The best true crime series on Netflix right now are all on their third season, and they prove that good true crime can do it again just before the summer slowdown.
Netflix has a number of truly good true crime series, but if you’re looking for the best, you’ve got to check out Making a Murderer. I watched all 10 episodes back to back and summarizing it all in one post would be a nightmare, so here’s a few of my favourite parts and a few thoughts on what it means.
There are some great true crime shows on Netflix, but there are also some terrible ones. If you’ve been meaning to spend some time with the streaming service, here’s a list of the best Netflix true crime series that you may have missed.. Read more about best true series on netflix and let us know what you think.
With so much accessible on Netflix these days, real crime programs are some of the most compelling programming. You’re missing out on some excellent television if you haven’t seen all of the programs on this list. Before we get started, here are a few programs that didn’t quite make the cut: Manhunt, Real Detective, The Innocence Files, Cocaine Coast, and The Staircase received honorable mentions.
Dirty Cash
Zack Snyder’s Stone Quarry Productions signs a first-look movie deal with Netflix.
Dirty Money isn’t your average criminal drama. It covers a broad spectrum of corporate malfeasance in its two seasons on Netflix, from the Volkswagen emissions crisis to Donald Trump and Jared Kushner. It also looks at what Point Comfort, Texas, went through in its battle against hazardous chemicals, as well as bringing us to Malaysia to talk about Najib Razak, Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister, who left the nation in debt owing to his huge loans and big parties.
The documentary Dirty Money even discusses the most expensive theft in Canadian history. So, what exactly was taken? Maple syrup is the solution. Yes, you read it correctly. A storage facility in Quebec was robbed of 18.7 million dollars worth of maple syrup between 2011 and 2012. The chase is on to find the ringleaders and the stolen syrup, which is being transported in unlabeled barrels.
If it still doesn’t seem right for you, I recommend watching the episodes Drug Short and Guardians, Inc. The third episode of season one, Drug Short, exposes Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ heinous inflation of life-saving medicines. This incident, which was exposed by Wall Street short-sellers, will have you scratching your head. On a more somber note, Guardians, Inc (Season 2 Episode 5) will leave you heartbroken as you see how laws intended to safeguard the senior population are being misused, leaving many impoverished and defenseless. There is presently no plan for a third season, but we may still dream.
The Keepers are a group of people who are in charge
Ryan White directed a seven-part docuseries called The Keepers, which premiered in 2017. The story revolves on the unsolved 1969 murder of Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught English and theater courses at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School. Sister Cathy was reported missing on November 7, 1969, following a day of conducting errands. Her corpse was discovered almost two months later, on January 3, 1970, by a couple of hunters near a dump. She died of a brain hemorrhage caused by a blunt instrument breaking her skull, according to an autopsy.
A history of sexual abuse and sex trafficking involving many members of the church and school is revealed five decades after the death. With so many survivors coming forward with horrific tales, it seems that Sister Cathy was the only one at the school who really wanted to assist the mistreated girls. Was she silenced as a result of what she discovered? Was the assailant a student at the school? Who was responsible for the death of Cathy’s sister?
If you haven’t done so before, binge this program as soon as possible. It’s engrossing, sad, and well researched. If you like real crime documentaries, this is a must-see.
Pablo Escobar, patrón del diablo
Drugs, murders & soap opera. If you’re a fan of two of those three genres, you’re in for a treat. This 2012 Colombian telenovela produced by Caracol TV and later added on Netflix with English subtitles, follows notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar like you’ve never seen him before. From being scolded by his mother as a teenager to his untimely death at age 44, this show will cover every inch of Escobar’s life that Narcos did not.
Are you still undecided? Okay, do you like the program Narcos? Have you ever wondered what Narcos would be like if the insanity level was increased to ten? You don’t have to wonder any longer since this is the program for you. With just one season and 74 episodes (Yes! 74!) under its belt, you’ll be drawn into Pablo Escobar’s life and repeating “Plata o Plomo” for weeks to come.
