10 Most Gripping True Crime Docuseries on Netflix You Won't Believe Are Real

True crime has been at the height of its popularity in recent years: some viewers are drawn to these stories because they want to understand the motivations behind horrific and often senseless acts of violence, while for others, true crime projects are a burst of emotion in their measured lives.

1. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, 2019

Documentarian Joe Berlinger took a keen interest in Ted Bundy. His film details how long the police were unable to track the madman down. And how he escaped from custody twice before the authorities fully realized who they were dealing with. And finally, his trial, which Bundy himself turned into a media spectacle.

This was one of the first cases to be covered by the national media, and the criminal, who had considerable charm, immediately gained fans who could not believe that such a man could do all these terrible things. He played to the crowd by getting married right in the courtroom, and before his execution, buttons with an image of an electric chair were sold.

2. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, 2021

Since 1985, a criminal known as the Night Stalker has been operating in Los Angeles. At night, he would break into the homes of elderly couples or single women and kill them. And again, as with Bundy, society turned the maniac into a celebrity — a swarm of fans flocked to Richard Ramirez, bombarding him with letters.

On the one hand, the series satisfies the public's curiosity and tells the story of the famous killer in detail. At the same time, however, it does not forget to point out an unpleasant and dangerous aspect: society's interest in this type of madman is a kind of indulgence.

3. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, 2015-2024

The Jinx tells the terrifying story of the Durst family and Robert Durst, the son of a famous New York billionaire, who is involved in several murders. The horror of this story is that at the time of filming and director Andrew Jarecki's investigation, this man had not been arrested.

Douglas Durst, Robert's brother, withdrew his complaint against Jarecki, and the killer was sentenced to life in prison in 2021 on the basis of a confession recorded during an interview for The Jinx. It is a rare case in which a person simply would not have been caught without the documentary.

4. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, 2023

Another horrific story that happened within an influential family. Murdaugh Murders is a documentary project about the trial of former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who was accused of murdering his wife and son. The case is still relatively fresh, and Netflix released a documentary based on this event almost hot on the heels.

Murdaugh Murders entered the top 100 most watched titles on Netflix in 2023, so it's a popular story. Not as hyped as the testimony of long-studied killers like Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, but no less horrific when studied in detail.

5. The Keepers, 2017

In 1969, a mysterious murder occurred that remains unsolved: Catherine Cesnik, a nun who taught drama and English at a girls' school in Baltimore, was killed.

Her students believe that the murder was covered up because of a sex scandal in church circles. The creators of the documentary try to find out what really happened.

6. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, 2019

One of the craziest and most disturbing stories worthy of a feature film. The documentary tells the story of a group of online investigators who banded together to punish a sadist who killed kittens on video. The police did not take their investigation seriously until the psychopath started killing people.

Watching this project is truly painful, but it is not just another story of a brutal crime. Don't F**k with Cats is about something more important. Specifically, what ordinary people are capable of doing to protect animals, and how their activism led to the killer being caught and convicted.

7. Making a Murderer, 2015-2018

Steven Avery served 18 years in prison on a false rape charge — his innocence was proven by DNA testing. After his release, Steven decided to file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against his county and high-ranking officials for evidence tampering and corruption.

And then the mysterious events began — the police arrested Steven again for attempted murder, his nephew gave strange and confusing testimony. Making a Murderer is the story of 30 years of government impunity.

8. The Confession Killer, 2019

The case of serial killer and cannibal Henry Lee Lucas may not seem remarkable at first: he was caught for two murders. However, his story later became one of the most talked about, as Henry confessed to 400 murders and even helped the police find the bodies of the victims.

The film sheds light on previously unknown facts; for example, numerous confessions to the crimes committed are analyzed in detail, of which at least 20 are definitely false. In 1998, Henry was sentenced to death, but the governor commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.

All because of pressure from people who did not believe that Lucas had killed so many people. They were convinced that the police were manipulating a wrongfully convicted man. It is still impossible to say how many false confessions Lucas made.

9. I Am a Killer, 2018-2022

In 1976, the death penalty was reinstated in the US and more than 8,000 people were sentenced to death for murder. This series is for those who want to hear the stories of killers in the first person: it features interviews with prisoners awaiting the death penalty for their crimes.

Over the course of four seasons, viewers have the opportunity to form their own attitudes toward the criminals, and everyone may come to ambiguous conclusions. For example, Linda Lee Couch, who killed her husband, claims that she lived in constant humiliation and abuse and that she is a true victim. However, the witnesses against her say the opposite.

10. The Staircase, 2004-2018

A documentary about the fate of Michael Peterson. In 2001, he was accused of murdering his wife. And Michael, convinced of his innocence, invited documentarians to record the investigation — viewers were presented with details of the inner workings of a group of lawyers who developed an unprecedented defense.

Peterson's lawyers lost the case and Michael was sent to prison. But years later, evidence emerged that the prosecution had distorted the facts. The Staircase never answers the question of who took the life of Michael Peterson's wife, but it brutally shows how the justice system took the life of Michael Peterson himself.