Okay, How Scared Do You Want To Be? 5 Netflix True Crime Documentaries That Will Entertain And 5 That Will Terrify
When I sit down on the couch with a soft blanket and a barrel full of snacks, ready to pop on a true crime documentary, there’s a part of my brain that instantly activates and says “I’m gonna blow this case wide open” in an old-timey detective voice.
In the early 2000s, I was being raised on Forensic Files, where (if we were lucky) we’d get a singular pixelated photograph of a suspect captured with a janky security camera outside of a Blockbuster. Now, specials come out with such stunning HD quality that I'm rubbing my eyes in confusion because I didn’t think my vision was that crystal clear.
After my dedicated years of strenuous field research, (sitting in my living room, judgmentally) I’m confident, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Netflix has the best true crime documentaries to offer based on crisp production quality, quick pacing, and an always captivating cast of characters.
Below are the 10 Netflix true crime options that I’ve seen and would highly recommend! Hopefully this helps to give you options for content you can handle so you won't have to unexpectedly sleep with the lights on, unless that's what you're goin' for. Let's get into it!
1.INTERESTING AND KINDA FUNNY: The Legend Of Cocaine Island
What it's about: Within the first few moments of this documentary, we're greeted by a Florida man, wearing sunglasses inside, who says, "If you knew where two million dollars was buried in the ground, would you go dig that shit up? Fuck yeah, I would — and I did it one time." The chaos of this opening perfectly captures the vibe of this film. We follow Rodney, just a regular guy who has an idea to go on a modern-day treasure hunt. He'd heard stories around the campfire with his buddies about a friend who, while visiting Puerto Rico, found a duffel bag filled with two million dollars worth of cocaine. The problem was, he didn't have a clue what to do with it, so naturally he just kind of buried it in the ground. Rodney embarks on a comical journey to locate the goods in hopes of cashing out, but of course, plenty of hijinks ensue.
Let me just say: This is the funniest piece of true crime content I've ever consumed, and it had me cackling. This was like a Kramer storyline from an episode of Seinfeld. How exactly is someone going to DIG something out of the ground, but forget oh, I don't know, a shovel?! That's just a small part of the magnificent absurdity in this masterpiece. 10/10. No notes.
You can watch the trailer here:
2.WOW THIS WAS DISTURBING: Into the Deep
What it's about: An inventor and a journalist go underwater for a submarine expedition, but only one person comes back up. Peter Madsen, the inventor, claims that the journalist, Kim Wall, died accidentally at sea. However, it becomes much harder for him to deny that something sinister actually occurred when her body is discovered...with missing limbs.
Let me just say: The most compelling part of this documentary is that it was created in conjunction with another documentary. Originally, a filmmaker was making an innocent and educational film just following the inventor's newest creation. After the crime is exposed, the footage is used for this true crime film instead. Watching this man who clearly has no remorse is so chilling.
You can watch the trailer here:
3.INTERESTING AND KINDA FUNNY: This Is A Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist
What it's about: Thirteen pieces of classic art were stolen from The Gardner Museum in Boston, resulting in the largest art heist in history. Since it happened in Boston, you get this really amusing juxtaposition of artsy, creative types describing pieces with theatrical flair like, "The thieves did away with Rembrandt’s most striking narrative painting, 'Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee'. This is quite the devastating loss, as it is the artist's only painted seascape." Then, the Boston police department says something like, "Those bastards stole the friggin' Rembrandt!"
Let me just say: This limited series has everything you could ask for when it comes to a heist (okay, except for Sandra Bullock and Rihanna). It has characters ranging from an unreliable security guard who looks like a weed plant made a wish to become human, to a slew of diabolical suspects with possible ties to the Mafia. You won't have a clue who the culprit could be, because everyone is so messy. This docuseries is a work of art.
You can watch the trailer here:
4.WOW THIS WAS DISTURBING: Girl in the Picture
What it's about: A young woman found critically injured on the side of the road is taken to the hospital and sadly passes away later that evening. It's revealed that she has a much older husband and a four-year-old son. Her son is placed into foster care after the father is deemed negligent by Child Protective Services. The story starts to really rev up and get even more unsettling when the father proceeds to show up at the son's school, holds the principal up at gunpoint, and kidnaps his son. During the course of the investigation, it becomes clear that this man is not who he claims to be at all, and his darker secrets weave a twisted tale.
Let me just say: This is extremely disturbing. Like, I had to take a breather and watch a Disney movie after finishing this in an attempt to maintain hold on the last smidgeon of hope I have left for humanity. Out of all of the titles on this list, this is the first one to have made me cry real tears. People can be so cruel and terrible. I'm going to watch another Disney movie.
You can watch the trailer here:
5.INTERESTING AND KINDA FUNNY: Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.
