True crime documentaries have exploded in popularity over the past few years, with hits like Tiger King: Mayhem, Murder, and Madness and The Tinder Swindler racking up millions of views in their first weeks on Netflix.
Though some might be confused by people seeking out the stories of horrendous or unsolved tragedies, fans of the true crime genre are captivated by the story and the people behind the headline. The motivations and madnesses of serial killers, the twists and turns of criminal investigations, as well as the injustices of the legal system in exploring killings, kidnappings, and cults are what captivates the genre's millions of fans.
Some of the very best true crime content has been produced by Netflix in an attempt to sate this growing audience for murder and mystery, from polygamist sex trafficking mormon cults that operated in plain view, or a deep dive into the questionable suicide/murder of a veteran trans rights activist in 1992. If a bit of gritty true crime action seems like your sort of content, we have compiled a list of the five best true crime documentaries that you can watch on Netflix right now.
