The Best New True Crime Documentaries To Watch
If you’ve been itching to get stuck into a new true crime documentary, then we’re here to help. From series about some of the world’s most notorious murder cases, like The Life & Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, to stories of the perils of the social media age like, Lover Stalker Killer, we’ve compiled a list of the very best recent true crime documentaries that you need to catch up on.
The Life & Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson
OJ Simpson’s court case became the trial of the century in the 1990s, capturing the interest of not just Americans but the world. His death earlier this year received plenty of attention, but this new documentary puts the focus on the woman he was accused of killing: his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. Nicole Brown first met Simpson in the late 70s, and would later marry in 1985, becoming a notable item in celebrity circles. Her three sisters, Denise, Dominique and Tanya, as well as some of her close friends, sit down for exclusive interviews in this series to shed light on Nicole’s story from her childhood to her last days. Together, they provide new insight into how Nicole and OJ’s relationship began to break down in the months before her murder.
Watch it on: Crime + Investigation
The Jinx Part 2
The sequel series to one of the best true crime documentaries, The Jinx Part 2 continues to tell the story of Robert Durst. A real estate heir who became a major suspect in the disappearance and murders of his wife and other people he knew, Durst was convicted and later died in the time between the original series and this one, and this new doc takes a look at both his arrest and trial. There’s also a unique meta element, as there’s footage of how Durst reacted to HBO’s broadcast of the first Jinx series, including contacting reporters from The New York Times to give his thoughts. There’s no element of mystery as to “who did it” in the six-parter. Instead, it’s the unravelling of a man who admitted to his crimes.
Watch it on: NOW, Apple TV
Lover Stalker Killer
Baby Reindeer became one of the biggest TV hits of the year for Netflix, but if you’re curious about other true crime stalking stories, Lover Stalker Killer is worth a watch. Much like Baby Reindeer, it involves a woman who becomes obsessed with a man to an extreme degree. Dave Kroupa, a mechanic, found himself newly single and moved to Omaha in Nebraska in 2012. Looking to get back into the dating scene, he decided to sign up for online dating for the first time in his life, meeting single mother Liz. Shortly after, he also met another single mother, Cari, in person when she visited his auto shop, and felt a connection. But his dating life would turn very bad when one of the two women (we won’t give away who) turned out to be stalking him, and jealous of the other woman in Dave’s life. It’s a fascinating true crime tale- with a twist.
Watch it on: Netflix
The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has become something of a media sensation over the years for her conviction of second-degree murder of her mother, Dee Dee, after she convinced her online boyfriend to kill her. It would transpire that her mother suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, meaning that she faked and exaggerated illness in Gypsy Rose, a form of child abuse. The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard tells the truth of Gypsy’s story, from her upbringing as a child, to her adult life and what would eventually lead to Dee Dee’s murder. Gypsy Rose was eventually paroled in late 2023, but this docuseries proves her life will always be in the spotlight.
Watch it on: C+I Play
American Nightmare
Remember Gone Girl? The critically acclaimed David Fincher thriller starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck was released in 2014, but American Nightmare explores a case that was described as “the real-life Gone Girl”. Much like in the film, police are called to a home invasion that has apparently turned into a kidnapping, when Denise Huskins was discovered to have vanished. She and her boyfriend, Aaron Quinn, were suspected by California police and the FBI of staging the kidnapping as a hoax, with the media applying the “Gone Girl” label in reporting. Later on, however, a breakthrough from a detective investigating another home invasion case suggests that the couple may not have been lying after all.
Watch it on: Netflix
Who Killed Jill Dando?
25 years later, the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando is one that still draws considerable public attention and varying theories as to what happened. One normal day in April 1999, Dando was discovered dead just outside her front door in Fulham, having been shot by an unknown assailant who managed to escape. It led to one of the biggest investigations in British police history, as well as an outpouring of grief for the Crimewatch presenter and BBC Personality of the Year winner. Yet, the killing went unsolved, and Netflix’s documentary examines the case, the likely suspects – including the possibility it was politically motivated – and whether we can ever find a definitive answer.
Watch it on: Netflix
Last Stop Lamirrah
This HBO documentary, available over here on Netflix, investigates a curious case that came out of a small town, Larrimah, in Northern Australia. In late 2017, a resident of the town, Paddy Moriarty, who was born in Ireland and later emigrated, left the local pub, The Pink Panther, and was never seen again. While it was thought he may have returned home, no one in this remote town knew where he or his dog, Kellie, had disappeared. The two-part docu-film takes a look at the case and the possibilities, with it being considered most likely that Paddy was killed by someone from Lamirrah, and the possible suspects. But in a tiny town miles from any local police station, the case is harder to crack than it seems.
Watch it on: Netflix
Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown
When it comes to cults, few are more infamous or disturbing than the Peoples Temple. A group that popped up in the mid-20th century, led by Jim Jones. While the cult lasted a few decades, it’s most famous for the incident that ended it: a mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, where over 900 people died. The horrific act, ordered by Jones, involved hundreds of people drinking poisoned Flavour Aid, and this new National Geographic documentary investigates the events that led to the event. The cult had already attracted suspicions and scrutiny for apparent abuse, and on the same day, a US congressman was killed by Jonestown gunmen after trying to investigate. One Day in Jonestown provides a new retrospective of the infamous cult murders.
Watch it on: Disney+
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
Quiet on Set has quickly become one of the most talked about documentaries of 2024 and recent years, posing new questions about the entertainment world. Going behind the camera to tell the real stories of what happened behind the scenes at children’s TV shows in the 90s and 00s, the docu-series particularly focuses on Nickelodeon, run at the time by Dan Schneider. The five-part series received plenty of attention and praise, and social media discussion on ethics in the industry.
Watch it on: Discovery+
Dancing For The Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
A recent addition to Netflix, Dancing for the Devil dives into the social media world of TikTok, specifically a management company that recruits dancers for the super popular app. The series alleges that 7M films, set up to find new talent, operate with strange, cult-like behaviour that does serious damage to those involved. Those who signed up were allegedly asked to cut ties with people who were not part of the 7M community, including family, as well as put under extreme control on and off camera.
Watch it on: Netflix
Want more suggestions? See our comprehensive list of the best true crime documentaries to watch
