The best true crime documentaries you really shouldn't miss

It all started with the Netflix hit ‘Making a Murderer’. Bam, suddenly the true crime genre was on everyone's radar. Meanwhile, the empire has grown significantly, and so has the fan club. As a loyal member, I've been able to check off quite a few titles, and of course, I want to share those with you. So, from one crime lover to another: these are the best true crime documentaries you absolutely must see. You keep thinking: it can't get crazier. But oh boy, it can.

American Murder: The Family Next Door (Netflix)

Perhaps one of the most discussed true crime documentaries on TikTok: ‘American Murder: The Family Next Door’. And that's not surprising. American Shanann Watts was always super active on social media. She shared videos about her life with her husband Chris, their two daughters, and about her third pregnancy. But one day those posts stop, Shanann and her children have vanished without a trace. The panic is immense. What happened to them? The answer to that question turns out to be hidden in her own videos, texts, and police recordings. Nothing is staged, everything you see is real. Slowly but surely, you uncover the truth, and believe me, you really need a moment to process it.

Ted Bundy: Falling For a Killer (Prime Video)

By now, quite a few films and series have been made about Ted Bundy. After ‘Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes’ and the film with Zac Efron, you would think we know everything about the serial killer. Yet there is one docu you really need to check off: ‘Ted Bundy: Falling For a Killer’. This true crime series also tells about Bundy's actions and his eventual punishment, but from the perspective of Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter Molly. For over five years, Kendall had a relationship with the killer. For a long time, she was unaware of his actions, but when suspicions arose, she alerted the police. The real realization came only when he was arrested. What if the man you thought you were going to marry turns out to be a serial killer? What does that do to you? No matter how much you already knew about Bundy, this docu-series makes it all just a bit more intense.

Tell Me Who I Am (Netflix)

Maybe it's because I'm a twin myself, but the Netflix documentary ‘Tell Me Who I Am’ has always stuck with me; so intense. The story revolves around Alex Lewis, who suffers a severe motorcycle accident at the age of 18. When he regains consciousness, his memory is completely gone, and he no longer recognizes anyone; except for his twin brother, Marcus. He becomes indispensable in helping Alex pick up his life again and rediscover who he is. Marcus shows his brother various photos from the past to jog his memory, and Alex forms an image of a carefree childhood. But he keeps having more questions. For example, why does he have to call his father ‘sir’? The more Alex searches, the more he discovers that Marcus hasn't always been honest. Their darkest family secret has always remained hidden. Marcus wanted to protect his brother, but for Alex, his life turned out to be one big lie all along; and that hurts. But what happens when he does learn the truth?

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (Disney+)

There is always something mysterious surrounding cults. What really happens there? The Disney+ docu ‘Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence’ gives us a glimpse; and immediately shows: this is mega grim. When Larry Ray is released after serving time for fraud, he moves into his daughter's student house. The idea was temporary, but he never left. At first, everything seems fine. Ray has a good relationship with the students and plays a fatherly role. Soon, the conversations become more intimate, and they start sharing their problems and traumas with him. Ray claims he can help them, but manipulates them so that they become increasingly dependent on him. He goes even further, physically and mentally abusing the young people and forcing them into sexual acts. The students become completely trapped in his web, and escaping seems impossible. How did it ever get this far? In the docu-series, several of the victims share their stories; and it's truly unimaginable.

Girl in the Picture (Netflix)

The best true crime documentaries are like intricate puzzles. Just when you think you've figured everything out, there's another twist. Until the end, you're on the edge of your seat, anxious about what really happened. That's exactly why ‘Girl in the Picture’ cannot be missing from this list. This documentary will really turn your stomach. When a severely injured woman is found by the side of the road, she is identified as Tonya Hughes. But when the doctors try to inform her parents, it turns out that the real Tonya died years ago. Who is this woman then? And who is the man who claimed to be her husband? The case remains stagnant for a long time until the woman's son is kidnapped. His missing person report sets the ball rolling again, revealing a web of lies and false identities. There are few stories that mislead you so often; that's what makes this documentary a must-see for crime fans.

Abducted in Plain Sight (Netflix)

Did you find ‘Girl in the Picture’ impressive? Then ‘Abducted in Plain Sight’ certainly deserves a spot on your watchlist. Both documentaries are made by director Skye Borgman, and this one is also quite bizarre. In 1974, twelve-year-old Jan Broberg is drugged and abducted by her neighbor, Robert Berchtold. After five weeks, she is found in Mexico, but the nightmare is far from over. Two years later, Berchtold abducts her again. Again, it takes a long time before Jan is found. Only then does it become clear how she and her parents were manipulated all along. What makes the docu extra interesting? Jan Broberg also participated in it. She shares what she experienced all that time, and how this could happen. The more details you hear, the stranger the story becomes.

Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets (Prime Video)

Even before vlogging families existed, the life of the American Duggar family was followed in the reality series ‘19 Kids and Counting’. But after more than ten years of sharing everything, the show abruptly ended in 2015. Oldest son Josh turns out to have abused young girls for years, including his own sisters. The innocent image of the family has vanished in an instant, and this is just the beginning. The Prime Video documentary ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’ dives into the bizarre truth behind the family, and their connection to ‘The Institute in Basic Life Principles’. One scandal follows another, and it soon becomes clear that the threat extends far beyond just the Duggar family.

Lover, Stalker, Killer (Netflix)

A little back and forth swiping in search of love seems innocent, but it can have serious consequences. The Netflix documentary ‘Lover, Stalker, Killer’ is proof of that. American Dave Kroupa decides to give dating another chance after being single for a long time. He isn't necessarily looking for something serious, just someone to have a good time with. He finds that in Liz Golyar, and the two go out a few times. Not long after, he meets Cari Farver, and the spark is immediate. But after a few dates, Cari stops contacting him, and a few angry texts are the last he hears from her. He doesn't yet know that their love triangle has brought him into serious trouble; very serious trouble.

Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story (Disney+)

Usually, the murders or disappearances are what make a true crime documentary so bizarre. But in some cases, it's actually the consequences of such matters that surprise you the most, and that's exactly the case with ‘Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story’. In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner is abducted and abused by serial rapist Kenneth Parnell. The media shows little interest in the case until Steven returns seven years later. From that moment on, they can't get enough of it. But all that new attention has a huge impact on Steven and his family. The release of the film ‘I Know My First Name is Steven’ marks a turning point; Steven is never the same again. And he is not the only one for whom the case has lasting consequences. You really go from one shock to another.

Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (Netflix)

We've already discussed quite a few bizarre stories, but ‘Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter’ takes the prize. It's almost unbelievable that this really happened. 35 years after Cathy Terkanian gave her daughter up for adoption, she receives a letter. The girl has been missing for 21 years and may now have been found. But when that lead goes cold, Terkanian feels that the police are doing too little to solve the case. She takes matters into her own hands and starts her own investigation, together with an amateur detective. It soon becomes clear that the case is much bigger than she ever could have imagined. Terkanian keeps going and isn't afraid to cross boundaries. She needs to know what happened to her daughter; no matter what.

So, your true crime watchlist has been significantly updated. But stay alert, because according to rumors at the streaming services, many new gems are on the way. We’ll keep you posted, promise.

Credits: Courtesy of Netflix