Andrés Parra is a soap opera version of Pablo Escobar who is as amazing as you can imagine. He discusses Escobar’s desire to be a decent spouse and a good Colombian citizen, as well as his difficulty to combine politics and giving back to the poor while staying rich. Pablo Escobar, the “bandido,” is the ultimate real-life anti-hero, and the fact that his tale continues to captivate people almost three decades later demonstrates the lasting effect of his crimes and ruses. It’s never been more gratifying to see Escobar create his empire from the bottom up only to lose everything so quickly in those 74 episodes on Netflix (Yes! 74!).
Gabriel Fernandez’s Sufferings
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is another great true crime docuseries that examines the sad murder of an 8-year-old child who was subjected to horrible torture by his own mother and her lover. This program delves into not just the 2013 trial, but also how the system failed Gabriel when he needed it the most. This is a tough show to see, but it is very essential to do so.
Brian Knappenberger delves into this tale, which begins in 2012 when Pearl Fernandez (Gabriel’s biological mother) was granted custody of him over objections from her own family, who were caring for him at the time. She was allegedly extremely careless, and she and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were allegedly just doing it for the welfare payments. Following that, he was subjected to a cycle of violence and torture that included swallowing his own vomit, breaking bones, and being forced to sleep in a tiny cupboard. This lasted approximately six months and ended on May 22, 2013, when Pearl Fernandez called 9-1-1 because her baby Gabriel was not breathing. Gabriel was discovered battered and pronounced brain dead later. He died two days later, at the age of eight, from blunt force injuries and starvation, according to the autopsy.
This program does an excellent job of addressing the media’s and government’s following reactions to the total failure of the social care system in dealing with Gabriel Fernandez’s situation. Due to its serious topic, this program may not be as binge-worthy as the others on our list, but it is still a must-see. If you need to break up the monotony, watch a few episodes of The Office or Friends in between viewings.
Wilderness Country
Wild Wild Country is a six-part docuseries by brothers Mark and Jay Duplass (The Morning Show, The League) that premiered in March 2018. The program explores the lives of the controversial Indian Guru Osho, his aide Sheela, and his community of followers who founded their Utopia city in the midst of Oregon, United States.
In India, Osho’s movement began in 1968. At the time, Osho would talk to crowds of up to 30,000 people in stadiums on spirituality, sexuality, and socialism. In 1981, as his business develops rapidly, he encounters political opposition in India, so he chooses to purchase 80,000 acres of property in Antelope, Oregon. It didn’t take long for the campaign to enrage local people and government officials.
Our tale may not seem to fit on this list just yet, but it won’t be long until it becomes nasty. What began as basic legal disputes over the ashram’s construction soon escalated into severe crimes such as a major food poisoning assault and a murder plot against US Attorney Charles H. Turner. You’ll be left wondering and wanting more after seeing this program.
Unbelievable
Unbelievable,which came out on Netflix September 2019, is a true crime miniseries consisting of 8 episodes. Starring Toni Collette (Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine), Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie, Godless) & Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), this 4 time Emmy nominated series covers the 2016 Pulitzer Prize winning article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape”. The story follows a woman named “Marie” (played by Kaitlyn Dever) from Lynnwood, Washington who reports to the police that she was raped. After a series of long interrogations by two detectives lacking empathy, Marie ends up saying that her report was false which leads to her being charged with gross misdemeanor for making a false report.
Meanwhile in Colorado, two detectives (Collette & Wever) investigate a serial rapist who is known to have raped four women as well as a fifth attempted rape. The show intertwines both the search for the rapist by the two detectives while showing the traumatic aftermath of Marie’s rape whilst not being believed by anyone around her. Regardless of all the similarities between Marie’s story and the Colorado survivors, she still faces a lot of backlash from the police, her friends and her previous foster family.
