The 20 best true crime shows on Peacock
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
A&E; Peacock; Everett Collection Detective on 'The First 48'; Nancy Grace on 'Bloodline Detectives'; Robert Stack on 'Unsolved Mysteries'
When you think of true crime, do you immediately go to high-profile murders? While it's easy to jump straight to the Black Dahlia slaying or a more horrific case like that of Chris Watts, we often forget that murder is not the only crime that exists. Though brutal killings may be the driving force behind the genre's most coveted stories, fraud, theft, religious abuse, and more all fit the bill, too.
From dramatizations starring your favorite actors to nonfiction docuseries — including unsolved mysteries, city-specific murders, cult fanaticism, and more — here are the best true crime shows streaming on Peacock as of October 2023.
<em>Myth of the Zodiac Killer</em> (2023)
Theories around the identity of the Zodiac Killer have persisted since the late-'60s, and everyone from detectives at the time to amateur sleuths decades later have tried to uncover the mystery. This two-episode documentary series aligns with one popular theory, that there were multiple killers, and uses witness testimony and modern forensic technology to go about proving it. Linda Jansen, who was at a lake where one of the killer's crimes occurred, comes forward for the first time more than 50 years later, claiming in the doc that the man she remembers does not look like the sketches released after the taxi driver murder from around then. This, plus artificial intelligence to analyze the Zodiac Killer's handwriting, puts forth a fascinating case, even if some viewers will remain skeptical. —Kevin Jacobsen
Where to watch Myth of the Zodiac Killer: Peacock
Cast: Thomas Henry Horan, Andrew Nock
Related content: How David Fincher made Zodiac
<em>The Real Murders of Atlanta</em> (2022–present)
The Real Murders of Atlanta centers on some of the most shocking killings over the past few decades in the Georgia capital. The series unfolds like your standard true-crime procedural, with a narrator (Aaron Goodson), reenactments, and interviews from those involved, but what makes it stand out from the rest is the compelling nature of the cases. These include the murders of a tech mogul, rapper Lil Phat, and a local judge. Season 2, which is currently airing on Oxygen, is also available to stream on Peacock, featuring even more grisly deaths from Atlanta's past and present, including an investigation into the East Point serial shootings in 2001. —K.J.
Where to watch The Real Murders of Atlanta: Peacock
Cast: Aaron Goodson
Related content: Hear the trailer for new true crime podcast exploring the Atlanta Child Murders
<em>Dateline: The Last Day</em> (2022–present)
This Dateline spin-off focuses on the events of victims' final day alive, and how evidence of their activities was gathered to solve their murder. Each installment of the eight-episode first season centers on a new case, including Mollie Tibbetts; Nathan Paet; Kelsie Schelling; Amy Allan; LaNell Barsock; Cassie Jo Stoddart; Gloria Pointer; and Brook Baker and Erika Norman. Dateline correspondents Keith Morrison, Josh Mankiewicz, and Andrea Canning lead the series, alongside NBC News' Stephanie Gosk, as they compellingly break down those crucial hours that led up to the murders through interviews with law enforcement and demonstrations of how all the clues came together to resolve each case. —K.J.
Where to watch Dateline: The Last Day: Peacock
Cast: Keith Morrison, Josh Mankiewicz, Andrea Canning, Stephanie Gosk
Related content: Dateline's Keith Morrison teases the twists and turns of the Aisling Tucker Moore-Reed case
<em>Violent Minds: Killers on Tape</em> (2023–present)
For those fascinated by the psychology of murderers, Violent Minds: Killers on Tape is a riveting watch. The docuseries centers on Dr. Al Carlisle, a psychiatrist who interviewed multiple killers throughout his career, including Ted Bundy, Manny Cortez, the Hi-Fi killers, and Arthur Gary Bishop. Each episode contains recorded tapes of these interviews, which were presumed lost until Carlisle's family discovered them after his 2018 death. The series also provides commentary from modern-day experts to contextualize Dr. Carlisle's findings, including his use of hypnosis to extract information out of his interviewees. —K.J.
