8 true-crime documentaries to watch on Netflix after 'American Nightmare'

• Netflix's "American Nightmare" examines the kidnapping of Denise Huskins.

• The case was compared to the Ben Affleck movie, "Gone Girl."

• Here are eight true-crime documentaries you should watch next.

Netflix's "American Nightmare" is the latest true-crime docuseries that has gripped subscribers, as it examines the mysterious kidnapping of Denise Huskins in 2015.

Huskins was taken from her boyfriend's home in Mare Island, California, and later reappeared two days later at her family home in Huntington Beach, over 400 miles away.

The police first accused Huskins and her boyfriend of staging the kidnapping, even comparing it to the movie "Gone Girl." However, they eventually found the real culprit, a disbarred lawyer named Matthew Muller.

If you've already watched all three episodes of "American Nightmare," Netflix has plenty more true-crime offerings to keep you hooked. Here are our recommendations.

"The Tinder Swindler"

"The Tinder Swindler," which enraged viewers back in 2022, tells the story of Simon Leviev, a man accused of using Tinder to meet women and manipulate them into giving him thousands of dollars.

Leviev's excuse was that he needed extra funds to escape his enemies, but the documentary argues that he used the money to fund his luxurious lifestyle.

"The Tinder Swindler" focuses on the women who say Leviev targeted them and is an intricate look at how dating apps can be exploited, and the aftermath for those affected.

"The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker"

Sometimes a catchy title is all you need to catch the audience's attention, and Netflix struck gold with "The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker."

Some audiences might remember Kai — also known as Caleb McGillvary — from a viral video where the hitchhiker explained his involvement in a bizarre incident involving a hatchet.

"The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker" examines how Kai dealt with fame after the video went viral, before exploring how his story turned dark when he was given a 57-year prison sentence for murder.

"Waco: American Apocalypse"

In 1993, cult leader David Koresh had a 51-day standoff with the FBI and the ATF at his compound in Waco, Texas.

The leader of the religious sect the Branch Davidians had amassed a huge following, but the authorities attempted to raid the compound amid suspicions that Koresh was stockpiling weapons.

"Waco: American Apocalypse" takes Netflix subscribers through the armed standoff with news footage showing the shootout and interviews with members of the FBI and ATF who took part in the siege.

While the documentary mainly focuses on the tragedy, it explains why the Branch Davidians were so dedicated to Koresh and his apocalyptic teachings.

"Who Killed Jill Dando?"

On April 26, 1999, British TV presenter and journalist Jill Dando was murdered when an unidentified attacker shot her on the doorstep of her London home.

The mystery as to who killed Dando, and why, has been in the headlines ever since.

"Who Killed Jill Dando?" lays out all of the facts in the case and outlines the theories about why the beloved presenter was murdered. This includes possible retaliation for her televised appeals for aid during the Yugoslav wars.

The gripping three-part docuseries is mainly made up of interviews with her family, her colleagues, and the detectives who were investigating her murder. It also features Barry George, the man who was convicted and later acquitted of killing Dando.

"Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey"

The polygamist Fundamentalist Church of the Latter-Day Saints has made plenty of headlines in the last few decades because of its leader, Warren Jeffs. In 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years after being convicted on two counts of child sexual assault.

Many FLDS Church members appear in "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey," and share their experiences within the polygamous community, and the abuse they say they faced from their partners and religious leaders.

"Making a Murderer"

"Making a Murderer" is one of Netflix's most famous docuseries and it took a decade to make, largely because of how mind-boggling the case is.

The docuseries follows Steven Avery, who along with his nephew Brendan Dassey, was charged with the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. Both Avery and Dassey have maintained their innocence.

It's a riveting watch as the filmmakers guide the audiences through the many twists and turns in Avery's fight for the truth.

"Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer"

"Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer" is an enraging watch, especially for animal lovers, but that's why it's so powerful.

The docuseries revolves around adult film actor Luka Magnotta, who posted a video of himself suffocating two kittens in a bag in 2010. People online started a group to try to find him after the video went viral, and their efforts led to his arrest for the murder of a university student.

"The Most Hated Man on the Internet"

"The Most Hated Man on the Internet" is about Charlotte Laws, and her attempts to take down a website called Is Anyone Up? after her daughter's nude photos were posted online for the world to see.

Started by Hunter Moore, the site allowed anyone to post photos and directly link them to a person's social media accounts. Thousands of nude photos were shared as a result of the website.

Featuring interviews with those affected by Is Anyone Up?, the three-part series is a powerful look at the rise of revenge porn in the early 2010s.

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