Not content with turning its subscriber base into TV goers, Netflix also seems to have turned most of us into armchair detectives. Previously dominated by passionate recreations, dry talking heads, and countless zooms on the same photos, the true-crime genre has now morphed into the genre of cinematic, hugely heady TV that starts conversations at the water cooler (or else I've done it before (Covid, anyway). From wild tales of cult life to countless unsolved mysteries, here's a look at ten original series that, rightly or wrongly, made crime must-watch entertainment.
Make a killer
(Image credit: Netflix) Where else could we begin than the genesis of the streaming generation's genuine criminal fixation? What's interesting is how much Netflix trusted viewers to take part in the often galling case of Steven Avery, a man who, after serving an eighteen-year sentence for crimes he didn't commit, finds himself convicted of the most delinquent. You should anoint ten solid hours in your rebondissements, with a great party of son temps d'écran consecré à de longues et uninterruppues sequences d'audience et d'interrogatoires de police qui étaient sans doute beaucoup plus accablantes pour ceux prétendument du bon côté de the Law. Eschewing the usual catchy tropes, Making a Murderer simply lets the evidence, or lack thereof, do the talking.
The gardians
(Image credit: Netflix) Though some particularly harrowing true-life crime stories on Netflix may duck in the face of the operator (see The Disappearance at the Cecil Hotel), this 7-part section holds a worthy respect for its tragic subject matter, the murdered nun Catherine Cesnik. Manager Ryan White jumps between Baltimore in the late XNUMXs and today to investigate his unsolved case, uncovering a disturbing web of decades-old secrets. Linked to a much larger picture of systemic abuse, the specialist investigation The Keepers is also that rare investigative series that admirably places more emphasis on victims than perpetrators.
King Tiger
(Image credit: Netflix) In light of all the memes, costume inspirations, and appearances on Dancing with the Stars, it's easy to forget that there were multiple felonies at the heart of Netflix's biggest real crime phenomenon: abuse. animal, arson, attempted murder (and these are just the ones that start with 'A'). In truth, even if Tiger King frequently invited us to laugh at sizzling zookeeper, polyamorous and country vocalist Joe Exotic, and his "hey, all cats and cats great" opponent Carole Baskin, he could still get very sinister. Since everyone needed an escape from the real world, it's no surprise that this unadulterated chaos turned into a lockdown coup.
Evil Genius: The Real Story of America's Most Evil Bank Robbery
(Image credit: Netflix) As with Tiger King, this whimsical four-part series proves that sometimes even the most imaginative writers can't compete with real life. Here, a suave pizza delivery man holds a bench with a bomb necklace around his neck, only to explode after a live televised confrontation with police. Was he coerced or conspiring? Interviews in a prison cell with a suspected serial killer and the discovery of a grisly treasure hunt do not clear things up. However, they help unravel a deranged plot that was mean and wicked, but far from great.
Wild wild country
Documenting a chapter of recent and largely unknown American history, Wild Wild Country is a sprawling and morally ambiguous saga about the machinations of a cult that infiltrated Oregon in the 1980s. Political fraud, arson, and even bioterrorism were just some of the methods adopted by the Rajneeshees in an attempt to gain political power before their movement dramatically imploded. Stunning archival images taken by worshipers and outsiders alike help explain why Chief Osho and his followers made such an impact. But memories of a deceptively terrifying former spokesperson and the real mastermind of the entire operation, Ma Anand Sheela, linger longest.
Don't Fuck With Cats: Hunt An Internet Killer
(Image credit: Netflix) From its clickbaity track to its finger-pointing ending, Don't F*** with Cats is arguably on the more sensational end of the Netflix true crime spectrum. Although, to be fair, it would be hard for anyone to approach such a sinister subject (a notorious hungry kitten killer turns to homicide while being stalked by online warriors) with much restraint. The three-time BAFTA nominee is definitely not for the faint-hearted, and you'll never hear John Lennon's “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” the same way again. But once he stops covering his eyes with his hands, he'll find himself gripped by an unimaginable story that highlights both the dangers and potential of Internet vigilantism.
Unsolved mysteries
(Image credit: Netflix) Essentially America's Hollywood answer to Crimewatch, Unsolved Mysteries intrigued and terrified audiences in the late '80s as well, and Robert Stack's solemn narration only added to the heebie-jeebie vibe. . By now devoting each episode to a single case, Netflix's hostless reboot is able to delve much deeper into the series' wheelhouse of unexplained deaths, missing persons, and shocking murders, inspiring countless Reddit theories and various news stories. Credible leads in the process. We could have done without the obligatory silly UFO/ghost stories. But if not, this engaging take on the father of the true crime genre is what the streaming service comes closest to public service streaming.
The pharmacist
(Image Credit: Netflix) A true David vs. Goliath story, The Pharmacist initially focuses on grieving father Dan Schneider's relentless quest to find out who killed his drug-addicted son. But this highly personal quest soon turns into something much bigger when he uncovers a scandal involving America's opioid epidemic. Using the exhaustive audio and video footage that the amateur researcher compiled during his search, the miniseries impressively manages to constrain both angles. And while Schneider's obsessive nature isn't appreciated by everyone, including the man's own family who are desperate to move on, his efforts are never less than impressive.
The files of innocence
(Image credit: Netflix) Produced by a team of Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers, this thought-provoking and often infuriating nine-part film is a damning indictment of the US judicial system. Highlighting the work of Project Innocence, the series explores the nonprofit's attempt to overturn eight serious convictions and how everything from police coercion to pseudoscience can heavily influence the choice between freedom, imprisonment, and even death. . The Innocence Files is not an easy watch, but it is a vital watch that not only shows how the odds are stacked against the underdog, but calls for that change.
Devil next door
(Image credit: Netflix) A seemingly nondescript grandfather living in Cleveland is accused of being Ivan the Terrible, a World War II concentration camp guard who sent nearly 30.000 people to their deaths. A case of mistaken identity or a last chance for the survivors to receive the long-awaited justice? This is one of the many questions raised in this insightful and thought-provoking analysis of John Demjanjuk's case. The devil next door can't provide many direct answers. But with his substantial use of courtroom testimony, news footage, and remarkably candid interviews with the prosecution and defense, he gives the public enough resources to form their beliefs about him.