Where to watch Violent Minds: Killers on Tape: Peacock
Cast: Jeff McDonald, Carrie Anne Drazewski-Keller, Al Carlisle
Related content: How Zac Efron survived playing Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
<em>Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders</em> (2017)
While the Law & Order franchise has crafted numerous ripped-from-the-headlines stories over the years, this short-lived miniseries tackled a well-known real-life case: the Menendez brothers. In this dramatization, we follow the trial of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who faced criminal charges after murdering their parents in the mid-'90s. Edie Falco plays Leslie Abramson, the brothers' defense attorney who faced controversy of her own when it was claimed she urged Erik's psychiatrist to rewrite doctor notes; the actress earned an Emmy nomination for her performance. NBC intended for Law & Order True Crime to be an ongoing anthology series, though this remains the only season produced. —K.J.
Where to watch Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders: Peacock
Cast: Edie Falco, Gus Halper, Miles Gaston Villanueva
Related content: Law & Order True Crime showrunner reveals what case could be a future season
<em>Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed</em> (2023)
The 1989 murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their sons Lyle and Erik was one of the most covered cases of the '90s. Numerous movies, shows, and specials have emerged in the decades since, with this three-part docuseries centering on former Menudo group member Roy Rosselló's claim that Jose sexually abused him, corroborating Lyle and Erik's defense. The series also features Rosselló looking for other former members of Menudo, whose label, RCA, employed Jose as an executive. Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed comes ahead of Netflix's plan to center the second season of Monster — which previously covered Jeffrey Dahmer — on the Menendez brothers. —K.J.
Where to watch Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed: Peacock
Related content: Former Menudo member Roy Rosselló says he was drugged and raped by father of Menendez brothers
<em>A Friend of the Family</em> (2022)
The true story of Robert Berchtold, neighbor and friend of the Broberg family, and his abducting of daughter Jan Broberg on two separate occasions is dramatized in this nine-episode miniseries. Jake Lacy plays Berchtold, who kidnapped Jan at ages 12 and 14 in the mid-'70s. Hendrix Yancey and Mckenna Grace play Jan at different ages, with Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, and Anna Paquin rounding out the cast. As EW's critic wrote in her review, "Lacy gives good sociopath, morphing from buttery smooth to icily menacing with a shift of his gaze." You can also watch a companion documentary on Peacock, A Friend of the Family: True Evil; the events of Jan's kidnapping were also chronicled in the 2017 documentary Abducted in Plain Sight. —K.J.
Where to watch A Friend of the Family: Peacock
Cast: Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Hendrix Yancey, Anna Paquin, Mckenna Grace
Related content: Jake Lacy plays a monster in plain sight in A Friend of the Family
<em>Unsolved Mysteries</em> (1987–2002)
Unsolved Mysteries remains one of the go-to documentary crime series, debuting decades before the true crime boom of the 2010s. Narrated by the iconic deep-voiced Robert Stack, the series explored the unexplainable, covering missing persons, cold cases, and even paranormal activity. With so many of these cases left unsolved, the show invited viewers to call in with any information they might have, with updates on solved cases sometimes provided in later episodes. The series has taken on new forms over the years, with a Netflix revival having dropped in 2020. But there was nothing quite like the original, in all its distinctly '90s glory. The first series as well as the 2007–10 Spike TV series hosted by Dennis Farina are both available on Peacock. —K.J.
Where to watch Unsolved Mysteries: Peacock
Cast: Robert Stack, Dennis Farina
Related content: Unsolved Mysteries teases new cases in volume 2 trailer
<em>The First 48</em> (2004–present)
The first 48 hours following a homicide are crucial for investigators, after which point the opportunity to solve the case becomes less and less likely. This long-running A&E series, which premiered in 2004, features detectives from various cities during that vital timespan as they try to make sense of the crime through forensic tests, witness testimony, and more. Narrated by Dion Graham, The First 48 has endured thanks to its propulsive pacing, with a literal ticking clock providing updates on how many hours are left to solve the case within those first two days. Peacock does not have every single episode of the series dating back to 2004, but there are dozens and dozens available with which you can fall down the rabbit hole. —K.J.
Where to watch The First 48: Peacock
Cast: Dion Graham
<em>Forensic Files</em> (1996–2011)
One of the most influential true crime docuseries, Forensic Files helped to develop our fascination with forensic evidence in solving criminal cases. First airing in 1996, the series centers on different forensic scientists every episode (though some analysts appear in multiple installments). Unlike shows such as Unsolved Mysteries, episodes of Forensic Files typically end with a sense of finality, with investigations having led to convictions or acquittals. The visual style of Forensic Files could later be seen in fictional crime dramas such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as other docuseries. Peter Thomas narrated the series through 14 seasons. HLN rebooted the series as Forensic Files II in 2020. —K.J.
