True crime has become one of the biggest documentary genres. The best ones do more than detail a shocking crime. They find overlooked evidence, reveal errors in the justice system, or simply detail cases so bizarre they almost seem made up. These documentaries cover everything from sudden disappearances to elaborate scams to high-profile murder cases. The following documentaries are some of the most fascinating in the genre.
1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)
The Jinx delves into the life of wealthy real estate heir Robert Durst and the suspicious deaths of his ex-wife and friend. Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki actually interviews Durst himself, questioning him extensively about his past. What makes this one so fascinating is the filmmakers’ discoveries along the way. As they dig deeper, they come across evidence that raises more questions about Durst. The Jinx has one of the most gasp-inducing endings in true crime history.
2. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
Paradise Lost recounts the awful murders of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, and the teenagers accused of killing them. Prosecutors claimed the murders were part of a satanic ritual, but their evidence was lacking. The boys seemed to be accused largely because they had alternative looks and an interest in heavy metal music. The documentary reveals serious failures regarding the investigation, evidence, and subsequent convictions. Its release brought much-needed attention to the case of the West Memphis Three. Two follow-up documentaries continued covering the case as new evidence came to light and the men’s legal battle lasted close to two decades.
3. The Staircase (2004)
Novelist Michael Peterson’s wife, Kathleen, is found dead at the bottom of the family home’s staircase. Investigators try to find out whether her gruesome death was truly an accident. Peterson is eventually charged with murder, but the evidence is mainly circumstantial. This begins a complicated, multiyear legal struggle filled with competing theories of what really happened that fateful night. Filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade had firsthand access to Peterson, his family, and his lawyers during shooting. There is no concrete answer. The Staircase leans into uncertainty, as both sides present their arguments. And we get plenty of time with Peterson himself. Even after hours of footage, audiences come away disagreeing about what they believe happened.
4. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)
Dear Zachary was initially filmmaker Kurt Kuenne’s attempt to make a tribute for his murdered friend Andrew Bagby. The documentary was meant for Bagby’s young son, Zachary. Andrew’s former girlfriend, Shirley Turner, had been accused of killing him but escaped to Canada while pregnant with his child. Kuenne goes around interviewing Andrew’s friends and relatives so Zachary can one day learn all about his father. But the personal memorial becomes devastating. It is best to go in blind with this one, because its impact comes mostly from hearing the story as Kuenne tells it.
5. The Imposter (2012)
In 1994, 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay disappeared from his neighborhood. His family was left distraught with very few answers. More than three years later, authorities stumbled upon shocking information: Nicholas was found alive in Spain. His family welcomed him home and it seemed to be a horrible story with a very rare, fairy-tale ending. But this was just the beginning of the stunning tale, because the person claiming to be 16-year-old Nicholas wasn’t him at all. The imposter was actually a 23-year-old French con artist named Frédéric Bourdin. The documentary details how Bourdin managed to convince so many people that he was the formerly missing child. He accomplished the feat despite obvious differences in his appearance, accent, memories, and age. Just when the story seems like it cannot possibly get any stranger, The Imposter introduces a theory as to why Nicholas’s family accepted Bourdin so readily.
6. Abducted in Plain Sight (2017)
This true crime documentary leads to so many “how did this happen?” moments. Abducted in Plain Sight tells the story of Jan Broberg, who was abducted twice by the same family friend during the 1970s. The most fascinating aspect isn’t how the man managed to manipulate a child, but instead how he was able to infiltrate her family and become a trusted friend. Her abductor expertly manipulated Jan’s parents, exploiting their weaknesses and creating an extraordinary level of control over the entire family. The details are shocking, as the perpetrator managed to remain close to them even after the first kidnapping. One of the most bizarre aspects is the science-fiction-based story he used to control Jan. It is a disturbing look at grooming.
7. The Tinder Swindler (2022)
The Tinder Swindler shows that true crime doesn’t always involve murder. Several women describe meeting a man on Tinder who introduced himself as Simon Leviev, the wealthy son of a diamond mogul. After forming romantic relationships with them, he told them a shocking detail: his life was in danger, and he needed immediate cash to keep himself safe. He convinced the women to give him large sums of money. Investigators eventually figured out his strategy in which he would use money from one victim to finance the luxurious lifestyle used to impress the next. The documentary turns an online dating scam into a surprisingly complex story about manipulation, deception, and financial crime.
8. American Nightmare (2024)
American Nightmare tells the story of a kidnapping case that was so bizarre, the police suspected the victims had made it all up. In 2015, Denise Huskins was abducted from her California home that she shared with her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn. Not long after, she unexpectedly reappeared. Authorities thought the kidnapping had been staged and compared the scenario to Gone Girl. Evidence eventually pointed to the truth. The documentary is a suspenseful crime story, but it is also an unsettling look at what can happen when detectives don’t believe a victim.