Summary

• True crime documentaries on Netflix provide a safe environment for viewers to confront their deepest fears and anxieties.
• Scary crime documentaries are not always centered around murder or serial killers, but can also explore other types of criminals and systemic flaws.
• Some of these documentaries shed light on real-life cases where the perpetrator may not always be caught, exposing problems with the justice system.

This article contains discussions of true crime, including: kidnapping, animal abuse, torture, murder, sexual assault, rape, child abuse, sex trafficking, necrophilia, and violence.

The true crime genre is one of the most popular on Netflix, and the streaming giant has crafted some scary documentaries on Netflix. What makes true crime documentaries so popular is that the format allows viewers to work out their deepest anxieties in a safe setting. More often than not, these stories have a definitive ending in which the perpetrator is caught, the mystery is solved, and audiences feel lucky that they watched the horrors of the case unfold on the screen rather than in real life. However, not all crime documentaries see the perpetrator behind bars by the story’s end.

The best true crime documentaries on Netflix aren’t always about murder, and a serial killer doesn’t necessarily have to be involved to make scary crime documentaries. Some perpetrators are con artists, cult leaders, or thieves. In addition, what makes a crime documentary so frightening isn’t always linked to the heinousness of the crimes. Rather, sometimes a program is scary because of how easily events could happen to anyone, or it displays glaring flaws in institutional systems that allow criminals to walk free. Other times, it is the crimes themselves that are so depraved that they stick in audiences’ minds.

25 Catching Killers (2021 – )

Catching Killers Chronicles The Whole Investigative Process

One of the more scary crime documentaries is the Netflix docuseries Catching Killers. Told from the perspective of law enforcement, journalists, and lawyers, Catching Killers is different from most true crime shows for its focus on the victims involved, rather than glorifying the killer. However, what makes Catching Killers so frightening is the realization of how in the dark law enforcement really is during the investigative process.

There are eight episodes in this series, with stories ranging from The Green River Killer and Aileen Wuornos (the subject of
Monster
) to B.T.K.

True crime shows usually come out once the mystery has been solved, and the answers seem obvious to audiences.Catching Killers takes viewers through the entire process from start to finish, causing people to realize that answers aren’t so obvious when the information is coming back in real time. There are eight episodes in this series, with stories ranging from The Green River Killer and Aileen Wuornos (the subject of Monster) to B.T.K. and The Toronto VIllage Killer.

24 Amanda Knox (2016)

Amanda Knox Has The Chance To Tell Her Own Story

Few haven’t heard the story of Amanda Knox, and she’s the subject of one of the more scary crime documentaries on Netflix. Amanda Knox made headlines after being convicted of killing her roommate while in Italy on a student exchange program and spent four years in an Italian prison before being exonerated. Amanda Knox is so frightening because it’s a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time that had resounding consequences.

The way the Italian Police handled Knox’s case is nothing short of shocking, and when Knox tells her side of the story, viewers can hardly believe that she was able to be convicted and wrongfully imprisoned. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016 and then hit Netflix just two weeks later. It received critical praise and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming.

23 Unsolved Mysteries (2020 – )

Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries Is A Reboot

Although this documentary series is a reboot of the classic show in the 1980s and 1990s, the Netflix version is a little more eerie and one of the scariest crime documentaries. Aside from the eerie paranormal experiences, there are some horrors hidden in this series. There are unsolved murders, and disappearances that haven’t been solved, all of which brought to light what most viewers fear most: losing someone and never finding out the truth.

The heartbreak of the loved ones left behind without answers is felt through the screen, making it incredibly difficult to watch. It’s haunting and leaves the viewers feeling melancholy after finishing an episode. In all, there have been 16 seasons of the series with two new volumes as Netflix original presentations. A third installment is also coming in later in 2024, which will add to the 21 episodes the streaming giant has released so far.

22 The Confession Tapes (2017 – )

The Confession Tapes Questions Whether Killer Confessions Can All Be Trusted

The Confession Tapes has an intriguingly unique premise, but its real-life consequences make it one of the most scary crime documentaries on Netflix. The critically acclaimed docuseries focuses on one subject per episode and sees people making confessions to murders leading ultimately to conviction in court — but they may not all be real. The Confession Tapes frighteningly explores the idea of false or coerced confessions, which sometimes lead innocent people to jail.

