The era of true crime documentaries has been ever-growing over the last few years, and today we’re here to share the ultimate list of UK Netflix’s best true crime documentaries to watch right now.
TW: Mentions of various true crime topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Continue with caution and keep yourself safe.
1. Who Killed Jane Dando
Crimewatch broadcaster Jane Dando was killed in broad daylight on her doorstop in 1999–but who did it? And why? This docuseries uncovers the case and details the still unsolved crime.
2. The Devil on Trial
This brand-new docuseries unpacks the first and only time that demonic possession was used as a defence in a US murder trial.
3. Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso
A young woman dies from alleged cyanide poisoning after drinking an iced coffee–but who poisoned the drink? Her best friend, Jessica Wongso, was convicted of the crime, but did she really do it?
4. American Murder: The Family Next Door
This story is one of the biggest and most heartbreaking true crime documentaries of all time. A man is found guilty of killing his wife and two children after he had an affair and only confessed to avoid the death penalty.
5. Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
This case was huge on social media. Everyone’s heard of it now. After a disturbing video is spread across the internet in 2010, a group of online sleuths make it there mission to uncover the criminal, but more and more surfaces about this mystery man.
6. Catching Killers
Catching Killers follows police and perpetrators as they detail various murder cases across the world. Each episode tells a different story of perseverance, investigation and arrests.
7. Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
When hotel guests start complaining of flooding, low water, and strange-tasting water, a maintenance guy goes to check the cisterns on the roof and discovers a body. Who is Elisa Lam? How did she get there? Was it a murder or suicide?
8. The Keepers
In November 1969, a nun disappears, and her body is found months later. The case remains unsolved to this day, but people suspect it was a cover-up after she may have accused a priest of abuse against minors.
9. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
This may be one of the most heartbreaking cases of neglect and is truly devastating. A young boy is murdered, prompting questions about social workers and the protection of vulnerable children.
10. My Lover, My Killer
This series tells the stories of people who were tragically killed by their romantic partners from the perspective of friends, family, and investigators.
11. How to Become a Cult Leader
Looking at six of the biggest cults in history, this series breaks down how they started their cults, attracting followers, and the dark history involved.
12. Tiger King
Tiger King was a staple at the start of lockdown in 2020–everyone was obsessed. If you were on TikTok, it was impossible to escape the infamous Joe Exotic. The series discusses the world of zookeeping and Joe’s twisted feud with Carol Baskin.
13. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
Told by survivors, this documentary unravels a long history of crimes against women and children in Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the hands of Warren Jeffs.
14. Worst Roommate Ever
If you think you’ve had a bad roommate, think again. This series tells the stories of various truly awful roommates, from con artists to murderers.
15. Sins of Our Mother
After a woman’s children go missing, an investigation is launched into her suspicious behaviour and conspiracy to kill even more people.
16. The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist
The Bling Ring were a group of young people in LA who robbed various celebrities’ homes in the late 2000s, from Orlando Bloom to Paris Hilton. Two members come forward to tell their stories, often contradicting one another.
17. Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields
When various bodies were found across a piece of land in Texas between 1984 and 1991, a suspected serial killer investigation began. The murders remain unsolved to this day, but a determined father of a victim is still fighting to find out what happened.
18. Murder Among The Mormons
Murder Among The Mormons breaks down the 1985 bombing homicides in Salt Lake City and the murderer’s relations to the Mormon church.
19. I Am a Killer
With unlimited insight into US prisons, this series explores various prisoners who are awaiting death row. The killers tell the stories of their crimes and how they feel now about what they did. True crime documentaries are normally told from the victim’s perspective–would you watch this?
20. The Pharmacist
The Pharmacist is one of the saddest true crime documentaries about loss and desperately seeking answers. After losing his son in a drug-related shooting, this pharmacist makes it his life mission to stop drug abuse in the United States of America.
21. The Devil Next Door
This insane series covers the case of John Demjanjuk and his conviction of war crimes at concentration camps during World War II. The story is told from both sides–Demjanjuk’s family and Holocaust survivors. Did he do it or have they got the wrong guy?
22. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
Richard Ramirez was one of the most notorious serial killers of the 80s. This series uncovers the investigation and his eventual conviction for the crimes committed across California.
