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So many true crime shows, so little time. Why scroll through endless options on streaming, when you can find the best shows out there for your niche?
You might be looking for cases focused on the perspective of the detective, the victim, or the killer, maybe even the killer’s family. Or perhaps different types of cases are your bag: cold cases, cases involving women, forensics, interrogations, internet crimes, or non-murder cases.
Here are the best shows on offer from a variety of angles, including the best newsmagazine.
The detective’s perspective: Homicide Hunter
Homicide Hunter is a classic. Joe Kenda hosts and narrates episodes that recount his own homicide career, the stand-out cases he solved along the way, and how his life was impacted by them. What makes it unique is his personality, which comes to the forefront with his catchphrases, his narration style, and his views on criminal justice. Want to know what a detective thinks behind the scenes? Check out Homicide Hunter. Love Joe Kenda? Check out his book.
The killer’s perspective: I Am a Killer
I Am a Killer takes viewers straight into the minds of killers themselves through first-person accounts. They tell their stories (which are not always truthful) and shed light on the motivations behind the murders, or how they were wrongfully convicted. Not too many shows provide this perspective, and I Am a Killer is a standout.
The killer’s family: Evil Lives Here
Evil Lives Here takes the killer’s perspective one step further and offers the views of their family. But the show is not just about the killer’s motivations; instead, episodes offer insight into the childhoods and backgrounds of these killers and what might have caused them to become murderers in the first place. The stories are chilling—especially the ones where family members noticed sociopathy from early on in the killer’s life and tried to get them help, but tragically, no one helped them. Also check out Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks.
Cold cases: Cold Case Files
Cold Case Files is another classic, so classic that it was brought back recently. Not only does the show feature the mellifluous narration of Bill Kurtis, it tells stories of cases finally solved after years, and sometimes decades, often through DNA. With multiple seasons and spin-offs like Cold Case Files: DNA Speaks and Cold Case Files: Dead West, this show will keep you engaged for hours.
Women: Snapped
This long-running show proves that women can be as evil as men, and as murderous. Snapped is at 35 seasons and going strong. With many cases of intimate partner homicides, it rivals Dateline in its stories. Also check out Snapped: Killer Couples.
Trials: Killer Cases/Taking the Stand
Killer Cases and Taking the Stand both focus on trials in their retelling of murder cases. While Taking the Stand devotes the entire show to the trial (and includes direct and cross-examination of defendants who have decided to testify in their own defense), Killer Cases spends the first half on the investigation. Both are stellar presentations of well-known and high-profile cases for people who just don’t have enough time to watch Court TV all day.
The defendant’s perspective: Accused: Guilty or Innocent?
The defendant usually doesn’t get much air time in true crime shows, but Accused: Guilty or Innocent? changes that to focus on their stories. These aren’t the typical descriptions of crimes where it’s pretty clear that the defendant did it. Instead, the show reveals that maybe things aren’t as cut and dry as they seem. Episodes also offer a glimpse into the personal lives of defendants and what is at stake for them, humanizing people in roles usually depicted as negative and one-dimensional. And if you like that show, try Accused: Did I Do It?.
The internet: Web of Lies
Tired of all the murder? Web of Lies details a variety of crimes all related to the internet, sometimes murder and sometimes other crimes. The episodes are heartbreaking, as victims and their loved ones relate stories about catfishing, online bullying, online predators, sextortion, and more. The show will make you want to delete all of your social media accounts, turn off your phone, and hide in the closet.
Non-murder cases: American Greed
Another show mostly about non-murder cases is the excellent American Greed. Narrated by the equally excellent-sounding Stacy Keach, the show focuses on financial, corporate, and corruption cases like Ponzi schemes, embezzlement, fraud, identity theft, scams, art forgery, murder for financial gain, and other white-collar crimes. It includes many famous cases, such as Lou Pearlman, Martin Shkreli, Paul Manafort, the Fyre Festival, Anna Delvey, NXIVM, Elizabeth Holmes, and Dr. Death.
Best newsmagazine: Dateline
48 Hours and 20/20 are great viewing, but Dateline can’t be matched. Its engaging writing and storytelling bring the most banal spouse murder to life, and Keith Morrison has one of the best voices in true crime. Even when you turn on the show and find yet another murder of a romantic partner, and you know the husband or wife did it, you can’t stop yourself from watching. With the addition of trial clips, frequent interviews with perpetrators, and detectives who can’t help but break down during interviews with the hosts, episodes offer an intimate look at these cases.
Forensics: Forensic Files
Forensic Files is a classic. And one of the best places to start if you’re new to true crime. Episodes are bite-sized (22 minutes) and go over various forensic techniques in not just murder cases, but also sexual assault, bombings, and non-criminal deaths and medical mysteries. There’s also a Forensic Files II, if you get hooked. These techniques range from fingerprinting and DNA testing, to bite mark analysis and forensic botany, and everything in between, discussed by forensic specialists themselves. Sure, some of these techniques have been debunked as junk science, but the evolution of the field is there for the watching.
Interrogations: Interrogation Raw
YouTube has a lot of interrogation video, but if you’re looking for something more complete, check out Interrogation Raw. Detectives doing the interrogation offer their experiences, why they took the interviews on this path or that, and how they get suspects to lay it all on the table.
For history buffs: City Confidential
City Confidential looks at high-profile cases in cities and towns across the US and gives viewers some historical and cultural background on those places. It feels like you’re sitting in a history class that is made more interesting by telling stories of murders and other crimes. And with narrators like Paul Winfield and Keith David, you’ll be hooked on the stories. Stick to the earlier seasons for more history—the newer season only spends a few minutes on the background of the city or town where the case occurred.
True Crime Docket 