The series is the ultimate reminder of why lawyers need to be present in interrogative situations, as no one should ever be coerced into confessing a crime that they didn’t commit. There are two seasons of The Confession Tapes on Netflix, with a total of 11 episodes in the series so far. The episodes make this truly one of the scariest documentaries on Netflix because these people are all innocent and still go to prison, meaning that the real killers are still on the streets, a danger to all of society.

21 The Confession Killer (2019)

The Confession Killer Examines Henry Lee Lucas

Henry Lee Lucas is one of the most notorious serial killers, confessing to killing over 100 people and the subject of one of the more scary documentaries on Netflix. However, police have only ever been able to link 12 murders to him. Texas law enforcement were victims of Henry Lee Lucas as well as they fell for his lies and manipulation and believed his confession.

The Confession Killer is scary for different reasons than the others. It showcases complicated issues like holes in the justice system and how so many victims never receive the justice they deserve. Henry Lee Lucas may not have killed all of those people — but someone did. The real killers are still out there somewhere, and because Lucas was so dishonest in his desire for infamy, he ensured that several guilty people were still out there walking the streets, and justice was never served.

20 The Ripper (2020)

The Ripper Chronicles The Yorkshire Ripper Case

Several serial killers have been given the moniker “Ripper” over the years, but The Ripper follows the notorious case of the Yorkshire Ripper and is subsequently one of the more scary crime documentaries. Between 1975 and 1980 Peter Sutcliffe terrorized West Yorkshire and Manchester, responsible for killing 13 women in an appallingly brutal fashion.

The Ripper is so frightening because the docuseries makes it clear that leads on the case were so scant that if he hadn’t been caught for his car having false plates, it’s likely he would’ve kept his spree going for years and taken many more victims. This is a four-part true crime docuseries on Netflix that discusses the 13 women that the Yorkshire Ripper killed and the manner in which he went about his killings without ever getting caught, until fate finally brought him down.

19 Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer (2021)

Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer Discusses The Crimes Of Richard Ramirez

Richard Ramirez was one of the most prolific serial killers in California in the 1980s and the subject of one of Netflix’s scary crime documentaries. He hunted, tortured, and murdered his victims in the most brutal and violent ways. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer takes the viewer through the Ramirez investigation and pays special attention to his victims.

It doesn’t shy away from the atrocities committed by Ramirez, making it a difficult one to sit through. Serial killer documentaries are what Netflix does best, and this one leaves the viewers thoroughly disgusted and in shocked disbelief of his crimes.

Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer is a four-part docuseries on Netflix that checks in at about 45 minutes an episode. It starts with his original killings after the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and ends with him in prison and the detectives revealing how this affected their lives.

18 Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)

This documentary was released as a companion to the Zac Efron movie, Extreme Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, and works well to thoroughly disgust the viewer in one of the more scary crime documentaries on Netflix. While Bundy has been covered ad infinitum, the addition of hearing his real interviews makes this program chilling.

The documentary takes the viewers through the personal and intimate details of Bundy’s life and uses never heard before interviews with him on death row. Ted Bundy’s crimes are known all too well to most true crime fans, but this documentary adds to the never-ending list of the true horrors committed by one man.

This series not only has the Bundy interviews, but it also paints a picture of his life history, including early arrests, crimes, and his eventual death. There is also archival footage and interviews with people involved in the case, from witnesses and surviving victims to his family, officers, and journalists who covered the case.

17 Our Father (2022)

Our Father Chronicles The Crimes Of A Fertility Doctor

Our Father contains one of the most shocking stories to ever be seen on television and is subsequently one of the most scary crime documentaries. The documentary focuses on fertility doctor Donald Cline, who used his own biological material to impregnate dozens of unknowing patients, resulting in a total of 94 children.

Told through many of the children themselves who found out through DNA testing, Our Father explores the stuff of nightmares for women seeking help with fertility issues. Doctors are supposed to be people that the public can trust, but that sadly wasn’t the case with Donald Cline.

The true-crime documentary was so shocking and different that it was an instant sensation on Netflix, watched for 42.60 million hours in its first month on the service (via What’s On Netflix). To understand why this is so scary on top of the already terrifying subject matter, the documentary was produced by Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions, the studio behind movies like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and The Purge.