This play is a must-see, and the outstanding performances by all three major actresses make it one of the finest shows of the year. Unbelievable is a gripping tale that depicts the brutal reality of survivors of sexual assault fighting for their rights when the system fails to believe them. It lends humanity to a narrative that, unfortunately, lacked it when it was most needed.
Mexico’s Narcos
Narcos: Mexico, the fourth season of Narcos, debuted on Netflix in November 2018. Following its popularity, a second season was released in February 2020, and a third season is now under development. This drama follows the development of Mexico’s illicit drug trade and stars Michael Pea (Ant-Man, Crash), Diego Luna (Rogue One), and Scoot McNairy (True Detective, Godless).
It all starts in the 1980s, when marijuana was distributed by tiny, unorganized producers, which led to Miguel Gallardo (Luna) grabbing an opportunity. The Guadalajara Cartel, which specialized in transporting cocaine and marijuana to the United States, arose as a result of this. Using extortion, torture, and political corruption, they maintained control of drug trafficking in the passageways between Mexico and the United States during the majority of the 1980s. In addition, the program follows DEA agents Kiki Camarena (Pea) and Walt Breslin (McNairy) as they attempt to apprehend Gallardo.
Narcos: Mexico maintains the high quality of its predecessor and has outstanding performances from all of the main characters. Although this program may be a little sluggish at times, it always gets up in the last episodes of each season. If you liked the first Narcos, you’ll fall in love with this series straight away since it retains the same flair and sophistication while moving the emphasis from Colombia to Mexico.
Don’t Mess with Cats: On the Lookout for an Internet Killer
Mark Lewis (Surviving Disaster) directed this Netflix real crime docuseries, which premiered in December 2019. After recordings showing animal cruelty acts are uploaded online, a gang of internet sleuths go on an amateur investigation. Following the discovery of a video showing two cats being smothered inside a vacuum seal bag, online sleuths formed a Facebook group to analyze every frame of the video in attempt to track out the culprit. Their quest ultimately took them to Ontario, Canada, and to a man named Luka Magnotta. As additional footage emerged online, it became a cat and mouse game.
Luka was said to have over 70 different Facebook accounts and had perhaps infiltrated the very organization investigating him, so it was simple to understand how amusing this was for him. Unfortunately, the amateur detectives were unable to attract the police’s notice until it was too late. The internet sleuths awoke in May 2012 to a fresh video on the internet. This time, instead of animals, the video showed a young man being killed and mutilated.
As the hunt for Magnotta increases, the audience will be taken from Toronto to Montreal to Berlin in the next three parts of this three-part docuseries. Was Magnotta’s egotistical personality fueled by the internet sleuths, or would he have gone that far regardless? This is one event you will not want to miss.
Paris is attacked on November 13th.
November 13: Attack on Paris is a three-part Netflix docu-series that premiered in June 2018. This French film, produced by brothers Gédéon and Jules Naudet, portrays the terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015, which killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more. This three-hour documentary features interviews and testimonials from survivors, first responders, the mayor of Paris, and France’s president at the time of the attacks.
It all started on November 13 in Paris, when three suicide bombers detonated their explosives outside the Stade de France after being refused entry during an international football tournament. Another gang then opened fire on crowded cafés and restaurants, further confusing first responders as reports poured in from all across the city. Finally, during a stand-off with police, the terrorists carried out another mass shooting at a rock performance attended by 1500 people, during which they kept hostages. Terrorists murdered 130 people, including 90 during the rock performance, and wounded 416 others (100 in critical condition).
The events of that night are sadly depicted in this presentation, which includes actual 9-1-1 calls and first responders’ emotions upon arriving on the site of the murders. It also includes testimony from survivors of each assault, although the last two episodes concentrate mostly on the events that occurred inside the Bataclan theater, where the rock performance was place. To begin to comprehend what all of these individuals went through and had to suffer psychologically in order to live is simply devastating. Immediately add this to your to-do list.