What it's about: A vegan restaurant owner and her partner are caught embezzling over 1.6 million dollars, and then go on the run from the law before getting caught by authorities. Sounds pretty cut and dry, right? Not. At. All. SO much more happens in this! In addition to the crime, it's a hard look at manipulation and control in a relationship and the dark path you can go down when you lose your sense of self in a partner. Sarma sits down with Netflix and gets extremely real about what really happened.
Let me just say: Sarma comes prepared with the receipts — recordings, emails, texts, and tea. Watching a documentary that conveys someone fully snitching on their hated ex is just so satisfying. This series has the amount of gossip that I would normally only get during a bottomless mimosa-fueled brunch with the girls fresh after a breakup.
You can watch the trailer here:
6.WOW THIS WAS DISTURBING: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
What it's about: In January 2013, Elisa Lam was only 21 years old when she went missing on a solo trip to California. This documentary retraces her steps from the days before she disappeared. It really delves into the creepy place where she was last seen: Hotel Cecil in Los Angeles. This hotel is known for something you wouldn't want to see on a Yelp review: excessive deaths. I mean...even one death at a hotel is excessive. The hotel's dark history adds to the eeriness of the case. The interviews and investigation footage is often overlayed with posts from Elisa's personal Tumblr blog. By the end of this, you'll feel super connected to her and will be really, really hoping for her to be found safe. What could have happened to her?
Let me just say: I watched this mini-series well over a year ago and the feeling I had while watching it is still stuck with me. Following Elisa's story felt like a sucker punch to the gut. I'm also a single girl who likes to travel by myself, and even though no one ever expects anything to happen to them, it's upsetting to think that danger could always be looming.
You can watch the trailer here:
7.INTERESTING AND KINDA FUNNY: FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
What it's about: What was highly marketed as a glamorous and once-in-a-lifetime music festival ended up being an absolute fiasco. People flocked to a private island, expecting blissful entertainment in paradise, but that is not at ALL what they got. How could an event that promises luxury go so wrong that it ends up being remembered as a dry cheese sandwich disaster?
Let me just say: I remember watching this play out on Twitter so vividly, so even though I thought I knew the story, the documentary gave me much more tea from the perspective of festival staff and attendees. This is worth the watch because it gives you front-row seats to a dumpster fire. You won't be scared by this, but you will be stunned. Although you'd expect it to be bad, it ends up being sooo much worse.
You can watch the trailer here:
8.WOW THIS WAS DISTURBING: Our Father
What it's about: With the growing popularity of ancestry services such as 23andMe, what should be a simple and enjoyable process of learning about a family tree turned into a horror story for several unsuspecting individuals. Infertility doctor and sick freak, Donald Cline, was caught using his own sperm to impregnate his patients rather than using what's appropriate — donor samples or the patient's husband. He would go into his office to "collect the specimen", come back, and unbeknownst to the patient, inject his OWN nasty nastiness into these poor, unsuspecting women.
Let me just say: What in the Jane The Virgin nightmare was this?! A new fear has been unlocked and I'm not even trying to get pregnant. Hoo boy, did this give me the heebity jeebities. This is truly a compelling but disgusting story. This vile excuse for a human has the nerve to act like he did nothing wrong, and says he did this "sparingly". By the end of the documentary, once you see how many DNA tests came back related to him, you'll see that "sparingly" could not be further from the truth. I'm still sick to my stomach thinking about this one.
You can watch the trailer here:
9.INTERESTING AND KINDA FUNNY: Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
What it's about: It would be pretty difficult to not hear about the college admissions scandal. You know, the one where Aunt Becky from Full House was charged for using bribery to get her daughter into college. However, there is so much more to the story and so many more guilty parties involved in this mess! This documentary sheds light on how exactly that shady process went, and oh boy is it juicy. It follows Rick Singer, the man behind it all, and shows us dramatic reenactments of how he orchestrated multiple schemes to help get these undeserving rich kids into college.
Let me just say: It's pretty infuriating to see nepo babies steal the spot of someone who actually worked hard to earn a place in a school. Academic ability? Nah. This documentary shows that what you need to get into college is cold, hard cash. It is extremely gratifying to watch rich white people actually being held accountable for once.
You can watch the trailer here:
10.WOW THIS WAS DISTURBING: Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer
What it's about: We follow a detective who investigated the many, many grisly murders that were committed by one man in 1980s California. This is a gruesome look into one of the most notorious killers in history. This documentary interviews law enforcement, surviving victims, family members, and witnesses whose stories will immerse you in terror throughout all four episodes. It's very tough to get through, so I recommend pacing yourself. This is a gripping but disturbing analysis of a truly sick individual.
Let me just say: Rough. I learned more about darkness and evil in this than all nine of the other documentaries combined. Get your nightlights plugged in and ready to go after this one. This limited series scared me so much that when it ended and my laptop screen went black, I legitimately jumped at the sight of my own reflection on the screen.