16 Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta? (2020)

Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta? Examines A Case From Argentina

One of the most publicized and controversial cases in Argentina, Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta? joins the ranks of scary crime documentaries. The docuseries follows the murder case of affluent sociologist María Marta García Belsunce who was found mysteriously dead in her home. Told primarily through journalists who covered the case, Who Killed Maria Marta? is terrifying because, by the end, it’s still entirely unclear exactly what happened and who was responsible.

The circumstances are so strange that it has to be seen to be believed.

Many people have been accused over the years, including the Juarez Cartel, her husband, her brother, and now her neighbor. The circumstances are so strange that it has to be seen to be believed. This case, over two decades later, remains unsolved and is a terrifying cold case that shows that sometimes bad things happen and justice is never served. This could have been part of Unsolved Mysteries, but the four episodes checking in at just under four hours show there is a lot to unpack here.

15 Memories Of A Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes (2021)

Memories Of A Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes Examines A Scottish Serial Killer

Dennis Nilsen isn’t as well-known in the States, but the Scottish serial killer is infamous in the UK and his chilling prison tapes can be heard in one of Netflix’s scary crime documentaries. Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes dives deep into the dangerous psyche of a necrophile who committed at least 12 murders and was caught after a plumbing complaint revealed he had been flushing remains down the toilet.

Nilsen’s crimes are hard enough to read about, let alone hear in detail from the killer’s own mouth. Between his creepy post-mortem rituals and justifications for his crimes, The Nilsen Tapes is a difficult watch at best. Made in Britain, this offering of first-hand confessions to some terrible murders leaves viewers in shock at the horrors that live in some people’s hearts. This is also a quick watch, a single documentary checking in at 84 minutes, but even that is a little too much in some cases.

14 Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich Looks At Money And Power’s Connection To Crime

Jeffrey Epstein became one of the most infamous figures before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is a shocking revue of his heinous operation, becoming one of the most truly scary crime documentaries. Epstein had one of the largest and most involved sex trafficking rings in recent history, and his arrest brought attention to some of the most powerful people in the world that may have partaken.

Filthy Rich is harrowing in that it shows just how much money talks and is able to keep people of affluence in power to commit whatever depraved acts they want without ever facing consequences. The Netflix docuseries checks in at four episodes, and just under four hours in length. What makes this work so well is that it is about the survivors of Epstein and how he used his power to commit his crimes. Making this about the victims helps to not glorify the evil things this man did to others.

13 Keep Sweet: Pray And Obey (2022)

Keep Sweet: Pray And Obey Examines Warren Jeffs And The FLDS

Documentaries that follow religious groups and cults are often some of the scary documentaries on Netflix because they reveal the horrors that people in everyday life are capable of. Not only that but cult shows force audiences to debate if they would be susceptible to a charismatic leader’s charms. Warren Jeffs saw himself as the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), an extremist offshoot of mainstream Mormonism.

In reality, he manipulated the woman who trusted him into underaged and abusive marriages. In never-before-seen videos, this documentary unearths his lies and the trauma he left in his wake. The four-part Netflix docuseries interviews survivors of the cult. The scariest part of this is that Jeffs is now serving a life sentence in prison, but he somehow still maintains control over the church from his jail cell. The docuseries ends with him in jail and Child Protective Services rescuing the children.

12 Cold Case Files (1999 – 2006; 2017 – )

Cold Case Files Often Wait For Technology To Catch Up

While Cold Case Files is often seen as a triumphant series, depicting cases sometimes solved decades after the crime was committed, this is also what makes the show one of Netflix’s scary crime documentaries.Cold Case Files sees a different case in every episode that has gone cold years ago, but with the advent of forensic technology is able to be solved. That makes this a nice counterprogram to Unsolved Mysteries because it finally gives closure to many cold cases.

The show plays on audiences’ worst nightmares, as the thought of losing a loved one and having to wait years to find out the truth is an awful prospect. The series’ longevity proves that this is a problem that isn’t infrequent, only adding to viewers’ dread. While this is an A&E series, with 168 total episodes, Netflix subscribers have access to watching it as well. The show started in 1999 and the most recent season arrived in 2023.

11 The Tinder Swindler (2022)

The Tinder Swindler Stole From Women He Met Online

The subject of safety and online dating is brought to the forefront in one of Netflix’s scary crime documentaries The Tinder Swindler. The documentary covers the harrowing case of Simon Leviev, a man who has posed as a millionaire on Tinder and managed to steal over $10 million from women all across the globe. Leviev’s tale is haunting for several reasons. His tactics were brilliant and few would’ve been able to see through his facade.

