Decoding the Crimes: A Review of Netflix’s Best True Crime Documentaries

True crime documentaries are one of the most riveting forms of narrative storytelling. These riveting stories, based on true stories, provide an intriguing look into the worst parts of human nature. The unrivalled streaming monarch, Netflix, has assembled an outstanding library of best true crime documentaries, many of which are real crime stories. Netflix documentaries 2023 keep pushing the limits of investigative journalism and narrative, with terrifying stories of serial murderers and devastating exposés of systemic corruption. This in-depth guide will examine the best true crime documentaries on Netflix, discussing their compelling qualities and how they came to be a mainstay of the service.

Why True Crime Documentaries Are So Popular

We should consider the genre’s evergreen allure before delving into the particular movies that comprise the best true crime documentaries. The special combination of truth and narrative in true crime documentaries transports viewers to a realm where reality and fiction fuzzily coexist. With their presentation of actual instances, these films provide a different take on crime dramas, making for a more gripping and intense watching experience.

In addition to focusing on the physical and emotional consequences of a crime, real crime films often examine the mental toll it has on victims and their loved ones. This in-depth exploration of the human mind is what distinguishes true crime documentaries from other types of documentaries; it appeals to our natural curiosity in the shadow side of human nature.

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The Origins of the Best Documentaries on Netflix: Making a Murderer

Talking about the best true crime documentaries on Netflix isn’t complete without bringing up the pioneering series Making a Murderer. In this seminal documentary that came out in 2015, we follow the life of Steven Avery, a guy who went to jail for 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit and then was facing murder charges not long after he got out.

Making a Murderer stands notable due to its ability to provoke thought on the American judicial system and its meticulous focus on detail. Wrongful convictions, police brutality, and problems with the justice system were all topics of discussion when the series premiered. It was also a great example of how Netflix might be a vehicle for groundbreaking investigative films that may inspire people to take action.

An Unforgettable Love/Death Story: The Staircase

Another real crime documentary that stands out on Netflix is The Staircase. Michael Peterson is the accused husband of killing his wife Kathleen, who was discovered dead at the base of a stairway at their house. The series first aired in 2004 and eventually received more episodes.

Immersed in the intricate dynamics of the Peterson family and the case’s contradicting evidence, the Staircase is a riveting read. Public opinion and the media’s involvement in high-profile trials are other topics that the series brings up for discussion. Staircase is an absolute must-see for true crime fans because it keeps viewers guessing right up to the finish.

Mastermind: The Untold Tale of the Most Malevolent Bank Robbery in U.S. History

See Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist if you like your true crime stories with an element of the odd. The bizarre story of the pizza bomber, a guy who allegedly stole a bank while wearing a bomb around his neck, is the subject of this four-part documentary series. The man’s accusers remain anonymous.

As events develop, a convoluted plot involving murder, conspiracy, and an assortment of bizarre, out-of-this-world people emerges. Evil Genius exemplifies how true crime films may reveal the evil side of human nature and explain things that don’t make sense.

F**k Cats: On the Hunt for a Cybercriminal

With the rise of social media, real crime shows like Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer have become more complex and insightful. The protagonist of this three-part documentary series is a gang of amateur internet detectives who join forces to find the culprit responsible for posting videos online in which he kills cats.

A worldwide search and a stunning outcome follow what begins as a quest for justice but takes a sinister turn when the murderer moves on to human victims. The film Don’t F**k with Cats brings attention to the internet’s dual nature as a tool for crime prevention and prosecution, and it poses pertinent concerns about the function of citizen investigators in this information era.

The Neighbours: A Crime Scene in the United States

The disturbing real-life crime documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door chronicles the crimes committed against the Watts family and is available on Netflix. In 2018, Chris Watts, who seemed to be a doting spouse and parent, killed his pregnant wife Shanann in their Colorado home along with their two young children, Celeste and Bella.

Police interrogation records, social media postings, and home camera evidence all come together in this chilling documentary to depict a family shattered by lies and brutality. American Murder is a disturbing reminder that even apparently ideal families may have dark secrets, and it demonstrates how true crime films can bring attention to these terrible situations.

The Pursuit of a Serial Killer: Night Stalker

Check out Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer if you’re interested in serial killer psychology. Richard Ramirez was an infamous serial murderer who wreaked havoc on Los Angeles in the 1980s; this four-part documentary series covers the investigation into his case.

The series sheds light on the killer’s mental state and the heroic actions of the police officers who worked tirelessly to bring him to justice via interviews with investigators, survivors, and journalists. A reminder of the need to be vigilant in the face of unfathomable evil, Night Stalker is a tribute to the courage of those who defied evil.

Controversy Involving Athlete A: USA Gymnastics

The majority of true crime films concentrate on violent crimes. An explosive expose of the sexual assault crisis that shook USA Gymnastics, Athlete A delves deep into the subject. The film chronicles the courageous young women who spoke up against team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual assault, as well as the institutional shortcomings that enabled his transgressions to remain unpunished for an extended period.

Athlete A serves as a stark warning about the perils of institutionalised abuse and the need to call those responsible to account. It’s a demonstration of how the survivors battled for change and justice, demonstrating their strength and tenacity.

An Enigma Revealed After Decades: The Keepers

Sister Cathy Cesnik was a cherished teacher at a Catholic high school in Baltimore. Her death remains unsolved, and The Keepers is a seven-part best documentaries on Netflix series that explores this mystery. The narrative progresses, however, and it becomes apparent that the controversy surrounding Sister Cathy’s Murder is just the beginning.

