6.8 out of 10.
9) The Keepers (2017)
It is an American mini tv series consisting of 7 episodes, Directed by Ryan White. The series depicts the heartwrenching story of a Catholic religious sister named Catherine Anne Cesnik, who used to teach English and drama at Archbishop Keough High School. In the year 1969, sister Catherine disappeared from the school and later in the year 1970, her dead body was found near a garbage dump in the same area. According to IMDB the series has been watched by 22K users who have given the series an 8.1 out of 10.
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10) The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann (2019)
It is an American tv mini-series consisting of 8 episodes Directed by Chris Smith. The series revolves around the disappearance case of Madeleine Beth McCann at the age of 3 from a resort. She went missing from her bed where she and her twin brothers were sleeping while her parents were dining at a restaurant. This case was one of the most famous missing child cases in the world. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 11K users who have given the series a 6.6 out of 10.
11) Long Shot (2017)
It is an American crime documentary film directed by Jacob LaMendola. The series follows the story of Juan Catalan who was accused of murdering Martha Puebla in the year 2002, it was just like any other day for Juan Catalan but as soon as he opened the order he was surrounded by a swats team. The fight for his innocence was an enormous fight the prosecutor that was assigned to the case had never lost she liked to pick up people with the death penalty. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 7.8K users who have given the series a 7.4 out of 10.
12) ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019)
It is an American crime documentary film Written by Jeff Zimbalist and Michael Zimbalist and Directed by Kelly Duane. The film follows the story of the mysterious death of American singer Sam Cooke, he was at the peak of his career and was one of the most influential black singer activists at that time. He was in the limelight and a lot of people did not like that he received many threats before his death. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 2.3K users who have given the series a 7.2 out of 10.
13) The Confession Tapes (2017)
It is an 11 episode American tv series Created and Directed by Kelly Loudenberg. The confession tapes depict the story of people who were made to confess a crime they did not commit. The police officers told them they committed a certain crime and made them believe that they killed someone they loved. But the convicts never confessed that they have committed that certain crime, the story covers those false confessions. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 5.4K users who have given the series a 7.5 out of 10.
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14) Casting JonBenet (2017)
It is an American crime documentary film Directed by Kitty Green. The film depicts the story of one of the most mysterious deaths in the city of Boulder. child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found dead inside her residence under mysterious circumstances, and a ransom note was also found in the family home. The case was never solved because of a lack of evidence the film shows the facts and other relevant information that was unknown to the general public. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 5.4K users who have given the series a 6.1 out of 10.
15) Amanda Knox (2016)
It is an American crime documentary film Written by Matthew Hamachek and Brian McGinn, Directed by Rod Blackhurst and
Brian McGinn. The film unfolds the story of a 20-year-old girl named Amanda Knox, who was falsely accused of murdering her roommate a 21-year-old exchange student named Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy. The film depicts the side of the media and the judiciary system in Italy who declared Amanda guilty even before the real culprit Rudy Guede was found out. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 24K users who have given the series a 6.9 out of 10.
16) Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
It is a 4 episode American crime documentary series, Written and Directed by Joe Berlinger. The series unfolds the story of American serial killer Ted Bundy and the crimes he committed during his time before he received his death sentence in the year 1989. The series shows all the interviews and findings during his trial, family and close ones also provided unknown facts about him. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 29K users who have given the series a 7.7 out of 10.
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17) Strong Island (2017)
It is an American crime documentary film Directed by Yance Ford, The film focuses on the murder case of a 24-year-old African American teacher named William, who was killed by a nineteen-year-old white man named Mark P. Reilly. Ford fought for his brother to give justice to him but the court did not believe Mark P. Reilly. murdered him because of mutual reasons and declared the murder an act of self-defence. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 3.9K users who have given the series a 6.4 out of 10.
18) Making a Murderer (2015)
It is a 20 episode American crime documentary tv series, Written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. The series unfolds the story of Steven Avery who was falsely convicted for the crime he did not do in the year 1985. Steven was convicted for sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen, he served eighteen years in jail and was released in 2003, after 2 years of his release he murdered a woman named Teresa Halbach in the year 2007. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 9.4K users who have given the series an 8.6 out of 10.