The worst of it is that Leviev destroyed several lives and, through flaws in the justice system, has yet to be charged for these crimes. He did spend time in prison for forgery in the past, but he never had to pay for the crimes of cheating so many people out of their money. As late as 2022, he was using his infamy from his crimes to try to further his career, even singing with an entertainment manager to attempt to sell his story as a movie or TV show to make even more money off his crimes.

10 American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

American Murder: The Family Next Door Focuses On One Family

This true crime case exploded across headlines and cable news before the documentary was even made, and the heartbreaking tale is subsequently one of Netflix’s scary crime documentaries. American Murder: The Family Next Door focuses on Chris Watts, who was known to most Americans for killing his family, including his two young daughters and pregnant wife. What’s so chilling is that the documentary reveals how manipulative Watts really was, and how he had planned this murder months in advance.

There are no recreations or voiceovers, it’s all real footage from the case, which makes it that much more haunting and scary. The documentary was an immediate hit on Netflix for true-crime fans, with 52 million households watching the documentary in its first month (via What’s On Netflix). It was also a critical success, sitting at 86% positive on Rotten Tomatoes.

9 Girl In The Picture (2022)

Girl In The Picture Has Many Twists And Turns

The twisty and critically acclaimed documentary Girl in the Picture is arguably one of the more scary crime documentaries. After a young woman is found dead after a hit-and-run accident, investigators learn that she isn’t who she said she was. Her husband is much older than her, and her name isn’t even her name. Adapted from books about the same case (Matt Birkbeck’s Finding Sharon and A Beautiful Child), this documentary is beyond terrifying.

Girl In The Picture reveals the worst-case scenario and a living nightmare that so many people fear. It took 20 years for Suzanne Sevakis’ true identity to be revealed, and it’s 20 years of dead ends for those who want answers. The movie follows the search through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the FBI to finally learn she was Suzanne Marie Sevakis, whom her “father” Franklin Floyd, kidnapped as a child in the 1970s and raised as his own daughter.

8 Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer (2019)

Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer Sees Internet Sleuths Get To Work

Facebook is known primarily as a social networking site, however, in a bizarre twist of fate, it helps average Facebook users solve a murder in Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. This is one of those scary crime documentaries that gets worse, and scarier, with every reveal. What started as an awful animal-abusing video, turns into something much more sinister. People from all around the world are logging on and trying to catch a killer, someone who is the worst of humanity.

It leaves viewers scratching their heads at what they just watched, especially considering Don’t F**k With Cats’ final message. This message is that many people think they can become famous by committing murders. This was one of the most-watched Netflix true-crime documentaries, and it kind of proves that point. If so many people tune in to see this man who murdered cats for Internet fame, and then ended up going down for the murder of a human, he gained the infamy he desired in the end.

7 Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes (2022)

Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes Hears From The Killer Himself

Netflix decided to release more scary crime documentaries under the Conversations with a Killer umbrella, and this time the subject was Jeffrey Dahmer. While Evan Peters did a standout job portraying the serial killer in Monster, it can’t compare to hearing the real Dahmer speak on tape about the horrific nature of his truly shocking crimes and why he believes he committed them.

Like Bundy, Dahmer has been covered many times in the media. However, the Conversations with a Killer series sees Dahmer just after his arrest and contains some truly terrifying footage. This was another three-episode true-crime docuseries, this one following the murder spree where Dahmer killed and cannibalized 17 men and boys over a 13-year timeframe. The docuseries takes the same format as previous ones in the franchise, telling the story through the archived audio footage.

6 Strong Island (2017)

Strong Island Examines How The Justice System Can Fail Communities

Filmmaker Yance Ford brought one of the most heartbreaking and scary crime documentaries to Netflix with Strong Island. The documentary sees Ford seek answers for the 1992 murder of his own brother, William Ford Jr. William, 24 at the time of his death, was shot by an auto shop employee after an argument, and the shooter was acquitted by an all-white grand jury in New York.

Strong Island is so scary because William Ford Jr. is another example of how the justice system has failed the Black community. Ford’s documentary is equally vulnerable as it is disturbing, as a grieving sister attempts to find answers and leaves audiences feeling that justice was never truly served. The documentary helped spread the story in a huge manner, as it picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature and an Emmy nomination for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.