23. Scots Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America
These cases are truly devastating. Survivors, experts and investigators discuss the harrowing cases of abuse against minors in a large organisation and the lasting impact on the young boys.
24. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
The Murdaugh empire collapses in 2021 when Maggie (mother) and Paul (son) are found dead, and Alex Murdaugh (father) is accused of the crimes. This is one of the most twisted true crime documentaries you’ll watch.
25. Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
When Lucie Blackman goes missing in Tokyo, her family back in the UK urge an investigation into what happened. The international investigation opens up a world of crimes against hostesses in Tokyo, with one man who is suspected of being the culprit.
26. Amanda Knox
This was one ofNetflix’s first huge true crime documentaries–the death of Meredith Kercher and her friend, Amanda Knox, who was suspected of the killing. Although she was convicted, it’s been a long-time debate of whether she did it or not.
27. The Most Hated Man on the Internet
After watching this, you’ll see why Hunter Moore became ‘The Most Hated Man on the Internet’. Moore opened a website where explicit images of countless women were uploaded without their consent. One victim’s mother, Charlotte Laws, made it her mission to stop this man and became a powerhouse in anti-revenge porn.
28. Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story
Jimmy Savile is one of the most hated men in Britain. After his death in 2011, victims felt safe to come out and share what Savile had done to them as children. His show, Jim’ll Fix It, became a disturbing environment for him to get away with crimes against minors for years.
29. Dig Deeper: The Disappearance of Birgit Meier
In 1989, Birgit Meier went missing. Almost 30 years later, her body was found. Police’s missteps tarnished the progress of this case, but Meier’s brother is still determined to figure out what happened to Birgit.
30. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives
No, funnily enough, this show isn’t really about vegans. A woman marries a man who claims he can make her dog immortal, and her life spirals into chaos. She was accused of violating labour laws and committing fraud–then she disappeared.
31. Girl in the Picture
In 1990, a 20-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run. The investigation into her death revealed that she was, in fact, a girl who went missing as a child. She was abducted by a fugitive and raised as his daughter.
32. Our Father
After a woman does an at-home DNA test, it’s revealed that she actually had countless half-siblings. This DNA test would reveal the crazy sperm donor scheme by fertility specialist Doctor Donald Cline.
33. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
Jeffrey Epstein was one of the most awful criminals in America, with huge power, fame, and wealth. Stories from survivors paint the picture of what happened on Epstein’s island and how he used his power to get away with abuse for years.
34. The Tinder Swindler
A group of women fell victim to a dating app scammer and have come forward to tell their stories. They joined together to hunt this man down and get justice for what he did to them.
35. Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil
Michel Fourniret was an infamous murderer in France, but was his wife an accomplice? Monique Olivier was sentenced to life in prison for her complicity in her husband’s crimes. Did she really know?
36. D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?!
In 1971, an unidentified man hijacked a plane and then parachuted out with $200,000 in cash–but who was he? Did he survive the jump? Where is he now? It still remains a mystery to this day.
37. Casting JonBenet
In the 90s, a six-year-old girl was murdered in her family home. Two decades later, this documentary explores the legacy of one of the most infamous child deaths in history.
38. Unabomber: In His Own Words
This documentary explores what exactly Ted Kaczynski, AKA the Unabomber, did. He was convicted of killing 3 people and injuries 23 in nationwide mall bombings between 1978 and 1995.
39. Athlete A
Athlete A exposes the toxic world of USA gymnastics and the crimes Dr Larry Nassar committed against young gymnasts in 2014 and 2015. The survivors come forward to tell their stories and how this man was finally stopped.
40. I Am Vanessa Guillen
In 2020, Vanessa Guillen revealed to her mother she was being sexually abused in the army and soon after went missing. A few months later, her body was found. Her case sparked outrage and initiated a fight for sexual abuse victims.
41. When Missing Turns to Murder
This series covers various cases of people who go missing and are later found dead. Each episode explores a new case and unpacks who they were, what happened, and the arrests. The stories are shared by the victims’ family and friends.
Will you be watching any of these true crime documentaries on Netflix? Enjoy your binge sessions, and remember to always look after yourself<3
with love,
becky
Looking for some horror movies to binge? Check out this blog post.
Author