19) The Innocent Man (2018)
The innocent man is a 6 episode American crime documentary tv series, Created by Ross M. Dinerstein and Directed by Clay Tweel.
The series uncovers the crime that took place in the city of Ada, in the year 1988 a girl named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered inside her home. Ron Williamson was convicted of the rape and murder of Debra because of the manipulation in the investigation. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 5.9K users who have given the series a 7.3 out of 10.
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20) TIME: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)
It is a 6 episode American crime documentary tv series, that premiered on March 1, 2017. The series was Directed by Jenner Furst, the series depicts the story of an African American man named Kalief Browder. Kalief was arrested in The Bronx, New York accused of stealing a backpack, he was kept in Rikers Island jail for this incident for 3 years without any trials this case raised many questions about the mistreatment of the black community in the USA. In the year 2015, Browder hanged himself to death for the torture and trauma he received in from his arrest. According to IMDB, the series has been watched by 2.7K users who have scored the series an 8.4 out of 10, the series has received several nominations and has also won the Black Reel Awards for Television for Outstanding TV Documentary or Special.
21) Wild Wild Country (2018)
It is a 6 episode American crime documentary tv series, that premiered on March 16, 2018. The series was Directed by Chapman Way and Maclain Way, the series depicts the story of Indian guru Osho and his spokesperson Ma Anand Sheela was found guilty of food poising 751 people for winning the election in The Dalles, Oregon. Guru Osho and his spokesperson Sheela built a religious community called Rajneeshpuram in the year 1970 in the northwest United States to make their influence the community and raise the followers in the future. Their movement did various frauds and attempted murder when they were in action all this information was later revealed, during the investigation after the Rajneeshee bioterror attack.
22) Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
It is a 4 episode American crime documentary tv series that premiered on May 11, 2018, Written by Barbara Schroeder and co-director Trey Borzillieri. The series unfolds the story of Brian Wells when a caller called the nine one one for help after being robbed. The hostage Brian Wells, was sent into the bank with an explosive around his neck to rob the bank. This was one of the most bizarre cases to ever take place in America, something like this had never happened before in the history of the FBI. The incident took place in a small city called Erie, the city had witnessed bizarre events but this was something that even the residents had never witnessed in their life. The man told the police that he was forced to rob the bank he was called the pizza bomber in the media.
23) I Am a Killer (2018)
It is a 20 episode British crime documentary tv series, that premiered on August 3, 2018. The series follows the story of different crimes that the inmates of a particular cell committed when they were not arrested for their crimes. The inmate depicts the story of how they were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death by the judiciary system. They describe their motives, behavioral and cognitive response etc in the series, the series gives an insight into how people from around us living a normal life have so many things in their mind one wrong turn them into something that we are clueless about. The series is very gruesome because the inmates describe their every action while committing the crime that can frighten some people.
24) The Investigator: A British Crime Story (2016)
It is a 7 episode, British crime documentary tv series that premiered on July 14, 2016, Directed by Hugh Ballantyne and Adam Wimpenn. The series uncovers the truth about the missing mother, named Carole Packman who vanished out of nowhere and her body was never found. Mark Williams investigates the 30-year-old case to give a new direction to the disappearance case of Carole Packman. Investigator Mark Williams opens up other missing and murder cases from the past that are still open for investigation, when he investigated these cases in the past he found out that all these cases had some link to the Peter Tobin and Angus Sinclair who were convicted series killers in the year 2008 and 2014.
25) House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths
It is a 3 episode Indian crime documentary tv series that was released on October 8, 2021, Directed by Anubhav Chopra and Leena Yadav. The series gives the viewers an insight into one of the most bizarre cases in India, where 11 members of a joint family were found dead inside their family house in Delhi. This particular case got so much media attention when it happened that every citizen of the country had different theories to how the incident happened. The Netflix documentary explained the mindset and the behavioural pattern of the family members and every insight that was not revealed in the media before and showed the viewers how the case was solved, the series had various interviews with police departments, relatives and neighbours.
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