I’ve watched countless true crime documentaries over the years. Like my fellow Americans, it’s one of my absolute favorite genres to get stuck into and spend hours watching. So, if you’re like me, these are some of the best true crime docs you need to watch.
There are some spoilers in the descriptions below—but I’ve done my best to keep those to an absolute minimum.
5
Girl In the Picture
Watch Girl In the Picture on Netflix
In 1990, a woman was found injured at the site of a hit-and-run accident. She’s rushed to the hospital, where an older man named Clarence Hughes shows up, claiming to be her husband. He identifies her as Tonya Hughes and reveals they have a young son named Michael.
She eventually dies from her injuries, prompting authorities to search for her family. When “Tonya’s” supposed mother is contacted, she reveals that her real daughter died as a child. This discovery unravels a decade-old mystery, which brings to light that the victim of the hit-and-run accident was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis and not Tonya Hughes.
It turns out that Sevakis was kidnapped by her stepfather, Franklin Delano Floyd, who later began using the name Clarence Hughes. Over the years, Floyd/Hughes posed as Sevakis’ father and eventually married her. This documentary does a great job of piecing together her tragic story and bringing to light the decades of abuse and manipulation she endured under Sevakis.
4
American Murder: Gabby Petito
Watch American Murder: Gabby Petito on Netflix
American Murder: Gabby Petito is a docuseries that explores the life and death of Gabby Petito, a van-life travel influencer who disappeared in 2021 during a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. When Brian returned home to Florida without her, Gabby’s family became suspicious and reported her missing. The several mysterious circumstances surrounding her disappearance sparked national interest, and a nationwide search for Petito began.
The investigation that followed revealed several dark truths about Petito’s relationship with her fiancé and even a tragic run-in with the police months before her disappearance. Eventually, Brian Laundrie, too, goes missing, and he is declared a person of interest as soon as Petito’s remains are discovered in Wyoming.
This series really highlights how carefully edited social media posts and vlogs can hide the abuse and manipulation that goes on behind closed doors. It’s a heavy watch, but I can’t recommend it enough. If you want to watch it soon without breaking the bank, there are still plenty of ways to score Netflix for cheap in 2025.
3
Murder on a Sunday Morning
Watch Murder on a Sunday Morning on Tubi
Tubi is one of the best free streaming services out there, and you can currently stream Murder on a Sunday Morning on the platform. The documentary follows the trial of a 15-year-old, Brenton Butler, who was wrongfully accused of murdering 65-year-old Mary Ann Stephens in Jacksonville, Florida. Over time, Butler’s public defense team mounted sufficient evidence, which helped expose flaws in the investigation.
Murder on a Sunday Morning is a documentary that is truly one of a kind, given that it offers a rare, unfiltered look inside the courtroom and specifically every stage of Butler’s trial. It’s as unsettling as it is gripping, but it’s a must-watch, given how it exposes the significance of systemic bias and the unfortunate consequences of unreliable eyewitness testimony and rushed investigations.
Watch I’m Related to a Killer on Prime Video
Unlike many other documentaries listed here, I’m Related to a Killer takes a unique approach by exploring crimes through the eyes of people who knew the perpetrator personally. Each episode focuses on a new case and delves into the circumstances and details of the crime, as well as how it went on to affect the perpetrator’s family.
This show is pretty new on Prime Video, and it spans eight episodes. If you like watching miniseries of this sort, Prime Video has a lot of other shows that you can plow through during the weekend.
1
Still Missing Morgan
Watch Still Missing Morgan on Hulu
This heartbreaking documentary follows the 1995 disappearance of six-year-old Morgan Nick, when she was out playing with her friends. The case remained unsolved for decades and was finally reexamined in 2020.
A documentary crew followed the new investigators, as well as members of the Nick family, and new leads and information emerged during the process. It’s a devastating series, in that there is no closure. At the same time, it gives voice to Morgan’s mother and family, who live with the hope that she will return.
These are some of the best true-crime documentaries I’ve watched. If you’re a true-crime enthusiast who is looking for something new to stream, this list is a good place to start. But if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted, most of these platforms also have a good number of feel-good movies that are actually good.