Where to watch Forensic Files: Peacock
Cast: Peter Thomas
Related content: CSI's writers school themselves in forensics
<em>Bloodline Detectives</em> (2020–present)
Thanks to scientific and technological advancements, cold cases don't always stay cold. Such is the case on Bloodline Detectives, where law enforcement and forensic experts break down murders that were solved using genetic genealogy, or familial DNA (the same process police used to catch the Golden State Killer). Hosted by true crime aficionado and legal analyst Nancy Grace, with narration from English television and radio personality Piers Gibbon, Bloodline Detectives tracks the many ways experts use sites like Ancestry.com or 23andMe to crack dead-end cases. Featuring interviews with family members and investigators, Bloodline Detectives explains how old cases are solved using modern technology, even after all hope for a resolution has been lost. —Sammi Burke
Where to watch Bloodline Detectives: Peacock
Cast: Piers Gibbon, Nancy Grace
Related content: Nancy Grace is back in exclusive first look at new Oxygen true-crime series Injustice
<em>The Case of: Caylee Anthony</em> (2018)
The bond between a mother and child is beyond powerful, capable of impossible-seeming feats of strength in defense of the young. This capacity for deep love and heroics is why it's so transfixing when mothers are accused of perpetrating harm against their children. Filicide is the subject of the three-episode, one-season documentary The Case of: Caylee Anthony, which examines the infamous 2008 death of 3-year-old Caylee and the 2011 trial of the defendant, then 22-year-old former mother Casey Anthony. In The Case of: Caylee Anthony, a team of elite specialists re-examine the circumstances surrounding Caylee's mysterious death, analyze the ruling of a "homicide due to undetermined means," and introduce potentially overlooked evidence. —S.B.
Where to watch The Case of: Caylee Anthony: Peacock
Related content: Casey Anthony book: Publishers aren't biting
<em>Cruise Ship Killers</em> (2020–present)
Don't let the title fool you — this Canadian documentary series does explore murders at sea, but it also covers disappearances, alleged suicides, and unsolved cases, too. Horror/mystery writer J.H. Moncrieff, former medical examiner Kim Witt, and retired detective Damian Turner guide us through each case, offering expert insight on the deaths, disappearances, and (where possible) convictions. While this series isn't an exceptionally hard-hitting look inside these cases, it fills a niche void within the true crime world. To protect the victims and their families, the show changes identifying details, like the names, places, and ships involved in the cases. The show also casts actors to recreate scenes, including interviews with witnesses and family members. Still, it's possible to match up some of the episodes with their real-life inspirations. For example, episode 2, "Shelly," appears to adapt the 2010 death of Yang Wenjuan. —S.B.
Where to watch Cruise Ship Killers: Peacock
Cast: John Barnard, Damian Turner, J.H. Moncrieff
<em>Dr. Death</em> (2021–present)
Adapted from the first season of Dr. Death, a podcast exploring outrageous instances of medical malpractice, this binge-worthy anthology series kicked off its first season with Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a poorly-trained Texas neurosurgeon who maimed over 30 of his patients and killed two of them. Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin also star as Dr. Randall Kirby and Dr. Robert Henderson, both of whom caught on to Duntsch's botched procedures and lobbied to have his license revoked. Dr. Death is a Peacock original, with drama distributed across eight episodes. The bone-chilling depiction of Duntsch's selfish, careless, and possibly sociopathic rampage will succeed in keeping you on the edge of your seat — but side effects may include developing a fear of all doctor's appointments. The drama continues with a whole new story for the forthcoming second season, starring Édgar Ramírez as thoracic surgeon Paolo Macchiarini. —S.B.
Where to watch Dr. Death: Peacock
EW grade: A– (read the review)
Cast: Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, AnnaSophia Robb
Related content: Dr. Death executive producer explains how Christopher Duntsch could have avoided prison
<em>Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story</em> (2021)
If you enjoyed Dr. Death but are yearning for a more true-to-life account of the unbelievable true story, Peacock also produced a companion docuseries. Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story tells the tale of Christopher Duntsch's malpractice — and the subsequent fight to put a stop to his villainy — through reenactments, courtroom documents, and interviews with the patients who survived his medical reign of terror. It's rare to hear directly from survivors of true crime cases, so this series offers a unique opportunity to associate real humans with the horrors perpetrated. Laid out over four episodes, Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story ditches the drama and chronicles the story of Duntsch's actions, as told through the words and reflections of his former colleagues, his ex-girlfriend, his trial lawyers, and those who lived through his procedures. —S.B.
