Netflix might be known for its searing true crime dramas, but it also has a fair share of documentaries that are just as insane and disturbing.
From dating apps leading to more trouble than romance to deep dive into serial killers’ tracks, many docs featured in the streaming platform have gripping stories that keep you guessing.
This article includes only a few titles in Netflix’s vast catalog that are worth the watch.
Amanda Knox (2016)
One of Netflix’s most well-known documentaries, Amanda Knox follows the real-life case of an exchange student who was murdered in cold blood during her stay in Italy. The primary suspect behind the crime was her roommate, who was tried, charged, and then set free years later for being wrongfully convicted.
Although Amanda no longer has to remain in prison, her story made headlines back in the day, and several people continue to doubt her innocence.
The Tinder Swindler (2022)
Dating apps have quickly become a go-to spot for singles ready to mingle in the digital era. Although several couples met their significant others online and were able to develop long-lasting relationships offline, a few Tinder users did not have the same luck.
The Tinder Swindler centers on four women who were all seduced by the same user on the app, who they believed was a wealthy mogul. After the latter convinced them to give him millions of dollars, they revealed how they fell for the con artist’s scheme.
Our Father (2022)
In this gripping documentary, a 30-year-old woman decides to go on a quest for her biological father, only to find that he is none other than a controversial fertility doctor.
Dr. Donald Cline injected his sperm into patients without their consent, leading several children to share his DNA. This complex case showed the gaps within the justice system, which didn’t have any measures to prevent or charge someone in a situation like this.
Don’t F With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Social media might sometimes be toxic, but it can also be beneficial when used for the right reasons. In 2010, a video of a man killing two kittens went viral, with several people becoming enraged by this cruel attack to the point that they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Through a thorough Facebook search, the murderer’s identity was then revealed, and he was found guilty of many more crimes than what was shown in the video.
Curry & Cyanide – The Jolly Joseph Case (2023)
When six people from the same family die over 14 years, it can’t be a coincidence. This Netflix documentary follows a tragic case in India, where a woman was found responsible for murdering her in-laws, her husband, and even a two-year-old.
Jolly Joseph was found guilty of killing her inner circle by adding poison to their home-cooked meals.
American Nightmare (2024)
Believe it or not, this true crime doc shows a victim discredited by the local police and the media because her story is a little too similar to the plot in David Fincher’s thriller, Gone Girl.
Despite Denise Huskins being abducted, abused, and then dropped off at her home 48 hours later, she was more vilified than protected by the authorities until one cop decided to take a closer look at the situation.
Girl In the Picture (2022)
After a young mother known as Sarah Marshall died in a mysterious car crash, an old picture of her insights a chilling investigation into her real identity and that of the man standing beside her.
This documentary offers an in-depth look at a federal fugitive who abducted a girl and made everyone believe that she was his daughter. Later on, the true nature of their relationship reveals itself, and the findings are nothing short of horrifying.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)
The controversy surrounding Warren Jeffs, the spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has been in the limelight for a long time, and this film displays the full scope of his numerous marriages.
Through never-before-scene footage from the Mormon community and present-day accounts, survivors and former members of Jeffs’s congregation share their personal experiences.
Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
Around the same time that Zac Efron starred as Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile,Netflix put out a docuseries about the serial killer.
Filled with footage and audio interviews with Bundy that were conducted while he was on death row, Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapesdives deep into the twisted mindset of a criminal.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
Los Angeles’ Cecil Hotel serves as the backdrop to a crime scene that shocked the nation. Elisa Lam, a Canadian 21-year-old visiting the U.S., was last seen in footage from a surveillance camera inside an elevator.
Later found dead in the hotel’s water bank, the reasoning behind her death remains a mystery, and this Netflix original presents a few theories as to what happened.
Casting JonBenet (2017)
Instead of going into specifics on the pageant queen’s death, this unconventional documentary hones in on the audition process to select the actors who will enact the shocking 1996 murder case.
As filmmakers and the people hoping to land the job take their stab at what happened, viewers can’t help but join them in figuring out the answers and reasoning behind such a tragic story.
Worst Roommate Ever (2022)
Finding someone to share a home with is an exciting part of adulting, at least for the most part. For those who end up with roommates who are far from pleasant to be around, being home can become more nightmarish than cozy.
This docuseries displays the horrors of trusting a stranger into private space, as people share their real-life experiences enduring threats and scams.
Athlete A (2020)
With victims of sexual assault coming forward after the #MeToo movement, USA Gymnastics athletes dared to confront their abuser and take legal action.
Athlete A follows the survivors and investigative journalists as they reveal doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse and how the USAG covered up for him.
Lover, Stalker, Killer (2024)
A love story with a very drastic turn, Love, Stalker, Killercenters on Dave Kroupa, a man who falls for two single mothers through two different dating apps, entering a cycle of murder and deception.
For years, Kroupa and his close friends faced threats from his ex-lover, with one of the women he was involved with suddenly disappearing from the face of the earth.
Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022)
Sarma Melngailis, a Vegan restauranteur from NYC, married a man who made her believe that he could elevate her food empire to new heights. However, little did she know that this union would unravel a series of misfortunes.
Not only did the man she married spend billions of her money in casinos, but he also ran away when she became wanted for fraud.
Elizabeth Clark
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