25 Things to Watch on Netflix Right Now If You Love True Crime (2023)

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One day, they looked the perfect family of four. The next? Shanann Watts and her two children mysteriously disappeared, and her husband Chris confessed to the killings. The hour-and-a-half documentary takes a closer look at the case, answering the questions that have haunted many people for years.

RELATED: The True Story of Chris Watts and His Wife and Daughters' Murders

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Take a closer look at how six of the most dramatic trials in history — the subway vigilante, The Jenny Jones Show murderer, and more — were talked about in the press. The cases themselves are harrowing, but the way they were presented to the public may have added fuel to the fire.

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In 2004, Cyntoia Brown killed Johnny Allen as an act of self-defense. The court didn't see it that way, though: She went on to serve 15 years of a life sentence for convictions of aggravated robbery and first-degree murder. The documentary follows her road to clemency, which was supported by celebrities like Kim Kardashian West and Rihanna.

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Everything changed for the former New England Patriots player when he was investigated and charged for murder. This three-part documentary uses court room footage, phone calls, and interviews to show how Aaron Hernandez went from a star athlete to a convicted killer, who ultimately died in prison.

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Henry Lee Lucas was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of 11 homicides. The weird part? Leading up the conviction, he confessed to hundreds of murders that he didn't actually commit. Because of his cooperation, he was given preferential treatment by the authorities ... until he was caught red-handed.

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Meet Luka Magnotta, who shared videos of the ways he harmed and killed animals online for the world to see. After stumbling on the videos, a group of online sleuths launched a manhunt to find him and bring him to justice. Only once they started digging, they find he is responsible for one of Canada’s most infamous crimes, the murder of Lin Jun.

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After Michael Peterson's wife died in 2001, the novelist claimed she simply took a spill down the stairs — but the court didn't buy it. In this harrowing story, Peterson is put into question by legal experts, friends, and even his own children.

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Every parent's worst nightmare came true for the Broberg family: Their close family friend Robert Berchtold kidnapped and brainwashed their 12-year-old daughter Jan. The story is told from Jan and her parent's perspectives, ultimately raising the question: Who can you trust?

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What starts as a story about a Baltimore nun's mysterious murder turns into a larger story about the corruption within the Catholic church and local justice system. "It's harrowing and upsetting, and it will haunt you for a long time, which is part of what makes it necessary viewing," Vice writes.

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The best true crime documentaries don't always focus on murder. Here's proof: Captive recounts the stories of kidnapping victims involved in high-stake hostage negotiations. The worst part? The victims are everyday people just like us.

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Here's what happens when a beach vacation turns into a nightmare. When 3-year-old Madeleine McCann vanishes from her parent's hotel room in Portugal, police wonder if her own parents are to blame or if she was abducted and sold into sex trafficking. Both theories are equally terrifying.

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What happens when you're arrested for a murder that you didn't commit? You find an alibi. In Juan Catalan's case, that meant proving that he was one of the 56,000 people cheering on the Dodgers at a baseball game.

RELATED: The Golden State Killer Brutally Murdered My Mother

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Sam Cooke, the man who gave us classics like "What a Wonderful World" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" tragically died at 33. Initially, the singer's death was merely considered an act of self-defense, but years later fans wonder if it was a result of his involvement in the civil rights movement.

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Just because you think you nailed down a killer, doesn't mean the case goes away for good. In this eight-episode series, convicted murderers confess reveal that their confessions — ya know, the ones that convicted them in the first place — were coerced, in one way or another.

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When JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old beauty queen, was murdered in her own house, everyone was quick to point fingers at her parents. Then police ruled them out, claiming they found new DNA evidence to prove otherwise. More than two decades later, there's still no conclusion.

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Even a college study abroad trip isn't off-limits. For Amanda Knox, a semester in Italy led to four years in prison, questionable murder charges, and intense media scrutiny. While many of us are familiar with this case, this Netflix original sheds a new light on Amanda's story with exclusive interviews and footage.

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Before you watch Zac Efron play the famous serial killer in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, catch up on all 30 murders by Ted Bundy — in his victim's own words. This four-part series features never-before-seen footage and testimonies by women who escaped Bundy's wrath.

RELATED: Ted Bundy: Looking Back at the Killing Spree That Landed Him on Death Row

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This murder case runs deep: In this Oscar-nominated documentary, filmmaker Yance Ford explores why his brother's murder turned into a prime example of racial injustice. The story, which is riddled with pain and grief, offers a unique perspective about the inequalities that are still prevalent in the justice system.

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It's believed that the truth will set you free ... unless your name is Steven Avery. First, he served 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Just two years after he was exonerated, he became the prime suspect in the murder of a 25-year-old photographer. So, where does he stand now?

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Based on John Grisham's book by the same name, this documentary gives a small town murder case the national spotlight. First, two locals were convicted of the murder of Debra Sue Carter. Then their guilt was put into question, leading police to clear all charges — just five days before one of the men was set to be executed.

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While on his way home from a party, police falsely accused Kalief Brower, then 16, of stealing someone's backpack. While he awaited trial, he spent 800 days in solitary confinement at Riker's Island without ever being convicted of a crime. Innocent until proven guilty ... or is it?

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There's something about cults that's wildly fascinating: They're psychological, spiritual, and weirdly twisted. Rajneeshpuram, the controversial cult at the heart of this six-part series, is the American cult you didn't know about but should. It was only a matter of time that this utopian city turned into chaos with bombings and health scares.

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Picture this: a pizza man attempting to rob a bank with a bomb around his neck. Yep, that actually happened in Erie, Pennsylvania in 2003. As shocking as that may be, the initial robbery was just the beginning of one of the most bizarre bank heist's ever.

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The best way to hear about true crimes is to listen to the criminals themselves. Enter I Am a Killer, a Netflix original where death row inmates share the stories of their crimes firsthand. No lawyers. No red tape. Just the horrible truth.

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Mark Williams-Thomas, one of England's top investigative journalists, dives into the murder of 40-year-old mom Carole Packman. Although her husband was arrested for her 1985 disappearance, Thomas explores what's on everybody's mind: Where is her body?