Where to watch Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story: Peacock
Cast: Randall Kirby, Martin Lazar, Michelle Shughart, Kay Van Wey, Natalie Polisson, Robert M. Hoyle
Related content: Dr. Death podcast is returning for season 3 — check out the trailer and new details
<em>Suspect No. 1</em> (2020–present)
Crime solving goes international on Suspect No. 1. This British docuseries follows the Norfolk police as they work to identify criminals and bring them to justice, starting from the beginning of the investigation and ending with a closed case. From observing interviews, to coaxing confessions, to emphasizing the need for solid evidence, Suspect No. 1 provides an intimate breakdown of the entire process leading up to an arrest. Rather than focusing on a single case or criminal, this series provides a comprehensive experience, including live looks at a variety of cases. With help from body cameras and surveillance footage, this in-depth review of how investigations work broadens the viewers' knowledge, and chases down leads and rabbit holes that other documentaries may not spend as much time on. —S.B.
Where to watch Suspect No. 1: Peacock
Cast: Hugo Speer
Related content: The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time
<em>Preaching Evil: A Wife on the Run With Warren Jeffs</em> (2022)
The story of polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs' ascent to power has received its fair share of media attention, but the four-episode docuseries Preaching Evil distinguishes itself by centering its point of view through the eyes of Naomie Jessop, Jeffs' once-favorite wife. Before his arrest, Jeffs led the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he took on multiple wives, including child brides and his late father's widows. Jeffs made the FBI's Most Wanted list, and while he was charged with sex crimes against minors in June 2005, he wasn't caught for another year. Over the course of one 48-minute episode, Jessop lays out the story of Jeffs' run from the law, which she personally documented in her role as his scribe. —S.B.
Where to watch Preaching Evil: A Wife on the Run With Warren Jeffs: Peacock
Cast: Naomi Jessup, Vicki Thompson, Eric Nicholls
Related content: Under the Banner of Heaven creator Dustin Lance Black on his decade-long journey to adapt the show
<em>Prime Crime</em> (2022–present)
Even homicide comes with a hierarchy. Hosted by attorney Jesse Weber, who also serves as an anchor and reporter for the Law and Crime Network, Prime Crime follows high-profile murders — the stories that make headlines and lure people into the true crime genre with their promises of intrigue and scandal. Highlights include controversial cases like the Slenderman stabbing and the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard, as well as surprising survival stories like 13-year-old Jayme Closs' escape from captivity. Weber confers with experts to break down exactly how the suspects were identified and brought to justice. Through police footage, 911 recordings, and courtroom transcripts, viewers get the full picture of every crime covered. —S.B.
Where to watch Prime Crime: Peacock
Cast: Jesse Cord Weber
Related content: Patricia Arquette is an obsessed mother in true-crime anthology The Act: First look
<em>Skeleton Stories</em> (2005–06)
Basically Bones IRL, Skeleton Stories follows forensic anthropologists who solve lesser-known cases by — you guessed it — examining the victims' skeletons. This forensic method often helps uncover the last remaining clues to the cause of death in order to bring justice to the victims' families. Each episode covers multiple cases, dramatizing the bones discoveries and the anthropologist examinations to give a complete picture of the case, leading to the identification of the victim and determination of what happened to them. Interviews with family members, attorneys, and witnesses fill in the gaps about who the victims were and where they were found, softening the technicalities of the investigation and, in a way, bringing them back to life. —S.B.
Where to watch Skeleton Stories: Peacock
Cast: Cornell Womack
<em>Snapped</em> (2004–present)
If you're looking to sink your teeth — and some time — into a beloved true-crime franchise, Snapped is the show for you. Cable's version of the musical Chicago (without the singing or comedy) Snapped tells the stories of women who have lost control and committed murder. Debuting in August of 2004 on the Oxygen network, Snapped has since aired over 30 seasons, 21 of which are available on Peacock. Featuring interviews with the people nearest to the crimes — loved ones, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and more — Snapped offers new insights into the women who murder and why. —S.B.
Where to watch Snapped: Peacock
Cast: Sharon Martin, Jody Flader
Related content:
