Entertainment
There's just something about the genre of true crime that makes it undeniably fascinating. Granted, that might say more about us than it does about the criminals true crime documentaries frequently profile, but that's between you and your therapist. What we're talking about now is the 13 true crime docs to watch before they leave Netflix. Once you're done marathoning Making a Murderer for the fourth time, consider taking a chance on one of these must-see true crime docs on Netflix. We all need our true crime fix, and we can all agree, it would be nice to get it before it's too late.
Netflix has a nasty habit of moving content around and taking that one movie you had queued up on your Watch List off of Instant Watch, leaving you high and dry. And, because they only announce what's leaving Netflix month by month, it can be difficult to plan your viewings accordingly, which is why it's important to prioritize. If your Netflix List is full of true crime docs, then you're going to want to prioritize. These movies are must see before they inevitably leave Netflix — truly worthy of being bumped up to the top of your list.
1'The Karma Killings'
The Karma Killings looks at the horrifying and tragic murder of almost 20 women and children, all believed to have died in the same house located in the suburbs of Delhi, India. Two men have been tried for the crime, but the new documentary suggests there's a lot more people don't know about the infamous murders.
2'The Imposter'
A teenager returns home three years after his disappearance, but is it really the same boy who went missing, or is it someone else entirely? The Imposter is truly the true crime documentary people want: something that feels to insane to be true.
3'A Murder In The Park'
A Murder in the Park is a great true crime doc because it's not really about the crime, but about the evidence and how a justice system can create its own crime.
4'Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room'
If there was ever a time to watch a documentary on how rich men mishandled millions of dollars and created a huge economic disaster like Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, it would be right now. Not your traditional true crime doc (meaning no murder), Enron is in its own sub-genre of "true white collar crime."
5'The Look Of Silence'
Another true crime doc that challenges conventions of the genre, The Look of Silence tells the story of a man who revisits the 1965 murder of his brother in Indonesia. The doc includes tense confrontations with the men who killed his brother, as well as emotional interviews with his parents who hesitate to rock the boat.
6'Out Of Thin Air'
The best kind of true crime documentary is one that makes you question everything, including the very facts of the case. Out of Thin Air will put everything into doubt, from your faith in a justice system to your very perception of reality and truth.
7'Oklahoma City'
Domestic terrorism is a phrase we've been hearing a lot about recently, specifically in relation to white nationalists. Best brush up on the very recent history of white supremacist terrorism in the USA with Oklahoma City while you still have a chance.
8'Time: The Kalief Browder Story'
Time: The Kalief Browder Story is a twist on the true crime documentary for multiple reasons. Firstly, it's a series, which means it's going to take you more than a couple hours to get through. Secondly, and most importantly, however, is that the criminal here isn't one man, it's the entire justice system in New York City.
9'My Friend Rockefeller'
My Friend Rockefeller is a return to the more traditional true crime doc, one with a clear villain and his insane life as a con man.
10'The Thin Blue Line'
Perhaps the most cinematic and explosive true crime doc you'll ever see, The Thin Blue Line is a classic that helped re-define the genre. What begins as a simple investigation into a murder and the subsequent trial twists and turns into an actual case of a movie righting a great wrong.
11'Biggie & Tupac'
Catch up on the complicated and almost unbelievable mysteries surrounding the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls with Biggie & Tupac before you turn on your TVs to watch USA's new true crime series, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G.
12'Tower'
True crime docs can tend to get a bit formulaic, with your standard interviews and recreations, which is why Tower, with its animated take on the real events of the 1966 University of Texas shootings, is a must-see.
13'The Confessions Of Thomas Quick'
The Confessions of Thomas Quick is a rare kind of true crime documentary: one possibly without guilt or even real crimes. Thomas Quick confessed to killing over 30 people, but what if he made it all up? Or, worse, what if the authorities manipulated him into becoming known as Sweden's most notorious serial killer?
Maybe just don't watch these before going to bed, OK?