Making a Murderer is a film about a murderer.
Making a Murderer was created by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos and premiered in December 2015, earning four Primetime Emmys in the process. Following the phenomenal success of the first season, which perhaps led the way for real crime docuseries on Netflix, a second season was ordered and released in October of 2018. The tale of Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in jail after being wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen, is told in this program. He was prosecuted and convicted again for the murder of Teresa Halbach after being freed and sued Manitowoc County for wrongful incarceration.
Season 1 of this enthralling tale begins in 1985, with an examination of his arrest and conviction, followed by his ultimate release in 2003. The first season follows Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, as he is arrested for coercion after his civil case and a 2007 fresh conviction. Netflix eventually published season 2, which delves into the aftermath of both Avery’s and Dassey’s convictions, after keeping fans on their toes for three years. It delves into their families and Avery’s attorney’s findings that show his innocence and that he was framed for Halbach’s death. Meanwhile, Dassey argues that prosecutors forced his first confession and that his rights were violated.
Making a Murderer, which is still hotly disputed years later, proves that some of the greatest true crime tales aren’t always the ones that make national headlines. Whether you think Avery is innocent or not, this program excels at demonstrating the judicial system’s flaws and the dangers of authority figure abuses. If you haven’t seen this, you aren’t a true crime addict.
When They Look at Us
This four-part miniseries on the 1989 Central Park 5 is directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma). This series, which has won two Primetime Emmys, has an all-star ensemble that includes John Leguizamo (Waco, Bloodline) and Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire) in supporting parts. When They See Us makes an excellent job of depicting the life of the five black male suspects who were unjustly accused of rape and assault of a white lady in Central Park.
New York City cops used racial prejudice, discrimination, fake evidence, and brutality to force these 5 teenagers into confessing to the rape. Four of the juveniles were sentenced to 6-7 years in prison, while Korey Wise, who was 16 at the time, was tried as an adult and sentenced to 13 years in prison. It’s heartbreaking to see them endure hours of questioning without the presence of their parents or attorneys, to be compelled to confess to a crime they didn’t do, and then to struggle with reintegration after being freed in their twenties.
When They See Us is a difficult program to binge watch, despite the fact that it is just four episodes long, since it is so heartbreaking, touching, and doesn’t back down when facing the reality. Every actor, young and old, is at the top of his game, particularly Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, who plays Wise from the age of 16 until his release in his late thirties. As you turn on this must-see program, have the tears ready.
Narcos
If you’ve read this far (thank you! ), you’ve already learned about Pablo Escobar and the Narcos spinoff set in Mexico, so I’ll save you the details. Wagner Moura (Elite Squad: The Enemy Within) plays Pablo Escobar well, while Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian) and Boyd Holbrook (Logan, The Predator) play DEA officers Javier Pea and Steve Murphy, respectively. Despite the fact that Escobar’s rise and fall has been widely chronicled at this time, witnessing his rise and fall in Narcos has never been more fascinating.
What sets this program apart from the others is that it maintains its high quality in season three, even after Pablo Escobar’s death. It examines the legacy he left behind, which is probably one of the least well-documented aspects of his life. The Cali Cartel’s business is still flourishing after his death, but they are struggling to legalize their activities as they battle from within.
The show’s realism is enhanced by the fact that it was shot on location in Colombia, but what really sets it apart is the outstanding writing and performances. Narcos will keep you on the edge of your seat as you see everything unravel in front of your eyes since it is self-contained and full of suspense. This tale is so bizarre that it’s almost hard to believe it’s entirely true.
Netflix, True Crime are some of the topics that have been discussed.
True Crime is slowly becoming one of the most popular television genres. Every season there are a handful of new true crime TV series coming out. While some of them are really bad, many of them are really good. Here are the top 12 best true crime series on Netflix right now.. Read more about true crime movies on netflix and let us know what you think.
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