True crime has become a huge genre in the documentary world, covering things as famous as the JonBenét Ramsey case to something as horrifying as the inner workings of cults. The best true crime documentaries will leave your head spinning but will always instill a cautionary tale. If you’re looking for a true crime documentary to watch that may seem stranger than fiction, check out one of these six below.
6. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)
Starting our list of best true crime documentaries is Quiet on Set. Prompted by Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, several other Nickelodeon employees and stars have come forward about the horrors behind the scenes. Featured in a four-part docuseries, famous child actors, including Drake Bell and Alexa Nicolas, and other staff are interviewed. They discuss working with Dan Schneider and his inappropriate actions on- and off-screen.
–IMDb score: 7.5
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5. The Menendez Brothers (2024)
Fifth on our list of best true crime documentaries is The Menendez Brothers. The newest Netflix documentary allows the brothers to share their side of the story for the first time in 30 years. The 1989 crime when the brothers killed their parents is given new light, featuring the alleged year of abuse, the high-profile trial, and interviews with the brothers.
–IMDb score: 7.0
4. Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025)
Next up on our list of best true crime documentaries is Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke. Franke had a following of over 2.5 million subscribers on her YouTube channel 8 Passengers. Over time, her strict parenting methods raised red flags. This caused her and her podcasting partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, to be arrested and charged. The documentary has other members of the family share their stories for the first time on camera.
–IMDb score: 7.4
3. Scamanda (2025)
Rounding out our top three best true crime documentaries is Scamanda. The series created by ABC News delves into Amanda Riley’s case. You may recognize her as the Californian woman who pretended to battle stage 3 blood cancer while duping her followers out of $100k in fake fundraising drives. Scamanda attempts to reveal the lies through exclusive interviews with family, friends, and professionals involved in the case.
–IMDb score: 6.8
Also Read: 5 Best Cult Documentaries and Where to Watch Them
2. Dancing with the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult (2024)
Dancing with the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult ranks second on our best true crime documentaries list. The three-part Netflix series reveals a dark corner of the viral app, focusing on young dancer Miranda Wilking. Wilking signed up with a management company called 7M, which turned out to be a religious cult led by Robert Shinn. The episodes look into both the cult and its mission, including cutting off members from their families.
–IMDb score: 6.1
1. Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (2024)
Ending our list of the best true crime documentaries is perhaps the most confusing, Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini. One morning in 2016, Papini disappeared during her morning run, resurfacing three weeks later. Her far-fetched tale of being abducted by two random Hispanic women confused investigators. Four years later, they realized Papini had faked her kidnapping. The episodes go over the case, including her ex-husband’s point of view.
–IMDb score: 7.3
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