The documentary The Keepers delves into interviews with former students, journalists, and law enforcement authorities to reveal a complex network of decades-long sexual abuse, cover-ups, and corruption. It makes you realise how brave you need to be to face the shadowy sides of our society and the significance of telling the truth to those in positions of authority.

A Tragic Account of Child Abuse in Gabriel Fernandez’s Trials

The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is a devastating true crime documentary about a mother and her lover who tortured and killed an eight-year-old kid. It is one of the most upsetting shows you will ever see on Netflix. This six-part documentary delves into the child welfare system’s institutional shortcomings that enabled Gabriel’s abuse to go unabated and the subsequent inquiry into his Murder.

The tragic events shown in The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez expose the atrocities committed against children and serve as a strong condemnation of the system that let down one of its most defenceless citizens. It’s a sobering reminder of the value of standing up for the voiceless and a tough but essential film.

An Opioid Epidemic Fight Told by a Pharmacist

In the odd role of hero in the battle against the opioid crisis, The Pharmacist follows Dan Schneider, a pharmacist from a tiny town. The documentary series consists of four parts. Schneider, haunted by the Murder of his son at the hands of drug dealers, resolves to find out why prescription opioids are so common in his town.

From pharmaceutical companies to government agencies, he unearths a dishonest and greedy network. As a moving ode to the real lives lost due to the opioid epidemic, The Pharmacist also shows how everyday individuals can make a difference even when faced with apparently impossible challenges.

Why Were You Angry When I Died?: A Mother’s Fight for Fairness

The best documentaries on Netflix Why Did You Kill Me? Follows mother Belinda Lane as she utilises the social networking site MySpace to identify and contact the individuals she believes are guilty of her daughter’s death. Belinda makes a false MySpace page to find out who murdered 24-year-old Crystal Theobald in a drive-by shooting.

What follows is an emotionally riveting story of a mother’s unwavering love and resolve. It serves as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of gang violence on families and communities. As a chilling glimpse into the extreme measures some would go to seek vengeance, Why Did You Kill Me? Demonstrates the effectiveness of social media in identifying and apprehending criminals.

The Cecil Hotel Crime Scene: The Missing Person

Part one of the four-part documentary series Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel delves into the case of 21-year-old Canadian student Elisa Lam, who went missing while staying at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles. Many tragic events have taken place at the hotel throughout the years, and this series explores that history.

This series uses interviews with hotel employees, customers, and police to depict a disturbing image of a location that seems to draw in the shadows and the hopeless. Mysteries continue to captivate audiences, and Crime Scene offers an intriguing look at how urban legends and genuine crime overlap.

A Story of Mormon Murder, Fraud, and Deception

The three-part best documentaries on Netflix series Murder Among the Mormons delves into the 1985 Salt Lake City explosions, which left several people wounded and two dead. A guy called Mark Hofmann is at the centre of a network of Mormon community forgeries and deceit that the inquiry into the bombs reveals.

Hofmann, a specialist forger and rare book trader, had been forging Mormon church history papers for some time, and the bombs were an effort to cover up his transgressions as a sobering reminder of how lies can ruin lives and societies, Murder Among the Mormons offers an intriguing examination of how religion, history, and criminality interact.

Inside Aaron Hernandez’s Mind: A Serial Killer

Two parts of the documentary series Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez go into the past and present of the former NFL player and the 2015 murder conviction of Aaron Hernandez. The show explores Hernandez’s rocky upbringing, meteoric football career, and tragic fall from grace, culminating in his death while incarcerated.

The series constructs a nuanced picture of Hernandez—a guy whose life was characterised by secrets, anguish, and violence—via interviews with his loved ones and former colleagues. As a chilling glimpse into the shadow side of the American ideal, Killer Inside serves as a potent reminder of the mental toll that stardom and wealth can exact on individuals.

Horror at its Most Terrifying: The Jack the Ripper Serial Murderer

Documentary filmmaker Peter Sutcliffe’s (aka the Yorkshire Ripper) heinous acts in the 1970s and 1980s afflicted the northern regions of England; The Ripper delves into these atrocities in four parts. The series explores the aftermath of Sutcliffe’s terror reign and the police investigation into his crimes.

The Ripper presents a terrifying picture of a man whose atrocities startled a country and altered the lives of everyone he touched via interviews with witnesses, relatives, and law enforcement authorities. It’s a moving illustration of how unimaginable sorrow can still affect people and communities and how the human spirit can overcome adversity.

Conclusion

True crime documentaries are a mainstay on Netflix, and rightfully so, as we’ve seen. In these captivating stories, the boundaries between reality and storytelling dissolve, transporting viewers to a universe where these two concepts coexist. This year’s best true crime documentaries, which range from terrifying stories of serial murderers to revealing looks at systemic corruption, are pushing the envelope of investigative journalism and narrative.

If you like real crime documentaries or enjoy engaging narratives, you’re in for a treat with Netflix’s selection. These tales show us the shadow side of human nature but also the strength and bravery of those who stand up for what’s right and true. These films demonstrate how documentary filmmaking may illuminate hidden truths about our society and motivate us to be kinder, more caring people.

If you’re looking for a riveting story of actual crime and punishment, then you should definitely watch one of the best documentaries on Netflix. From Making a Murderer to The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, these tales will tug at your heartstrings and teach you that truth may triumph over evil.

Netflix is home to some of the finest true crime documentaries, which have recently exploded in popularity. These shows take a look at actual crimes and their aftermath to shed light on the minds of criminals and the consequences of their acts. Here we’ll take a look at a few of Netflix’s best true crime documentaries and discuss what makes them so compelling. Our next blog article will discuss the top horror films available on Netflix, so if you like getting afraid, you’re going to love it.